The current Atlas map connection system feels unnecessarily frustrating.

The current Atlas map connection system feels unnecessarily frustrating.
Each map connects to only a few others, and because of the fog of war, it often looks like completing a map will open a path in the direction you want to go—only to discover there’s no actual connection. You end up hitting dead ends far too frequently, which forces you to run an extra 3–5 maps just to reach your intended destination. That doesn’t feel like meaningful progression, just wasted time.
Towers don’t really solve this problem either. Their placement is too random, and even when you invest in a Grand Project Tablet, the radius often isn’t large enough to chain into the next tower or meaningfully expand access. As a result, you still get stuck navigating awkward paths instead of moving efficiently through the Atlas.
If towers are no longer meant to “juice” maps, then their role should shift toward improving traversal. They should either:


Spawn more consistently within a reasonable distance of each other, or


Have their Grand Project effect applied by default


Right now, the system makes exploring the infinite Atlas feel clunky rather than rewarding. Combined with the number of tedious map layouts, it often forces players into running sequences of maps they actively want to avoid.
A better approach would be something closer to Path of Exile’s original Atlas design—where players had more freedom to access the maps they wanted—or at least ensure tower coverage overlaps enough to prevent constant dead ends.
Traversal should feel intentional and player-driven, not restricted by randomness.