I'm Confused About PoE Part 2 Progression...

So I've started Part 2 Act 6 and I'm back on the beach sort of pressing through a new game with different quests but at the same time I can access and travel to all the Part 1 waypoints too including the hideouts, menagerie, labyrinth, or the mine?

If I go to Part 1 Act 1 Nessa is present but starting out in Part 2 Act 6 Nessa is still missing?

Ratsneve is at level 53 now... She can advance through Part 2 till she reaches level 55 and then jump back to Part 1 Act 5 to enter the Cruel Labyrinth even if she hasn't reached that city in Part 2 yet??

I guess it would make more sense now if Part 1 was no longer accessible? Am I missing something obvious? Or not so obvious??

Help...

"

Ratsneve wrote:

Am I missing something obvious?

You're missing the fact that GGG decided to prioritise gameplay over story :P

You essentially have the power of time travel via waypoints. Acts I-V are frozen in plot-time as of the end of their respective act (notable exception to this rule of thumb: Act 2 quest "The Way Forward" does affect Act 1 dialogue to some small extent via Bestel's quest reward). We haven't been given a plot reason for the time travel; it's mainly for gameplay purposes so that you can go back and do old quests and the like.

Because there are main quests and 'side quests'.

You can skip the side quests and come back later, including quests in act 1. If the game locked you out of acts 1-5, this would be an issue if you missed a quest (because passive skill points are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT).

Okay, so if I finished everything I'm aware of in Acts 1-5 then I'm really finished with Part 1.

What about mining or the cruel labyrinth though?

Kind of weird too because I would think GGG would be happy to lock you out of something you missed the right time to do?

Maybe the labyrinth will be destroyed in Part 2 so to finish its levels (maybe) Ratsneve will have to travel back to Part 1?

If I skipped side quests I'd lose out on leveling up ahead of beasts and the like giving them a farer battle.

I don't want to time travel in PoE.

So I'm not confused--GGG is. LOL

That's some dedication to roleplaying lol PoE is about killing stuff and getting cool items, not some story. At least there is no more doing exact same acts 3 times. Elder is the ultimate bad guy - go get him! And then get him again! And again! :D

"

Ratsneve wrote:

What about mining or the cruel labyrinth though?

Don't worry - the Azurite Mines are home to far more horrifying eldritch abominations than a few measly surface gods, and Izaro has his own Goddess of Purity to shield the Lord's Labyrinth from outside interference.

Just a hint if lore inconsistencies bother you though - in Act 7, finish up all your town business BEFORE giving Yeena the fireflies (she won't accept them in town so it is safe to talk to her with the fireflies in town), then give her the fireflies, and don't go back to town until you reach Act 8. (This wouldn't bother most people, but you have mentioned you don't like using the time travel powers of the Waypoints.)