How long can you play PoE?

I'd like to have this 'GENERAL DISCUSSION' about how long can you see yourself playing Path of Exile?

There is a few things that concern me about long term play of PoE
(Note: I realize they plan on adding all these acts, and new pvp modes.. which we havent seen yet)

A large portion of people who play PoE or swarmed to PoE came flat out because Diablo 3 dropped the ball, PvP/D2 feel wise.

But so far, PoE's PvP is a 1 hit zerg fest, NOW, I know ARPG's are not all about PvP.
but... Most people can thank PvP for Diablo II's sustained sucess and fond memories. PvP was very popular in D2, it was all about coming up with a nice build for pvp, grinding PvE to get min/max items, and then dueling outside town for ears and bragging rights.

Fast forward to 2013, where we have two main ARPG's out neither have any kind of competitive PvP format.

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Besides PvP, in reality. I think Path did a great job of giving build options, but I think it's still a little.. Naive, to think there is true build diversity. There is handful of very popular used over and over again base builds, and occasionally someone comes up with a GG build idea, which eventually gets nerfed to the ground because its too popular. (Cleave, Sporker, etc).

If you come up with an idea for a build, name a class, weapon type. 90% of the community will agree immediately for the most part of the build on the best way to go. People already know which nodes to take and how to min/max dps.

Another thing is that compared to D2, PoE's affixes are pretty bland, JUST LIKE D3.
You want, AS, DMG (either phys or ele depending on build) HP or ES, and by god. Don't forget your resist rolls and max them resists!

Stun recovery, and unique stats found in D2 are pretty much useless, and there isn't too many saught after cool affixes.


What we have now (and I'm not 100% bashing obviously I've supported and continue to play) is a ARPG, that is: Follow a build or come up with a build heavily based on others research if you want to do maps (You can't do merc maps with just any build or unresearched crap). Get to merc, run bosses to get the main 3 stat formats on your gear, do maps, do maps, did I mention do maps?

No world bosses, no competitive PvP (are they coming out with it? yes. But honestly, its so unbalanced and its still a 1 hit KO fest) so essentially.

Now I know there is many in the PoE crowd that could/do care less for PvP, and thats fine, but honestly its 2013 brah, we don't got dueling? Why can't we go outside and duel for fun? It's just little stuff like that I dont like feeling pidgeon holed into constant PvE loot gridning without any other venue to test/have fun with my character.

Uber bosses, stuff like that, is another example of stuff that is fun outside of map grinding.

Final thoughts/summary:
I think I like GGG, the people who made the game, and some of their values more than the actual product. I think they found a key thing or two players were looking for, and capitalized on peoples disappointment with D3. I also think the game is STILL lacking a lot of features,etc to give it long term success. I PERSONALLY think, that Diablo 3 is still getting better and better, despite, my personal hatred for Blizzard, I think when the D3 XPAC comes out, you will see a huge dip in PoE players, and the XPAC will still sell millions of boxes, despite all the hate. If D3 fixes PvE, adds more legendaries, and tweaks some stuff, people will go back to it. BTW, there is no DESYNC on D3 hardcore, OH, and you dont keep your character either...

Well.. I played diablo 2 for 10 years, still do from time to time.
But this game is way too punishing for that. Hell, even finding a reason to play is getting more and more difficult.
The only reason I still play it is because every other game on the market is either not catered to arpg players, or complete wank. Which, by contrast, makes this game endurable.

Not playable, but endurable.

"

Hyskoa wrote:

Well.. I played diablo 2 for 10 years, still do from time to time.
But this game is way too punishing for that. Hell, even finding a reason to play is getting more and more difficult.
The only reason I still play it is because every other game on the market is either not catered to arpg players, or complete wank. Which, by contrast, makes this game endurable.

Not playable, but endurable.

Sounds like you need to go do something else since you clearly aren't enjoying this game.

For me, I'll have to see how the content updates go. If theres going to be regular, decent content I could see myself playing this game for a very long time.

Nostalgia goggles too op. D2 PvP was about who can use desync (called rubberband back then) better to his advantage. D2 also had OP/cookiecutter builds. Endgame in D2 was do Baal runs one thousand times by running behind a bot. I think PoE's itemization is pretty much on par with D2. And overall I think PoE is the better game. So I can see myself playing this for the next 5+ years :)

Also lel about the D3 comment.

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Xavderion wrote:

Nostalgia goggles too op. D2 PvP was about who can use desync (called rubberband back then) better to his advantage. D2 also had OP/cookiecutter builds. Endgame in D2 was do Baal runs one thousand times by running behind a bot. I think PoE's itemization is pretty much on par with D2. And overall I think PoE is the better game. So I can see myself playing this for the next 5+ years :)

Xav, heres the problem bro. That game was out what 12-13 years ago?

When I fast forward 12-13 years, I expect it to be way better in every aspect, not just 1 dimension. Not trying to be a ass, but honestly if we had similar pvp 12-13 years ago, how is not better in 2013?

FOR THE TIME PERIOD, it was fun, and a focal point of the game.

You're in a vocal minority that considers PvP what kept D2 popular. PvP isn't what makes games popular, it's what people that enjoy the antagonistic mood of game forums enjoy.

D2's stickiness was caused by many long term goals and great replay. They also hit the sweet spot on risk/reward. It kept slot-machine junkies playing it for years.

Where I see PoE failing in this is that there's too much change. Change causes people to lose interest, and feel like anything they do will be wasted. D2 changed (majorly) about 4 times, separated by 9 months to 2 years. PoE is subjecting us to changes every four months, with major changes in between. Instability. The people that like ARPG are the same people who can pull a slot handle on the exact same machine over and over.

I can see myself playing PoE for years. But every time they change something that I've grown accustom to, I feel that "desk-flip" and consider quitting.

I can play PoE for hours and hours. I can see myself slowing down and picking up depending on my mood and whats happening with patches etc.

I can also see myself playing PoE for many, many years to come.

Instead of installing Diablo2, I will install PoE.

I am about to install Diablo2 on my sons lappy and therefore, i better install it on mine to join in too.

When his lappy can handle PoE, thats whats going on, then I can show him what a fucking awesome Dad he has :P

"

Shagsbeard wrote:

You're in a vocal minority that considers PvP what kept D2 popular. PvP isn't what makes games popular, it's what people that enjoy the antagonistic mood of game forums enjoy.

D2's stickiness was caused by many long term goals and great replay. They also hit the sweet spot on risk/reward. It kept slot-machine junkies playing it for years.

Where I see PoE failing in this is that there's too much change. Change causes people to lose interest, and feel like anything they do will be wasted. D2 changed (majorly) about 4 times, separated by 9 months to 2 years. PoE is subjecting us to changes every four months, with major changes in between. Instability. The people that like ARPG are the same people who can pull a slot handle on the exact same machine over and over.

I can see myself playing PoE for years. But every time they change something that I've grown accustom to, I feel that "desk-flip" and consider quitting.

I can see your point, what I think people with that mindset forget is that,
Let's say 10% of players who play PoE/ANY ARPG game are considered

'hardcore' players. Those players probably are the younger ones, streamers, etc. Competitive, do PvP, ETC. Now. What do you think makes the biggest difference on the forums, advertisement, getting new players with stream, has the most popular builds, and has the biggest effect on the economy and game, because 'THEY' drive what people want to buy, strive for, are interested in, that 10%.

People think because the vocal minority doesn't do this or do that, that the 10% vocal ones who set trends, push stream videos, youtube commentary etc, who want things to keep pushing the envelope aren't as important.

Let me say this,
Kripp, people like him? They probably want some PvP, some other stuff to do, competitive type shit. If Kripp had no interest in this game, how many less casuals are here today? Playing PoE?

IMO the vocal minority / hardcore community loses interest and leaves a game, the silent majority slowly does too. It loses the edge/backbone/competitiveness. And for those who just dont give a shit and like spelunking around finding stuff, probably dont care, there salways both sides.

@Xav

-Desynch was only abused mainly by Hammerdins and extremely fast walking Amazons only.
-I agree there were a few OP builds, but there is still a lot more PvP diversity compared to PoE
compared PoE's "BearTrapFlickerMan" to many VIABLE VIABLE VIABLE D2 PvP builds, BlizzSorc, FireSorc, ES lite sorc, ESFire, EsCold, Windy, Poisonmancer, Bonemancer, Charger, Vindicator, Hammerdin, Mage, FoH, Liberator, Smiter, Auradin, FrenzBarb, 2H WW, DW WW, 1H WW, Crybaby, GhostWWsin, Trapsin, TrapWWHybridSin, Javazon, Bowazon,

-Endgame for at least 1/2 the community was PvP, not Baal runs. Real endgame was other players, not mindless AI

I can barely even stomach getting my 2nd level 65 on the new leagues for the achievement.