Unironically the worst patch notes I have ever read, still no significant balance changes.

"

Pangaearocks wrote:

Besides, the patch notes for 3.22 was pretty damn bad, with almost only Ruthless changes.

When you count words, maybe. The substantial changes happened outside of Ruthless and you'd be foolish to think otherwise

To OP's post:

1) GGG is against forced meta shifts. What does change is a substantial part of gem quality and introducing more special versions of gems. This is HUGE. While zombie gamers will play same ol' same ol' builds it's still substantial.
You could say GGG is offering you a selection of 100 flavours of ice cream and you still go for vanilla. You think you 'solved' the game and thus are stuck in a meta, but it is your own choice to play the same build with some variation for another season, because all you care about is how many divines you can make per hour. Maybe try a different mode for a change, or find something else that is fun for you

And to that point: they DID nerf meta builds because if you check the top builds on poe.ninja 14% of them use Heatshiver and 13% use Kaom's Spirit and both have been hit with the nerf bat. Significantly. Nerfing meta items instead of the ascendancies they (ab)use means they don't impact weaker builds that use the same ascendancy nodes, which is something good game devs do.

2) SC trade complaint, nothing to say there. Game's bigger than just that, and what you see is just the top builds on poe.ninja which is only representative of peepos who are lvl 98+

5) You must have been living under a rock to not have seen the myriads of posts, videos and questions about Ultimatum and when it would be back. Don't like it? Block it. They give you that option, use it

Sorry you're not hyped for the season, but maybe it's your mindset that doesn't allow you to see all the fun that is to be had.

preach

Anyone who thinks softcore trade is a 'PVP environment' has no understanding of ARPGs and isn't anyone that GGG cares about when it comes to balancing the game. Everyone can have their own unique goals in PoE; you're whining about the changes not being enough for you when its clear you don't put agency into this game outside of copy pasting the builds and farming strategies of other content creators. Yet the currency you make every league is only worth anything because it makes you happy, because this is a game. So maybe think twice about discounting the value of people who find enjoyment in PoE outside of chasing meta builds and farming strats.

As with every league those same content creators will find new meta builds and new optimal farming strats. You could be doing that too, if you weren't so busy convincing yourself that nothing has changed.

"

JekoJeko wrote:

Anyone who thinks softcore trade is a 'PVP environment' has no understanding of ARPGs and isn't anyone that GGG cares about when it comes to balancing the game. Everyone can have their own unique goals in PoE; you're whining about the changes not being enough for you when its clear you don't put agency into this game outside of copy pasting the builds and farming strategies of other content creators. Yet the currency you make every league is only worth anything because it makes you happy, because this is a game. So maybe think twice about discounting the value of people who find enjoyment in PoE outside of chasing meta builds and farming strats.

As with every league those same content creators will find new meta builds and new optimal farming strats. You could be doing that too, if you weren't so busy convincing yourself that nothing has changed.

It's almost funny reading some of these messages...
And nowhere did I say there was nothing new to play, I'm saying it won't matter.

For the past 5 leagues now Deadeye, Tornado Shot and Lightning Arrow; have represented 30% of the meta. Add Pathfinder and it's 45%... This won't change this time around either, as the both the archetypes and skills haven't been touched.

Yet people are still trying to argue against or defend said facts, it's pathetic. There's really no use in discussing anything further if basic math can't be both observed and interpreted.

And yes Softcore trade is a pvp-based economic environment, whether you like it or not, whether you want it or not. The moment you step into an economy (as in buying, selling, speculating, investing) bases on capitalistic principles; you're in direct competition with other individuals regarding cost, margin, purchasing power, etc.
Seeing you arguing against said fact simply shows me there's nothing to be discussed with you [Removed by Support]

Enjoy the league though

Honestly I don't care about there not being a meta shift. I'm tired of settling on a cheap build that's also strong only for GGG to pull the rug out from under it and I'm back to scrambling to find something else that works.

And for summoners, those options are becoming increasingly narrow with each update. I'll be honest, I'm surprised poison SRS managed to survive almost unscathed this update, but I'm glad. Almost all of the other summon options have either become terribly weak (zombies, reaper, skeletons, spectres) or have a high price tag to run (mage skeletons). Worse still, all of those aforementioned minions got nerfed with the transfigured gems, some without even a direct buff to compensate.

Instead of crippling playstyles or archetypes, I wish GGG would take another approach and just buff underplayed builds.

"

Pizzarugi wrote:

Instead of crippling playstyles or archetypes, I wish GGG would take another approach and just buff underplayed builds.

they wont

they sadly ventured into 'manage with data' and it turns into vicious loop

'nobody plays melee'
'dont invest into melee'
'even less people play melee'
'dont invest into melee'
.
..
...
3.22 total melee representation is ~5% combined and falling

they think people dont play it because they dont like melee as a whole. while the real reason is that they dont play it because even if they like it, the numbers suck so much even the devoted leave (to play other games or different archetypes, i bet the first option is more popular)

'managing with data' without anyone asking simple question 'why?' and here we are. it is reverse of wishful thinking: neglect something long enough and noone will play it

"

sidtherat wrote:

"

Pizzarugi wrote:

Instead of crippling playstyles or archetypes, I wish GGG would take another approach and just buff underplayed builds.

they wont

they sadly ventured into 'manage with data' and it turns into vicious loop

'nobody plays melee'
'dont invest into melee'
'even less people play melee'
'dont invest into melee'
.
..
...
3.22 total melee representation is ~5% combined and falling

they think people dont play it because they dont like melee as a whole. while the real reason is that they dont play it because even if they like it, the numbers suck so much even the devoted leave (to play other games or different archetypes, i bet the first option is more popular)

'managing with data' without anyone asking simple question 'why?' and here we are. it is reverse of wishful thinking: neglect something long enough and noone will play it

It's true. I search some good melee build for new league with good damage (~30-50mln) and huge defences. And find only Divergent Trauma... and nothing more. Now the alternative qualities will be removed.

So you either have to play melee with a 30mln dps Cyclone or any either skill. Or play in party with cursebot/aurabot. Or DON'T play with the melee build.

"

sidtherat wrote:

"

Pizzarugi wrote:

Instead of crippling playstyles or archetypes, I wish GGG would take another approach and just buff underplayed builds.

they wont

they sadly ventured into 'manage with data' and it turns into vicious loop

'nobody plays melee'
'dont invest into melee'
'even less people play melee'
'dont invest into melee'
.
..
...
3.22 total melee representation is ~5% combined and falling

they think people dont play it because they dont like melee as a whole. while the real reason is that they dont play it because even if they like it, the numbers suck so much even the devoted leave (to play other games or different archetypes, i bet the first option is more popular)

'managing with data' without anyone asking simple question 'why?' and here we are. it is reverse of wishful thinking: neglect something long enough and noone will play it

I think the problem with melee is much deeper than that. What I feel like is happening with melee is that GGG has absolutely no idea how to address it without breaking the game or violating one of their many design philosophies. How do you go about making melee a desirable archetype without turning it into the most broken thing in the game, or without adding items which would probably throw their precious mUh EcUnUmiE into turmoil?

The answer is you can't. Melee's biggest problem is that it's the most dangerous archetype as you have to get up close and personal to hit things, and there's way too many enemies and bosses which have slams that outright kill you if you don't get out of it. Is that not bad enough for you? How about we make it so they spam those slams and discourage you from getting close ever! And if it isn't slam attacks, it's shotgunning or multi-hits at point blank.

I think GGG has ultimately put themselves into a corner for balancing melee they can't feasibly get out of. And instead of addressing it the hard way, they'd let it stagnate at best.

"

Pizzarugi wrote:

"

sidtherat wrote:

"

Pizzarugi wrote:

Instead of crippling playstyles or archetypes, I wish GGG would take another approach and just buff underplayed builds.

they wont

they sadly ventured into 'manage with data' and it turns into vicious loop

'nobody plays melee'
'dont invest into melee'
'even less people play melee'
'dont invest into melee'
.
..
...
3.22 total melee representation is ~5% combined and falling

they think people dont play it because they dont like melee as a whole. while the real reason is that they dont play it because even if they like it, the numbers suck so much even the devoted leave (to play other games or different archetypes, i bet the first option is more popular)

'managing with data' without anyone asking simple question 'why?' and here we are. it is reverse of wishful thinking: neglect something long enough and noone will play it

I think the problem with melee is much deeper than that. What I feel like is happening with melee is that GGG has absolutely no idea how to address it without breaking the game or violating one of their many design philosophies. How do you go about making melee a desirable archetype without turning it into the most broken thing in the game, or without adding items which would probably throw their precious mUh EcUnUmiE into turmoil?

The answer is you can't. Melee's biggest problem is that it's the most dangerous archetype as you have to get up close and personal to hit things, and there's way too many enemies and bosses which have slams that outright kill you if you don't get out of it. Is that not bad enough for you? How about we make it so they spam those slams and discourage you from getting close ever! And if it isn't slam attacks, it's shotgunning or multi-hits at point blank.

I think GGG has ultimately put themselves into a corner for balancing melee they can't feasibly get out of. And instead of addressing it the hard way, they'd let it stagnate at best.

They can make a more significant damage reduction in melee. Not 20% (Fortify). I fink 50% less will feel better. And not for all damage. But only melee/range physical hit. Because protection from elements or spells are other layers of protection (resists, suppression)

Or make the defences from the armor more significant

I agree 100% with what you wrote.

Plus tinctures only applying to attack base is another reason it's the bow league again.

Honestly it's been meta since omni was introduced.