Okay, so I have a Mo/W that I have a lot of fun with, he's halfway between 19 and 20 at the moment. Depending on my mood, he'll either focus on healing or farming, and since the two have similarities in the build, I have options open for my other character slots.
I know I want an ALL-magic guy, either an Ele/Mes or Mes/Ele, but I have been having trouble deciding whether Fast Casting or Energy Storage is a better primary. Keep in mind I want these characters to be able to PvP effectively, so my idea is to make a Mes/Ele, get off all the damage spells quickly, than use Energy Draining to get my energy back. But then again, unless the toon is female, I cannot stand the look of the podgy Mesmer!
So my other character is probably going to be a R/Ne, since as I gather, Soul Reaping is useless in PvP, but combining the Ranger's ability to cause conditions along with the Necro's Curse line seems like a decent skill mix.
So what I'm looking for is feedback. The Mo/W is definitely staying. The E/Me or Me/E is definite, and so is the R/Ne. However, my biggest question right now is whether Fast Casting is a more valuable Primary attribute in PvP than Energy Storage, so far the only person who's even responded to these types of questions has been Morganas.
What I'm looking to do is to play challenging characters that don't necessarily have to be the best PvP builds, but I also want to unlock as many skills as possible, so that the fourth slot can be used "spur of the moment" in matches and such. I've heard that you can switch professions in the late game, and buy all the skills of the secondary profession(s) you switch to, but I have not yet even reached that point myself.
Anyways, looking for input!
Character Conundrum
Kaleban
Morganas
Haha, you know my feelings on the matter 
One addition though, if you ever want to farm, energy storage will be the key. Otherwise as I've said before I think fast casting is better.
Oh, and besides being pudgy, mesmer males can't run. They sorta clumsily glide along the ground while pumping their short legs. Even funnier when you have illusion of haste on you.
One addition though, if you ever want to farm, energy storage will be the key. Otherwise as I've said before I think fast casting is better.
Oh, and besides being pudgy, mesmer males can't run. They sorta clumsily glide along the ground while pumping their short legs. Even funnier when you have illusion of haste on you.
Forscience
I would go Energy Storage over Fast casting due to the skill selection available to the Energy Storage line ( namely Ether Renewal and Aura of Restoration).
I think you need to be careful about oversimplifying a class based soley on its prime attribute. Necro-primary armor (for example) is very good compared to other casters, their energy regen is also very nice. Since you are intending these guys for PvE primarily I would definately go Necro primary. But even if you were intending them exclusively for PvP a good arguement could be made for the Necro.
I think you need to be careful about oversimplifying a class based soley on its prime attribute. Necro-primary armor (for example) is very good compared to other casters, their energy regen is also very nice. Since you are intending these guys for PvE primarily I would definately go Necro primary. But even if you were intending them exclusively for PvP a good arguement could be made for the Necro.
Kaleban
Well, Aura of Restoration is okay, but in PvP you wouldn't bring that along most likely since healing is the monk's job, and yours is dishing out damge. And in my experience, most enchantments are used on Monks and tanks, so Ether Renewal wouldn't be as effective, not to mention you're wasting your elite slot on a skill that only lasts 10 seconds with 30 second skill recharge, and if you're casting 2 and 3 second casting time nukes, this spell is even more marginalized.
But with Fast Casting, you get a spell that can last up to 17 seconds with a 30 second cooldown, which allows all your skills to recharge 50% faster, cutting cooldown in half. From what I've seen, Mantra of Recovery is much more useful than the Elementalist Energy Storage skills, at least in PvP.
Lastly, I would not pick a caster class based on the strength of their armors, since I wouldn't have a caster engage in front line melee combat unless it was purpose-built. I mean, the Mesmer has Rogue's armor, but the smaller energy pool it creates is kind of rediculous. And all four caster classes have four energy regen with a base of 30 energy by starter armor.
Also, I want these characters, in the end, to be viable in PvP, and if anyonce can tell me that Soul Reaping has any real benefit in PvP, go ahead and post it. For me, I like to cripple enemies, and make them suffer, which is why right now I run a W/N in addition to my Mo/W. But since I want to unlock the other skills too, I think a Mes/Ele would be a great combo, and possibly a R/N or R/E, not sure about that now.
But with Fast Casting, you get a spell that can last up to 17 seconds with a 30 second cooldown, which allows all your skills to recharge 50% faster, cutting cooldown in half. From what I've seen, Mantra of Recovery is much more useful than the Elementalist Energy Storage skills, at least in PvP.
Lastly, I would not pick a caster class based on the strength of their armors, since I wouldn't have a caster engage in front line melee combat unless it was purpose-built. I mean, the Mesmer has Rogue's armor, but the smaller energy pool it creates is kind of rediculous. And all four caster classes have four energy regen with a base of 30 energy by starter armor.
Also, I want these characters, in the end, to be viable in PvP, and if anyonce can tell me that Soul Reaping has any real benefit in PvP, go ahead and post it. For me, I like to cripple enemies, and make them suffer, which is why right now I run a W/N in addition to my Mo/W. But since I want to unlock the other skills too, I think a Mes/Ele would be a great combo, and possibly a R/N or R/E, not sure about that now.
Phat Bastige
try monk/mes.. while they arent the best for multiple mob damage they heal brilliantly and with illusion/smite spec can take down even the most dogged tank class with a lil finness.
Kaleban
Well, in regards to the Mesmer class, for example if I'm playing with a team that has enough nukers, I can switch to a more Mesmer oriented build with Inspiration, Domination and Fast Casting to get in those interrupts and do your standard Mesmer stuff.
With the Elementalist secondary, I can then use whichever line(s) of damage spells I want, and the only thing I need to do is make sure I'm watching my energy useage and maybe pack one or two more energy management skills.
If I go Elemental primary, than I have much more energy, but than I lose the ability to reliably play the Mesmer interrupter in PvP with the lack of Fast Casting, right?
With the Elementalist secondary, I can then use whichever line(s) of damage spells I want, and the only thing I need to do is make sure I'm watching my energy useage and maybe pack one or two more energy management skills.
If I go Elemental primary, than I have much more energy, but than I lose the ability to reliably play the Mesmer interrupter in PvP with the lack of Fast Casting, right?