The Mesmer is a class that is unique to the world of Guild Wars.  Although it
borrows from classic elements of Illusion and Manipulation Magic in other
fantasy genres, the Mesmer class as a whole is a subtle combination of magic as
an artform, a force to be controlled and composed.  Mesmers resemble thespians
of the classical kind, harkening back to stage actors, gypsies, and jesters.
But their magic is far from only performance art.  The heart of Mesmer magic is
the control of Energy and the ability to turn an enemy’s magic against itself.

The name Mesmer probably comes from the word “mesmerize”, which in turn comes
from the name of German physician Franz Anton Mesmer (1734 – 1815), who
discovered what he called “animal magnetism” and others often called mesmerism,
the precursor to hypnosis.  Indeed, the Mesmer seems to be able to manipulate
its opponents in subtle and unusual ways, similar to hypnosis.

The Mesmer is probably the most challenging class to play in Guild Wars.  Many
of their strengths require much skill and quick timing on the part of the
player. If you enjoy shutting down other spellcasters, countering their every
move with subtlety and finesse, you will enjoy playing a Mesmer.

I am writing this guide as a personal challenge to create the best Mesmer guide
that I possibly can.  By no means will this guide be a definitive final word,
especially for a class as complex and subtle as the Mesmer.  I will do my best
to keep this guide up-to-date, but there are hundreds of ways to play a Mesmer
and thus one should read this guide with an critical, but open, mind.

Why Should I Play a Mesmer?
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* Not only do Mesmers have great Energy Regeneration (just like the other
  spellcasting classes), they also have many skills for Energy management,
  giving them the ability to replenish their Energy almost at will.
* Mesmers have the largest number of interrupts, allowing them to disrupt other
  people’s skills with ease.
* Mesmers have a large number of Damage Over Time (DOT) spells, including the
  iconic DOT spell, Conjure Phantasm.  DOT spells ignore armor, making them very
  useful for weakening heavily armored opponents.
* Mesmers have the unique primary attribute of Fast Casting, which allows them
  to cut down on the long casting times of many spells.
* Mesmers have excellent Hex and Enchantment removal, giving them a leg up on
  enemies that rely too heavily on spells.
* The long-lasting Mantras are some of the best stances in the game.
* Mesmers make an excellent secondary profession, as many of their spells have
  great utility for any build.

Why Shouldn’t I Play a Mesmer?
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* Mesmers have the worst armor in the game, tied with Monks.  They are quite
  vulnerable to both physical and elemental attacks, although damage can be
  reduced by the various protective Mantras that they have.
* While Mesmers do have a few high-damage spells, overall they will inflict
  less damage per second than other classes.  Their main utility is preventing
  damage or healing by stopping enemy spellcasters, rather than dealing out
  large amounts of damage.
* While Fast Casting is sometimes useful, it is not as beneficial as other
  primary attributes.  You have to sink many points into Fast Casting to notice
  a substantial improvement, and there is only one skill linked to it.
* Mesmers lack a good self-heal compared to most other classes.  Only the
  Elementalist has worse self-healing capability.
* Several Mesmer skills do not appear to be useful without a lot of thought and
  experience in playing a Mesmer.  It is the least straight-forward of all the
  classes in Guild Wars.
* Using interrupts requires split-second timing and a careful eye, which gives
  the Mesmer a steep learning curve compared to other classes.
* In the holy trinity of “Fighter/Healer/Mage”, Mesmers are often ignored, as
  most people are looking for either a Monk or an Elementalist.  This is less
  true in PvP (where Mesmers really shine in shutting down PC spellcasters),
  but it can be difficult to find a group to do missions and quests in PvE.
* The Mesmer /dance emote leaves something to be desired, unless you are a big
  fan of Riverdance. *grin*