Advice on a Me/R build?

Tallera257

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2008

Central Illinois

Guardians of the Lost Days [GoLD]

R/D

16 Apr 2008 at 16:01 - 1

First of all, I *am* aware that the Me/R profession combo is NOT a popular or recommended one. I'm also aware that many people will probably want to tell me to do things the other way around (R/Me rather than Me/R). But darn it, I want to play with Mesmer armors for a change!

Please do not flame me or call me a "noob" simply because I feel like experimenting with something a bit more obscure.

I recently started my first Mesmer in NF (PvE), and I really have fallen in love with the idea of using Mesmer Dom skills or Hexes to annoy monsters (particularly with interrupts), while having a Ranger pet as one of my tanks. My basic concept is to split attribute allocation between FC, Dom (or another appropriate Mesmer specialty), and Beast Mastery....but that's susceptible to change, if I get some great suggestions to the contrary. I'm also debating whether I should be more practical and stick with a standard Mesmer caster weapon set for the Energy and spellcasting boosts, or use a bow to get more into the "flavor" of the character, and be able to add in bow-based interrupt skills. I know I can have both and switch, but I tend to prefer to have one "primary" weapon set that I almost always use, and only switch to a secondary set in specific circumstances (ie, giving my Warrior a bow to use JUST for pulling).

What I'm mostly asking is if anyone has advice regarding which Mesmer attribute line might create the most useful synergies with some of the Ranger secondary skills. I'm not mentally locked into any specific build.....that is, I'm willing to entertain suggestions and thoughts of all kinds!

I haven't settled on which Mesmer skills I want to use (since this is my first Mes, I'm kind of feeling things out as I go), and I've thought about Ranger skills from Beast Mastery, Wilderness, and Marksmanship (depending on weapon choice).

Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome!

I'm new to Mesmers (although I have done my reading on the various wikis), so keep in mind that I haven't unlocked very many skills yet. Suggestions on which skills to focus on acquiring will also be appreciated. Thanks!!!

Kyomi Tachibana

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2007

Oregon, USA

Where iz teh Bonuz [WitB]

P/W

16 Apr 2008 at 16:05 - 2

No mesmer skills off the top of my head synergize well with a pet, you could use something like... Let me go do a quick little skill research, I just had a thought but need to check on the skills.

You could try something with [Frustration] and the pet attacks [Savage Pounce] and [Bestial Mauling] For a bit of fun.

Other than that I can't think of anything that would go with a mesmer.

Edit2: Also! [Epidemic] or [Fevered Dreams] and [Poisonous Bite] and whatnot. Hm.

Wakka Wah

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2007

CT, USA

The Stolen Eye [SEyE]

Mo/

16 Apr 2008 at 16:08 - 3

I love Me/R i run a fun echo blackout build which completely shuts down casters (ive made a monk sit down in RA and stop trying) I dont have the build saved but it uses Serpants Quickness, Blackout, Natural Stride and some interrupts for the short time that blackout is down

Vesio

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2008

Praetoria Legionarius

Mo/

16 Apr 2008 at 16:39 - 4

first of all even though it may not be popular or commonly requested go for it! you're right people will probably tell you that it is stupid, but thats the beauty of the skill system in GW you can really play how you want (disregarding areas where noone really stands a chance of getting a group if they aren't set up a certain way).

i made a me/r build for norgu (theres something about shouting NORGU!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats quite hilarious) once upon a time it seemed to work pretty well. I went with a inspiration/marksmanship hybrid:

[build=OQJTA0hm3xHkBOMWGXpqxmKAAA]

the space where epidemic/hypocondria is is a utility slot you can really put what you want in there. Power drain is there for an energy gain as you use a bow and can run short, but you can use a different one if you want.

got me thinking again on this me/r thing and borrowing some ideas from posters above me slapped together this (note this is completely untested):

[build=OQJTAyAbzpnSCqB1mZ5nh2sZAA]

grrr boo you brain, stop thinking about this now. Here's another (uses a couple of my favorite skills in the game and again completely untested):

[build=OQJTAQBb1xEGFKqrydjq06sZAA]

upier

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Done.

[JUNK]

16 Apr 2008 at 17:11 - 5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vesio

snip These builds scare me.
Since it's PvE - why would anyone run Debilitating? And why wouldn't you run a preparation?
When running BHA - why run Hypochondria?
Predatory (times two!), HaO AND Predator's in the same build? And using Larceny/Thievery with HIGH domination? Why?
The second build can be outdone by a single skill - BHA.

I understand this is meant to be fun - but you need to understand it's bad.

Painbringer

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2006

Minnesota

Black Widows of Death

W/Mo

16 Apr 2008 at 17:45 - 6

No problem running standard mesmer build and having a pet by your side. Until you get to hard areas otherewise it will be like [blackout]

There is a IW /pet build out there that i remember using

Some of you are posting bow builds please Put down the bow and use real disruption skills we are mesmers

[frustration] mixed with [web of disruption] is better You can even get a disrupt or 2 in the middle

isamu kurosawa

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

United Kingdom

Me/

16 Apr 2008 at 18:02 - 7

fragility + BM attack skills could be an interesting concept.

Pick Me

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Thornill, ON, Canada

THE CANUCK MONKS (TCM)

W/R

16 Apr 2008 at 18:18 - 8

From my understanding Apply Poison will work with any weapon, including staves and wands.

If this is true, then Fragility+apply poison+phantom pain+Ineptitude should be fun.

If you really want to go with a pet, the Kyomi has a few nice suggestions.

Vesio

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2008

Praetoria Legionarius

Mo/

16 Apr 2008 at 18:51 - 9

Quote:

Originally Posted by upier

These builds scare me.
Since it's PvE - why would anyone run Debilitating? And why wouldn't you run a preparation?
When running BHA - why run Hypochondria?
Predatory (times two!), HaO AND Predator's in the same build? And using Larceny/Thievery with HIGH domination? Why?
The second build can be outdone by a single skill - BHA.

I understand this is meant to be fun - but you need to understand it's bad. then i'll scare you all i want because as you said its meant to be fun. If i had meant for him to honestly expect great things from a me/r i might have suggested something like say ursan to get him through. because honestly anyone will be hard pressed to put together a good, viable build using domination and beast mastery.

now as far as debilitating goes thats a good point, i'll have to change it. as far as hypo goes it was simply the skill that was currently there, i was messing around.

and for thievery/larceny at high dom? where else am i going to put those points? so switch fast cast and dom attributes.

anyway, I await your attempt at a dom/beast mastery build Master Upier.

Pyro maniac

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

16 Apr 2008 at 18:55 - 10

[skill]Natural Stride[/skill] saves lives, other then that. I don't know

upier

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Done.

[JUNK]

16 Apr 2008 at 21:01 - 11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vesio

and for thievery/larceny at high dom? where else am i going to put those points? so switch fast cast and dom attributes. As I have been saying for quite some time now - the biggest problem with Larceny/Thievery is that they are one of the few skills that actually get worse in PvE the more you invest into their's attribute.
The biggest selling point of Larceny/thivery is that you disable a spell for the foe. The biggest issue with this is that it does not revert back once the foe dies. (Considering where you are of course) And the foes should be dead VERY fast. As I was dashing though Factions the other day - I pretty much had WW trigger once! Not because the foes would be using skills so franticly but rather because the foes dropped dead before the second 3 secs!
Foes will die so insanely fast that disabling a skill for 30ish secs just means you LOST a skill for 30 secs!
Now IF you were to run LOW domination - you will disable the skill for a shorter amount - which in most cases should be just enough for the foe to die. And this gives you the ability to use the skill more often - other then just once-ish per battle!

A domination/beast master build - just screams for [Shatter Hex] (if there will be hexes of course).
Also a 12 in BM would be a must - because you'd want the pet to actually be doing damage.
Then something like [Feral Aggression], [Otyugh's Cry]
Also you need [Charm Animal] and [Comfort Animal]
[Great Dwarf Weapon]
My elite of choice is pretty much always [Enraged Lunge] - with 3 skills recharging, the extra damage from Feral, Great Dwarf and the normal pet damage you should be seeing numbers of around 100ish every 5 secs.
Maybe something like [Cry of Frustration]/[Finish Him] for your last slot.
Of course [Cry of Pain] would be superb - but that would mean making room for a mesmer hex ... (In which case - [Empathy]. You could dump Shatter/CoF for it.) If you were to go Illusion - then [Clumsiness], [Wandering Eye]. (Or Clumsy and CoP).

I KNOW it's not the most mesmery thing out there - but an animal companion just uses and uses and uses the skill slots ...
Would this be done better by a ranger?
ALWAYS!
The problem is that there aren't many options left - PvE skills are pretty much ALWAYS better then normal mesmer skills, and you lose an insane amount of skill slots due to the pet. And if you are wasting those skill slots on the pet - he should might as well do some damage.

Of course - this can simply not compare to an Assassin's Promise chaos nuker.
BUT if you like bringing a pet ...

Rougier

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2008

South Lake Tahoe, CA

BiC

Me/

17 Apr 2008 at 04:21 - 12

You know, for awhile I ran a hybrid IW Me/R with a pet. I rather enjoyed it, and loved having my pet Greywind by my side. Although I know a lot of people are sick to death of IW.

Toutatis

Walking Wiki

Join Date: Nov 2006

Isle of Medication

Visitors from Aranna [VFA]

Me/E

17 Apr 2008 at 07:10 - 13

Here's an idea for a Me/R build:

Try bringing along [Serpent's Quickness]. It's a poor man's version of [Mantra of Recovery] that doesn't hog your elite slot, and benefits all skills rather than just spells (the downside being its much longer recharge and that it can suddenly end if you're under heavy fire)

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

17 Apr 2008 at 07:23 - 14

Just wanted to throw this one out there but...

...because you have a secondary profession does not necessarily mean that you need to use it. You could still go full Mesmer and have a blast.

distilledwill

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Blighty

The Legion of the Blue Blade

R/Mo

17 Apr 2008 at 08:14 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pick Me

You understand incorrectly im afraid. [Apply Poison] <--For 24 seconds, foes struck by your physical attacks become Poisoned for 3...13 seconds.

Pick Me

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Thornill, ON, Canada

THE CANUCK MONKS (TCM)

W/R

17 Apr 2008 at 12:55 - 16

Quote:

Originally Posted by distilledwill

You understand incorrectly im afraid. [Apply Poison] <--For 24 seconds, foes struck by your physical attacks become Poisoned for 3...13 seconds. Thank you Distilled.

Too bad you can apply poison on your pet's claws/talons/fangs, lol.

Perhaps a candy cane bow then?

The best thing your probably can use from the Ranger is [skill]antidote signet[/skill]

upier

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Done.

[JUNK]

17 Apr 2008 at 13:10 - 17

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pick Me
Thank you Distilled.

Too bad you can apply poison on your pet's claws/talons/fangs, lol.

Perhaps a candy cane bow then?

The best thing your probably can use from the Ranger is [skill]antidote signet[/skill] Well if you need a candy bow - that means you probably aren't running high marks - or none at all.
In which case - a spear would be much more beneficial.

Tallera257

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2008

Central Illinois

Guardians of the Lost Days [GoLD]

R/D

17 Apr 2008 at 15:53 - 18

Thanks to everyone for all of the suggestions and advice!!! I didn't have a chance to play last night (stupid real life... ), but I will definitely try out some of these ideas tonight after work.

I will definitely keep checking back to this thread as I develop the character, so please keep the ideas coming if you have more....if people are interested I may even post results of my experimenting.

Thanks again to all who have contributed (or will contribute) their ideas!!!

I Report U

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2008

17 Apr 2008 at 17:18 - 19

poison tip signet (on spear with +33% poison mod is best but also works with a wand or staff)/epidemic + antidote signet+ storm embrace can all be integrated in a mesmer build without investing points in any ranger attribute. with some points in wilderness survival u can use natural stride and have longer poison from tip signet..

shru

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

18 Apr 2008 at 18:09 - 20

If you're dead set on bringing a pet, I'm sure you can have a little fun with Fevered Dreams and pet attacks. They can be used for a good variety of conditions, and combined with some other mesmer skills, could be pretty interesting. I'd suggest specing into illusion and BM and taking some skills like [skill]phantom pain[/skill] [skill]poisonous bite[/skill] [skill]shrinking armor[/skill] [skill]toxicity[/skill] [skill]you are all weaklings[/skill] [skill]you move like a dwarf[/skill]+[skill]bestial mauling[/skill]along with [skill]fevered dreams[/skill] [skill]fragility[/skill]
It's not very practical, but could end up being pretty fun.

EDIT: Add in [skill]Mantra of Persistence[/skill] for a little added effect

Tallera257

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2008

Central Illinois

Guardians of the Lost Days [GoLD]

R/D

18 Apr 2008 at 19:51 - 21

Well, I'm pleased to report that my Mesmer/Ranger, Eris Aetherclaw, has officially gained her secondary profession. She's level 7, and thanks to a couple of kind ferries, she visited Shing Jea Island to tame herself a tiger, whom she has named Macavity.

She only stayed in Cantha a short time before getting homesick and returning to her native land of Elona and continuing quests there. But before leaving, she acquired a souvenir in the form of a set of Shing Jea armor dyed a lovely green-blue. I know...it probably would have been quicker to stay and level in Cantha, but since I'm not very familiar with mesmers yet, I wanted a chance to try out the skills and strategies someplace a little less....erm....lethal.

I don't remember her current skill bar off the top of my head, but she hasn't acquired very many skills yet. (I also don't know how to insert the skill icons into the post, so bear with me). I know she's running Power Spike, Empathy, and Shatter Hex. Aside from the standard Charm Animal and Comfort Animal, the only other Beast Mastery skill she's acquired is Call of Haste. She's currently in the process of farming monsters in Istan for Sunspear rank (and gold, to buy more skills!). She hasn't attempted any Istan missions yet (other than the starter one), but she has achieved the first attribute bonus. Her typical party includes Koss, and the Healer and Motivation henches.

One of my next goals is buying Cry of Frustation and other interrupt skills and BM skills, and completing as many Istan missions and quests as possible for the XP. No survivor title, sadly, as she died once running from Kaineng Center to the Marketplace in Cantha, while trying to reach Shing Jea....my fault for stopping and trying to help the stupid orphan girl....grrrrr. Then I may take her to Tyria to get her the adorable kitty mask (*ahem*....sorry, the Inspiration +1 mask).

If anyone has ongoing suggestions for tactics, skill bars, or other comments or advice, please feel free to chime in!!!

Pick Me

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Thornill, ON, Canada

THE CANUCK MONKS (TCM)

W/R

21 Apr 2008 at 14:42 - 22

To insert skills on a post:

[skill]I Win[/skill]

The "I Win" is the skill name. Insert Charm Animal and you'll see the icon posted in your post.

Just to confirm: You know you can get skills in the training area of Istan (there is a guy at the gate, talk to him and he lets you into the training area). There you'll find 3 guys for each profession, and each one should train you in certain attributes (and you get free skills).

Also, with your heros, goto the hero skill trainers and get free skills to equip yourself and your heros.

Sounds like your M/R is doing well. Keep it up!

Hugh Manatee

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2007

Nice But Deadly[nice]

N/

21 Apr 2008 at 18:39 - 23

You really want to have fun with a Me/R?

Go cap Illusionary Weaponry, get a melee weapon of enchanting, an illusion req offhand with armor and health or a shield get a pet and run an IW Beast master.

Take 12+whatever illusion, 12 beast master, the leftover in fast cast and tigers/beastial fury or preferable Heket's rampage(you won't be using any attack skills so it's a constant +33 attack speed).

[heket's rampage][illusionary weaponry][illusion of weakness][charm animal][comfort animal]

^you get the damage of IW and the pet, a decent 'oh shit' cover enchant, you can take an illusion snare, anscestor's visage/sympathetic visage, additional degen, a pet attack, pet buffs... just fun as hell.... I used to go on 20 win streaks with something like that in RA. You'd not believe the obscenities that flew my way after some random dumbass got his ass kicked by an IW beast master...

Miss Puddles

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

California

Shiverpeaks Search And Rescue [Lost]

Me/

21 Apr 2008 at 20:47 - 24

^i may have to try that :3

my first character was a me/r with a pet (who also used a bow with bow attacks, but i was a noob and that's beside the point...) and i still like dragging out master togo every now and then just for kicks.

master togo is my black moa, btw