Path of Exile open beta this weekend

[Arvoreen]

Very Diablo-esque.   It's free...so try it if you want
http://www.pathofexile.com/publicweekend/

[LaCroix]

i admit my mistake in criticizing the game before i saw it. it's truly fantastic. the enormous amount of players who say it is what diablo 3 should have been is rather overwhelming

i hear there's an option the devs will be introducing at some point called "cut-throat" league, where you can jump into another person's game (dark souls style) and kill them. combined with hardcore, that will be immensely fun

as it stands, very addictive and innovative game

[Syt]

I like from the previews the completely open and hyper-detailed skill map where you can create the build you like. Some of the preview builds they featured on YouTube were rather unique.

[LaCroix]

I like from the previews the completely open and hyper-detailed skill map where you can create the build you like. Some of the preview builds they featured on YouTube were rather unique.

it's not really a "skill map" (but maybe you know this and i'm being uber literal, sorry if that's the case). it's more a passive map. every "node" you select either gives you + to a certain attribute (strength/intelligence/dexterity), or it gives you passives toward a certain feature. there are major "nodes" that can completely change your character, such as a node that.. once reached.. means you hit every monster you target but lose all critical hits. the key to crafting a decent build, i've read, is ensuring you use as few +10 dex/intel/str nodes as possible.. and hit more the +% critical chance, %total life, %damage with bows, or the real major nodes.

the skills are actually gems you (mostly) find as loot, but you can also gather many as quest rewards. some gem-skills are "support gems," such as... Pierce. if you place a Pierce support-gem with a "shoot a lot of arrows" skill-gem into a piece of equipment that has linked sockets, then every time you use mana to fire lots of arrows, then there's a 50% chance they will pierce the enemy - just an example of one of many combinations between support/skill gems

there's so many options for character customization.. it's insane. classes themselves aren't very important - it's just where you start on the passive tree. so, with a standard melee character.. you could theoretically cast lightning spells and summon zombies.. while wielding a wand. it's all up to the player on what sort of character they want to create

[Alcibiades]

Been playing this for a few weeks.  Pretty enjoyable.  More fun if you play with a friend, too.