Let's talk about the campaign in Path of Exile 2
Summary
- A discussion on the state of the Path of Exile 2 campaign in patch 0.5, Return of the Ancients, focusing on the “campaign skip” debate.
- Comparison of leveling systems between Diablo 4, Path of Exile 1, and the upcoming Path of Exile 2.
- Proposed compromises for streamlining the campaign for secondary characters using town-building mechanics like King’s March.
- Suggestions for improving “twink” gear and leveling uniques to make subsequent playthroughs faster and more engaging.
- Insights into major layout reworks coming to the campaign in the 0.5 update.
The Campaign Debate
There is significant chatter regarding the requirement to complete the campaign every league and on every character. While some players advocate for a total skip, it is important to consider how this impacts the gameplay loop.
- The Diablo 4 Model: Diablo 4 allows players to skip the campaign entirely after completing it once. While this gets players to the endgame immediately, it can lead to a lack of variety, as the content performed at level 1 is often identical to the content at level 100.
- Path of Exile 1 Benchmarks: In the current game, experienced players can complete the campaign in four to six hours at league start. With “twink” gear (specialized leveling equipment), this can be reduced to roughly two hours. Newer players, however, often take 10 to 15 hours, which can be a barrier to entry.
Proposed Solutions: Infrastructure and Shortcuts
Instead of a complete skip, a middle-ground solution involves weaving shortcuts into the game’s mechanics, specifically through the King’s March settlement.
- King’s March Upgrades: Repairing or upgrading King’s March could allow players to “hold the gates open” or construct roads.
- Zone Bypasses: In Act 3, for example, a player could bypass the Matlin Waterways once it has been cleared on a primary character. This would allow secondary characters to skip roughly a third or half of an act.
- Visual Progress: This system would allow players to see the world physically change and improve as they progress, providing a thematic reason for the faster leveling speed.
- Scaling Difficulty: These shortcuts should reward stronger characters; bypassing zones might lead to faster leveling but requires the character to be powerful enough to handle higher-level content immediately.
Enhancing Leveling Uniques
Improving the “twink” experience is vital for player retention. Streamers and new players alike often cite the repetitive campaign as a reason for not returning to the game.
- Scaling Uniques: Current leveling uniques like Lifesprig often become obsolete very quickly. If these items had stats or implicits that scaled with character level (e.g., useful from level 2 to 30 rather than 2 to 10), it would create a more exciting power spike.
- Endgame Runes for Leveling: High-impact runes found in the endgame could be applied to leveling gear to provide significant movement speed or power for new characters.
- Inspiration from Other Titles: Systems like “Legendary Potential” in Last Epoch offer a compelling way to keep low-level uniques relevant and exciting throughout the game.
Patch 0.5 Campaign Reworks
Official communication from Grinding Gear Games indicates massive changes to the campaign in the 0.5 update.
- Layout Reworks: Most areas in the campaign are being tweaked or completely reworked. Players are advised against practicing specific layout runs, as old familiarity may no longer apply.
- Environmental Markers: New markers and indicators (similar to certain stones or landmarks in Path of Exile 1) are being added to help guide players through zones.
- Act 3 Changes: Improvements are being made to streamline Act 3, including the removal of certain mob types like the Dreadnought Vanguard.
While practicing for league start is still valuable for rebuilding general game familiarity, the exact pathing will change significantly due to these reworks.