Hey WP, about your content question: I've been subbed to your channel for a decade, possibly longer can't remember myself any more. Used to play GW2 a lot, ever since the beta. Nowadays not any more though, so I think it's fair to say I've probably watched one of your videos per a few years, coinciding with periodically renewed interest in GW2, you know how it goes. My point is, I've remained subbed because I always liked your content, you're very pleasant to listen to, so I saw value in keeping an eye on your channel even throughout the years I had no interest in GW2. As I'm now looking to get into PoE2 myself, seeing you pop up with this stream was a nice surprise. There's plenty of people streaming their playthroughs for this game, yes, but I think it's also the fact that so many people really like your style, voice, and personality of your videos that made me - and I'm sure many others - choose to watch you specifically. I really do think you've got something quite nice going on here with POE2. If you make more, I'm definitely watching more.
Been loving the game so far and been a big fan of the first game, yet to check the stream but I'll be sure to watch along as I play. I remember wayyyy back when on a visualwood podcast you talked about path of exile, which is actually where I first heard about the game.
Great video WP! I started as well last night with a Warrior, but was struggling with the first big boss, and the melee build didn't click for me so i started a ranger this morning. The game definitely feels more difficult straight from the start, PoE1 first act was always a breeze to get through. I appreciate the skill changes, but it also makes it a bit difficult to shift my reflexes from the OG game. So just like the first game, it's going to be a learning curve until I learn enough about the game systems and feel more comfortable picking skills. Story is quite depressing so far, similar vibe as D4 but it feels much better written and executed.
I guess its fortunate the launch was during 4am my time, I wasn't going to stay up for it, when I logged on at 10am my time today, there was no queue and it's smooth.
Hey! Glad to see you're trying this. I remember being unimpressed by PoE, not least because the build I made was a ridiculously overpowered triple-exploding-fireball quick-casting witch or something (this was a few years ago), and I got really very bored of spamming that same skill continually. I had always meant to try a different class, but that curiosity has been invalidated/transferred now that this sequel is out. As I was watching the devs' "Endgame Content" video, it kind of struck me that ARPGs/CRPGs are finally getting to the point of escaping their table-top roots, with new mechanics that necessitate computational power greater than an abacus, and with the real integration of an interactive 3D environment (the monk's bell-summon particularly made this impression). I'd been hoping to find a reasonable but excited first-impressions playthrough of PoE2 within the next couple of days, from your 'genre' of commentary, to see if my remaining reservations could be overturned -- I'm pleased to find the OG himself doing it!
This is fun, keep going! I played yesterday, Sorceress. Ended up doing ice staff (there's 5 projectile fan skill) that freezes everything, going ice right now. Thinking I really need some life regen :D Got to lvl 8, also itching to try the Monk. I played PoE 1 on minion mancer chaos witch quite recently until Act 8 only, also fun (and makes watching you play Witch here extra good)! Interesting to see differences in poe1 and poe2. A bit bummed I cannot use sam kind of support gems on two skills right now, but reserving judgement for sure :D
Lol! I also explore whole map! At least first time i'm in a map, for sure. I also play Solo mode, and agree with you it's more fun to try do your own build. :D I definitely learned some things from guides/playthroughs about poe1 like vendor recipes/etc, but I do what I enjoy the most. If i get stuck, can always look at recommended builds to see where I've gone wrong, I figure. And nothing wrong with not finishing the game, who cares, I got my enjoyment :)
Wow, WP! You are quite prolific these days! Between catching up with all the GW2 content, FF, and Zeus, I'm having trouble keeping up with your different series. It's a great problem to have:)
41:02 I've heard the argument that indie just means "independent" - in which case, does valve count as indie? Nintendo? People call Larian indie when they have offices all over the world. I think the term "indie" gets thrown around too frequently without accounting for the actual size and the amount of money the so called "indie devs" make. If all it means is the company is independent, that doesn't mean anything, the company can be independent and make a fuck ton of money, like valve does. I think we haven't really updated our idea of what indie really means (or maybe we should just use a different word) - a more accurate judgement of what a company is capable of when it comes to making a game would be more accurately reflected by the size of their teams and the money they can throw towards a game.
I highly recommend having a slightly more open mind regarding the idea of getting info online about builds, interactions, etc. Poe1 (and most likely 2) are incredibly complex games. GW2, even 1 are basically nothing by comparison in terms of layers and moving parts. There's not really any mainstream rpg's that come close, at least that I can think of. So as a result the idea of figuring everything out for yourself, or figuring out a good build right out the gate is all but impossible and will probably just lead to quitting at some point before endgame or in the early stages of it. I REALLY don't think it takes away any of the magic to see some guides online and what people are doing. Not to copy paste or follow like a lemming, but to understand what you CAN do, from people who know HOW to do it. And beyond that, the game is balanced around you trading. You cannot reasonably get actually good uniques alone, or rather can't rely that you will get uniques for what you want. While that playstyle exists, there's a community for it and a game ruleset (look up SSF), it's for people who both know the game inside out, have their expectations in check and have no problems grinding A LOT.
I really wouldn't worry about it. The devs did a lot of work to ensure that there aren't any trap decisions, so you can just build what you like and itemize around it. Plus, respecing is way easier than in PoE 1.
@@joshuahampton6141 Good to know, gonna keep my eye on it but wow that skill system just looks so overwhelming. I really don't understand the need for it.
@@EloyBushida I wouldn't think of it as a need. The potential intricacy of the system IS the game. What they did with the recommendation system they implemented is help guide new players, or players that could be overwhelmed, on a set path that will definitely work and is thematic. But if, say, I want to make an elemental swordsman (an archetype that will likely not be supported by any one class suggestion, save maybe monk), I have the freedom to develop my own using the skills, passives, supports, and specializations to do something like that. It's a form of self expression using game mechanics rather than cosmetics. I would also liken it to a TCG: Sure, POkemon or Magic could just release 10 premade decks each season and let players duke it out with some wiggle room, but creating a massive suite of tools gives players that enjoy a crunchy system a great deal of joy. The problem with PoE 1 was that you HAD to engage with a very crunchy ruleset to enjoy the game. PoE 2 seems to have done a lot to mitigate that, so that you CAN do that if you want, or you can follow a gently preset path more reminiscent of traditional ARPGs.
@@EloyBushida it's not nearly as complex as it appears. It just because all classes share the same skill tree passives. The skill gems is more what matches a more traditional skilling system and that's fairly simple
2:13:00 Gameplay starts
2:44:55 Gameplay resumes after crash and after some pretty bad minesweeper gameplay (yes i have played too much minesweeper)
Lmao I make no excuses for my minesweeping.
Hey WP, about your content question:
I've been subbed to your channel for a decade, possibly longer can't remember myself any more. Used to play GW2 a lot, ever since the beta. Nowadays not any more though, so I think it's fair to say I've probably watched one of your videos per a few years, coinciding with periodically renewed interest in GW2, you know how it goes. My point is, I've remained subbed because I always liked your content, you're very pleasant to listen to, so I saw value in keeping an eye on your channel even throughout the years I had no interest in GW2. As I'm now looking to get into PoE2 myself, seeing you pop up with this stream was a nice surprise. There's plenty of people streaming their playthroughs for this game, yes, but I think it's also the fact that so many people really like your style, voice, and personality of your videos that made me - and I'm sure many others - choose to watch you specifically. I really do think you've got something quite nice going on here with POE2. If you make more, I'm definitely watching more.
Ditto. Even after I stopped playing GW2, I stuck around just to listen/watch WP's videos
Thanks!
Thanks so much kal!
Been loving the game so far and been a big fan of the first game, yet to check the stream but I'll be sure to watch along as I play. I remember wayyyy back when on a visualwood podcast you talked about path of exile, which is actually where I first heard about the game.
1:42:00 to 1:47:38 I actually stopped playing POE2 and tabbed back to this bit, 11/10 voice acting, like the guy said.
Great video WP! I started as well last night with a Warrior, but was struggling with the first big boss, and the melee build didn't click for me so i started a ranger this morning. The game definitely feels more difficult straight from the start, PoE1 first act was always a breeze to get through. I appreciate the skill changes, but it also makes it a bit difficult to shift my reflexes from the OG game. So just like the first game, it's going to be a learning curve until I learn enough about the game systems and feel more comfortable picking skills. Story is quite depressing so far, similar vibe as D4 but it feels much better written and executed.
I guess its fortunate the launch was during 4am my time, I wasn't going to stay up for it, when I logged on at 10am my time today, there was no queue and it's smooth.
2:32:17 I remember that whisky stream still, mostly because it was something I sure as heck was not expecting to see on the WP2 channel.
I would love to see more blind playthroughs from you, first day of poe 2 was certainly entertaining!
Hey! Glad to see you're trying this. I remember being unimpressed by PoE, not least because the build I made was a ridiculously overpowered triple-exploding-fireball quick-casting witch or something (this was a few years ago), and I got really very bored of spamming that same skill continually. I had always meant to try a different class, but that curiosity has been invalidated/transferred now that this sequel is out.
As I was watching the devs' "Endgame Content" video, it kind of struck me that ARPGs/CRPGs are finally getting to the point of escaping their table-top roots, with new mechanics that necessitate computational power greater than an abacus, and with the real integration of an interactive 3D environment (the monk's bell-summon particularly made this impression). I'd been hoping to find a reasonable but excited first-impressions playthrough of PoE2 within the next couple of days, from your 'genre' of commentary, to see if my remaining reservations could be overturned -- I'm pleased to find the OG himself doing it!
This is fun, keep going! I played yesterday, Sorceress. Ended up doing ice staff (there's 5 projectile fan skill) that freezes everything, going ice right now. Thinking I really need some life regen :D Got to lvl 8, also itching to try the Monk. I played PoE 1 on minion mancer chaos witch quite recently until Act 8 only, also fun (and makes watching you play Witch here extra good)! Interesting to see differences in poe1 and poe2. A bit bummed I cannot use sam kind of support gems on two skills right now, but reserving judgement for sure :D
I really like this blind playthrough format as well. Theo game looks really good too!
Lol! I also explore whole map! At least first time i'm in a map, for sure. I also play Solo mode, and agree with you it's more fun to try do your own build. :D I definitely learned some things from guides/playthroughs about poe1 like vendor recipes/etc, but I do what I enjoy the most. If i get stuck, can always look at recommended builds to see where I've gone wrong, I figure. And nothing wrong with not finishing the game, who cares, I got my enjoyment :)
Wow, WP! You are quite prolific these days!
Between catching up with all the GW2 content, FF, and Zeus, I'm having trouble keeping up with your different series.
It's a great problem to have:)
Hey man haven't seen you in quite a while! Cheers from Tyria!
cant wait to see how the bombers function tomorrow.
41:02 I've heard the argument that indie just means "independent" - in which case, does valve count as indie? Nintendo? People call Larian indie when they have offices all over the world. I think the term "indie" gets thrown around too frequently without accounting for the actual size and the amount of money the so called "indie devs" make. If all it means is the company is independent, that doesn't mean anything, the company can be independent and make a fuck ton of money, like valve does. I think we haven't really updated our idea of what indie really means (or maybe we should just use a different word) - a more accurate judgement of what a company is capable of when it comes to making a game would be more accurately reflected by the size of their teams and the money they can throw towards a game.
damn i wish i knew you were streaming, i was watching random twitch streamers during launch
When I get off of work I am going to play my first path of exile game. Not sure if I want to go witch or warrior.
Oh nice, you're trying out POE2 👍 Got the EA myself, probably gonna play it rather slowly.
2:37:10 Minesweeper stream
I highly recommend having a slightly more open mind regarding the idea of getting info online about builds, interactions, etc. Poe1 (and most likely 2) are incredibly complex games. GW2, even 1 are basically nothing by comparison in terms of layers and moving parts. There's not really any mainstream rpg's that come close, at least that I can think of.
So as a result the idea of figuring everything out for yourself, or figuring out a good build right out the gate is all but impossible and will probably just lead to quitting at some point before endgame or in the early stages of it. I REALLY don't think it takes away any of the magic to see some guides online and what people are doing. Not to copy paste or follow like a lemming, but to understand what you CAN do, from people who know HOW to do it.
And beyond that, the game is balanced around you trading. You cannot reasonably get actually good uniques alone, or rather can't rely that you will get uniques for what you want. While that playstyle exists, there's a community for it and a game ruleset (look up SSF), it's for people who both know the game inside out, have their expectations in check and have no problems grinding A LOT.
One look at the POE2 skill web tells me I'll never play it lmao. Oh well. Hope everyone else likes it.
I really wouldn't worry about it. The devs did a lot of work to ensure that there aren't any trap decisions, so you can just build what you like and itemize around it. Plus, respecing is way easier than in PoE 1.
@@joshuahampton6141 Good to know, gonna keep my eye on it but wow that skill system just looks so overwhelming. I really don't understand the need for it.
@@EloyBushida I wouldn't think of it as a need. The potential intricacy of the system IS the game. What they did with the recommendation system they implemented is help guide new players, or players that could be overwhelmed, on a set path that will definitely work and is thematic.
But if, say, I want to make an elemental swordsman (an archetype that will likely not be supported by any one class suggestion, save maybe monk), I have the freedom to develop my own using the skills, passives, supports, and specializations to do something like that. It's a form of self expression using game mechanics rather than cosmetics. I would also liken it to a TCG: Sure, POkemon or Magic could just release 10 premade decks each season and let players duke it out with some wiggle room, but creating a massive suite of tools gives players that enjoy a crunchy system a great deal of joy.
The problem with PoE 1 was that you HAD to engage with a very crunchy ruleset to enjoy the game. PoE 2 seems to have done a lot to mitigate that, so that you CAN do that if you want, or you can follow a gently preset path more reminiscent of traditional ARPGs.
@@EloyBushida it's not nearly as complex as it appears. It just because all classes share the same skill tree passives. The skill gems is more what matches a more traditional skilling system and that's fairly simple