Guild Wars 2

Of course, if Sensei let someone proofread his writing before posting it said editor would point such things out to him. Not that I’m volunteering or anything. Sensei knows I like to play editor.

I’m surprised you didn’t consider the Dreamthistle skin sensei… to match your staff.

Arikyali.5804:

I am getting Shield of the Moon, without a doubt. IT was part of my Sylvari’s personal story, so it fits perfectly. I’ve been wanting to use that skin for the longest of time. Keep your pink shields.

You continue to make me giggle. Personally, I want the dark skin back. Before the wardrobe release I had the pvp alternate version of the Shield of the Moon which had large thorns on it. It was removed when wardrobe was released.

Keep in mind, you can turn off the character models in PvP. In your settings on the first page, near the bottom, is an option for generic models. Creating an Asura no longer has benefit in that regard.

I prefer Humans or Sylvari, armors look the best on them.

Sorry for slacking! Invites are up to date.

Cinema, you have max number of guild memberships.

Arikyali.5804:

In a nutshell: play thief like a coward. Play mesmer like a crazy person.

This made my day. I can’t stop laughing.

Awright, awright… Time to go moa someone. Thanks Ari!

If you trait for Halting Strike in Dominations that will give you a “burst” when you interrupt. Another key point with interrupt is to catch the heal skill; if you can keep them from healing then it does not wholly matter if you’re doing a lot of damage or wearing them down because you are preventing them from recovering. You’re also looking for skills with exaggerated animations or long channel times (Axe & Dagger 2 with necro have a long channel, Earthshaker has a very telegraphed animation). If you’re running CI (4/4/6/0/0) this should do a fair amount of damage on interrupt as well as stack on a few conditions. Immobilize is your friend.

I am not very familiar with the other lockdown build. I have yet to play with it.

AnniMira.2506:

I buy ascended trinkets the following way:
-Amulet from wvw laurel vendor – 20 laurels + 250 BoHs
-Accessories from the guild vendor – total 24 gc + 10g
-Rings from fractal vendor – total 20 pristine fractal relics

Rings can be purchased from wvw laurel vendor for total 50 laurels + 500 BoHs but total of 70 laurels is costly. In any case, Lion’s Arch laurel vendor is too expensive.

If you run fractals frequently enough at higher levels there is also a chance you can get the rings you want for free. Just don’t hold your breath on that.

I feel I should mention, also, that there is a slight chance you could get them as a rank up reward in pvp or wvw. That is about as rare as getting an ascended weapon/armor box.

A condition shatter revolving around the new Maim trait in Illusions is gaining ground. I am seeing it a lot more in pvp and wvw, I can’t really say how well it will hold up in pveland as conditions still don’t really do well. There are a few rare instances where conditions are wanted, but still, don’t do well because of the stacking and overwriting method.

I typically run the traditional shatter build in PvE, sometimes I’ll run CI lockdown or PU, but that depends on the situation I’m facing. Confusion was already buffed in pve, but I wouldn’t count on it to be any good. You still need a long-ish duration on it or multiple stacks for it to work well. We got a 33% increase on damage with confusion, but only in pve. I still find shatter to be the best (for me) in open pve content.

I am hoping that our lockdown builds will be stronger once the new defiance system is implemented. I am looking forward to seeing how that will work. Conditions as well as buffs also look to be getting an overhaul during the expansion. So, advice we may give you now could very well change and become obsolete once HoT is released.

We’re still a utility class. We are wanted for timewarp, the occasional stealth, reflects and boonstrips where they apply. Though Anet has broken Feedback for us. Many instances where reflects or absorptions worked no longer apply (Malrona in TA Up path being case in point – Asura fractal as well). I did the Aetherblade path for the first time since it’s release and my initial run with OMFG members and found instances where a reflect should have worked did not apply. However, most people still forget how good a mesmer is at boonstrip and act like a scrub in other dugneons (CoE with the golem at the turrets). Although, I like being on my mesmer because boss skills seem to be limited to “five targets,” which means that sometimes attacks that would hit a player are absorbed by my clones instead. Very few instances where that is the case though.

You could also go with the guild tower shield, purchasable with commendations. Or even the Guild Defender from the TP. It will look nice with the OMFG emblem on it.

I would think the “showcased” skin would be one of the new legendaries, or perhaps a the latest set of BL skins.

Fractal skins aren’t guaranteed either. It’s RNG if you get one and even then WHICH you get. You could end up with the harpoon or trident and never see the shield.

You could also look into the Wupwup skin if you’re going for something purple. The Zodiac skin is pretty good as well.

Post a picture of your mesmer and I will give some more suggestions.

KaporHabakuk.6219:

Nonsence,power PU is same dmg as any other power spec,mean u gonna sit on around 2.3-2.5k power and above 200% crit dmg.U might been missinformed about PU,which is one trait,not build.

PU is also used as the name for the traditional build/set up with staff + sc/t. I am hardly misinformed. Also, I would never the “power” variant of the build, but that’s just me.

And don’t forget coordinators are there to help you twist the arms of our guildies! Think of us like minions or henchmen…

As I read you quoting that sentence I am suddenly appalled by it. Such run-on and and and… I am disappointed with myself.

Ok, as with any question pertaining to both “mesmer” and “wvw” it will all depend on your server. I am on Yak’s Bend. Going solo as a mesmer will require a PU build because while I’m roaming I’m not going to run into a single player. I’m going to run into 2-3-5-20 players. However, going PU also means I won’t be able to flip a camp on my own fast enough before someone responds and by then my HP is already at half and I will be fighting both the NPCs and the responders unless it’s a zerg falling on me and then I will either be able to evade them or just die.

However, if you are so lucky to be on a lesser server, then you will be able to get away with a glassier spec like shatter or lockdown.

Also, I really like lockdown when I’m solo roaming on my own server. I play it with a staff because I feel that is one of our best defensive weapons. Or if I’m going to go for full aggression then I will use GS+Sw/P. I like to have one push or pull on hand in case I do come up on that thief who wants to hide in SR when they realize they’re going to lose.

So, 1. how good is your server, 2. how good are you, and 3. have you considered at least one partner? Thief makes an excellent partner for mesmer.

Ha ha you are very definitely black sensei. The gray is from the “moonlight” since this is a night time picture. You mean you just now believe me? I’ve sent you pictures of Aeol before! There is a purple tinge for your pattern and in your… “hair,” but that is all the purple on you I see aside from dyes.

Also… these screens were taken on my tablet so it was considerably dark and I had to lighten them up just so that you didn’t look like a black blob on the end there.

I don’t like to have the hud up when I take screenshots. I told you who was in the picture.

Here are my screenshots of the winners. I didn’t quite get everyone’s names. The judges are also in the pictures.

From left to right in the first picture we have: Traxxex, Celeste Winters, Soldrana (J), Tamiyo, Solanyse (J) Marcus Bryant, and Lorien. I’m terribly sorry Lorien, I didn’t write down your name and only remember the first part of it. And Aeoldyn is next to Traxxex in the next two pictures on the far left.

Traxxex won Best Overall.
Celeste Winters won Best Dressed Female Mesmer.
Tamiyo won Best Use of Purple for Females.
Marcus Bryant won Best Dressed Male Mesmer.
Lorien won Best Use of Purple for Males.

If needed I can repost with bigger resolutions, but I didn’t want them to take forever to load.

Xyonon.3987:

Don’t you want to wait until HoT? :/

Well look at it this way, it will already be a massive overhaul to update the guide. However, if we update the guide before HoT release then we only have to make some (minor) changes – as in to any skill changes that occur to our original set. Then we can just tack on a new section for the HoT major changes.

Ha ha, see sensei? Plenty of help from your extended mesmeric family. ^^ You know I’d help you too.

Me Games Ma.8426:

Offtopic

Calliope.8675:

My driver likes my mesmer a lot for stealths, but of late he’s had me swap to warrior (ick). […] I still prefer to play mes. He misses the invis sometimes.

Haven’t played organized WvW yet since I’m back… looks like we’re still Veilbots?

Portal, Veil, and Mass Invis…. though I had to beg Ross to help me with a build that would encompass the new demands of my driver (be a shatter-glamour-PU-tanky mesmer!).

Clownmug.8357:

The population of mesmers in WvW seems to be inversely proportional to the number of thieves on the other servers in my experience.

I am noticing that too. However, I also see quite a few mesmers, but still a greater number of Thieves:Mesmers. For every one enemy mesmer I come across there are always three or four thieves.

Up to date.

/15 char

I wouldn’t say he’s struggling, but more like busy. =) For having a million words to say he also has a million things to do irl.

As to mesmers in WvW, that depends on the servers you are on. My driver likes my mesmer a lot for stealths, but of late he’s had me swap to warrior (ick). He likes guards and warriors for certain builds and necros to apply condi pressure, so when we’re short on those classes he has me run one of them instead. It’s nice to be versatile, but I still prefer to play mes. He misses the invis sometimes.

I am pretty sure that is taken care of already.

Invites up to date.

Gensou, you have 5 guilds already.

Situational. I like to use staff in dungeons sometimes. I don’t pick it for the damage, but for the moderate safety that Chaos Storm provides. Granted, it’s not perfect, but it’s the closest thing to a shield that I have. The extra retreat can also be handy.

Primarily, I use GS though, especially on my main Mesmer (as I have two). On my secondary Mesmer I will swap out staff for a GS depending on the fight: like the Jade Maw in fractals. I will use GS there because of the reflect bubbles on the colossi. It’s all person preference, though I would never use scepter except for fun.

You are in love with confusion. While I do think confusion is a mesmer condition and we should have better control with it, I doubt Anet would be so kind. At best if such skills were implemented then they would probably only add 1-3 stacks of confusion that don’t last very long. Keep in mind, unless you can generate substantial stacks it is a subpar condition in pvp/wvw. The highest hit I ever saw with confusion was 5k pre-confusion changes in pve at a boss on my condi build mesmer. Players – giving them the benefit of the doubt – are smarter than AIs. If they pay attention to their conditions they will kite you while they wait out confusion or cleanse it.

As to all the stuns, chills, immobilizations, we would hear endless whining from the other classes (so nothing would change in that regard). But, here again, I think Anet would hobble us with such skills. The cool-downs would probably be 20-30s and the cc itself would only last 1-2 seconds, which could also be cleansed or broken with a stun-break.

That Shield 2 skill – empathy – yeah, never happen. If you have something with high aps or catch another class using a channeled skill (100 Blades or Rapid Fire for example), we would pop clones like mad and a clone death build would be slightly OP. It would just become a matter of where those clones would spawn. Near me? Near the enemy? Near no one?

Daniel, now would also be a good time ask if anyone else would like to step up as a second EP for the EU. We have two for the NA members and you said yourself you felt we needed someone else to help you.

My best tip is know your server. How your server is ranked depends on how well you can get away with “solo” roaming. If you’re ranked in a Gold Tier server or even an upper Silver tier, you will have a hard time roaming unless you in the hours of low activity. I started out in a Bronze tier server and I could get away with flipping camps or towers by myself. Where I am now people watch and respond with in a couple minutes of something becoming contested.

So, if you’re in a higher ranked server you can expect to keep dying know matter how well you build. Whenever I solo roam I always run into groups of 2-3-5 players and I never win, no matter what build I use. I can’t cap anything bigger than a flag on the map because it takes too long to flip anything larger alone. You will need a partner or few if this is the case. However, if you are in a lower ranked server you should be able to get away with shatter build, but keep in mind if someone snipes you (ie LB zerk ranger, or backstab thief) you’re done.

Chaos Archangel.5071:

Shatteroar? Shimmerfang? Uh.. Telepanther? Pride of Mirrors? Chaotic Claws?

Dreameater? .. I’m lousy with Charr. X.x

The OP didn’t mention they were making a Charr, specifically, someone else used that as an example. =) Though, racially, Charr have an interesting way of naming themselves. They have their first name, but their “surname” is half their warband name and half something of meaning to them (perhaps their ancestry, something about their legion, or something referring to their character – Rox’s original name was Rox Pickheart).

Many names I used are recycled from other games I have played, a few are new. Playing with words or names you already know or like is a good way to start. Keep in mind the race you choose also has a specific “region” their names will hail to. Charr have names and ranks that sound very Greek or Roman. Sylvari have Welsh/Gaelic/Irish sounding names.

When in doubt, you can always hit some name sites. Here are a few of my favorites: Baby Names. If I don’t see what I like here I usually hit up a generator site. Sevent Sanctum and Serendipity are my go-to sites for generators.

Good luck!

bump

Invites up to date.

up to date

/15 char

Teutos.8620:

One of my three mesmer. He is my newest creation. Even tho he is definitely the best looking mesmer in the whole wide world, I’m not quite happy with his headgear.

Took me a second to figure out he was a Sylvari with “flesh” colored leaves for his body, making him look like a partially decayed mummy.

Depending on what kind of look you’re going for, try the Harlequin mask? That’s the “happy” Mesmer starting mask. Though, the demon masque looks pretty nice on Sylvari as well (it is one of the necro starting masks).

Cynz.9437:

FIFO order fyi~

If that’s the case… I sent you a pm weeks ago asking to discuss with you and you never responded.

No, but I’ve been insta-ported back to the location I was porting from.

Invites up to date.

edit Working on that Stickers. I’d rather see successful bounty runs so that we can buy better missions. In order for that to happen we need more than five people repping at time.

A guild mate and I had a disagreement a little earlier today and she insisted that the bags that champs drop are affected by Magic Find. I insisted otherwise. I checked the wiki but didn’t see answer that really resolved the problem.

Are the bags/boxes from the champs affected by Magic Find or are they RNG? (As in, when you open them, is that loot luck of the draw or based on your MF?)

Thanks.

I would like to discuss a commission. I just need to decide exactly what I want first. =P

Ross Biddle.2367:

Calliope.8675:

samuelmcdevitte.5647:

So you guys have obviously never met Marrcuus…

You are very purple.

Way to much white. I can’t believe this guy even dares call himself a Mesmer.

I believe there are parts of that armor you are unable to dye. I think…

samuelmcdevitte.5647:

So you guys have obviously never met Marrcuus…

You are very purple.

I disagree Ranger, but as Mesmer main, I am biased. ;P I use my Mesmers for everything.

And you are wrong about Phantoms. The Disenchanter will remove boons from a target and conditions from allies. The Defender will boost the survivability of nearby allies. Lastly, if you know your combo fields, you can use the Warden in a light field and remove conditions as well. Phantoms can be healed by an outside source (water fields, skills that apply regen or other healing). The mesmer has limited “aoe” heal skills, which only come through traits, if I’m not mistaken – party heals with mantra charges. Not really worth it though. Most phantoms don’t have a long cd time, so it’s not a huge loss if they get destroyed.

I will be on later in the afternoon to help with this. Surprisingly I have some hours at work, so I’ll be away most of the day.

Invites up to date.

Ok, the only reason I asked about color was because, regardless of if it was in series or not, that seemed like a bit much for black and white. I look forward to your other information though. =)

Dolphin.2574:

I am confused. Why is this being discussed in the Community section?

Shouldn’t this Post be deleted and reposted in the Guild Wars 2 Discussion section?
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2

Because people don’t think, that’s why it’s here. Just like the pvp/wvw videos that get posted here. I’m sure there is a better board for them to go on than here.

Darkborne.8725:

Precursors should be account bound and all materials for it should be account bound.

lol Right, and if you get a precursor you don’t want? What then? You can’t even give it away. I was given two precursors because friends new I wanted to make Twilight and Kamohoali’i Kotaki. I have also given away three precursors, one I got from the forge and two I bought as gifts. If you make precursors account bound then you will ruin the good nature of the game.

Darkborne.8725:

The easiest way to do that is to make it through game accomplishment not hours played…

Accomplishments come with hours played. If you’re not willing to put in hours for something then it’s not really worth it in the end.

Darkborne.8725:

No matter what there will be a grind if it is “challenging” because its is hard to make a game that comprehensive, but actually using all aspects of the game would be helpful so its not as dumb as farming barracudas for hours or running around the same champ train, speed running dungeons, or trying to rip people off in the BLTC. The game should be fun, not like a 2nd job. By no means were any of my suggestions easy, as you said a lot of people would quit achievement is much harder than mindless grinding. Anyone can do that. It just takes time.

By which time it is earned. Farming has to be done regardless of what you’re looking to do. I spend hours in pve because I like it there. I replay the same chapters of living story over and over because, honestly, season two has been fantastic, my only complaint being that each chapter only has about three parts to it. I spend hours in wvw because that’s what my guild does. I spend hours in pvp (playing or not) because that’s where my friends are and I like to be with them. Maybe you should find a few friends if the game is really so boring and grindy to you.

Darkborne.8725:

As for a Legendary being hard to get now is that hardest time, and it will only get more expensive without change. When the game came out you could make one for less than 100g now you can’t even get your Vial of Powerful Blood for that.

Once upon a time I was in a rather large pvx guild on my server and a guild member linked the precursor for the shield legendary. That guild member got that precursor at the start of the game for three gold and a year and a half later was debating on making or selling it. Now, at two years+ into the game, that same precursor hovers between 450-500g. Something to keep in mind: Two years ago that same three gold would have been the equivalent of three hundred gold. Time, supply, demand, and players have created inflation. I agree that it would be nice if Anet could find a way to rebalance the market, maybe increase the drop rate of T6 materials, or even keep their word and introduce a way for us to craft the precursor.

I have never minded farming for anything I wanted because, at the end of the day, I really earned it and I was satisfied.

Darkborne.8725:

What I have suggested doesn’t change anything about the WvW aspect or the PvP aspect of the game. YOu still need the Gift of Battle and karma, which can be earned in WvW. As for PvP nothing has changed their either.

You’re missing what I’m saying. Read this slowly so you understand what I mean. Some players don’t care to play pve. They only focus on pvp or wvw. So, by suggesting that we have to complete personal story, do dungeon story modes, and other world events, you are requiring players who dislike the pve aspect of the game to do even more of that. You did not take them into consideration at all. PvP players will work to make a legendary because I have had several ask me what certain weapons are, especially since I have two legendaries. They see a skin they like and want to know how to get it. They will come out of pvp to accomplish the bare minimum of pve needed for a legend. If you want to suggest more, “easier,” alternate methods, then it needs to encompass all aspects of the game, not just pve because that’s all you know how to do. Anet only recently (ish) introduced reward tracks to pvp to entice some pve players into pvp because of certain rewards you can earn. It was also put in to balance the fact that a player who only participated in pvp had no way to make money.

Darkborne.8725:

As for somethings being able to be accomplished in a day that is a whole day of GW2 not jsut 2 or 3 hours so it does take effort.

That’s not effort. That’s like going to gamestop and buying a new game for your xbox and finishing it in a day.

Darkborne.8725:

I am not saying that a Legendary shouldn’t be hard to get, but it shouldn’t be nearly impossible.

They are not nearly impossible. You’re just being lazy.

Darkborne.8725:

As for me saying they should be heavy PvE reliant yeah they should be. PvP really has nothing to do with the game you just grind the same thing over and over again. There isn’t much of an accomplishment in that. Plus they have tournaments and cash prizes. I believe that is more than PvE gets.

No, they shouldn’t. PvP promotes player skill. I would rather take a bunch of pvp players into a dungeon with me and explain the mechanics of the instance rather than a bunch of pve noobs who die at every encounter. That issue aside, there is prestige in the accomplishments of the pvp player. Their rank goes up. At the end of a track they can earn certain special rewards.

By tournaments I’m going to assume you mean the ones that have been going on for the past year, like the Tournament of Legends last Spring and again in August. Yes, they get tournaments. It’s a way for them to show off their skill, but don’t whine. Anet has provided PvE with new and exciting boss challenges. They increased the skill for accomplishing Tequatl, they added the Three-headed Wurm event to Bloodtide, temporarily we had the Marionette in Lornar’s Pass, and now we have the Vinewraith, which is kind of like the Marionette. Anet gives us new challenges. They’ve given us new armor sets, new weapons, new bosses, new maps, new story, what more do you really want? You can’t exactly have a tournament for pve.

I would also hazard to say that 80-90% of all the achievements and titles that can be earned in the game can only be earned in pve.

Ross Biddle.2367:

Chaos Archangel.5071:

Wat? I’m barely even on more than like 1-2 hours a day!

And yet I had to consider taking a restraining order out on you. That’s pro right there.

Ha ha! Don’t forget I’m the guild bully Ross. You can just send him to me and I will set him straight for you. =P

1. A legendary is legendary because it is not easy to make. Therefore, things you need to make it are not easy to come by.

2. All of your suggestions are for pve. You leave no recourse for someone who only plays wvw or pvp. They also happen to be a rather large group of the player base.

3. As you pointed out, your suggestions could be completed in one day. How does that make you feel about your legendary? You went through a “grind” to get story and dungeon SMs done, you have your weapon in hand, but it barely took any effort.

A legendary requires effort. You want an easy mode and that isn’t fair to players who worked hard for their legendaries. I have two legendaries that are mine and I have helped (at least) five other people make their legends, sacrificing my stores of T6 materials to put them ahead. I have a friend who is working on a legendary now and he is a strictly pvp player. Every day that he does map completion he whines, but while he’s whining he’s completing 2-3 maps. He doesn’t care about personal story. He doesn’t care about dungeons. He doesn’t care about boss events. If you were to make someone who abhors the pve aspect of the game put even more effort into it then you will lose those players.

Also consider, if anet allowed us the ability to make precursors, it wouldn’t be an easy task either. I imagine it would be similar to the way we craft legendaries, but it would just be an alternate route if our RNG is failing us and we don’t want to farm the gold to buy the precursor. I doubt it would be any less grindy.