Mesmer Armor: Courtly vs. Performer's

OK, I'm puzzled. I'm trying to figure out the difference between the mesmer's Courtly Set and Performer's Set.

It seems like both sets have exactly the same statistics:

Gloves: +5 Energy, +15 AL when casting
Attire: +5 Energy, +15 AL when casting
Hose: +1 Energy Regen, +15 AL when casting
Footwear: +1 Energy Regen, +15 AL when casting

I feel like I'm missing something. Can anyone help me out here?

Thanks.

They look different. One is probably more expensive in terms of materials used. That one is probably the flashier version.

Aye, there are a fair few sets of armour in the game like this. They have identical cost, AC and modifiers but utilise different materials in the crafting process. The difference is as the previous poster mentioned, the more harder to find materials usually create armour with a fancier look.

Speaking of courtly and performer's, anyone know why the heck a mesmer who has fast casting would ever wear this junk? Mesmers spend practically no time casting, even when spamming (they spend most of their time in the "downtime" in between).

Performer's make your thighs look thinner, however, you have to watch out for the missing crotch.

Thanks all ... very helpful. So I'm not crazy, and it really all boils down to which one looks better.

As for why anyone would wear this "junk"; well, being interrupted by a Distracting Shot or Disrupting Chop is very very bad for a Me/Mo. When I am casting, I need all the protection I can get.

Distracting shot and disrupting chop are not likey to hit a mesmer while casting, and in doing so, not likely to get reduced dmg. In fact, with fast casting, almost every hit you take will be while you're not casting. Such attacks also deal pitiful damage (well, distracting shot does), and a good many people use mesmer with monk for that anti interrupt stance, and know better then to try and interrupt a mes/monk. Energy denial is the prefered tactic against monks, unless you're an illusion mesmer.

while on the subject of armour whats the differance between the first post ascencion srmour and the granite citadel armour hey even look the same for the plate mail. And they cost 15k each.

No difference, but the appearance of the 15k armor should change in an upcoming patch, eventually. It's different for most class 15k sets.

Oh yer ones 1.5k post ascencion and the citadel one is 15k no differance that I see.