Ranger/Mesmer or Ranger/Elementalist ?

Gerbill

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

The Frozen plains.

The Llanowar Legion [LL]

Me/N

I've read some builts and topics about it.

And for as far as I see it's like this, correct me if I'm wrong please.

Ranger/Mesmer:
Good for support especially at interrupting.
Can use Mesmer skills to gain energy.
Lower damage than Ranger/Elementalist.
Needs a more skilled player to be used properly.

Ranger/Elementalist:
Higher damage with Conjure Element
Needs higher expertise to keep energy cost low
Lot of skillspamming
If other magic than conjure is used it'll drain a lot of/too much Energy.


I don't know if I'm correct in this, so please correct me if I'm wrong.
I haven't played any Beta's this is only what I've gathered browsing around here.

But what I would like to know is:
What is the most usefull in game and why ?
(i.e. Elementalist cuz of more damage but why would that be more usefull than less interruption ?)

what gives more versitality Mesmer or Elementalist ?

What would you choose yourself and why ?
(just to get some opinions)


I myself like to play versatile characters in MMORPGs so I can fill a different role at a different time if needed, it seems Ranger/Mesmer is more versatile... (not sure..) but does it lack the amount damage ?

valorien

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2005

You asked:
"What is the most usefull in game and why ?"

That depends on a lot of things.
1: PvE or PvP?
2: If you're doing a guild war what are your teamates characters?
If there is little or no Elementalist dmg being dealt you can fill in that gap.
On the other hand if there is no one trying to prevent casting your group will better benefit from the Mesmer sub.

Personally I like the Mesmer sub. You can assume someone else in your party is going to be diving deep in the Elementalist pool. You will deal more dmg with Elementalist sub - true - but your elementalist is still going to be doing much more damage than you. In terms of benefiting the team the Mesmer is probably more likely to help.

Gerbill

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

The Frozen plains.

The Llanowar Legion [LL]

Me/N

Yes the team benefit is what I want to go for, sorry I forgot to mention that in my post.

Okay so to be more of help leave the damage and fill it with more team benefits.

Then another question, if I may..

if I would want to go for:
- Team benefits in interupting
- Also a proper ranged damage dealer
- if possible a low energy cost/high energy regen.
- preferably nice aspd

what kind of stats and skills would be recommended?

Ensign

Ensign

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerbill
What is the most usefull in game and why ?
If there's one thing you need to know about the Ranger, it's that it is the class that plays the *least* well with others. Just about every Ranger build you'll make is going to have 6-7 Ranger skills, and just a token contribution from the secondary. This is just an effect of Expertise making Ranger skills incredibly efficient coupled with their tight energy capacity.

Which is more useful as a secondary? Elementalist. It gives you a couple of useful tools to add to your arsenal, and the Conjures are just sexy - the only drawback being that you lose access to the Zealous modifier. Mesmer has some nice toys, certainly, but the combination has a couple of problems. First, that the Ranger and Mesmer have a ton of thematic overlap, so you can do many of the same things with the two classes - the combination just adds redundancy. Second, many of the better Mesmer skills just aren't that attractive under Expertise and energy constraints. What you're left with are a few tricks that you can use to make builds with, but nothing particularly robust.


Quote: Originally Posted by Gerbill what gives more versitality Mesmer or Elementalist ? See above - neither is particularly versatile. The Elementalist is going to have a couple, more generally applicible tricks, while the Mesmer is going to have several niche builds available. Neither is particularly deep.


Quote: Originally Posted by Gerbill
What would you choose yourself and why ? If I had to pick one of the two for a RP character, Elementalist hands down - Mesmer is completely wasted against monsters and I'd never use the Mesmer secondary outside of a couple narrow situations. PvP character, as the situation dictates.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerbill
it seems Ranger/Mesmer is more versatile... (not sure..) but does it lack the amount damage ? Rangers aren't damage machines - that's what Warriors and Elementalists do. Ranger/Elementalist can do some pretty decent single target damage with Conjures. Ranger/Mesmer leans more towards the disruptive side of things, and grabs a couple Mesmer skills when overloading on all the Ranger disruption just won't cut it.

So what exactly are you looking for?

Peace,
-CxE

Gerbill

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

The Frozen plains.

The Llanowar Legion [LL]

Me/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ensign
So what exactly are you looking for?
What I'm looking for is:

- A character with Ranger as primairy profession (I just like that, and the skills seem appealing to me)

- A secondary profession which has a nice add on to the ranger skills. with skills that are usefull in pvp and get along with the ranger skills. (although as you said it will only have 1 or 2 skills which are worth it since I will mostly be using Ranger skills)

- A character that will be useful in a group when pvp-ing. I'd rather do something more than only do some damage from a distance.

- Preferably a secondary profession which also allows me to switch builts. In example: from being some kind of ranged damage dealer to being a ranged interrupter. (not saying I want to switch between these 2 just an example)


I am not looking for some kind of perfect built because there isn't one, if there was one the game wouldn't be very balanced.
I'm looking for a built I will like to play, I like to play Ranger, because I like range lol, and the skills seem appealing.
Next to that I don't mind a bit of a challenge, so if it's not an easy built to use of (i.e. if you need a lot of timing with your skills) I don't mind, but not challenges like putting the opposite things together just to make it hard on purpose .
And again I would like to have some use in a party, preferably more than one use.
As for pets... I don't really like them.. well they look cool but yeah that's about it for me.

So far I've only thought about Ranger/Mesmer and Ranger/Elementalist, but if someone has a better idea that would fit with the stuff I've put up here, feel free to enlighten me.

Notice: Take in mind that 2 friends of mine who will play, will be a warrior/??? and a Monk/???, so I will most likely be partying with them a lot, as like me, they also don't know their second profession yet.
don't know if that's of any help.

Hope this.. helps a bit.

Gh0sT

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

R/Me

Im actually looking for exactly the same things as what u stated.

Primarily Ranger builds, and something from the 2ndary class to support it.

Im leaning towards Mesmer, as Elementalists only have conjure element (its very good, dont get me wrong... i still had it in my build 1 hour ago), but loosing that zealous string (everyone says its great), and there are better skills to use, especially if you want to support your team...

But ive not decided my final build neither, unfortunately i havent done any BWE so i dont have any live experiance... but i guess i'll have to collect as much info from the forums as i can get

Gerbill

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

The Frozen plains.

The Llanowar Legion [LL]

Me/N

Yes, I've decided to go for Ranger/Monk

Elementalist no use of zealous
Mesmer lot of the same sort of skills


Monk you can put stuff in healing if you go solo, and also handy for party.
else protections or smite can be nice.

Gh0sT

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

R/Me

True, maybe i go for that aswell...

Im still thinking about it

Xellos

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2005

No Idea

Even with Halfmoon bow, is zealous string worth it over a elemental string? I mean, not only do you have a 2 second fire rate, I'm pretty sure the arrow has to reach it's destination before you start reloading. When your using flatbow to snipe off, it must be horrible. Plus, conjure rocks :P

Gh0sT

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

R/Me

Yea im doubting a bit between Conjure Lightning (Ran/Ele)

And Judges Insight (Rang/Mon) and perhaps a healing spell

Maybe i should just try them out both, but i hate it when i make a stupid mistake just because i havent thought it over before playing

EDIT: PS can any of you tell me what zealous bowstring does exaclty, so i look at it again...

Xellos

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2005

No Idea

I don't doubt Judge's Insight as effective, I just hate the 2 second cast. It's like a preperation basically. I mean, a good one of course, but none-the-less the mana is just plain annoying when you spam so much attacks in the first place. Conjure on the other hand is great :P I'm just curious if Zealous Bow String lives up to it's name.