Path of Exile 2

[Syt]

Yeah, definitely. They have a pretty decent monetization scheme where throwing them $30 every few leagues will get you a bunch of graphical mtx and special (and super useful) stash tabs. If you're playing the game for hundreds or even thousands of hours, that feels fair and very much worth it.

So the $30 I'm spending now gets me a beta key but also $30 in points that I was likely going to buy anyway after the game goes full release. Decent deal imo.

Looking at playtime I have in games, PoE is still comfortably in the lead (and you should probably shave off 25-30% off the V3 and CK3 numbers for running observer mode or idling in the background). Considering I've been buying DLC at release for V3, CK3, CK2, HoI4, EU4, Stellaris, I probably spent equal amount of money between EU4, HoI4, V3 and CK3 combined vs PoE and a roughly equal amount of time (maybe? possibly leaning more towards PoE).

Looking at these top rows - except BG3 and a few others they all have one major thing in common: you can have a YouTube video or TV show on on the side while playing.  

[Syt]

Got the email notification for the early access.

[Iormlund]

See you on Wraeclast, exile. 

[frunk]

Got the email notification for the early access.

Awesome.  I bought the Supporter pack.  Wish it was starting this holiday weekend.

[FunkMonk]

Elon keeps posting about trying PoE 2. This fuckin guy won't stfu about anything.

Holy shit if he actually likes the game and decides on a whim to try to buy GGG 

This asshole won't stop ruining the things I enjoy

[Syt]

A while back he lauded Elden Ring as a piece of art and posted his character build. It was torn to shreds. Now, you can play FromSoft games any way you like, but there were completely nonsensical things in there (like having two different, very similar shields equipped which adds unnecessary carry weight) and making comments about his reasoning that showed he didn't understand some basic mechanics. Elden Ring survived.

I presume PoE2 will be the same.

[FunkMonk]

That's what I hope 

He is supposedly a top ranked Diablo 4 player, but Diablo 4 is a very easy game and it's obvious he just copied a meta build and played nonstop for like a week. 

[frunk]

So they've announced over a million redemptions for EA and rightfully they don't know what will happen with the servers even thought they've tried to scale it up as best they could.  I think I'll call it a win if I get past the login screen tomorrow.

[Syt]

I don't think I will try

[Iormlund]

One million viewers on Twitch right now.

[frunk]

And the servers aren't even up yet.

[crazy canuck]

This download is    s  l  o  w 

[FunkMonk]

This download is    s  l  o  w 

Well look who decided to BUY a beta version of a free game 

[frunk]

First impression, it is much harder than PoE but all in good ways.  Reading attacks is so much more important even from the very first boss.  I'm not ashamed to say I died many times to the first boss before figuring it out.  Skill combos are built in from the ground up unlike PoE.  I'm starting out with controller but I might shift to WASD.  I think combat is smoother with controller but navigating menus/inventory is a pain and switching between controller and mouse/keyboard is a bit slow.

[crazy canuck]

This download is    s  l  o  w 

Well look who decided to BUY a beta version of a free game 

 

But man is it with it.  I love that it is hard.  I have had more fun in the first zones of this game than any ARPG.

Really impressed.