PATCH 1.2.0 --Life Nerf-- Explained with math

Here is a little math to help people see what the nerf to life nodes on the new skill tree will mean.
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*(after the patch base life gain per level goes from 8 to 12)

Lets say you have a Level 100 character:
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I. Every class starts out with different base Life, but lets stay we're a marauder.
##Total base(flat) life so far: 66

II. and gains +12 per level
1. giving a base life of 1238 at level 100.
a. 66+(99*12)
##Total base(flat) life so far: 1254

III. Strength increases Life, with every +10 Strength node giving +5 Life.
1. your character has 200 strength = +100 life.
##Total base(flat) life so far: 1354

IV. Your wearing end game gear that revolves around getting high Life.
*numbers rounded for easier comprehension.
1. +500 from a Kaom's Heart(body)
2. +100 from helm
3. +100 from gloves
4. +100 from boot
5. +100 from belt
6. +70 from left ring
7. +70 from right ring
8. +70 from amulet

##Total base(flat) life after level, Strength bonus, and Gear : 2464
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So 2464 is the total life your character is working off of.

Now, since there really isn't a way to calculate how much % life nodes are affected when you look at the ENTIRE tree.
@There are many thing to consider such as:

~How many increase % life nodes.
~How much each individual node INCREASED or DECREASED.
~The amount of passive points you need to spend in order to get to those clusters.

So, I'll make this as relevant as possible by calculating the Max Life on the marauder PRE-Patch 1.2.0 and the calculate the Max Life on the Marauder with the new skill tree.

*now in order to make this test as fair and constant as possible I'd only picked up as much Life as possible with complete disregard to other nodes.

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PRE patch 1.2.0 tree Max possible life with Level 100 marauder:
+502% increased maximum life

Taking our base Life:
2068(pre patch 8 life gain per level) * 6.02 = 12449 MAX LIFE



POST patch 1.2.0 tree Max possible life with Level 100 Marauder:
+357% increased maximum life

Taking our base Life:
2464 * 4.57 = 11260 MAX LIFE

*Now, 11260 may sound good, but remember all I did was get Increase % life in complete disgard for anything else, so it's probably not a viable build as it as 0 defense, low regen, armor, block, damage etc. This is purely for demonstrating the change on a scale that is easier to understand.

```11260/12449 = 90.4
So, we see there is about a 9-10% reduction in max life when it comes to end game.
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In conclusion Life early and mid game may see some buff due to the increase in base life gain per level up, however end game builds that rely on scaling of % life WILL see a slight reduction of their MAX life pool.


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EDITED: for grammar mistakes.
EDITED2: Math was wrong lol, GGG staff pointed out I was using the same +12 life on both end calculations. Don't burn me at the stake like Mors plz. I fixed it

If this is the case I really wonder why they even bothered changing this? I really can't follow GGG's logic recently. They wanted us to pick less life so we can focus more on other stuff, but for endgame it's the opposite??

Life mod on items gets a higher tier? Life Reg on items gonna be changed? I don´t know.

I already did the number crunching for a lvl 80 character using medium and top gear and how many %life they need to break 4/5/6k life:

http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/994486

You can find the calculations for Kaom Heart and Belly of the Beast included.
Reaching 5K life with belly of the beast seems plausible, with 450 str and decent gear it requires only about 150% from the tree.

With like top rolls on life and 450 str you need around 130% life only from the tree with Belly of the Beast.


I think it's gonna be a really popular choice for life builds now.

You should do the same maths with average character level since most players do not own a lvl 100.

edit: thanks guy from above ^^^^

I tried rebuilding mine too and I lose that 25% life, your calculations are accurate.
At this point I hope the patch hides something positive to compensate for this as somebody else already stated.
I play Mara as casual and I really don't want to give it up just to build a ES based char...

This is the best sum up i ve seen entire day. I really dont understand shifting meta between ES and Life with these leagues. Why not we make them viable both. The route which GGG takes about nerfing things buffing them and renerfin getting really annoying.

To comparsion - 231% es with 140% shield es buff + discipline + aura buff (40%)
1000 from chest
500 from shield
400 from helm
200 from gloves
200 from boots
40 from ring
40 frm ring
70 from belt
50 from neck ( all this s**t is now craftable cheaply)
------------------------------------ bonuses
1200 shield + bonus
450 discipline with buff
2000 rest of gear
------------------------------------ % es
12.000 ES with less then 35 points invested in es + buffs

left with 65 points for DPS...

Lets guess what ill play in next league ;D

well this is gonna be path of CI i dont know with what GGG is thinking buffing es like crazy like it wasnt good enough already? well GGG was right we will take less life nodes or should i say we wont take them at all becuz its path of CI derp ggg

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leto2626 wrote:

If this is the case I really wonder why they even bothered changing this? I really can't follow GGG's logic recently. They wanted us to pick less life so we can focus more on other stuff, but for endgame it's the opposite??

Since the life nodes got nerfed in their value (down to 4% and 5% for the majority) you actually need to invest the same amount of points into life noeds but end up with less total life.