The GW2 Mesmer: A critical reflection after BWE1

[Alaris]

I wrote 3 articles on mesmer:

Based on beta: http://guildwars.incgamers.com/blog/...-beta-coverage
Based on reveal: http://guildwars.incgamers.com/blog/...er-has-evolved
Compared to thief: http://guildwars.incgamers.com/blog/...esmer-vs-thief

That does not make me expert, it makes me very vocal hahah! But at least there you can see what I think of the mesmer.

I notice this is quickly becoming about "right" and "wrong"

My goal here is to help people who loved mesmer to transition to the new misunderstood mesmer. Sure, there are differences, and if those really bother then there is not much I can do. The delay in shatters for example.

But when I hear that there is no hexing or interrupts or degen, and I actually see the profession having those... I get into argument mode. But it's so that people don't dismiss what might be something they can learn to love. ;)

For me at least mesmer was not an instant love, and GW1 mesmer is still love/hate mainly because I am not very good at it. I love what the GW1 mesmer does though. I think for many, mesmer gameplay was something that grew on them as they learned the profession, rather than be instant love.

Perhaps the GW2 mesmer just needs a chance to grow on you.

Every class is going to change in some way before final release, we have a great opportunity right now to provide feedback.

And we should.

I just think that certain aspects of the Mesmer that were important to the class, such as the degen pressure and interrupts, have been removed entirely.

Help me understand. Degen is damage over time, usually small but stackable. Let's say we have 10 damage per second, as in 10dps. Does it matter that it is applied continually, or is it fine if it's 10 points every 1 second or even 3.3 points every 3 seconds? WoW does degen like the latter. GW1 might also use the latter but display the former.

One difference might be that a clone attacking can be defended against, which means that what whereas we couldn't dodge or prot against a hex in GW1, we can in GW2. If that really bothers you, then that is a valid concern. But it does not bother me.

As for interrupting, I've done it on an engineer, and mesmer can do it too. It's harder to do than before, sure. But you can interrupt by KD, by stun afaik (which 1 shatter on mesmer does) and there may be more ways perhaps even a mantra or optional skill. I don't honestly know how much you can specialize in interrupting, but I doubt it's a lot. But it's one thing to say "interrupting is gone", another to say "specializing in interrupting is limited" or "interrupting is harder to do".

[shadowhand]

I only played my mesmer for a few hours in the beta so I only tried a few weapons and didn't earn enough skill points to unlock a utility skill, but...

I for one agree with Alaris' point of view. The clones and illusions are exactly how I'd imagine that the hexes in GW would appear to an opponent.

The lack of variety is what it is, but I imagine that at higher levels, weapon switching will allow for more complex game play.

One thing that amused me though was how my norn mesmer had absolutely no problem with going toe to toe with the same foes as warriors and guardians. Armed with a melee weapon (sword.) I was at no distinct disadvantage.

And that is a welcome change to me.

[EnoughAlready]

I wrote 3 articles on mesmer:
My goal here is to help people who loved mesmer to transition to the new misunderstood mesmer. Sure, there are differences, and if those really bother then there is not much I can do.

Well, it is very generous of you to graciously bestow your superior understanding upon we mere fallible mortals, elucidating our misapprehensions and enlightening our dimwitted obtuseness.

Your remarks also underscore one of my previous comments, that 'we' are trying to convince ourselves that this Minstrel is really a Mesmer.

This whole thread is highly typical of views on the Mesmer, those that didn't like the Mesmer in GW1 prefer the Mesmer in GW2, and vice-versa.

[RD]

Well, it is very generous of you to graciously bestow your superior understanding upon we mere fallible mortals, elucidating our misapprehensions and enlightening our dimwitted obtuseness.

I don't see why you are jumping on Alaris for sharing articles that quintus asked him to...

Tapatalk'd

[Fluffball]

I think it's entirely appropriate for a thread to become a "right" and "wrong" thread when people are saying things that are factually wrong. There ARE interrupts in the game, and mesmers can use them, they just aren't called interrupts. They do the exact same thing though, they interrupt a skill. And if I take damage every time I use a skill because I have backfire on me, is that GW1 or GW2? Both. Well, spells only in GW1.

I should know, I got completely shut down by mesmers a fair few times! They still rank as far and away the most annoying class to go against.

[Alaris]

1) Well, it is very generous of you to graciously bestow your superior understanding upon we mere fallible mortals, elucidating our misapprehensions and enlightening our dimwitted obtuseness.

2) Your remarks also underscore one of my previous comments, that 'we' are trying to convince ourselves that this Minstrel is really a Mesmer.

3)This whole thread is highly typical of views on the Mesmer, those that didn't like the Mesmer in GW1 prefer the Mesmer in GW2, and vice-versa.

1) Well, I accept that some people will see it that way and consider it's worth it if some people get to enjoy a profession they otherwise would have dropped too early because of misjudging the profession.

2) I'm not trying to convince myself, I like the mesmer as is, it really doesn't matter if it's the GW1 mesmer or not for me. Well, in fact, I like that it's not a copy-paste because the GW1 mesmer was frustrating.

3) I loved the idea of mesmer in GW1, that you could play shutdown. I even liked the times that I did manage to play shutdown well. My problem was mainly that the profession was unforgiving, so it got frustrating at times.

[RD]

I think it's entirely appropriate for a thread to become a "right" and "wrong" thread when people are saying things that are factually wrong. There ARE interrupts in the game, and mesmers can use them, they just aren't called interrupts. They do the exact same thing though, they interrupt a skill. :

Not sure if this is directed at me, but if it is, just because you can interrupt something doesn't mean it is an "interrupt" in the GW 1 sense. To repeat myself, I don't think the GW 2 Mesmer is bad or that anyone who likes it is wrong. I just personally like GW 1 Mesmer a lot and, as a result, dislike the GW 2 Mesmer.

Anyway, my Hammer War in gw 2 can interrupt with knockdowns and stuff, but that doesn't mean it is a function of his class, like it was for Mesmer in GW 1. That iswhat I meant.

Tapatalk'd

[Fluffball]

It was meant at life in general. I don't understand how you can say that a skill that's purpose is to stop a skill from being used is not an interrupt. I mean... the skills interrupt. That's what they do. There isn't really anything more to say about it, is there? I'm super confused.

Maybe you didn't use the skills that interrupt is the trouble. For example, on my thief I had a skill that would interrupt a skill and disable skill usage for one second. That is all it did. To clarify the only effect of my skill was to interrupt.

That condition is daze, which I know for a fact mesmers have, because I was interrupted by them.

[Domitilde]

As a die-hard elementalist, I shall continue to hate mesmers regardless of it being GW or GW2.

[Alaris]

To try and clarify, there's a difference between an interrupt skill, and an interrupt role. In GW1 terms, your role is sort-of defined by how many skills of one type you have. You have mostly healing skills, you are a healer. You have mostly interrupt skills, you are an interrupter.

I think it's fair to say that while interrupting is in the game, it'd be harder to make an interrupt specialist even for a mesmer. Whatever GW2 build you make that specializes in interruption, it will still be a lot more balanced than the interrupt specialist of GW1. Same for healing.

I am a big fan of hybrids, which could be another reason why I like the GW2 mesmer... he's got shutdowns, but he's also more flexible in how he shutsdown and also carries damage and self-heals. Personally I like that, but players who want to play a specialist that only or mainly brings a specific role can be disappointed.

I still think the GW2 mesmer can specialize fairly well into shutdown, but at this point we're debating shades of gray based on very little play experience. We can count how many shutdown skills GW2 mesmers have to pick from or can bring on a single build, that would be a start.