We NEED to talk about SSF

I’d like to humbly share my opinion after playing PoE 2 in SSF mode with over 500 hours invested. And I have to say, SSF is completely unplayable right now. For a long time, even since PoE 1, I’ve avoided the Trade Site that the game keeps trying to force on you. In order to progress with your character, you basically have to use the trade system. In PoE 1, this is somewhat manageable since there are more crafting options and items actually drop. But in PoE 2? It’s a worse system than Ruthless. Seriously.

For example, one of the hardest bosses in the game, Jamanra, whether it’s Act 2, Act 5, or Citadel, this boss has a terrible loot pool, I’ve killed him so many times and he drops nothing, I don’t know his loot is bugged or something, but certainly need to fix that. It’s beyond frustrating. Even killing T15 map bosses doesn’t feel rewarding, they still drop mostly blue gear. SSF PLAYERS ARE PAINFULLY LACKING IN REGAL AND EXALTED ORBS.

Also, the RMT community of bots and currency sellers/buyers in PoE 2 is way worse than it ever was in PoE 1. Not to mention the extremely toxic community, my experience in the last league was awful. People trying to control prices, scamming on trades, trying to trick you into giving up your currency or item, or just straight-up ignoring your messages when you try to buy something. It’s disgusting. I don’t want to deal with that, which is why I choose SSF 100% of the time. It’s a much better experience.

That said, there are real problems with SSF in PoE 2, compared to PoE 1. In PoE 1, you had more crafting options and better loot drops. In PoE 2, with the complete lack of loot and absurd scarcity, I finished the campaign using BLUE GEAR. That’s just gross. And it’s something that could be easily fixed if you used the Trade Site, just buy one decent item with an exalted orb and your entire progression is smoother. An exalted orb in SSF is basically just another prefix/affix to an item, which in Standard mode if you use the Trade Site, it’s an entire perfectly crafted item.

What GGG could do is simple: remove the option to transfer SSF characters to Standard, and in return, increase the drop rate of loot, currencies, and good gear like uniques and rares in SSF. That way, people who choose SSF can actually progress with their character in a healthy, solo way, without contaminating the Standard market with extra loot bonuses. The vision that Jonathan has for this game, that you should progress naturally by playing, doesn’t hold up in practice. Especially in SSF, what actually happens is that you have to play 400 hours just to craft one decent item or get a good unique, IF you’re lucky. A game that’s supposed to be fun turns into an endless job. No wonder the Steam reviews are so low, the player is nerfed in this patch, and the loot doesn’t drop.

These issues are only relevant to SSF, in Standard, people are already buying Divine Orbs and Mirrors with real money and getting the best gear in the market. SSF doesn’t have that option, which I’m glad for, but there’s also no viable way to make progress with dignity. I’m running maps with trash gear, and I know there’s going to come a point where I hit a wall and simply can’t go further because of the lack of resources.

I really want to see improvements to SSF. Right now, it honestly feels like it was forgotten with patch 0.2.0. And frankly, if the only way to progress is switching to Standard, then I’d rather just not play the game. That mode is infested with bots and toxic players, I want no part of it. I just want to enjoy the game and progress in a fair way in SSF.

I hope this feedback is taken positively, because that’s the goal here. I love this game and want to see it grow, and I truly believe that improving the SSF experience would be a huge win for everyone who just wants to stay away from the Trade Site and Standard mode.

Thank you, GGG, for being supportive and listening to your community. I truly hope this feedback reaches you and helps make the game even better.

Im casual SSF.
It is playable.

I have played a lot of HCSSF and it’s playable lol


Pls don’t increase the drop rates in HCSSF… would make drops less meaningful and not enjoyable

There should be NO loot explosion.

Loot should be scarced.

Loot should be meaningful.

Long time SSF PoE 1 player, played SSF in 0.1 and 0.2, no problem progressing and finding/crafting good gear. SSF is meant to be more challenging. If you don't enjoy that additional challenge then trade is an option.

"

Septile#3881 написал:

Long time SSF PoE 1 player, played SSF in 0.1 and 0.2, no problem progressing and finding/crafting good gear. SSF is meant to be more challenging. If you don't enjoy that additional challenge then trade is an option.

This is actually incorrect. SSF is the intended baseline way to play the game. The game is not designed around forced trade, it is designed to allow trade meaning they don't want arbitrary trading restrictions while keeping the game completable as a solo player. The game design and loot tables are not made in a way where new players are expected to trade a single item.

Anyway, SSF is mostly fine. I don't really have that much of an issue, but I think the campaign is a little too perfectly balanced to the point where you have to strategically ration your orbs to a large extent and I think it creates a bit of an issue where a lot of players will end up too weak or unwilling to use their currency.

I myself often feel like its better to muddle through with sub-par gear and save my currency for maps because they are a little too scarce and it feels like a waste to use things on campaign items.

But if you view it through the lens of just finishing the campaign and your currency 100% going towards you completing it, I think it's pretty much perfect atm. However, again, I think that's not the right approach to it.

https://pobb.in/_QG7XxwAfKSj


thats my ssf char, i honestly dont even play as much as i want to because of work (despite me being able to play while at work) currently i am at t10s (still need t6 nexus) and i have no trouble whatsoever, its a bit slow for my taste progress wise but its super doable, ssf is fine as it is.
personaly id like to have the recombinator earlier and for gold instead of expedition currency, atleast with low tier mods, so that campaign dosnt feel like a slog, other than that.... i am having a blast

Sorry I posted this in the wrong section of the forum. The discussion is continuing on the Early Access - Feedback

"

luizdoc#0279 написал:

Sorry I posted this in the wrong section of the forum. The discussion is continuing on the Early Access - Feedback

can u post the link please?

"

arkanie#2558 написал:

"

luizdoc#0279 написал:

Sorry I posted this in the wrong section of the forum. The discussion is continuing on the Early Access - Feedback

can u post the link please?

https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3760534