a little from column a, and a little from column b
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Is everybody aware how tremendously good Path of Exile is these days?
- Thread starter Imp the Dimp
- Start date
a little from column a, and a little from column b
It's Diablo but F2P. Easiest way to explain it.
Outside of town areas everything is instanced for your group.
Redshirt
Banned
Load times on PC have been WAY improved.
Crankshaft
Member
That happened to me on my pc. I can happily report that it loads much quicker now.
Tabs are great and you will fill your tabs fast endgame (if you are a hoarder like me). I recommend the currency tab! There must be some armors/character effects/ weapon effects you think look cool. There are hundreds!
Like these wings! They look cool in action.
Those things are stupidly expensive for what they are, though. Cheapest wings alone is what, 25 bucks?
Not a complaint as such (you already get so much for free, after all), but with the current pricing scheme a lot of people won't ever buy anything but some stash tabs. I suppose it works for GGG though, and I'm thankful for those whales who buy these things and keep the game in development.
TheRazielim
Member
Well, the baseline gameplay is pretty cookie cutter, but that's a genre-wide problem, especially since nowadays you can mow down groups and hordes of monsters from the getgo, unlike in D1 where you started out very low key.
Real beauty of the genre is definitely character building, and PoE probably has the most interesting and complex one out there. If you are not into experimenting and trying new builds, the game is not for you. Also, as is the case with genre, the game is meant to be played multiple times. That's why I think the most fun is to go in semi-blind. You don't actually need any guides when you start out. Yes, you can fuck up your build for high lvl content, but so what? You have a much better idea of what kind of build will survive the bosses, what your current character lacked and what items one could potentially get in the end. With that knowledge, you can try a new and better one. And once you've mastered those, you can start theorycrafting some real quirky and experimental builds.
arts&crafts
Member
F2P Action RPG (Diablo 2 is the closest game)
I've been playing PoE and diablo3 recently, and both titles are 'lacking'.
For PoE:
- by the mid/late-game it seems to be all about farming for sockets, *not* loot. In fact, for a game mostly based on the concept of loot - the loot in PoE is mostly terrible/useless.
- it has a pseudo-auction house. The only saving grace is that it's terrible.
- the cost of respec is far too high for anyone other than the truly hardcore.
On the plus side, the content is good, there are tons of mechanics, you feel invested in your character (probably too much).
For Diablo3:
- when your game has 18 skill levels, you screwed up. When the default skill level is face-rollingly easy, you really screwed up.
- the "paragon" system. A leveling system which is literally "+0.5% to X". The most uninspired, boring, bland thing in the history of boring and bland things.
- solo mode is entirely solo. It lacks the 'shared town' feature of PoE.
- adventure mode. It's a decent idea, but falls horribly flat compared to the map system in PoE.
Weirdly, I find D3:adventure mode more playable than PoE.
For PoE:
- by the mid/late-game it seems to be all about farming for sockets, *not* loot. In fact, for a game mostly based on the concept of loot - the loot in PoE is mostly terrible/useless.
- it has a pseudo-auction house. The only saving grace is that it's terrible.
- the cost of respec is far too high for anyone other than the truly hardcore.
On the plus side, the content is good, there are tons of mechanics, you feel invested in your character (probably too much).
For Diablo3:
- when your game has 18 skill levels, you screwed up. When the default skill level is face-rollingly easy, you really screwed up.
- the "paragon" system. A leveling system which is literally "+0.5% to X". The most uninspired, boring, bland thing in the history of boring and bland things.
- solo mode is entirely solo. It lacks the 'shared town' feature of PoE.
- adventure mode. It's a decent idea, but falls horribly flat compared to the map system in PoE.
Weirdly, I find D3:adventure mode more playable than PoE.
Crankshaft
Member
I've tried to trick myself into thinking, "hey they just added an expansion pack to the game, I should just buy a supporter pack and pretend im buying the expansion"
But then I look at the supporter packs and im like "no thanks". If they had just made the base game free and charged for the expansion packs then I would have given them plenty of money already lol.
D
Deleted member 325805
Unconfirmed Member
It's all my friend plays, I played it awhile back and got many hours out of it but I think I'm pretty much done with Diablo games.
Rockandrollclown
lookwhatyou'vedone
I like D3 better, but it's pretty great for a free game.
arts&crafts
Member
I dont really get the socket thing at all because you can socket any items you find and once you pass "mid-game" you will already have a 5 socket/link so sockets no longer matter (strictly from a finding socket standpoint). And the loot is actually quite varied and different as a lot of the uniques give crazy bonuses that are needed for certain builds. For example, I am currently a Righteous Fire build and use 2 uniques that add maximum fire resistence so I hardly take any damage from RF. Without them, I could not use RF as I would die.
I do agree with your last 2 points though, I hate the trade situation.
Night Angel
Member
1. This is incorrect. While sockets are the most important aspect for your main skill, the stats of your gear are also extremely important. You'll die very fast with a tabula rasa (blank stats, 6L) in the endgame. The farther you get, the more important stats are. A 6L can't make up for shit gear, and defense is generally better than offense.
2. The trade board is terrible, much worse than an AH. They need to fix this shit.
3. Respeccing is indeed expensive. It's meant more as a way to fine tune your character rather than fully alter your build. A full respec would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of 90c plus the points you get from the story. They do this so players get more invested in their characters/builds, as you noted. Personally, I think it's a good move after coming from D3 where I would use a new build after getting a single new item.
3000hrs and counting, its pretty good.
I'm generally not the type to replay games either, but there's something insanely satisfying about theory crafting and actually implementing some whackjob builds that makes me keep coming back.
It helps that it has the most expansive character building systems I've ever seen in a game.
I'm generally not the type to replay games either, but there's something insanely satisfying about theory crafting and actually implementing some whackjob builds that makes me keep coming back.
It helps that it has the most expansive character building systems I've ever seen in a game.
Netherscourge
Banned
I like the maps and world in general, but the combat is really weak and clunky.
I tried this a couple of weeks ago and after about five hours I booted up Diablo 3 to start a necromancer. The aesthetics and combat were just too bland and boring. I see a lot of people say it gets better and faster paced later on but I don't see why I should trudge through the bad stuff to get there. If there were an interesting story or characters it'd be different but I could not have cared less about any of that here.
Definitely a great f2p model though, kudos to the devs for that. The cosmetics are stupidly overpriced but I'm not really going to complain much about that when you get so much for free.
The socket system is cool and by no means is it a bad game but I'd rather play other ARPGs.
Definitely a great f2p model though, kudos to the devs for that. The cosmetics are stupidly overpriced but I'm not really going to complain much about that when you get so much for free.
The socket system is cool and by no means is it a bad game but I'd rather play other ARPGs.
I can't speak in terms of the end-game, but by the mid-game (just after the 1st labyrinth) sockets were overwhelmingly important. For me, loot was tedious, boring and almost entirely useless. In comparison to diablo, the mid-game loot was far more interesting in diablo. That's a personal review, so YMMV (or it may change wildly later on? /shrug I just gave up at this point).
In terms of the trade board, after playing D3:auction house, I think ARPGs should simply not have trading. A game about 'collecting loot' seems to become somewhat lost if you can collect loot from the AH. But, this isn't really a problem in PoE at the moment.
I've always hated the seasons systems in these games. I'm guessing I don't have to worry about that if I just want to make a new char and play through all the new content? Been a few years but I seem to remember some stuff being unique to new seasons or the ladder or however this game handled that.
nicoga3000
Saint Nic
I thought the gear was a problem at first, but I changed my opinion last night after finding a rare claw drop with a few more points of added physical damage and life per hit. It improved my DPD from 580 to like 640, but the small boosts in there as well gave me the bump needed to take down an act boss.
One thing POE does better than D3 IS gear. It's not about set gear and legendaries only. It's literally about every single minor bump in stats and trade offs from using various pieces. Bat least early and mid game. And that's really cool to me. I think Grim Dawn was similarly done, and I love that game, too.
One thing POE does better than D3 IS gear. It's not about set gear and legendaries only. It's literally about every single minor bump in stats and trade offs from using various pieces. Bat least early and mid game. And that's really cool to me. I think Grim Dawn was similarly done, and I love that game, too.
To your first point, one of the reasons I love the game is because all kinds of loot are viable and valuable. A normal white item can be worth tons (opal rings, steel rings, leather belts, stone hammers.) A magic Merciless item can be considered godly (all kinds of magic items can be sick)
And besides some very select unique items good rares are generally the best items in the game. That's a very interesting and diverse loot system for me.
I do like the trading / poe.trade auction house. It's way better than sifting through trade channels (or going in trade games Diablo 2 style.)
I agree with the last point though, maybe make it a bit easier to respec on your character one time. Like some vendor retraining recipe you can only use once or something.
Wickerbasket
Member
Loved the loot aspect but the combat was painfully boring.
Would still recommend people try it though, just to see how good loot can be done.
Would still recommend people try it though, just to see how good loot can be done.
I'm not currently playing, but Path of Exile was one of the best free to play games I've ever played. It's so feature rich and very deep, letting you build some crazy awesome characters. I put well over 120 hours into the game.
Highly recommend anyone that hasn't given this a shot to do so. You've really got nothing to lose.
Highly recommend anyone that hasn't given this a shot to do so. You've really got nothing to lose.
The Hermit
Member
The real Diablo sequel.
I know this is cliche and frowned upon, but I wanted this on a portable, preferably one that could go on the TV.
I know this is cliche and frowned upon, but I wanted this on a portable, preferably one that could go on the TV.
PoE does actually have a solo self-found mode with its own leaderboards, so if you want to play it like that you can.
I have tried several times but I just cannot get into the game unfortunately.
The gameplay itself just falls so incredibly flat for me. Business model seems good, lots of variety/depth in builds, loads of content, etc.... So I hate that it doesn't grab me but I've just been unable to force it. Ultimately slaying enemies just doesn't feel fun...
The gameplay itself just falls so incredibly flat for me. Business model seems good, lots of variety/depth in builds, loads of content, etc.... So I hate that it doesn't grab me but I've just been unable to force it. Ultimately slaying enemies just doesn't feel fun...
hobblygobbly
Member
I still find myself playing Diablo 2 instead every time I have the itch than either PoE or Diablo 3, game is still really active online too, as well as the Median XL mod/server.
I like PoE and I played it also when it was still an alpha where you could only get in with keys, but neither D3 or PoE satisfy the gameplay and art aesthetic (incl. music) I get from D2.
I like PoE and I played it also when it was still an alpha where you could only get in with keys, but neither D3 or PoE satisfy the gameplay and art aesthetic (incl. music) I get from D2.
Also to the people that say combat is boring at first in this game but hold Diablo 2 in high regard. Please go back and replay that game.
I play it once a year and the first 35-40 levels combat wise are generally pretty bland. In Diablo 2 combat doesn't start really opening up until you get your level 30 skills or beef up a few other skills. PoE is structured similarly in that some of the interesting support and skill gems have a level 28-35 level req. I really like the escalation of power in both games though. You can feel yourself growing stronger opposed to just feeling like an OP god right from the get go.
I can see why people would prefer one over the other though.
editing in this quote:
I agree with this 100%. As much as I love PoE and even D3 to a certain extent nothing comes close to the music and vibes of Diablo 2 for me.
I play it once a year and the first 35-40 levels combat wise are generally pretty bland. In Diablo 2 combat doesn't start really opening up until you get your level 30 skills or beef up a few other skills. PoE is structured similarly in that some of the interesting support and skill gems have a level 28-35 level req. I really like the escalation of power in both games though. You can feel yourself growing stronger opposed to just feeling like an OP god right from the get go.
I can see why people would prefer one over the other though.
editing in this quote:
I agree with this 100%. As much as I love PoE and even D3 to a certain extent nothing comes close to the music and vibes of Diablo 2 for me.
HashtagLapsed
Member
I'm playing RF/SR Templar right now and the combat is very satisfying and stupidly fast paced.
I have a couple hundred hours in Diablo 3 (I think) and have had a hard time getting into PoE when I tried after this latest release.
I think the biggest issues for me are the art style, the inability to re-spec easily/cheaply, and the slow pace of combat to start out. Also, the currency system seems convoluted and not as rewarding as gold/platinum, etc.
I haven't given up, but not sure it's going to hook me.
I think the biggest issues for me are the art style, the inability to re-spec easily/cheaply, and the slow pace of combat to start out. Also, the currency system seems convoluted and not as rewarding as gold/platinum, etc.
I haven't given up, but not sure it's going to hook me.
funroll-loops
Member
I couldn't get used to the controls locking so many things (primary attack, movement, probably some others) to mouse 1 with no way to reconfigure, and the zoomed in isometric camera. It felt too much like being stuck in the 90s
I thought the game was very addictive but it wasn't actually all that enjoyable
I thought the game was very addictive but it wasn't actually all that enjoyable
uncredited male
Member
It was decent but too much of a timesink for me once you get to the maps. I also tried using energy shield for defense which was kind of a struggle.
As mentioned the respec costs are stupid high.
As mentioned the respec costs are stupid high.
There is a solo self found mode if no trading is what you want. However, PoE entire orb, currency and crafting system is balanced around trading and embraces that.
Also, PoE has great loot in terms of early, mid and late game uniques many of which are build defining but others are great for levelling with.
Who cares about level 30 loot?
Removing trading was one of the worst things they did in D3, it's no fun wanting to play a build and hoping you're lucky enough to get the item you need.
Systemically there are some awesome aspects. The gemming of skills and passives is awesome. I do wish the giant passive tree was more personalized. Grim Dawn is really good because it has specific skills you can level up and then affect with the constellations.
the Diablo-esque games have really stepped up. Before we only had Titan's Quest for competition, but now it feels almost saturated.
the Diablo-esque games have really stepped up. Before we only had Titan's Quest for competition, but now it feels almost saturated.
nicoga3000
Saint Nic
I have played a ton of D3. Yeah, the RMAH was fucked, but it was a fascinating experience. I also played a little during each major "content shift". D3 is not a bad game, and I don't know many people who think it's a terrible piece of garbage.
I just think that the game is overly simplified in a lot of what it does. It's arguably the most accessible ARPG out there (maybe Torchlight 2 is a bit easier, but I haven't played the second so I don't know). It's not a "kiddie" ARPG, but it's definitely a great intro to the genre before diving into more complex ones like Grim Dawn and PoE. Itemization in D3 is significantly less exciting feeling [to me] than it is in other games the genre.
Completely unrelated, I should reinstall and play through Sacred 2 again. I LOVED that game and it was a really fascinating delve into more ARPG-esque games.
Redshirt
Banned
It's a double-edged sword.
Yeah, RNG can screw you, but the alternative means you can spend a lot more time playing the trade market than playing the game.
Blizzard has also provided players a lot of in-game ways to ensure this doesn't happen.
MagusMaleficus
Member
Burning ground on the Xbox version...yeesh. But then it can be a performance issue on PC too. That screen tear though... Hopefully the XOX version cleans that shit up.
Dark_castle
Junior Member
Yes, amazing game. When you think you have enough fun, getting a headhunter makes the fun x10.
Killroyskbg
Member
I would really like to love this game since I played the hell out D2 and D3 but I just can get over how boring it looks every time I watch a end game video. Characters just run with no other animation and fireballs and other things just pop out of nowhere. Diablo 3 might not have lived up to D2 when it comes to combat depth but it plays so much better (especially on console which I actually prefer) and this looks even more stale than D2. There seem to be no impact so to speak.
Am I missing something or just looking at the wrong videos?
Am I missing something or just looking at the wrong videos?