I want to play this game....but...

I have read quite a bit and i like what i see except for 1 thing. THe idea that i can "brick" a character.


In games like this i usually make 1 guy and hes all i play and i beat the game once then i focus on gear collection. I really dont like the idea of having to make guy after guy to get a specific build just right. I also want to play a game how i want to play. Whats the point of having open specs if players are basically forced to follow a specific build, if they dont they wont make it past a specific point?

Is it possible to spec myself based on what i want, not what a webpage tells me, and still beat end game content?

Yep.

You can take pretty much anything to level 90 in a SC league, but if you're only going to make 1 character, then you'd want to research skill gems and then plan a passive tree before you start.

If you're planning on HC, then you're going to need to be prepared to reroll a few times, even if you follow a guide or do substantial research.

This game is EXTREMELY complex. You won't be able to grasp everything about it the first time you play it, namely, with your characters. Because of that there is a high chance that you will "brick" your character. You can respec some of your point, but don't expect to go down to where you began.
There is a currency item (which is somewhat rare) in the game that allows you to respect one point. End-game trees have around 100 points. So you get the scale - respecing little mistakes, or even a little bigger ones is possible, but reforming WHOLE tree is pretty much useless.

Following build guides is not a great idea when building for a first time - you need to learn as much as possible. If you want to learn stuff, read guides and whatnot, but don't follow any particular build. Build what you find fun looking and what you feel like. Almost all stuff can be made to work in the end game, but you need to know how the game works in order to do it.

But be ready for probability that you will brick it.

Also, if you do not want to "brick" your character, simply play Hardcore. :=) (it is recommended mode to be played)

Hope you get over the feeling of "playing one character", and enjoy this game.

Ps. As a side note, I recently am trying to make a build around item regarded as weak, namely punching people with electricity:



So far level 72 at Hardcore Talisman, and doesn't seem to be stopping any time soon. :D

Rolling multiple chars also give u access to different gems you may need for builds. It's easier to have them available at vendors than to find someone to buy them from.

you can't really brick a character, using orbs of regret allow you to undo your passive tree to try something different. also all characters get a free passive reset when they change the skill tree (every four months or so when a large content patch comes in).

nobody is forced to follow a specific build, all the build guides on the site are ones players came up with, most fun build i ever had was one i made myself and nobody else played.

also, after playing for a bit and learning about mechanics and items, it's pretty likely that you'll find or come up with a new build you want to play. and after a bit of practice (and with helpful items saved up) you'll find you can easily get a character up to mapping level in a couple days.

I have no idea what you're talking about, bricking builds? Being forced into something? I have never been forced into anything, the coolest thing for me is finding out everything, creating own builds...
I understand there are some weird people that only play 1 build per year, if that's the case you'll probably get 3-4 full respecs a year anyways, no idea how you can brick a character. Sure, I don't know anyone's first character that succeeded, but tha's not called brickign to me, it's exploring the game.

I have this feeling you want this game to be D3, if so why are you playing this creative approach to an ARPG? If you expect plug-and-play you're looking in the wrong spot, sir.

Face the reality. This is LEGO kind of game. Do build and see whether it can withstand.

I'd say that best builds are not even disclosed on forums as people are keeping them secret.

"

Effreti wrote:

Rolling multiple chars also give u access to different gems you may need for builds. It's easier to have them available at vendors than to find someone to buy them from.

/little bit of off-topic
poe.trade - all gems available for alts, up to chaos. Not really true, what you say. :V
While it is cool to have them at vendor, rerolling characters to have gems ain't a great idea.

The only time you can brick a build is that you actually put 0 thought into a build at all where you wanted to do, and did 0 research at all.

Even looking at all of the skill gems and a couple of examples of builds that are successful would make your personalize build be much much more successful.

It isn't being "forced to do something" or "playing someone else way." You still need to learn the basics on what would make a certain skill gem or style successful.

I feel that you can easily "brick" a character. If you have never played the game at a high level, and don't know what to expect later on, the decisions you make will be all rather theoretical and, worse, based on experiences in other games that don't apply to PoE (PoE emphasizes defense more than most RPGs).

There's a good chance that the first self-made character, without prior experience, will hit a wall in the 60s. If you play self-found and use a melee weapon or a bow, there is an additional chance to hit a gear wall even if your character isn't completely messed up. The difference isn't always easy to tell for starters.

If it is important to you to have just one character and do end game content with it, I recommend to look up one of those builds that say "cheap" or "self-found". You don't have to slavishly follow the build (it won't hurt), but at least it will give you a structure and an outline that will lead to success as far as the skill tree is concerned.

You get a bunch of respec points to fix smaller mistakes, and you can buy (from players) Orbs of Regret to completely respec (as well as 2-4 full respecs per year when major patches are released, though there is no guarantee for those), but it's better to start with a solid plan.

The game is great for experimentation, but I feel that the very first character isn't the best choice for experimenting. Not everyone agrees with that view, though.