Solo endgame -- what to expect?

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CliveHowlitzer wrote:

It is basically the same end game as parties. You do maps. The only major difference is that its quite a bit harder to sustain your map pool beyond 70. Outside of that, it is basically the same.

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merlecorey2013 wrote:

Alright, so I was thinking about buying a supporter pack. You know, to show my support for the game and, well, the goodies are sort of nice, too.

I almost clicked the "Buy" button.

But then I started thinking. I don't have a regular group to play with, and most of the time I end up playing solo. So what do I have to look forward to? I am level 67 and the xp grind is becoming annoying. It's not a nice, relaxing grind, either: losing concentration means a waste of a *lot* of time. What's left? Maps? I tried soloing one, it was mildly entertaining, except for the part where the boss ate all xp I got clearing the rest of the map. Challenges? I tried a couple of those and they didn't look particularly interesting.

Am I missing something here? Because so far the rest of the game looks to me -- a solo player -- like it's going to be somewhere between uninteresting and painful. I hope I am wrong about this.

(Please don't take this as a QQ: it is entirely possible that the endgame of PoE is simply not for me. I am perfectly fine the possibility of not playing it and, well, spending my money on something else.)

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merlecorey2013 wrote:

Thanks to everybody who replied.

I cleaned up my build and gems (but not gear; more on that in a bit). Build changes were mostly irrelevant, gem changes and skill usage changes made a whole world of difference. So far so good.

The problem of hitting the XP wall still remains. Granted, I am nowhere near that point, but it's clear that I will hit it eventually. I don't know what went through GGG devs' heads when they decided to put XP loss into a F2P game, but hey, they're the ones who will have to live with the consequences.

There are two additional problems threatening my interest in PoE. I haven't realized originally that they existed in the first place.

The first problem is balance. I didn't foresee how badly out of whack it was when I first started playing. I even "exercised due diligence" and made sure the class and build I was going to play was at least somewhat decent. Too bad everything I found had been posted before a major balance change had compromised the caster power curve at higher levels. I suppose I could start playing one of the FotM melee classes, except I don't enjoy playing melee. Oh well.

The second problem is the economy. Those of you who have been playing this game for a while will probably shrug it off, but to a newer player those prices are... well, "prohibitive" doesn't begin to describe it. From what I've seen, there's enough inflation going on that improving my gear by buying anything is mostly out of question. So, no matter how much I hate it, I am effectively playing by "self-found only" rules. I don't think I need to spell out what that means.

To sum it up: the playstyle that I consider most fun suffers from major balance problems at the high end; the XP wall is getting closer; and I can pretty much forget about buying anything from other players. This... doesn't sound very enjoyable in the long run. So, although I am not going to quit just yet (again, this is not intended to be a QQ), I don't think it's a good idea to spend a large sum of RL money to support this game. Not because I can't afford it, but because I simply don't feel I'll get my money's worth.

One day, if and when GGG decides my money is worth chasing, I might buy one of those supporter packs. Today they don't, so I won't.

Pity, really.

Ah well. Everybody who replied, thanks again for your feedback.

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CapitalPunishment wrote:

Im solo endgame right now. Ill give you a bit of insight into what I do, and what you can expect.

Im 76 right now. My gear is pretty bad aside from the one unique weapon I bought which is the cornerstone of my build and cost me just about everything to get.

At my level there are no good spots to farm XP, it take ages to level up, and a death means a LOT of time spent leveling wiped out. It kind of sucks, because it limits what I do.

WHen I fresh level up, I run dropped maps. I can expect to either clear it no issue or die 2-4 times depending on the mob layout and unique boss location/boss type. 2-4 deaths is a lot of XP considering how long it takes to even get enough to not be zeroed out on the level after that many deaths, so I only risk it on a fresh level.

Sometimes ill clear 3-5 maps no issue, or with one death, and ill have 25% a level or a bit more.

What I do now, is a race through Lunaris Temple avoiding Kole (not worth the trouble) get to the 3rd level and I farm that, I don't do piety (on a fresh level I will but the loot is meh for me anyway) Ill run lunaris level 3 and docks (which is crap xp) for a change of pace. Both levels are safe and the only deaths that occur are rage inducing desync and occasional WTF rogue exiles that wont let me run and potal out. If I see something that looks rough ill just reset the instance, not worth risking a death.

I get almost no drops and no currency farming lunaris/docks, the best I hope for are 3 link with 3 colors for a chrom orb or a rare with a minion/skill gem mod that gives alch shards.


For endgame maps ill get about one unique per day, sometimes as many as four, mind you I only run them fresh leveled so not every day I do them. Ever.Single.Uninque...is utter crap and meant for noobies on endgame maps, to the point where I just pick them up and ID them when im full and at the vendor, its not exciting. What low level unique did I just get? Who cares I don't even need gear on normal difficulty so they are "for fun". I desperately need endgame gear for higher level maps and certain rare maps...desperately. I need currency as well, which doesn't drop, or selling sellable unique, which don't drop.


Basically...you are better off stopping after you can clear Act 3. Reroll another character. Endgame isn't fun, its not rewarding. You take drop penalties for most the maps that are not endgame dropped maps, and the dropped maps can be difficult. Perhaps this all gets fixed with another act coming in the next 6-9 months...but the endgame map drops are pathetic.

You simply should not be getting gear that can be worn by a character under level 60 on a level 66 or higher map.