The Illusion of Choice

Beta has lost it's meaning anyways in games today.

Especially when companies ask for money in exchange for services. I think that's the exact definition of when a beta ends.

I'd say early development is what's best to call games today.

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Nonsensei436 wrote:

Minor changes may be made but the fundamental design, along with all its flaws will remain intact all the way to release.

Please...do explain what you mean by flaws? I personally dont see any flaws with the tree. Yes, certain paths are a little weak, but they have SPECIFICALLY said they would be changing certain nodes to improve certain paths to make certain chars and particular builds far more viable. A few examples are Duelist, Melee, and Ranger. I honestly dont know what they need to fix on the ranger, but if they feel it needs fixin, let them have it.

Agreed.

What started as one of the most in depth customization setups going, shortly turned into a joke. Theres not even a smidgem of the builds that there should be based on that tree. This comes down to the fact that they have made everything so "challenging", that you just cant afford to play anything but the stack hit point build.

Sadly at this stage, I would say D3 and POE are par for par as far as build diversity. Fortunately, POE still has other things going for it that place it ahead of that atrocity.

Just my opinions.

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Zalm wrote:

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pneuma wrote:

It wasn't like this in the past.
It won't be like this in the future.

Spoiler

Beta.

I also use a Shadow Summoner, and do perfectly fine. With little over 20 deaths and already in act 3 merc. I use This build and I do just fine. Its not hard to do what you want and be viable. Maybe if you think outside the box, you'll one day be as good as the other theorycrafters.

That is a witch summoner, the only nodes you took in the shadow area are 3(useless) int and a 10% spell power of what could have been gained from first selection in witch tree. you could have 4 extra skill points if you started with witch so all the shadow did was nerf you.

To help break your "facts"

I play as a Witch, almost all my spell are fire based (Fireball/Firestorm) with the only exception being Lightning warp.

Oh aind i have 0 (zero) summons, no spell totem, dont use charges, dont use shield. And i've never used CI nor Blood Magic (in any form).

Did i already said i'm witch caster and a templar?



Now shut up and get your facts right before posting crap.

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NaughtyOne wrote:

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Zalm wrote:

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pneuma wrote:

It wasn't like this in the past.
It won't be like this in the future.

Spoiler

Beta.

I also use a Shadow Summoner, and do perfectly fine. With little over 20 deaths and already in act 3 merc. I use This build and I do just fine. Its not hard to do what you want and be viable. Maybe if you think outside the box, you'll one day be as good as the other theorycrafters.

That is a witch summoner, the only nodes you took in the shadow area are 3(useless) int and a 10% spell power of what could have been gained from first selection in witch tree. you could have 4 extra skill points if you started with witch so all the shadow did was nerf you.

The point is still proven that I use a shadow summoner, and not a witch. Hell, if I was willing to take the nerf, I could also use a mara summoner. The basic idea is you dont have to chose a certain class to use a certain build, which the OP is defiant in saying that you have to use a certain class to be successful in a certain build. Thats just B/S.

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wnightmare wrote:

To help break your "facts"

I play as a Witch, almost all my spell are fire based (Fireball/Firestorm) with the only exception being Lightning warp.

Oh aind i have 0 (zero) summons, no spell totem, dont use charges, dont use shield. And i've never used CI nor Blood Magic (in any form).

Did i already said i'm witch caster and a templar?

build

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgMABLMFQgdjEVASaRRNFVAXHBmFGjgabBzcHwIkqiepKU8snC1HNsU22DbpO-FBlkbXSRtJOklRTdhQQlcrXcZd8mBtbRlwUnDVcXl65n1Tf8aBb4IQgpuDOIdliEKMNox2j0aQVZwtnWOdgJ2unjyiAKKjpLGnCKcrp1ynhK6zr7e2hrvWwcXB88Nt1HzYJN3z37Di9-Nq5CLljuaB52rsGOw47FXvfPFs8XbyHQ==

Now shut up and get your facts right before posting crap.

Posting a crap build has little to do with my point that making a Templar would have resulted in more useful points being used.

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funshynebare wrote:

The more I keep playing, the more I keep realizing this game doesn't have many choices. It's exactly like Diablo 2 in regards to stats. Get enough dex/str/int to use your gear/skills, then stack HP.

Every build should revolve around getting as much max HP % nodes as possible.
Every build should link blood magic to their skills and use their mana for auras.
Want to play a summoner, roll witch.
Want to play melee, roll marauder.
Want to play a caster, roll templar.

The only exception to these is a shadow, and that's only good for EK.

...

For a game that was hailed for its uniqueness and choices, there really aren't that many.

I think you need to play more and not just listen to what everyone else tells you because your assessment is simply not accurate.

I don't use blood magic, even on very fast attacking dual wield builds (the melee style that is supposed to have the worst problems with mana) Don't you realize that blood magic has inherent drawbacks? The biggest one being: Forget about using % reserved auras, and those are the most powerful auras.

As for "off-class" builds: there are many many ways to do it. You don't have to roll a witch to be a summoner. (Did you know that the shadow can reach every single minion node on the passive tree before they even reach lvl 60?) Templar can make a good summoner too.

As for melee, EVERY class in the game can do it, even witch. I have TWO different witch melee builds that I have planned out. One of them I have already started leveling up (dual-wield elemental build using static blows) and I've been amazed at how effective it is.

I think the problem is that people automatically discount any build/skill that is even just 5% less effective than a "cookie-cutter" build. If you stop being a powergamer and stop obsessing over your stats/DPS, and learn a lot about the mechanics of this game, you will find that there are many many different builds that can work with the right combination of skill gems, passives & gear.

If you try something interesting and unique, will you be slightly less effective than the most powerful builds? Maybe, but this doesn't mean it's impossible and that there is "an illusion of choice". It just means that you are stubborn and refuse to use anything that anyone says is weak, even if it is only 5% weaker than other options.

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funshynebare wrote:

Posting a crap build has little to do with my point that making a Templar would have resulted in more useful points being used.

My point exactly. This seemed like a perfectly viable end game build, yet the OP is going to trash it because it isnt perfect, since they could have used 3 more points elsewhere. If OP wants a perfect build, they should go back to D3, stack IAS, CC, and CD and be done with it. This game isnt for them.

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funshynebare wrote:

Posting a crap build has little to do with my point that making a Templar would have resulted in more useful points being used.

You said we dont have many choices and that if someone doens't follow those guidelines they will be struggling.

Great. That makes me an exception!