Playing with a Ranged char is playing in easy mode

The only way to experience the game in hard mode is play with a melee char, all other chars are easy mode because a elude almost all the mechanics of the game.

The truth has been said.

Monk as well.

Edit: Guy edited his post to say "melee" instead of "warrior."

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I only play true ethical SSF hardcore. I delete every meta unique I find because it is unethical to keep it. When my character dies, I delete every item in every stash tab because it's not true ethical SSF hardcore otherwise. I destroy every perfect jeweller's orb I find because it is unrealistic to ever six-link a gem in true ethical SSF hardcore. I skip the trials because Ascendency Classes are unethical powerhouses. Every time a Vaal Orb drops, I immediately use it on a randomly equipped piece of gear to increase the challenge. I read and listen to every lorestone, notes, books to fully immerse myself in the true ethical SSF hardcore experience.

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Scarletsword#4354 wrote:

I destroy every perfect jeweller's orb I find because it is unrealistic to ever six-link a gem in true ethical SSF hardcore

You mean, you are using skills? Is this really ethical? I think using skill is easy mode, and the only true hard mode is to beat game using only melee autoattacks. With no items. On the server with at least 300 ping. On the lowest resolution and minimal brightness so you wouldn't see too much. And the only sound you hear in your headphones should be heavy metal.

Even tho the proper meme here is "It always has been...", i have to say in PoE2 they have put in the effort to make enemy skills that SPECIFICALLY target and mess with ranged characters, something that i've never seen in an ARPG yet.

I say this because i first started a warrior in PoE2, played it to like lvl 50 and then switched to ranger. There's a couple of skills the monsters have that i haven't even noticed with my melee char, that surprised me and even killed me with the ranger:

1. There are some monsters in Act2 that do something like a leap-jump and get through all other monsters, allies etc and target specifically characters far way, in the back. It's pretty cool, especially when playing in a party with people who take the front line. These monsters disrupt quite effectively, since their damage is not shabby and push you, block you and generally fuck with your range advantage.

2. There are other monsters that turn into a ball and spin and charge you, pushing you pretty hard. The damage is very low but the knockback effect is very strong, they are pretty damn fast and also pretty hard to kill while charging you (they get more HP or armour or something in that form).

3. The water hag rings - Even tho i did suffer with my warrior from these, it was "easier" because in melee you kind of keep your eyes on/close to your character, so you can identify the threat fast. You also tend to move more than with a ranger. On my ranger i tend to stay away and shoot far, looking at where i place my mouse cursor... and the damn water hags almost had me a few times by just casting this shit on me and me never noticing because i don't look at where my hero is, nor trying to actively move much.

Maybe there's more...

So yeah, ranger will always be easier, obviously... but GGG seem to have thought about it and made some monsters specifically to mess with ranged-based builds.

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Lyesainer#6273 wrote:

So yeah, ranger will always be easier, obviously... but

I don't see why should they. I'm pretty sure melee will have more damage than ranged eventually, it would make sense.

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Suchka_777#4336 wrote:

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Lyesainer#6273 wrote:

So yeah, ranger will always be easier, obviously... but

I don't see why should they. I'm pretty sure melee will have more damage than ranged eventually, it would make sense.

It already DOES have more damage, but that doesn't mean anything concerning difficulty.

By melee you mean mace right? Because the quarterstaff is also easy mode if ranged is.

The mace even has ranged abilities.

Every weapon has long and short range abilities. Walking up to things and stupidly trading hits with them should never be viable.

Well, to each his own. I love melee (actual melee, not PoE melee) in games way more than i love ranged combat.
If there's "sword and board" option available, i am playing it.