Please keep the game hard! Maybe even harder?

Very much agreed towards control. In POE 1 I felt like no matter what I had to find a build guide and play that - whatever it was at the time. In POE 2 I'm actually exploring the tree and trying out different things. I actually get to build a character I want. Much more RP ability because of that - not just what's meta.

Towards difficulty, I would personally like to see it be a bit harder. Packs should be stronger imo and should take longer to clear. D4 has a ton of problems but the main thing that caused me to quit 80 or so hours in was it was just so easy. Brain dead easy. Now I'm past that already in POE 2 and I'd like a bit more Elden Ring / No Rest for the Wicked style.

They certainly can make bosses a little bit harder.

Normal mobs are largely rather fine. Further increases in difficulty will likely lead to sudden spikes on elites/packs.

If anything in POE 1 - you're fighting stats. In POE 2 you're fighting monsters. Difficulty doesn't come from the combat, it comes from inflated numbers. And like 20 other meta games inside of that.

To the OP: You should try finding a job, maybe then you understand why needing 2 hours per map is not working for most people.

The game will naturally become easier as we learn it and GGG balances it more.

For me, it feels about right. Most bosses so far I have been able to do on first try (Sorc cold/fire, Witch minions, SSF), but on some I got stuck and had to adapt, change things & gather some build improvements - which is great, because that's what an ARPG should be about.

I'd be ok with making the game even more difficult - but only if done through mechanics, not just simply ramping up HP & damage or making the loot scarcer.

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morbo#1824 wrote:

The game will naturally become easier as we learn it and GGG balances it more.

For me, it feels about right. Most bosses so far I have been able to do on first try (Sorc cold/fire, Witch minions, SSF), but on some I got stuck and had to adapt, change things & gather some build improvements - which is great, because that's what an ARPG should be about.

I'd be ok with making the game even more difficult - but only if done through mechanics, not just simply ramping up HP & damage or making the loot scarcer.

See, I think we should die, a lot more. Bosses should take multiple attempts and the world should be more dangerous than it is. More punishing. Agreed though about mechanics over straight stat changes. While I think what we had day 1 was a lot better, I am noticing that if I start a new character bosses die a lot easier and normal packs are a lot less threatening which is very sad imo. So I think stats need to go back to where they were but past that we need mechanics. I want to do more than just click a few buttons and not worry - which is what I'm doing now. Combat is feeling more similar to POE 1 now early game (way too easy) and sometimes more towards D4 with these latest patches.

I'm playing warrior and yesterday took me 18 attempts to kill Draven. I am level 9 in a level 7. I was really giving up. I had to learn every single move and a bit of luck too to finally beat him. (By the way, why Asynia is still alive? I killed her before him!). I felt a little bit frustrated and I think that it's not the goal. On the other hand I like the hardness of normal monsters that keep your brain awake.

The game isn't hard, though. If you have a good build, it can almost be one button until they nerf it. I think the game is fine as it is. Maybe it could be a little easier for Act 1. This is to help the non-gigachad get their builds set up and going before the "harder" stuff comes about. I have 68 hours into POE2. It has some tough areas maybe. If you are not paying attention you can get one hit easily. But they moved the right way with the drops patch they just did. It helps people out. Use a monk and run the bell and lightning until level 15. Then switch over to a crit and cold build with the bell.

There is a fine line between frustrated an difficuly.

You all want more difficulty? Go Hardcore.

Chickens.

No thanks. If the masochists are only happy, if they die 100 times before boss success and can't get fun wihout grinding 500 hours for a mediocre magic item, add a masochist mode for them and give the rest a playable, enjoyable game.