is ele/me just mesmer without fast casting?

i really like mesmers, but if i can get the ele mana pool instead of fast casting i would prefer that i think

is it just choosing between the main skill when splitting classes? or if my main profession is ele will i lose something in mesmer ability besides fast casting

or would i be better off making mesmer main and subbing in necromancy or something

empathy so far is the best skill i'v used, but my mesmer always ran out of mana in long fights..so why i want the ele's mana pool

You will also loose the ability to go above 12 in any of your mesmer attributes as you can't use mesmer runes or headgear as an ele.

In a very simplistic way of looking at it, yes. Mesmers draw a lot of power from the cast cast though, to be able to interrupt at incredible speed, and also being able to spam hexes on numerous targets. What would take 3 seconds for an ele to spam, a mesmer could spam something 2 times that.

QFT - There are many Mesmer skills out there that will give you a quick and ample energy boost. Power Drain comes readily to mind, as that will net you 20 - 25 energy in a second. With good energy management and fast casting, you'll be able to do a lot of damage before running dry.

If you don't take Mesmer as your primary, you will not be able to push any Mesmer attributes above 12 as you will not be able to use any Mesmer runes.

Furthermore, you'll lose access to Fast Casting. Most of the Mesmer's really powerful spells have longer casting times, and these still need to be placed with split-second timing on many occasions (and without Fast Casting, you lose that edge).

However, as Faer has pointed out you won't be running out of energy so often for long. There are a huge number of options in the Inspiration Magic line that you can add to your builds as you learn them, and when used under the right circumstances these can let you regenerate your energy almost at will (so you will almost never run out of energy)

Energy Storage isn't actually energy management. Maximum energy doesn't really do anything, exept that it's a buffer for exhaustion. It's energy over time that you need, which is power drain, Aususpicious Incantation (spelling?), that sorta things.
Me/X is definitely better than E/Me for mesmer skills. Not only because fast casting is pretty good, also because energy storage is useless for mesmers.

ok guys thanks, i havnt played my mesmer past lvl 8, and i only have nightfall, so i havent got the knowledge you folks have...i like my warrior and my mesmer...but i just loved the finesse of the mesmer, using backfire and empathy and such

when i read here, everyone says they stink etc, but i dont know anything about being a jaded GW player yet...i just hope if i do play a mesmer i'll be able to get the fancy type armor i always see the countless warriors in (not plate, just nice stuff)

my gf plays a ele, hope we can do high end pve with just me her and heroes

People who say that they "stink" are the average player who thinks doing damage is the only think a character should do. Most players with a brain love mesmers. Don't get discouraged with what is said on these boards. In fact, most people here who complain about mesmers actually like playing them, they are just complaining about the fact that they are not popular.

thanks dudes