Skip Acts function for the second and subsequent characters in the league

"

Jyrlep#4788 wrote:

The question is not difficulty. The question is time.

The campaign is easy as hell with prepared gear, but it still takes time.

Right now I can put "leveling gear" on almost any character, run through the campaign, ignore most of the actual build identity, and then respec later. It does not feel like this is how characters are supposed to be played, but when there is no skip or alternative route, why wouldn't people do it?

There is no way I am going to waste my time replaying the same campaign again and again, doing the same quests in the same order, while pretending I am "properly" playing the character. I am going to use leveling items, shortcuts, twink gear, and anything else that cuts the time down. At that point it is basically speedrunning a mandatory checklist.

And no, that does not feel good. It does not make me enjoy the game more.

So instead of gatekeeping the same repeated campaign route, GGG should either add meaningful replay value or give players a proper alternative after they have already completed it.

Balanced alternative would mean campaign time = alternative method time. Unbalanced alternative = there is no actual alternative and all resources committed for campaign are thrown to trash.

"

No one being serious is asking for free high level characters. They are trolling just as you are in your reply.

No one is trolling. If you really ask about skipping large portion of the game, why not ask about skipping leveling entirely then. Just be lvl 100 and start grinding (because this is what you ask for).

"

Azimuthus#1135 wrote:

"

No one being serious is asking for free high level characters. They are trolling just as you are in your reply.

No one is trolling. If you really ask about skipping large portion of the game, why not ask about skipping leveling entirely then. Just be lvl 100 and start grinding (because this is what you ask for).

this is the defination of trolling :)

"

this is the defination of trolling :)

This is not trolling but a logical extrapolation.

Edit:

I misunderstood the topic, can be ignored, placed in hide due to post beeing non relevent.

Hi Everyone,

I want to preface this conversation by recognizing everyone’s passionate investment in these forums. Passion is required to succeed in any endeavor long term, but when conviction is based solely on passion, it can cloud both the problem and the solution.

This isn’t a superficial point as time is our most valuable currency, and we’re all spending it here, effectively working for free for GGG because we care about Path of Exile.

Reading through the posts, there's a lot of the same responses that I would call "concern" without much factual data or reason behind it. Below is the attempt to address some of these concerns and provide an updated visual on "The Exile's Hunt". However, difficulty is a separate conversation although (quickly) as I have posted before, I think it's an easy solution to implement: Offer a league option for 0.1 difficulty



Concerns & Clarifications
1) Costs could be $100k upwards to $1,000,000 to implement any type of "alternate campaign".

Reality: GGG is no longer a small indie company. It’s fully owned by Tencent, with access to capital and long-term system investment. GGG paid almost NZ$100 million (~$62 million USD) in dividends in 2025.

Even if the cost for an alternate campaign is $100K to upwards of $1M (which is pure speculation) that breaks down to:

$100K: 2k–3k packs (~1% of a league)
$1M: 20k–33k packs (~5–10% of a league)

Estimated ~200k–500k supporter packs per league (~300k avg). 4 leagues per year. Typical $30-$50 pricing although since people purchase higher tier MTX, *should* be less supporter packs.

2) GGG has more important things to work on.
Tencent operates under an "Evergreen" model which is to say: Invest in systems that extend player lifetime value. The focus is on retention and engagement (high daily active users), not one-time spikes. In their reporting, they highlight games that sustain large player bases and generate consistent long-term revenue—titles.

If a system improves retention even slightly (i.e. reduces burnout, brings players back, or increases engagement) then it pays for itself quickly.

3) Cost arguments are speculation
“This would cost millions” is guesswork and hundreds of thousands (or a million) could be "ash tray money" depending on the ROI. This is built on existing systems—zones, bosses, encounters, scaling. That’s iteration, not rebuilding from scratch.

4) “Skipping the game” is overstated
Campaign is roughly ~5–15% of playtime. The other 85–95% is endgame.
No one is skipping the game. In fact, The Exile's Hunt has two (2) full play throughs which means two (2) end game characters before the reward is available. Heck, just offer The Exile's Hunt for each character after initial campaign.

5) Economy is being misread
Inflation is already a complaint in POE. The "Exile's Hunt" solution below doesn't affect current economy (as far as I can tell so would like further explanation as to how would negatively affect the economy and "no" or "Denied" aren't valid reasons LOL).

6) Low stake, high authority takes
A lot of strong opinions with little to no financial support behind them. Not worthless although it does weaken the “I’m protecting the game” stance. I think it would be a grand idea if GGG allowed access to forum posts only by those who buy a supporter pack. $30–$50 for hundreds (or thousands) of hours is one of the best returns in entertainment!! Let's support our game boys come on!

"

SalamiHaze#9389 wrote:

"

Soulsniper1313#7576 wrote:

"

SalamiHaze#9389 wrote:

Yup, because campaign skip +1ers are the only one possibly leaving the game.

What makes you think not going casual road would be bigger hit for poe2 playerbase?

What makes you think not going casual road would be bigger hit for poe2 earnings?

What makes you think not going casual road would be bigger hit for poe2 engagement metrics?

1. Starting player base number - current player base number = big hit
2. Less players = big hit in money spent on MTX
3. Less players = big hit on engagement because well... there are less players

Bonus Question!

Why is adding in an alternate leveling option for alt characters "casual" If anything is casual, the constant hand holding of where to go, who to talk to, how to dodge, how to use a potion, etc is the casual side. So by adding an alternate leveling path where all of that is gone would in fact be less casual.

Can you answer your own questions in the inverse?

Your math is biased. As i said, campaign skip +1ers are not the only one possibly leaving so You don`t know what scenario will result in bigger minus. You assume +1ers > -1ers but have really no data to back it up. Me too but i don`t make statements like that.

I play poe2 because its not diablo4. I don`t play diablo 4 because it is diablo4. So as for your question - i said casual road. Same people rooting for campaign skip are the same people rooting for increased drops, no mistake penalty, easier ascendancies and basically easier everything = diablo4.

Campaign is a joke now, twinked char zooms through it like butter. You don`t even need to think about res on bosses nowadays because of all those nerf(puke) and yet you people prefer GGG to comit many many resources to design and balance new leveling method instead of balancing things that really matter.

My math is biased but you openly admit you have no data to back any of it up. Interesting.

It is correct that I cant know for sure what the cause is that people are leaving. I can only deduct that since there is no alternate leveling path and the campaign is forced, then people are not leaving because an alternate path was offered. So your number is 100% always going to be 0 in this scenario where mine is unknown but definitely not 0.

Interestingly enough as well, you have not answered or addressed what I have said. How is allowing an alternate leveling option where you kill monsters to level and just don't have to click on water levers, move caravans, talk to 1000 NPCs, and be told when to dodge, how to equip skill gems, mana potion, etc. casual? How in ANY way is removing the hand holding viewed as CASUAL?

The campaign is not hard, it is never been about its too hard. It is a boring slog that you HAVE to repeat to enjoy creating a new character. You are only PROVING the point when you call the campaign a joke and twink characters zoom through like butter. You are ACTIVLY admitting there is no purpose for it for alt characters.

Some people are asking for increased drops and no XP penalty. That is correct but that is not what I am asking for when asking for an alternate leveling path for alt characters after first campaign completion each league. So if you are a purist then you should be all for bringing in the POE1 zoom and screen clear too right? Because remember, POE2 was originally supposed to be a POE1 expansion/graphics update. You should also be on board for shrinking the campaign since POE2 is already longer without the last 2 acts than POE1 campaign.

"

Azimuthus#1135 wrote:

"

this is the defination of trolling :)

This is not trolling but a logical extrapolation.

Oh do please explain the logical extrapolation of people asking to start at level 1 and get to kill monsters to get stronger without having to click on water levers, move caravan, etc. to wanting a free lvl 100 character.

Do explain.

Or is it just trolling like you have been called out for....

"

Timmy2000#0228 wrote:

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Soulsniper1313#7576 wrote:

Limited to prevent rushing at start of a league? Have you played a league? It is always rush to maps to try and get currency ASAP to cash in early. An alternate leveling OPTION for ALT CHARACTERS that ONLY OPENS AFTER FULL COMPLETION OF CAMPAIGN EACH LEAGUE would do absolutely nothing to this. I caps locked the parts you seem to be missing.

Your example of ABUSE is literally what happens now already.... Level up ED/Cont then unlock blood mage, then switch to CoC comet spam. Has literally happened every league. No campaign skip alternate leveling path will change this in any way either direction.

Not missing anything. Although wouldnt be suprised if you're pretending to miss something yourself

Ofc thats how it works on start, and I don't want tricks to make it easier and faster.

Cant believe many players on first day do grenades mercenary race build and after finishing interludes immiedietly repeat campaing in order to do endgame build on another class

Campaing skip would make it mandatory strat on legue start.

Pigeonholing to do stuff like that is bad.

It would absolutely make it worse for players not willing to do it

You are 100 % wrong about this part.

Ya people chase metas true, I dont want devs helping to make it easier and faster.

Nobody is forced to play 1 char but people wanting to start campaign and endgame with same setup shouldnt be on losing position, skip on day 1 would absolutely help for it to happen.

Again wouldnt mind skip later on.

Tune down capsing, condescending questions or dont replay to my messages please.

Ok you are completely ignoring very specific parts of what I am saying....

On league start. New league. Still with me? I hope so. YOU HAVE TO COMPLETE THE FULL CAMAPGIN BEFORE ANY ALTERNATE LEVELING PATH WOULD BE OPEN TO USE.

I even said I caps locked the parts you are ignoring.

You are saying that you think someone speed running the campaign (people already do) to unlock the alternate leveling path which would make you start back at level 1, is somehow faster than the mage playing ED/Cont and then respeccing into blood mage with CoC comet doing the campaign once? Are you serious? This is happening already every league since launch.

What meta would be created where starting at level 1, completing the campaign, then restarting at level 1 and having to level all the way up again would be faster than just playing through as you do now? Do you even see how this makes no sense?

"

Soulsniper1313#7576 wrote:

"

Timmy2000#0228 wrote:

"

Soulsniper1313#7576 wrote:

Limited to prevent rushing at start of a league? Have you played a league? It is always rush to maps to try and get currency ASAP to cash in early. An alternate leveling OPTION for ALT CHARACTERS that ONLY OPENS AFTER FULL COMPLETION OF CAMPAIGN EACH LEAGUE would do absolutely nothing to this. I caps locked the parts you seem to be missing.

Your example of ABUSE is literally what happens now already.... Level up ED/Cont then unlock blood mage, then switch to CoC comet spam. Has literally happened every league. No campaign skip alternate leveling path will change this in any way either direction.

Not missing anything. Although wouldnt be suprised if you're pretending to miss something yourself

Ofc thats how it works on start, and I don't want tricks to make it easier and faster.

Cant believe many players on first day do grenades mercenary race build and after finishing interludes immiedietly repeat campaing in order to do endgame build on another class

Campaing skip would make it mandatory strat on legue start.

Pigeonholing to do stuff like that is bad.

It would absolutely make it worse for players not willing to do it

You are 100 % wrong about this part.

Ya people chase metas true, I dont want devs helping to make it easier and faster.

Nobody is forced to play 1 char but people wanting to start campaign and endgame with same setup shouldnt be on losing position, skip on day 1 would absolutely help for it to happen.

Again wouldnt mind skip later on.

Tune down capsing, condescending questions or dont replay to my messages please.

Ok you are completely ignoring very specific parts of what I am saying....

On league start. New league. Still with me? I hope so. YOU HAVE TO COMPLETE THE FULL CAMAPGIN BEFORE ANY ALTERNATE LEVELING PATH WOULD BE OPEN TO USE.

I even said I caps locked the parts you are ignoring.

You are saying that you think someone speed running the campaign (people already do) to unlock the alternate leveling path which would make you start back at level 1, is somehow faster than the mage playing ED/Cont and then respeccing into blood mage with CoC comet doing the campaign once? Are you serious? This is happening already every league since launch.

What meta would be created where starting at level 1, completing the campaign, then restarting at level 1 and having to level all the way up again would be faster than just playing through as you do now? Do you even see how this makes no sense?

That is exactly the point to keep it slow at league start.

I want it this way to keep 0.1 % from having even more advantage on people playing a little bit more casually.



Very tiny minority does it on 1st, 2nd day. Time waste to repeat campaing is a deterent for doing it and it should stay like this.

Sekh farm char, comfortable fast map clearer and boss killer on 1st, 2nd day and you get to farm all the best stuff even faster. Vast majority of player base wont do it even with skip, will start and continue first few days on same char and will be on losing position at the start even more with you skipping and saving many hours of play time.

It will absolutely make things worse inflation wise as there will be x time more people doing it and doing it faster but it will still be small MINORITY.


I do not want to make 3 chars in first few days.

I do not want to be forced to make 3 chars in fist few days

Skip would force me to do it or be on much worse starting position compared to current state of things with chasing inflation.


Not responding anymore to your trolling, fact denying, and campaing to get another trick for having advantage over majority of other players.
Made my point very clear.

Skip on day 1 is horrendous idea and would be bad.


See influx of negative reviews around christmas on steam and compare it to trade price increase on ninja.

Yes multiple temple debacles played role here but underlaying thing here had a lot to do with inflation and not having ability to afford proper stuff to fnish chars, so better quit than waste time.

Worse reviews - less new players - less $

Anything making inflation to progress faster should be avoided like fire, anything giving advantage to under 1 % ers - same.