Meaningful Ladder System in PoE2: Progression-Based, Inclusive, and Endgame-Focused

Dear Grinding Gear Games Team,

I’d like to propose a new ladder system for Path of Exile 2 that emphasizes meaningful endgame progression, inclusivity for a broader range of players, and robust in-game accessibility. Here’s why I believe this system is critical and what it could look like:

Why This Matters:

Avoiding Meaninglessness:
A strong, dynamic ladder system prevents the game from feeling pointless or directionless, as seen in other ARPGs like Diablo. Players thrive when they can measure their efforts and progress against others, not just through arbitrary milestones but through systems that reward meaningful accomplishments.

Current Ladder Flaws:

Level-Based Ladders: These disproportionately favor players with extreme playtime (12+ hours a day) and hit a cap, making them stale and exclusive to a tiny fraction of players.
Event-Based Races: Exciting but short-lived and irrelevant to the majority of players after they conclude which also again favor players with extreme playtime (12+ hours a day).

What Players Want:
Players want to see themselves on a ladder, regardless of rank, and feel fulfillment as they climb it gradually over time. Not everyone needs to be in the top 10 or even top 1,000, but seeing yourself move from the top 100,000 to the top 5,000 is incredibly motivating.

Proposed Ladder System:

Focus on Endgame Progression:

Tie ladders to endgame systems like Atlas progression, unique dungeon completion milestones, deep delves into new endgame content.
Create a gradual and meaningful system that rewards both highly competitive players and consistent, moderate-time players (e.g., 2–3 hours/day).

Inclusivity:

Allow all players to participate. Even if only the top 1,000 are displayed globally, each player should have a personal rank visible in-game.
Show total participants and percentages (e.g., “You are in the top 8,250 of 150,000 players, placing you in the top 5%.”).

Accessibility:

Make the ladder system an in-game feature, not limited to external websites. This ensures ease of use and motivates players by keeping progress visible during gameplay.
Provide filters for sorting by friends, guild members, or other groups for more personal competition.

Long-Term Value:

A ladder tied to endgame progression naturally evolves as new content is introduced, creating an evergreen competitive system.
Avoids burnout and frustration by rewarding gradual progress instead of emphasizing time-intensive play styles.


Key Benefits:

-Encourages consistent engagement from a wider player base, not just the 0.001% who no-life the game.
-Adds longevity to the game by giving every player a tangible goal to strive for.
-Enhances the community spirit by fostering personal milestones and friendly competition.

Thank you for considering this suggestion. A well-designed ladder system could become a cornerstone of PoE2’s success and help distinguish it from less meaningful ARPGs. I trust in your ability to create systems that respect both hardcore and casual players alike.

Sincerely,
Darknedsoul

Not in EA. When the game actually launches with actual balance to everything and the devs are (still) cooking things? Sure, have at it.