Some suggestions and ideas for endgame after 100+ hours (Level 83 Titan)

First, the game has an absolutely solid foundation. At it's current state I would rate it a 8/10 in terms of overall gameplay. With over 4000 hours in POE1, I'm slowly coming to appreciate more and more of POE2's style.

Art & Graphics: 10/10

Music: 9/10 (Music is really good and love the ambience, reminds me of D2 and a little bit of Baldur's Gate 3. I hope that in the future they will pull more from PoE1.)

Game Balance: 7/10 (Will go further into this below)

Itemization: 7/10

Story: 7/10 (I wasn't captivated by the story, felt generic but that is pretty common with ARPGs)

------------------------Notes--------------------------

Combat and Balance

1. Not being able to use multiple of the same supports feels very limiting but if they change this, they will have to rework Gemling Legionnaire's ascendancy.

2. I agree with most sentiments on the forums about melee feeling slow/clunky. Some abilities could use a slight attack speed boost. Shouldn't be locked into a direction with Stampede, I would love to circle a mob or turn a corner.

3. As a Titan, even with high armour stack, capped resists (along with max resists), block, etc, I'm still getting one-shotted easily on Tier 11+ maps. It is mandatory to have a shield for higher mapping imo.

4. As I play more, I'm loving the more slower gameplay over the extremely fast-paced POE1. Feels very methodical compared to POE1.

5. Trying to theorycraft craft some builds like I did in POE1 but it seems more limiting in POE2 for some reason. Maybe due to lack of weapon types and the other classes?

Itemization

1. Runes socketed into an item should be able to be destroyed, freeing up the slot.

2. There seems to be an imbalance regarding items. For example, I've been using a level 55 Hammer and I haven't found a replacement at level 83. Same deal with my friends, one of them is still using his level 20-something crossbow at level 59. I've gone through at least a hundred or so Expert Hammer, trying to craft a higher phys upgrade but haven't been able to. I really miss having Alteration Orbs (maybe add them back in but they are rarer compared to POE1).

3. Uniques in the game seem very lackluster so far (at least pre-level 60 items).

4. Trying to obtain +1 or +2 charm belts seem very difficult.

5. I've had to resort to more gambling for some of my items for early levels/pre-map.

6. Crafting seems very limiting so far.

Quest Map

1. The quest map needs a total rework. I seriously miss POE1's quest map with the lines connecting all the zones and the simple quest log at the bottom. The quest map in POE2 feels like it's all over place and unclear.
Campaign

2. Most players have the same idea. Maps are too big, especially without Quicksilver flasks. Would love to see some of these maps cut in half and more linear/open. We don't need a labyrinth on every zone.

3. Boss fights are awesome and well designed.

Endgame

1. Love the new Atlas progression system. The sense of discovery is refreshing and exciting.

2. It would be awesome to have a top-down view of the explored Atlas map with a built in search function or allow us to click on the legends to highlight the different maps, citadels, etc. Once you explore in all directions, it can be like Finding Waldo trying to find something you've saved for later (like the unique merchant).

3. Would love to see random events in the endgame atlas. Example, finding a rare UFO on top of a map where you fight aliens who give increased EXP/Items. Another example, have a raid event somewhere in the distance and you have X amount of days or hours to get to that location before it starts. Fight the raid boss with a random group of 6 or with friends. Another example, there are a lot of lakes/rivers and it would be nice to have some sort of fishing minigame. I don't know if the atlas maps are different for everyone but it would be cool to find random players fishing in an area. The endgame Atlas should reward and encourage discovery.

4. Strongboxes need a complete rework. What happened to Johnathan at GGG saying that the strongboxes aren't supposed to deploy monsters slowly during an interview? They spawn very slowly. The mist during every strongbox makes it very hard to see anything. The mist should be a random event, not something on every strongbox.

5. Wouldn't mind the maps resetting or losing out on special maps (Untainted Paradise) when you die but there are too many one-shot mechanics (mobs spawning chaos explosion after death).

Ascendancy Trials

1. Need to make it more clear about what is required to ascend. Shouldn't have to go searching on the forums for information.

2. Honor loss (on higher floors) and some of the debuffs in Trial of Sekh needs to be nerfed. The time mechanic for the last Trial of Sekh boss that one-shots if you don't complete it in time needs to go. Spending a lot of time to get to the 4th floor boss only to get one-shotted really really sucks.

Misc

1. Please please please add a Waystone/Map stash tab. I will throw money at it.

Please note, a lot of these feedbacks are fairly minor and I will reiterate that the game has a really solid foundation to work off of. Having loads of fun despite the few issues.