Skill Gem Slot Limit Feedback

Hello GGG

I realise this may not go anywhere, but after playing the game assiduously I've come to the conclusion that limiting players to 9 skills gems is a mistake.

I've heard several commenters remark that in POE-2 socketing gems in gear is no longer a pain point. While that's certainly true, there were ample ways around that limitation through crafting. I inevitably had more skills than I could fit on my bar (and I mean the full 13 slots, for reservations I had to turn them all on, switch them, rinse and repeat).

In POE-2, half my action slots are empty. There are skill I could use, that I want to use, that I have the skill and character resources to use, but ... max of 9. My suggestion is to relax this system, because there are already sufficient resource limitations present to completely prevent power creep.

For example, say I'm a Witch Summoner and I want every single minion type! Yay, no what? There is no way I have the spirit to maintain them, so I am still limited to the same number of minions that I would be otherwise. Maybe I would have a little more variety, but since minions are consistently ignored by monsters (which is another large problem) it would be nice to have different minions for the job.

Ok, now I have more various minions, yay, but the same total number. Do I have an advantage? Not significantly, because I will run out of space for their active abilities and they will be wasted. Moreover, having one of each is not really effective because of the CD associated with their active skills.

Alright, how about the Sorc, I want every element represented! Yay, am I more powerful now? Not a chance. Mana and spirit and active skill slots are still the main limitation. Being a jack of all trades, having double the abilities and having those abilities all suck is a recipe for disaster.

This is the point. Players are already bottlenecked by these resources limitations (like one support gem in use per build, if you keep adding skills, they will not only be irrelevant, but also unsupported, not to mention the attribute cost of having them in the first place.

So, why 9? It seems and artificial limit in a franchise that has always been about player creativity and agency, wherein such a hard limit feels forced and cumbersome.

Thanks for listening.

Inethil

I agree with this! Limiting to only 9 is ridiculous when I have so many options for buttons. I was worried I wouldn’t have enough space for skills. But now I see the opposite is true.

I agree, this limit is very artificial. I don't think it brings any value to the game that, in theory, welcomes skill diversity.
I'd like it to be removed.
Empty Ring might allow to use 1 support duplicate. It would be much more useful.

I just flushed a Fire-Sorceress build and GaveUp after not being able to finish Act II Boss and FULLY Agree that 9× Gem-Slots to appropriate toward skillets is simply Insufficient!!
... iJust got my FireBall (Level 9 SkillGem) and have been making primary use of, Incinerate, Ember Fusillade, Flame Wall, Solar Orb, abilities paired with Raging Spirits (SpiritGem-Ability). I just got my hands on my Second(/3rd) SpiritGem(s) and Currently have Cast on Ignite equipped--as I Have Ascended, and acquired Elemental Storm. I would like to make use of ATLeast the Convalescence Spirit-Ability as well, but am Currently optimizing a supporting combination of Both Flammability + Vulnerability Curses* to enhance DmgOutput. Along with these SkillGems, I also have equipped a Stoic Sceptre, for the enhancing buffs of Discipline.
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Between these 11× (Eleven) Skills I am utilizing,, it simply is NOT Enough! Besides the fact that I would like to equip more defensive / offensive Aura's&Hexes, iHavent even BEGUN to Multi-Class -- as there was NO Fire-Devoted class to ASCEND to. :(
...iHave been playing 100% on Valve's Steam Deck, and of the Available 24× Slots to Use for Abilities,, Ten (10×) of Them are 100% Un-Used and Empty--3× on my PrimarySelection, and 7× on the L2+Alternative Selection.

Also,
Different Caliber Gem-Types really should have there own section for the Load-Out Menu Screen (i.e.: Offensive Abilities / Defensive Abilities / Spirit Abilities / etc. -- versus 1×Lumped Panel)


Too many things Not Good*/Right* with this "Beta" so far...

there's no way you're using 9 skills effectively... i get the "I want every minion" thing, but what about "I want all the skeletons" or "I want all the temporary minions" instead? just compromise into something you can actually scale power into.

I'm giving POE the time needed to finish POE2 before playing it again, I think, but the point about not being able to use more than 9 skills is pure silly. It's arbitrary. In POE1, we have 13 spots for hotkeys and there has never been a league during which I did not use each and every one of them, and that includes temporarily attaching an aura skill, then giving the spot to an active skill because I was using (effectively and impactfully) more than the 13 would allow.

That you think otherwise, arbitrarily, without experience, is small minded and silly, a clear failure of imagination, nothing more.