Casual Andy feedback for GGG about PoE2

I'm not a HC PoE player - I have 800+ hours in PoE1. And there are lot of things I don't know about PoE1.

However I love it and have been eagerly waiting PoE2.

Now I have 102h at the moment in PoE2 and here's SOME of my thoughs - this is not going to be a thorough review.

Now, I started playing PoE2 fairly "blind" on purpose. I tried to avoid most videos, and I haven't watched any build guides or tips/guides or anything. I want to experience it "raw".

I also want to ephasize: I'm NOT a good player. I would rate myself average or perhaps a bit above average (considering that there are probably a lot of new players to PoE in general, and I do have some advantage for having expeience in PoE1.

I wish GGG (and others) hopefully reading this - understand that I come from a different place and mindset than the "known" HC players (Kripparrian, Zizaran, Darthmicrotransaction etc.) - my experience is totally different from them.

And finally - I understand this is a EA and there are lot of changes/bugs etc. to deal with.

So - let's dive in:

First of all. I LOVE THE GAME. There are so many things about it that are great. Love the graphics, bosses, mechanics, depths.
And I love the challenge, the challenge to figure out your build, your gear, your playstyle, how to beat different bosses and all the other cool, deep mechanics of the game.


During my play most of the time I've enjoyed my self immensly - I ended up banging my head against some bosses - but rethinking tactics, adjusting gear/build solved the issues.

During the campaingn I did have few questions:

1. I managed to stumble a decent build all by my self shock focused elementalist and spark + cast on shock etc... Then suddenly it stopped working, and I was wondering why - took me a while to find out there was a nerf. Which sucked - I understand it was needed, but it also felt really bad, that because some HC veterans manage to create builds that are waaaay op - I never could have, mine was decent and working - but in the end I ended up suffering and taking a hit as a "casual Andy" because of a HC players (who play somewhat different game alltogether really). But as said - I understand it was needed - but then I was bummed again - it cost me 50k to respec - and I had no idea what I was doing and how it was working - I had no ways of testing before submitting my selections.
And I know there are lot of players that know even less than I do - so I can see how they would find the whole thing right there overwhelming and quitting the game.

QUESTION 1 (for GGG): Why do respecing cost (during EA) - I would honestly like to know the reasoning behind it, perhaps it would make it easier stomach.


2. While it is very complex in PoE1, I love the crafting in it. And I'm ok with it that PoE2 does not have all that - it was a bit overwhelming for a newb (and after 800h still is for me).
But what I don't understand the very stingy mentality of providing crafting items. After 100h I have <100 of each transformation / augmentation orbs. Pretty much out of Regals (maybe 2-3 - and I tried to haul pretty much everything during the campaign to vendors). Completely out of Exalts and I think I have 1-2 Chaos and Vaal orbs.. and 10 Alchemy orbs. That is my haul after 100 hours of gameplay.
- I did use exalts / regals trying to get better gear for myself, usually for no luck. Which made me feel most of the time cheated. I started to avoid even trying to craft, because I wanted to save those orbs, only to run in to trouble with bad gear and eventually had to force my self to use them to get even some better gear.

QUESTION 2 (for GGG): Why so stingy (during EA) - aren't we supposed to try things out and learn about things. I have friends that are dipping their toes to PoE world for the 1st time with PoE2 - and just hate it. The crafting isn't overwhelming in the same way as in PoE1, but it is still overwhelming/underwhelming and most of all - frustrating and disappointing.

QUESTION 3 (for GGG): Why not let loose with the loot - it's EA. You can tighten up when we are getting closer to release, but what benefit/purpose is this situation serving to anyone (new players, old veterans, you as developers???)

3. Now I never liked Sanctum in PoE1 - and Ultimatums were the ONLY one I ALWAYS selected in atlas, that I could never see in maps. I really didn't like it. I'm not sure if I've ever completed ultimatum challenge even once in PoE1.

Now - I didn't enjoy Labs either. So I'm not missing them.

During my trials - I did hate sanctum at first. And once I had my 1st ascendancy I was thinking that I will NEVER do any more of those and instead I will do the other ascendancies with other forms of trials.
Then I did the 2nd in Ultimatum - and I started to miss Sanctum.
It was just so brutal - I leveled 3,5 levels just grinding my 2nd trial. Most of the times I died in the 2nd stage (worst was 2sec before completing it). I passed the 2nd stage 3 times in over what 20+ tries (I don't know I lost count). First time I died to the boss because of just having such brutal debuffs. 2nd time I was doing fine in 3rd stage, when the game crashed (the scream could be heard in the next town over). And 3rd time I passed 2nd stage I managed to reach the boss and beat it.

Now - I did feel good and accomplished for passing it - but I do not want to do any more of those. I rather try my luck with Sanctums.

Now I haven't done my 3rd trial yet. Why? Because in 100h of game time I have 1 (yes ONE) coin for Sanctum and 2 (TWO) orbs for Ultimatum. I know I wont pass them with first (or second) try - so I've been trying to get more.
But maybe I'm missing something - but I just can't get any drops for the ascendancies... and that REALLY sucks and frustrates.

Not only do I have to beat these (in my opinion least enjoyable) mechanics without mistakes - because if I do, all my progress will be lost and I have to do them again (and they take a lot of time). But I can't even get in to them, because I don't get the coins. AND IF I do find a coin, enter the trial, I have one try - if I fail, I have to go back to hunt for more coins.
I honestly doubt I will EVER finish 3rd ascendacy in PoE2 in current state.
And I'm absolutely sure a lot of people will quit at these points and never see the rest of the game.

QUESTION 4 (for GGG): Why do we have to pay for the trials - and more importantly why is the drops for entering the trials so rare - when you know that they are hard and most of the playerbase will be struggling with them? The 1st trial was free and you could redo it over and over again (like I did and leveled 3.5 times doing so) - if the first one was already a struggle - why are the following and EVEN HARDER AND LONGER TIME CONSUMING ones made to cost to entry (and worse - have the drop for "keys" be really stingy). I don't understand the benefit/purpose of this to anyone. I honestly don´t understand. Would like to know the logic you (GGG) have for doing this?

And then - the final issue.

I finally managed to get in to "maps". So far I enjoyed the journey immensly (for the most part anyway). I took my time, and enjoyed the journey.
Now my build isn't good (as said, I'm not followin some HC Hero build, I'm doing all myself) so... naturally I soon found myself in trouble.
I do decent damage but I die ALOT in TIER 1 (ONE) maps. The issue isn't the maps or difficulty in them. It's me, my gear and my build - but of those, the build and gear issues were because of the reasons I already mentioned abov - so I wont take all the blame.

But no worries, I'm at maps I can start grinding gear adn experience and grow to meet the challenge. Except I cant.

First - loot is still stingy. And since I die a lot, lot of it I wont even get to loot, only see on the ground.

I am VERY happy, that the decision to block the map on failure was removed - otherwise I'd be already blocked myself from the rest of the Atlas.

BUT I'm not happy that there is only one life. I understand the challenge it gives, and I can kinda get it - but boy is it frustrating. I'm actually running out of TIER 1 (ONE) maps...
- So this is reason 1 why I can't "grow" and progress.

Second - every time I die, I lose experience. Now this is something I've never understood why this has to be. In my 800h of PoE1, I've NEVER had a character at Level 100 (best is at 98) - because I just die and lose exp. And it is so demoralizing that I just quit.
Now we have, even harder game, and I'm Level 70 and I'm spending a lot of time grinding tier 1 maps without anything to show for it (gear, exp and progression).
If at least I could eventually level, I could get stronger and grind my way forward that way, but as it is - I'm struggling find fun and motivation to continue playing.

QUESTION 5 (for GGG): Why punish from losing a map. Why only 1 try (the maps are huge and there's so much to grind just in one map). And more importantly why lose exp. Please - I honestly want to know? I don't understand the logic/benefit for anyone or anything in the game of this. Not in PoE1 nor in this.

HC Heros will sail through and have no issues, so it's not like it's going to slow them down much or increase their challenge of the game - but it will seriously hamper the "lesser players" like me, or even kill the motivation to play the game.
Even more so, when the idea is to have leagues that last 3-4 months, and everything "resets" anyway after that - why (in my opinion unnecessarily) seriusly make it hard for people to level up - it's not like the game ends there. There's ton of things to do, grind, learn and work for even when you are at max level - but at least you could get your build finished and have a decent chance to tackle those other challenges.
I just don't understand.


Also - and I'm not sure if this is a BUG or intentional. But since I've gotten to maps, I've several times been disconnected from the server mid map and thrown to login - and when I log back in, not only is the map lost, but also all my loot and experience is gone as well (basically I've been rolled back to the moment before I entered the map - with the exception, that I did lose the map (waystone). I had this happen 4-5 times today.
And worst example of this was in a map that I had already cleared (tier 2 - wow, my 1st). I had the map completed and in the quest there was 1/10. I however did the stupid mistake to keep playing the map and clearing it (in hopes to finds some loot - you know - gear, crafting stuff, trial coins)... and then was suddenly disconnected. Not only did I again lose all the loot I had collected, but also the experience I had AND EVEN THE QUEST PROGRESSION - it was back at 0/10 - even after I already had the map completed and it had updated it.

Now - I know the disconnections are a bug or something (I had 2-3 crashes during campaing, in roughly 100h of playtim), but since I've entered the mapping phase, I've had this happen 4-5 times (today). Resulting me losing at least 3 of those precious exalt orbs and at least 1 waal orb and maybe couple of regals.
But as said - I'm sure that is a bug, and hopefully will be fixed in time.
But, is it really supposed to be, so that you lose ALL your progress from the map (INCLUDING THE MAP ITSELF) and all the loot / exp, if you get disconnected mid map... or is this another BUG?
If it's a bug - then fine, it'll get fixed. But if it's by design.. WHY?


In conclusion:

I love the game, but there few things that don't feel good. There are soooo many cool and great things in PoE2 - and only few (non-technical, but by design) issues that I don't like.
BUT unfortunately those few things impact so hard. Because of the brutal difficulty, the one-shot try on maps/bosses etc. I already know that I will most likely NEVER see or get to enjoy those parts of the game. And it makes me really sad.
And I also know that a lot of my friends that are new to this - want to like the game, but because of it being so hard - have either already quit, or will (most likely) quit before they even get to the endgame (and miss the best and biggest part of the game - the campaign is kinda just a really long and cool tutorial).

My Final QUESTION for (GGG): Why?
- PoE is never tried to be easy and for casuals (Diablo has that covered). But I still struggle to understand some of the design logic. Even the HC Heros don't like "on death explosions", losing exp, low loot drops - and they are the HC Heros. They are to most vocal players, but they are in the minority in the player base (but that is beside the point).
Why make it this hard. If there are players that want harder challenge - have different game modes (like HC and ruthless in PoE1). Let each enjoy your wonderful and cool game - with their skills, not everyone is as good player as a HC HERO, or you GGG-developers.
I would suggest, that the "normal" difficulty would have more that 1 try on map, a bit more loot and NO exp loss, unlimited tries on trials etc.... Then you can have "Ruthless" with this difficulty as it is now for those who want that more challenge... and then of course - have the HC for those who just are Gods (or God-level masochists).
What does this current state benefit - anyone. I honestly am asking and would like to know the reasoning and logic for these decisions in the design of the game. I can't understand it - but I would like to.

In the end - I will keep playing. Even though, my motivation to continue in maps has hugely diminished. And I do find comfort in that GGG - while most likely not will be answering my questions, most likely even read this (I mean it's long as hell, who of you really are still reading this?) - they do listen the player base and will make changes for the better. It saddens me that many of the new players wont be seeing it, as I'm sure many have decided this already being to hard and frustrating for them.

Anyway - those are my thoughts about the game. As a casual. I'm sure there are already many "better players" hammering their keyboards and telling me why my feelings and point of view is wrong...and that's fine.

I'm no big streamer and I don't get to interview Jonathan or Mark, but I do wish I could get some answers and reasons behind some of the decisions and logic. What is the benefits or purposes for those - as I don't understand, but would liket o.

If you've read all the way down here - good. Now go get yourself a cookie and go do something more useful. :D

- F -

This post was so good that I had to make an account to replay on how good it was.
I have no idé if there is a upvote system, but consider this an upvote!

// Casual Andy