How similar is this to Diablo2/LoD

My friends and I are looking for a game to play together. We use to play Diablo 2 as a group of 5+. I was wondering how similar is this to D2. From youtube vidoes, it looks like an updated version, but then I saw the skill tree and I'm a bit turned off by the size of the thing.

1) It seems character's abilities are tied to the runes that you put inside their armor?
2) pvp is not like daiblo 2 where you just make each other hostile towards each other but you go to like a fighting group?
3) can you group up with friends to clear content and level up together
4) is there a relatively cheap character i should start with.
5) are there seasons?
6) can you reset character

There are similarities and differences. Here's a link to an indepth guide aimed at people coming over from the Diablo-verse: http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Diablo_Player's_Guide_to_Path_of_Exile

To answer your questions:
1. Yes. They are called gems here. Each gem represents either an active skill or a support skill. Active skills can be things like a weapon attack or a spell, whereas support skills add modifiers to that skill. For example, you can cast a Fireball (Active Skill) that is supported by Multiple projectiles (Support), which results in firing 3 (or 5) fireballs at your target instead of one.
2. There is an arena. I've not PvP'd so I have very little detail there.
3. Absolutely! You can create parties, guilds, share a guild stash.
4. There are a number of cheap builds, that don't require much currency investment. I play almost exclusively self-found and I have reached the map stage (think mid-level Greater Rifts) with two characters in Talisman. So absolutely doable.
5. There are leagues that are timed. So, each league introduces a new modification or game mechanic to the game and runs for about 3-4 months. After the season is over, the characters are put into the permanent softcore or hardcore leagues, respectively.
6. If by reset you mean, reset your skill tree then your answer is: yes and no. You earn respec points from quests and a certain currency item, but you can not voluntarily reset the entire passive skill tree at once. I found that usually, every major game update will grant you a free full reset, if changes are made to the tree.

This game is a lot more complex than D3, but imho it is well worth getting into. I've played several hundred hours in D3 and I think just under 1000 POE... and I still look forward to trying out a new skill combination for my next char.

Good luck!

1 Your active skills (ex D2 has Blizzard, PoE has Firestorm) are determined by sockets in gear. There are gems representing active skills and gems which support them (ex Increased Area of Effect). These gems level with you if you socket them.
2 Yes
3 Yes
4 Yes, archer or caster builds which avoid unique items tend to be cheap because all you really need is a good weapon to boost damage
5 Yes. You can choose a league to play in; there are permanent leagues and temporary ones. New temporary leagues are created shortly after the previous ones end.
6 Not for free, but yes. You get 24 respec points from quests, each of which can reset a single level of choices. Beyond that you'll need to collect or trade for Orb of Regret, which can be consumed for 1 respec point each.

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xjlxmchammer wrote:

My friends and I are looking for a game to play together. We use to play Diablo 2 as a group of 5+. I was wondering how similar is this to D2. From youtube vidoes, it looks like an updated version, but then I saw the skill tree and I'm a bit turned off by the size of the thing.

1) It seems character's abilities are tied to the runes that you put inside their armor?
2) pvp is not like daiblo 2 where you just make each other hostile towards each other but you go to like a fighting group?
3) can you group up with friends to clear content and level up together
4) is there a relatively cheap character i should start with.
5) are there seasons?
6) can you reset character

1. yea thats kinda how it works, any class can use any ability provided they have the sockets and meet the requrements, there are also support gems that you can link to abilities that improve and modify them

2. PvP is basically non-existent

3. You sure can in fact its very helpful to do things in a group

4. yes there are many affordable builds

5. there are but they are called leagues, and each new league there is a little sort of twist change the game a bit

6. you can by useing items called orbs of regret, and if you play in the permanent leagues (which i really dont recommend) you get a free reset every 4 months or so.

Without going in to deets. This is the true Diablo successor. The rest have covered it.

Ok so how is the PvP, someone here said it's not existent? can you elaborate on that?

Ok so you put gems inside the gear that helps build you character. So it comes to question, a witch can have the same build as a marauder in this game? Or are the passives skill tree what enable characters to tilt to specific build paths?

Don't be put off by the size of the skill tree. Most of it is spent in "travel time" connecting the nodes that you want. The rest is akin to raising stat points in D2. There are very few character defining moments in the use of the skill tree.

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xjlxmchammer wrote:

Ok so how is the PvP, someone here said it's not existent? can you elaborate on that?

Ok so you put gems inside the gear that helps build you character. So it comes to question, a witch can have the same build as a marauder in this game? Or are the passives skill tree what enable characters to tilt to specific build paths?

Gems are your skills. They level as you use them.

Character determines starting position on the tree. Starting area makes it easier to get certain passive skills, but Witch and Marauder can have the same build.

PVP is currently not part of the main game but happens in an arena setting. I hear it is sparsely populated. Occasionally, during race seasons, there are full PVP hardcore events that can be fun (or frustrating) depending on your viewpoint. There is hope that some sort of Full PVP league will form eventually, but that is not a certainty.

So what defines a character's build? It seems what people are telling me is that an assassin can be exactly like a witch, same abilities and everything.

You'll have to get out of the mind set of character classes. The full tree is open to everyone, the toon itself is just a starting point. So you can make any build with any character. It is just harder for a marauder to be a crit build than it is for a shadow due to starting point.

Having said that, the new ascendant skill trees coming in march may make character choice more important.