Path of Exile catch-all

Homard wrote:

The other option is to play the character until level 80 or so. That is long enough to learn the game and it's mechanisms. Most builds aren't really coming into their own until the early 80's; that's where the fun is. If you do play into the 80's, you'll have enough currency for a respec with a little trading. You can try a completely different approach for ~70 scouring orbs.

Just go to the forums and look for a starter build and use that which interests you. Otherwise you will end up nerfing yourself at the higher levels. Bottom line is you are going to need 4500+ ehp and capped resistances by the time you are mapping or you'll spend a bunch of time dying. That's not even talking the damage you should be throwing out.

SpyNavy wrote:
Mixolyde wrote:

Any suggestions on a build that isn't too graphic/lag intensive on older hardware? Minimal summons, effects, etc.

Dual strike, sunder, or war chief

Yep, I ran Lifting's Ancestral Warchief 2 leagues ago. Cheap, easy and very little graphical clutter. You can easily find the specs on the POE forums. I did all content except Uber Atziri with it and never had any problems. Totems are weird though, as you will spend most of your time running around trying not to get hit while your totems hit things.

I actually enjoy the puzzle of making (or modifying) a build to fit inventory, so for me getting to 80 has its own attraction. Very few of my characters have made it that far, but I've had great fun running them.

My firm belief is that if you're having fun, you're playing the game correctly.

I am also looking for one more of each of the following jewels ( In Standard League ).

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/OKE5jHW.jpg)

and

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/GUwWBI7.jpg)

So I guess here is my issue with not being able to respec the points. I started another new character to do a SSF Delve League. Since it's in the league I don't get shared stash or anything. Every build I looked at calls for Unique items but there is no gurantee I'll see those items. Therfore I have to hope I'm lucky or get to late game and have a character that isn't good enough to play the late game because my skill tree wasn't selected properly for the high level unique items I ended up getting?

I should say the above comment is meant as an honest question, not just a compaint. I've got over 100 hours in this game between beta and now and have never really gotten into the late game. I beat the game on the starting difficulty when there was only 3 chapters but usually peter out around that point. I would like to go farther in this league, but would hate to get 40 hours into a character and find that my current setup is limiting me.

Well, the way I look at it is that there are all sorts of builds, and unless the build actually *depends* on the unique, you should be fine without it. And of course, there are a ton of builds that are much more flexible and don't fall apart if you can't get the Finger of Boo-Bah.

Myself, if I want to run something really spectacular and focused, I'll do it in Standard. It'll be easy and cheap to find the specific gems and gear that you need, and you can over time build up a large library of gear to reuse with different builds. Doing that in leagues is much harder (so people do it as a challenge) and far more expensive, and then at the end of the league you're back in standard anyway.

It also matters when in the league you try for a build. Your first 2 or 3 characters will need to be fairly generic or survivable without special gear, because they will be collecting for the later ones. Then, as you run them up, you'll get some Epics and be able to start a more specialized build or two. So don't expect to do fancy stuff with your first or second League characters unless you get lucky or accumulate a lot of orbs to buy stuff with.

Does that make sense? I've stopped thinking in terms of "oh, this build looks cool, I'm sure I can get 150 Chaos by level 55 to get it set up!". For me, I'll say "Hmm, I have not tried a... Cold build in while! Let's see... Cold, and... Two-handed weapons! Okay! Looks like the priest warrior is gonna get a turn, and I'll go for, hmmm, some good physical AoE and DoT damage along with the cold for ranged stuff." At that point, I go look at a few builds to try to find some good enhancements to look out for, either gems or gear. And of course, if it actually won't function without Boo-Bah's Thumb, I may just decide to pivot and go in another direction.

For me, that bottom up approach is far more likely to succeed than the top-down ones that fail at level 75 if you can't afford something special (or don't find it in SSF, you get the idea). So maybe consider *not* gating yourself on rare equipment - not going for the absolute unit build in a category - because even 75% of a perfect build is survivable and fun.

That's my advice and experience after playing since beta.

And I hope in turn that you're not taking this as "you're playing the game wrong!" I played for about 2 years without ever looking at a build, and while it was fun for a while, it did limit me. When I did start looking around, I learned that the key is to build synergies between items, traits and skills, and so I started looking for those by myself. So I play as much to find a path through the traits and support it with skills and items, as to actually play the game. Even just changing the mechanics of play can give you 80 levels of new gameplay, as you figure out how to play (say) a Volatile Dead build when you've gotten really comfortable with minion play.

So I think there are a ton of different ways to play and if one is not fun for you, try something else. That worked for me and I'm much happier with the game now because I took a wider view of "how to build".

And you know what? If I hit a wall at level 65 or something, I just think about all the loot I stored from that run and kill the character with no regerts. It's all grist for the mill.

If you're going for a posted build the idea is (and most good builds will have a section explaining this part) you need to do so in sections. You modify your build to fit your gem level threshold and farm those areas for pieces to sell (and more importantly: currency) you need for the build while reaching the end game.

The odds of you getting an actual drop that you want for your build is slim. Odds are you'll find something for another build.

You then have to take the good selling pieces and the currency you've farmed up while getting to the end game and buy your missing pieces. If you're unwilling to go the trade route. You're right you'll never be able to finish a posted build. You're next option is to do what Robear suggested.

Most folks work to farm the end game to get currency and gear to trade for higher end pieces to help them find even higher level gear.

Another thing to think about with PoE is that currency allows you to create directed drops for yourself. The game certainly isn't balanced around SSF and anyone playing that way is going to have a tough time making it well into the endgame without some luck and a lot of game knowledge. Currency allows you to buy what you need if you're playing the trading game so that's no problem. If you're going SSF, learn all the tricks of trading, crafting and make sure you never skip a master mission or daily mission if/when you get that far. Most builds can function very well without and unique items at all with a little attention to crafting. The new delve league allows you to narrow down crafted attributes more than ever before, so this should be a great league for SSF.

I like to look at the league starter build videos. I always start a league but go back to standard because that is where all my cool toys are. That being said, Ghazzys build using Smite and Dominating Blow can be done completely SSF, no unique required although he has one that helps but isn't necessary (Brightbeak) which is crazy cheap for the results it gives you. I did a spin off of it using that crazy sword that gives you Her Embrace and using Consecrated Path and it's devastating. My biggest problem now is building up my hp past 4500 and finding something to give me chaos resist which I have none, but all my elements are capped. I'm going to kick off another character using his build from scratch at some point.

Brightbeak also drops regularly from one of the campaign maps.

I should probably play more Standard. I've got some cool stuff there, I think, amidst all the clutter. I should organize it and make an interesting build.

ranalin wrote:

Brightbeak also drops regularly from one of the campaign maps.

Do you know which one? It's a pretty handy weapon for most builds in leveling and even as a Stat stick in some end game builds. Oh and Oni Goroshi was the sword I was thinking of. The Holy Relic buff does a nice job of keeping up with the burn from her embrace. I'm going to make another meatball build and see how that goes as well.

SpyNavy wrote:
ranalin wrote:

Brightbeak also drops regularly from one of the campaign maps.

Do you know which one? It's a pretty handy weapon for most builds in leveling and even as a Stat stick in some end game builds. Oh and Oni Goroshi was the sword I was thinking of. The Holy Relic buff does a nice job of keeping up with the burn from her embrace. I'm going to make another meatball build and see how that goes as well.

Not off top of my head just that i've had 2 or 3 drop. Once right after i traded for one so end of the 2nd act or beginning of the 3rd.

I got lucky this season and after my 3rd run picked up an Oni. I've spent 3-4+ hours the last 3 seasons and getting nothing after getting a minimum of 3 characters to level 9

Is the Oni sword still gated at level 7? I burned a lot of hours - maybe 12 or so? - with two characters, getting them to level 8 or so, and got nothing. Ended up deleting them in frustration (I mean, two character slots just to repeat? Nah...).

So is it still super hard to get?

Robear wrote:

Is the Oni sword still gated at level 7? I burned a lot of hours - maybe 12 or so? - with two characters, getting them to level 8 or so, and got nothing. Ended up deleting them in frustration (I mean, two character slots just to repeat? Nah...).

So is it still super hard to get?

Yea they actually nerfed getting it from the first time i did it. Level 7 is still the lowest level, but the average tends to be mid level 8 now. I feel exceptionally lucky to get it at level 7 now. I always try at the start of each season i play because it's an instant (relatively) 6 socket. I've also been lucky with other drops while grinding for it.

I did not get many other drops while hunting for it, since it's just the damn beach. I don't think I got any Epics... It really left me bored and frustrated.

My normal experience actually. Last season i didn't even bother doing anything else after giving up on it. I've picked up Wanderlust, Tabula Rasa and a ring i can't remember the name of while farming for it. Except for the TR nothing that makes up for the time spent farming.

Anyone going to be on tonight ( Standard ). That can Add/Color Change sockets on a few things for me?

Agu_Sakku wrote:

Anyone going to be on tonight ( Standard ). That can Add/Color Change sockets on a few things for me?

I will be on tomorrow night. I see you are east coast and I am west so I might miss you. I will be on my delve character mittensthekitty.

If you see me send a message any I will jump into standard. Not sure how big my reserve of chromatics is anymore but my standard masters should all be maxed.

I've got my masters at 7 in standard. If you see me on go ahead and send me a message.

I am trying to figure out my goal in delve. Usually I go for a specific item nut I am not sure any jump out at me. Ideas?

I've started mapping with my guy in PoE and starting to dump uniques in the guild stash (delve league)

Funny but quite an accurate review.

I love it!

Anyone else having issues logging in this new season?

Sometimes it takes 2-3 times before it finally loads into the game.

I'm having 2 issues with this league. The first is I can't even come close to sustaining maps above Tier 8! The second is it takes me sometimes 4 or 5 tries to login. At least 3 every time.

I'm mapping with toxic rain build and it's very solid... i'm up to tier 13 without much issue.

The login issue is annoying.