Gating XP and progress behind RNG

First, this comes from a solo player, but please do not make this an other SFL thread.

We all know PoE has a RNG system on stereoids, compared to other games in this genre. Some call it hard core, others call it a way to make the game live longer. To some, it's bull shit, to others it's the dream.

Gear is one thing. Gear IS, and SHOULD be, gated behind RNG. If not, it's not an aRPG. But gating progress and XP behind RNG is sort of new to the genre. What's your take one this?

Is this just a way to make the game live longer?
Or is this a way to give the hard core player base something more than the casuals, to "reward" their dedication?

I just feel that the focus of re-rolling, trying new builds, theory-craft, enjoying the game from different views, builds and classes is sort of waste of time, when you need SO much time to get that midnight fragment, or to stabalize your map pool, or reaching for 75+ maps.

there is still a lot more content to be released. The characters are simply not meant to be leveled to 90++.

That being said sustaining high map pools is a lot easier then what it used to be in the previous leagues so you guys should be glad its only been getting easier.

You can hit level 100 doing docks.

Gating XP is bad, gating increased XP gains is not.

Evaluating the rate at which XP is gained is always going to be subjective. To some players time is plentiful and they simply enjoy killing monsters. To others, playing for a few hours without seeing the XP bar more substantially is a painful grind.

In my opinion it wouldn't hurt the game to have increased XP gains. I am basing my opinion by comparing the rate at which GGG spews out new content. Since I joined the game more than a year ago, I haven't been able to bring a character past level 90 for example. Usually there is a new league or a new skill or a new mechanic coming out which I feel like trying on a new character before I even get bored with the old one. Hitting lvl 90 is in my opinion adequate considering the big push for 100 which comes afterwards, and some would argue that under current conditions it's not even hard to achieve.

My point is, it is much more enjoyable for me to start a new character, even if I am reiterating a build I already played before than to grind XP around level 90. So why not just give me that XP so that I can call that character "finished" and try out a new one and play the new content GGG has been slaving over. GGG goes over its head to provide us with regular updates but on the other hand forces players who want to have a sense of completion to stick with an old character.

By the way, IMHO the above applies to gear progression as well.

TL;DR: GGG, you have already assured the game's longevity with your update policy and the ability to constantly create new and interesting content. The grind is redundant.

^I agree.

I just feel that the hill is too steap to climb. Think I've ran about 50 lvl73 maps this week, all with 40+ IIQ - didn't see ONE 74 map. Think I've ran about 40-50 corrupted zones this week, NO midnight fragment.

It's not hard at all, 73 maps are easy. The zones are easy. It's just time, time, time, time. And time. Time? Yes, time. TIME!

Make maps HARDER and the XP gain better. Risk->reward, skill->reward.
Just end this time->reward thingy. It's sad.

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Worldbreaker написал:

You can hit level 100 doing docks.

Gating XP is bad, gating increased XP gains is not.

Docks provide increased experience gain than Fellshrine, it's bad.

Crap aside...
Explain why is gating increased experience gain behind luck and not difficulty a good thing.

I have this GREAT character, steaming through maps like a warm knife through butter. But the game wount let him progress, because he's an unlucky prick.

Games used to be: skill/knowhow+some time=progress.
PoE is ONLY about time. Time. Time. And friends with time.

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tinko92 написал:

Crap aside...
Explain why is gating increased experience gain behind luck and not difficulty a good thing.

Its gated begind both.

You need to be able to run the 70+ maps to get the 74+ maps etc. You also need the luck to get those maps. Chris confirmed he doesnt want people to be able to constantly maintain a high-end map pool. Making the best/highest maps rare makes them more special.

I think frustration really kicks in when you consider the cost of mapping and the fact some people don't play for fun, they want level 100.

The issue isn't even about gating EXP. It's about gating end-game content behind RNG that drives me off the walls. Like I'm sitting here with a level 80+ character; I can already rape everything in level 74 maps & below with budget gear. I want to challenge my character with harder content but the game tells me: "hey, you're probably strong enough to play tougher content, but you're not lucky enough to access it. Tough luck bitch." I get to see level 75-78 maps maybe once in a blue moon. Even when I spend assloads of currency rolling each and every map to 90%IIQ+, my map pool runs dry, constantly.

Gating end-game content via difficulty should already be enough of a gate. Gating content via RNG just seems annoyingly artificial and unrewarding. What's the point in dumping 300+ hours into a high-level character, with BiS gear, yet the game constantly forces you to play brainless content?

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Zanixx написал:

Making the best/highest maps rare makes them more special.

"Special" how? I keep hearing people defend Chris's stance, saying "oh high level maps should be a once-in-awhile thing." Why?! If Chris is concerned about people leveling too fast, then decrease the fucking exp for high-level maps, but still make them accessible to players.

Do you actually find it fun grinding low-level content where you can already 1-shot everything in the vicinity? Do you like the fact that you need to rely on luck to access certain content, regardless of how powerful your character might be?