I'm missing something...[slight story spoiler]

[Doyle]

Ok, so I'm new to the game, but felt I was getting the hang of the mesmer. Then, I got the note about my personal quest, Welcome Home (I'm human with noble background, BTW). So, I enter the personal story instance and got a total beat-down.

Spoiler

So, I go to the party, don't really do much except watch the lame magician, and go talk to my jerk friend. I follow him and we proceed to get jumped by about 4-5 bad guys. They flat out cleaned my clock. I was able to kill one of them by kiting him, but the 3 others got me cornered and I had no room to move. Are there NPCs that are supposed to help you? Because I was on my own.

Just trying to figure out if it's a broken encounter or if there is some key technique I'm missing. I was using a scepter and pistol (that's all I had) and was second level, if that matters.

[Raye]

I think you'll get better with time. GW2 is significantly harder than GW1, and the mesmer is not trivial (and as pointed out on a different thread) is also not the same as in GW1. I find that usually going in within the recommended level is a good idea. If you were level 2 on your first instance you were a level behind iirc. That might make a difference when you're still getting a hold of the mechanics.

Also, staff and greatsword are waayy more fun than scepter and pistol imho. I made a mesmer today during the stress test (i wanted to test out the dual-swords but didn't get a chance to, too much lag) and the scepter and pistol were just not doing it for me. Hope it helps a bit.

[Doyle]

Also, staff and greatsword are waayy more fun than scepter and pistol imho. I made a mesmer today during the stress test (i wanted to test out the dual-swords but didn't get a chance to, too much lag) and the scepter and pistol were just not doing it for me. Hope it helps a bit.

I really wanted to try the staff, since I saw some cool videos about it, but I never found one. (Of course, I was running around at light-speed since I was trying out so many characters.)

[Guided Daggers]

dfscott, you can find a reasonably cheap staff at the weapon's vendor in Divinity's Reach.

[Oliver]

I had the same problem when I did that with my mesmer at level 3 and equipped with pistols. I went back to redo that quest when my mesmer had reached level 8 ( though the game will scale down your attributes when doing a low level area), but most importantly I had a staff and all associated skills unlocked, and it was easy.

[Erring Ryft]

More skills always seems to help. I had a bit of trouble with that one too as a mesmer (I think I was still using the starter sword in BWE1), but managed it after a few close calls.

I think the scepter feels way stronger now, though (at least it did in BWE3) after the confusion change. It's confusion ray thing seems to do a pretty significant amount of damage (at low level, at least).

[Karuro]

Definitely check your weapons.
I've been doing the personal storyline underleveled most of the time.

Lvl 6 Charr PS, on a lvl 4 necro.
I was doing it first with axe + focus.
It went terrible.
Picked up a staff, unlocked the skills and it was easy.

Lvl 16 Human PS, on a lvl 11 thief.
Did it slowly, as those things could 1-2 hit me.
The AI was a great annoyance, with them turning Invincible, speed-regenerating health as they run away etc.
Had to swap some utility skills for more conditions/boosts to get everything dead and finish it (Took me 2 stress tests lol). And switched between bow & pistols.
I used Logan as a meatbag.

[Erring Ryft]

I used Logan as a meatbag.

Pretty much the only good use of him (I haven't seen an NPC that self-satisfied since...well, Mhenlo).

[Raye]

Mhenlo <3

[Doyle]

Thanks, all. Hopefully there will be another stress test that I can use to try this out. Otherwise, I guess I'll be waiting for the head start.

Pretty much the only good use of him (I haven't seen an NPC that self-satisfied since...well, Mhenlo).

Heh-heh - I've always thought Mhenlo and psycho-Cynn deserved each other. :p