To get the most out of the game you need storage space. At a minimum, you'll need a currency tab and unique tab, and if you engage with some of the other optional content you'll probably need the dedicated tab that holds the items related to that content. I love PoE, but the bank tabs are not cosmetic, or optional so you'll generally want to invest at least $20 to get the most important bank expansions.

Is it worth it? Absolutely! I just don't think it's honest to call the microtransactions 'cosmetic only'.

Sadly unimpressed with what I saw from the trailer and 30 minute gameplay walkthrough. I really wanted to like PoE, but the two times I really gave it a go (once on beta/alpha and once years later) I just didn't enjoy myself at all. The animations and art design were junk and I didn't enjoy the gameplay mechanics they employed. It seemed like as the game went along they found an audience and it just isn't for anyone else.

What they've talked about for 2 so far appears to be putting bandaids on some of the more restrictive gameplay mechanics rather than just changing them. Was really hoping with a divergence from 1 there would be more significant changes. Diablo 2 and Grim Dawn are the only two ARPGs I can think of that I kept going back to and that doesn't seem to be likely to change here.

Jonjonz wrote on Jul 29, 2023, 06:36:
Maybe action hack and slashers like it, but I can't stand games that use this mostly gray palettes with a spash of color to highlight only a few things look.

Unsold here.

Honestly I never liked the art in the first game, and like this one just as little. I don't know if it's the semi realistic style they go for or what but it just doesn't work for me.

MoreLuckThanSkill wrote on Jul 29, 2023, 14:33:
Best way to play PoE is just play whatever the hell you want, and ignore 'best' or 'meta' build talk.

I agree with the sentiment, but the game got so complicated you couldn't do anything reasonably well without some serious help...

Good choice. There's probably no way to maintain sanity and merge PoE 1 and 2 together. Too much bloat in PoE 1 anyway, it's a mess upon piles of messes.

Best way to play PoE is just play whatever the hell you want, and ignore 'best' or 'meta' build talk.

*EDIT* Watched the video, based on their stated numbers, this is still going to a complicated as hell game to play optimally. Just relax and do whatever, your guy may eventually die or run into a wall, oh no!

I do like that they seem to have slowed it down from the constantly teleporting/AoEing everything on the screen every second, filling the screen with spell/attack effects. That always felt like it was trying to give me a seizure. I'm sure youtubers/twitch no lifers will figure out how to replicate PoE1 speed in PoE2 eventually, but at least it looks like the developers are trying to move away from that.

Only thing I am ambivalent about in PoEII is the mapping system. In PoE, when you had to revisit an area, the map rejiggered itself and you had to play out the whole area again. It's true that the benefit is you level much faster--but I see that as a gimmick, really. It's forcing you to grind. The mapping once accomplished for an area should remain mapped. All in all, I loved PoE and they added so much to it after the first release that it is difficult to describe. I play single-player, as really, that is the way the game is made. You can become involved in multiplayer scenarios if you want, however, it's optional. Like D4, you can see other players at times, but you are free to ignore them. I look forward to seeing what PoEII has to share! I never purchased a single cosmetic in PoE and that game is more than fine with standard textures--have no interest in buying cosmetics for D4, either.

Jim wrote on Jul 28, 2023, 22:28:
can a game become too big, too complex and have too many systems? Because that was the impression I got a couple of years ago and I am sure it is worse now....

I'm always scared away by the massive skill trees in PoE. It makes me feel like I have to spend countless hours planning my character, or I have to look up a build guide which then means the character doesn't feel uniquely "mine." I honestly liked Diablo 3's simplified skill system the best because I could quickly change skills, with no penalty, to see what skills worked best together and were the most fun for me.

The graphics and gameplay of PoE 2 look great, but I doubt I'll ever play it because I don't like character customization that is so complex. I'd rather be playing the game, not analyzing the best paths to take on massive skill trees.

Maybe action hack and slashers like it, but I can't stand games that use this mostly gray palettes with a spash of color to highlight only a few things look.

Unsold here.

Are there any additions to the story part? I haven't played PoE for a long time after finishing the story since I am not interested in leagues or seasons where you mostly replay the same game. I will be back for the story part of PoE2 for sure, though.

Mr. Tact wrote on Jul 28, 2023, 19:47:
Huh. I wonder what changed their mind? Doing this means maintaining two games... I wonder if it the original will be "softened" to make it more inviting to a larger audience...

A reworked skill and gem system and other mechanics ... I imagine it would be hard to maintain balance between the two systems in the same endgame. (for crossplay purposes). Heck, with all the myriad weird interactions between gems/passives in PoE - introducing a whole new game's worth of them in crossplay could open up a huge can of worms. How many times have weirdly broken interactions been found that require balances/nerfs?

I could be way off the mark. (I haven't watched the livestream)

Also worth reiterating that this is one of the best free-to-play monetistation models that exists (IMO). Die-hards can end game content without paying a cent.

lovely to see blizzard having some real competition and coming in at a much better price.

can a game become too big, too complex and have too many systems? Because that was the impression I got a couple of years ago and I am sure it is worse now....

Darks wrote on Jul 28, 2023, 21:55:
Tell that to all the Whales who spent hundreds if not thousands on all the cosmetic items in POE and Inventory slots, along with whatever others items they are selling. And many of the outfits are not cheap 100 to 200 per an item.

That's true but it is only cosmetics. Their choice to spend their money. Yeah, if you want to play seriously, you'll need to spend some money on some stash tabs. And it will probably be more than a AAA game might cost, however by then the number of hours you are playing will make it worth it. *shrug*

Avus wrote on Jul 28, 2023, 21:01:
IMO this is the ONLY f2p MMORPG done right.

I won't spend $100Cdn to play Diablo 4 and have to install another game client for it.

Tell that to all the Whales who spent hundreds if not thousands on all the cosmetic items in POE and Inventory slots, along with whatever others items they are selling. And many of the outfits are not cheap 100 to 200 per an item.

Free to play? to even!

IMO this is the ONLY f2p MMORPG done right.

I won't spend $100Cdn to play Diablo 4 and have to install another game client for it.

Holy cow this game makes D4 look like doodoo. I played the original POE long ago, might get this.

Huh. I wonder what changed their mind? Doing this means maintaining two games... I wonder if it the original will be "softened" to make it more inviting to a larger audience...