Best Droknar Armor

Depends on what kind of mesmer you are...
I highly prefer Enchanters for the extra energy. Enchanters I thought would be work the best over all as a versitle armor, cause Extra Energy is Extra Energy for any sort of Mesmer build...hmm...

enchanters. you'll need energy.
Then Enchanters it is :P

Isn't the +Armor while casting Global anyway? Shouldn't you use at least one piece of that? Either it's with that, or it's only with the 15k armor, I'm unsure and was pondering that my self.

Isn't the +Armor while casting Global anyway? Shouldn't you use at least one piece of that? It's global. However, expecting +15 armor to save you if you're stupid enough to stand and cast in the wake of monsters breeds the wrong tactics. There is no situtation you would need it anyway- I've never had a problem tanking 1-2 mobs using full fow enchanter's, most of the time I wouldn't be casting anyway (2x empathy, then conserve energy for distortion).

A higher energy total allows me to run my dom/illu build with no energy management, as I can unleash all my spells and have enough to remove hexes/kite.

It's global. However, expecting +15 armor to save you if you're stupid enough to stand and cast in the wake of monsters breeds the wrong tactics. Right.

But you have to stop moving to cast, and you'll have to cast spells at different times for different builds so at some point you'll be casting and some one will have a shot at you, whether it is a ranger or a warrior or an ele. And no I don't expect it to save me at all. But the difference is like -1 or -2 energy (if you switch out the gloves) and you get the global +15 armor. 1 or 2 energy isn't going to make any difference, so why not take every advantage you can get?

It's global. However, expecting +15 armor to save you if you're stupid enough to stand and cast in the wake of monsters breeds the wrong tactics. There is no situtation you would need it anyway- I've never had a problem tanking 1-2 mobs using full fow enchanter's, most of the time I wouldn't be casting anyway (2x empathy, then conserve energy for distortion).

A higher energy total allows me to run my dom/illu build with no energy management, as I can unleash all my spells and have enough to remove hexes/kite. Hmm. I rely on E-management to save my energy. +6 Energy from Enchanter's won't let you cast more than 1 additionnal spell (with no E-management). In case of long fights (GvGs), having better armor and less energy but strong E-management (as a mesmer you're the king for that) is better. Your good armor (especially against physical if you take Rogue's chest/leggings)) will seriously increase your life span against adrenal spikes and save the energy of your monks. But that's my point of view, maybe it's flawed.
I think you are fond of the distortion-then-cast tactic. But this tactic requires high Illusion and Energy (so your choice of Enchanter's). But you are stuck this way with Illu builds. When your monks can heal you, having a better armor and less self defense (and rely on kiting-but kiting won't prevent you to be shot/struck all the time) is a good way to go if you're not Illusion.