An observation about diffculty, and who is asking for the game to be harder.

I haven't overall had too much difficulty but I do think there are some things that aren't really fair and are just plain cheezy or broken. Stuff like Blackjaw's ridiculous hitboxes, some bosses having way too short telegraphs and windows for their big attacks, near one-shots at high end even with very high defenses and resists, and endgame enemies leaving dumb explosive/acid puddles everywhere.

I don't think the game's too hard. I'm also in the "old and slow" category.

I think in certain places the balance is off, and classes and mechanics are not functioning like as intended in every situation.

What it is not, is a brain off game like poe1

I prefer the pace to poe1. That was always a rush to 90+ before the "real game" started.

This game starts when you wash up at the beach.

Nothing anyone ever said on this forum meant anything .

if GGG tomorrow comes out and says , yes the game is 2 hard we a re toning it down .

Forum will say : yes it was,

If ggg made the game harder and said it was 2 easy

Forum will say : yes it was .

if this was twitch , GGG would be pokimane , and forum posters would be tier 3 subs .

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auspexa#1404 wrote:

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Skyclad_72#2395 wrote:

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auspexa#1404 wrote:

get good, poe 2 is very easy

poe 2 isn't supposed to be for poe 1 players, stick to your subway surfer gameplay

"Isn't supposed to be...." Since when did we start gatekeeping what people play or what enjoyment they derive from playing? Seriously, if your own self-worth is based on how good you are at a video game then you need to seriously evaluate your own choices.

I'm over 50, old, slow, and have the reactions of a dead raccoon. It took me almost 2 hours to clear the Act 1 boss - yep, I suck.. absolutely... but should I stop playing because this game isn't "meant" for me?

Just because "I", and MANY other players don't have the reaction times or grasp that someone like yourself does, it doesn't mean that our time / effort / enjoyment is any less valid.

Seriously, this sweaty tryhard, elitest jerk mentality and toxic "community" has to stop. It's a game FFS. Beyond the "it's too hard" there are a lot of issues that still need to be addressed with an EA product that's only been out over a week.

We ALL (good / bad players alike) want a finished product that we can enjoy. Disregarding other people's issues or concerns with a "you suck" or "get good" isn't helpful. Here's a novel idea... if you're so good and say the game is easy, why not try HELPING other people or giving them tips rather than acting like some kid in a playground throwing insults around.

this is exactly why I've made that statement, poe 2 isn't supposed to be for you. it's clear from the systems and designs that they're targeting a different audience, after all why would they even make two games for the same audience?

would you enjoy fortnite if you played it? probably not, and for the same reason. you are NOT part of the target audience. this has nothing to do with gatekeeping or being an elitist

"poe 2 isn't supposed to be for you." See we're back to the gatekeeping again. I understand what you mean by the change in direction - and yes, I'd rather gouge out my own eyes than play Fortnight lol. HOWEVER, (and this is the big thing), I'm ENJOYING PoE2. Yes, I'm crawling through it at a snail's pace, dying a lot and tearing my hair out at times - but the CHALLENGE and sense of accomplishment for me at least, by pushing that little bit further and progressing a little bit more is what makes it fun. It was the same for me in PoE1 - my highest character was an own build 86 Facebreaker Jugg who could just about scrape Black Star and Searing Exarch. Never managed Eater of Worlds :(

I've played ARPGs since 1996 when the OG Diablo was released. It's probably my favourite genre of game. I'll absolutely admit that I'm finding it difficult due to not having the physical reactions of a 20 year old anymore. I'll also concede I'm not the "target audience" but that doesn't stop my sheer stubbornness to persevere because I'm loving the game so much. That's why the game is "for me", because I'm having an absolute blast with it - and ultimately that's what games are for right? (I know I'm probably sounding like an old hippy at this point!)

Absolutely there are people on the forums who are "it's hard - I hate it" due to frustrations about their lack of progress, and it being so different from PoE1 - but I'll still stand by my "you suck isn't helpful" point. There are probably countless other people, like myself who DO suck and will keep plugging away as much as we can whether we're the target audience or not - because it's FUN.

I don't think anybody has the right to "gatekeep" what people should play or tell them whether it's "for them" or not. I guess it's up to the person/player to find out for themselves and make their own decision

I get what you mean, but the game really isn't that hard. the most frustrating part isn't even act 1, or the campaign, it's the maps where you lose the entire map when you die just once

I had the same idea when I started playing, then I realized my build is just ass. Haven't had any issues since I rerolled into a stronger build

with a good build and a good weapon, the campaign really isnt that hard if you simply pay attention to some stuff. if anyone's having that much trouble with acts, and act 1 in particular, it's most likely because of a bad weapon/bad gear

if you're having fun, you're definitely the target audience, after all you're an OG arpg guy. I'm mostly speaking for the people who're complaining that the game is boring and sucks compared to poe 1

if you are watching some op build , and copy -pasted it , you dont get to speak about the game being hard or not .

you dont know .

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auspexa#1404 wrote:

I agree the melee gameplay is too punishing, but why even play melee in a GGG game? They proved many times in poe 1 that they don't care about melee. I haven't played any melee build in years for this reason, took me like 3 melee builds to see how GGG is favoring ranged/caster archetypes

Not at all surprised to see that nothing changed in poe 2

Melee is not "too punishing" it's in pretty much the spot it should be, just needs a few more skills.

Anyway the game is so easy if you have any clue at all about life and resistance mods you almost can't lose. Playing the worlds worst monk melee build with zero dps rn and still killed both act bosses in 1 try by just standing there and smacking it with basic attack. Tanked the last boss in act 2's overhead slam and survived every time with only evasion/es.

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auspexa#1404 wrote:

I get what you mean, but the game really isn't that hard. the most frustrating part isn't even act 1, or the campaign, it's the maps where you lose the entire map when you die just once

I had the same idea when I started playing, then I realized my build is just ass. Haven't had any issues since I rerolled into a stronger build

with a good build and a good weapon, the campaign really isnt that hard if you simply pay attention to some stuff. if anyone's having that much trouble with acts, and act 1 in particular, it's most likely because of a bad weapon/bad gear

if you're having fun, you're definitely the target audience, after all you're an OG arpg guy. I'm mostly speaking for the people who're complaining that the game is boring and sucks compared to poe 1

It's the problem I have now tbf. I'm playing a witch and specced into my minions being pretty chonky (and they're not actually dying!) but it's affecting my DPS. I've probably overcompensated for survivability too (with 479 life and 569 ES at level 25 lol) But that's half the fun of tweaking and working out what works. At least at 25 the respec costs aren't bankrupting me lol.

I didn't realise you lose the map if you die ONCE - ouch. I haven't gotten that far yet. As/when/if I get there, that'll be an "interesting" experience haha.