POE2 Multiplayer vs Solo-play incentives and SSF

Yesterday POE2 Game Director Jonathan Rogers was interviewed on livestream by Wudijo and the topic about multiplayer and solo play was brought up.

Jonathan's point was that the game should not promote or reward solo play over multiplayer or vice versa, which I totally agree on. I think you should be able to choose which type of experience you wish to enjoy without being forced to choose one over the other due to rewards ingame.

Now, I'm very much excited about POE2 and will definitely join the Close Beta if there is such an option wether through supporter packs or some other way, once its out. I am a social gamer in the way that I enjoy playing all my games with my friends. However, the Self-Found system poses huge interest to me and it is the way I want to play the game, since a lot of people are saying that it makes you learn more about the game and the different mechanics with which you can build a stronger character like crafting or even through gear from vendors. I've come to the belief that trading trivializes a big portion of the games mechanics in the sense that you can decide to never utilize such mechanics. Trading is not a bad thing, it is a good thing, it comes down to personal preference, how you enjoy playing the game more, and I think having the choice is a very good thing indeed. For me personally SF is more interesting.

So the dilemma is how can I play Self-Found mechanics, no trading whatsoever, yet group up with my friends and enjoy the action packed gameplay that POE2 will have? Blasting monsters and defeating Bosses together? Certainly, the game looks like combat is a lot more interesting, combining different skills/supports, builds having multiple skills instead of just 1 button spam, dodge roll coming into play as well with animation canceling etc. All of this sounds like an ARPG experience I would love to share with friends. Yet the option for Self-Found I think is the way such a game should be played. So sorta like combining single-player gameplay for the character gear aspect and an online multiplayer game for the action-filled combat.

Would that be an option that more people would enjoy? Multiplayer-Self-Found?

I am (primarily) an SSF player.

A few streamers (Ziz and SteelMage) do what they call "Bro SF" so only gear that you and party members find can be shared, no trade.

The game will be balanced around SC trade. By playing SSF you're handicapping yourself.

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cursorTarget wrote:

The game will be balanced around SC trade. By playing SSF you're handicapping yourself.

The game will be balanced around trade simulator lol

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So the dilemma is how can I play Self-Found mechanics, no trading whatsoever, yet group up with my friends and enjoy the action packed gameplay that POE2 will have?

Right now, it looks like the closest you can get would be a private league. That still has some trade, but only among people playing the league, so it's not quite the no-holds-barred crowdsourcing of a full-fat trade league - trade is more likely to be more sharing between friends, and less competition scored in divines/hour. Apart from that, the other big downsides are cost (not a free feature of the game), duration (shorter than a regular league, expensive to extend), and capacity (only 10 players for free, expensive to expand) -- so cost, cost, and cost. Which gently sucks, since it paywalls a feature that could serve as a social tool for recruiting new players, but GGG do have to make money somehow.

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Waitubold wrote:

Right now, it looks like the closest you can get would be a private league. That still has some trade, but only among people playing the league, so it's not quite the no-holds-barred crowdsourcing of a full-fat trade league - trade is more likely to be more sharing between friends, and less competition scored in divines/hour. Apart from that, the other big downsides are cost (not a free feature of the game), duration (shorter than a regular league, expensive to extend), and capacity (only 10 players for free, expensive to expand) -- so cost, cost, and cost. Which gently sucks, since it paywalls a feature that could serve as a social tool for recruiting new players, but GGG do have to make money somehow.

Your suggestion doesn't solve the problem. Basically you suggest to handicap themselves in trade playing semi-ssf. Private league is STILL regular SC trade but without trade.

But the dude asked about REBALANCED environment specially adjusted to their playstyle and wishes. It is NOT the same as handicap yourself by limiting the trade capabilities on the user end.

There's plenty of ARPG's out there that are balanced around solo play. PoE is not. I think it's OK for one ARPG to be centered around an economy. And GGG have been pretty clear on the matter going forward, I think.

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cursorTarget wrote:

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Waitubold wrote:

Right now, it looks like the closest you can get would be a private league. That still has some trade, but only among people playing the league, so it's not quite the no-holds-barred crowdsourcing of a full-fat trade league - trade is more likely to be more sharing between friends, and less competition scored in divines/hour. Apart from that, the other big downsides are cost (not a free feature of the game), duration (shorter than a regular league, expensive to extend), and capacity (only 10 players for free, expensive to expand) -- so cost, cost, and cost. Which gently sucks, since it paywalls a feature that could serve as a social tool for recruiting new players, but GGG do have to make money somehow.

Your suggestion doesn't solve the problem. Basically you suggest to handicap themselves in trade playing semi-ssf. Private league is STILL regular SC trade but without trade.

But the dude asked about REBALANCED environment specially adjusted to their playstyle and wishes. It is NOT the same as handicap yourself by limiting the trade capabilities on the user end.

No, I do NOT want a REBALANCED environment. I do NOT want re-balanced SSF loot droprates. I am talking about being able to select the Self-Found option on a character (NO TRADING, NO BOOSTED DROPRATES, NO EXTRA LOOT from other people) without having to strip yourself from the social aspect of the game - playing with friends and enjoying blasting monsters and boss encounters together with other people.


From what GGG has shown, it looks like in Path of Exile 2 (POE2) there will be more ways to mix and match skills, new interactions and skill combos, not just by on your single character but between different players too. Playing with friends might be more fun for some people.

like Waitubold said, such a mode unfortunately doesn't exist.
Ur only option is a private league with ur friends, but u won't be able to play with other people except ur friends in there.

I guess my only option at this point of time will be practice abstinence - force myself to not trade in a Trade League. 🤣🤣🤣🤣