"We're prepared for UP TO 1 MILLION Players on Early Access" - Jonathan Rogers

Name: "We're prepared for UP TO 1 MILLION Players on Early Access" - Jonathan Rogers
Uploaded: 2024-12-02T23:09:15.000Z
Duration: 3 h 20 min 39 s

Introduction and Context

Welcoming Jonathan Rogers

The host welcomes Jonathan Rogers, the director of Path of Exile 2 (PoE2), expressing gratitude for his participation.

The host mentions sending questions in advance to facilitate a smoother discussion and avoid repetition.

Discussion on League Mechanics

The host draws a parallel between PoE2 and World of Warcraft's Gates of Ahn'Qiraj event, suggesting a player-driven league outcome based on collective performance.

Jonathan reflects on past mechanics where player actions influenced league outcomes, citing Tempest as an example but notes it wasn't well-received due to fairness concerns.

Player Impact on Future Leagues

Potential for Future League Designs

Jonathan acknowledges the idea of having future leagues influenced by current player achievements but emphasizes the need for careful planning to ensure meaningful impacts.

He suggests that while they haven't planned such mechanics yet, it's an interesting concept worth considering for future designs.

Stash Tabs Discussion

Current Status of Stash Tabs

The host inquires about stash tabs for content without PoE2 equivalents, specifically asking if players will receive regular premium tabs instead.

Jonathan explains that no new tabs are being issued currently as they want to keep options open for potential future content additions.

Consolidation of Stash Tabs

The conversation shifts to the possibility of merging normal stash tabs into quad stash tabs now that PoE2 doesn't have previous database issues.

Discussion on Game Features and Player Preferences

Opinions on Quad Tabs

The speaker expresses a personal dislike for the Quad tab feature, feeling it diminishes appreciation for items in the game.

Despite understanding its utility for gameplay, the speaker finds that it makes items appear less appealing.

Acknowledges that new players may prefer to keep all items rather than discard them.

Target Dummy Concept

Discussion arises about implementing a target dummy in the game to simulate damage numbers.

Concerns are raised regarding how to set resistance and armor values for the target dummy, complicating its design.

The conversation shifts towards whether having a simple target dummy without stats would suffice for testing purposes.

Complexity of Implementation

The speaker suggests that even a basic target dummy could be beneficial, emphasizing simplicity over complexity.

There is an acknowledgment of community interest in such features but also concerns about potential complications arising from their implementation.

Community Perspectives on Target Dummies

The discussion includes varying opinions within the community regarding the necessity of target dummies.

Some players argue against their inclusion due to fears of misleading information or competitive imbalance.

Boss Fight Mechanics Changes

Transitioning to boss fight mechanics, it's noted that players can no longer portal out during fights to prevent exploits.

Boss Fight Mechanics and Player Options

Changes to Boss Fight Dynamics

The developers have disallowed certain exploits in boss fights to ensure players experience a genuine challenge, emphasizing the importance of overcoming bosses without using unintended strategies.

Logging Out During Boss Fights

Players can log out during a boss fight if they feel overwhelmed, allowing them to return later without being permanently locked into the encounter.

This feature is designed to prevent frustration; players can exit if they realize they cannot win, rather than being forced to commit fully.

Game Mechanics for Exiting Fights

Players can choose to restart at a checkpoint or log out. Logging back in will place them exactly where they left off, ensuring no loss of progress due to disconnection.

A lag feature pauses the game during internet issues, preventing players from dying mid-fight due to connectivity problems.

Respawn Options Explained

Players can hit "Escape" and select "respawn at checkpoint" at any time during a fight. This option allows for strategic exits without severe penalties.

Concerns were raised about potential abuse of this feature; however, it was deemed more player-friendly than requiring lengthy wait times after logging out.

Hardcore Mode Considerations

In Hardcore mode, exiting does not result in character death. This decision aims to maintain gameplay enjoyment while still providing challenges.

Racing Mechanics and Community Engagement

Gauntlet Concept

Discussion on implementing a gauntlet feature where players must commit to their actions, enhancing gameplay engagement.

Inquiry about the 6C disconnect timer in relation to a 100-millisecond pause, clarifying that the timer is still relevant but less critical due to the new mechanics.

Disconnect Timer Insights

Explanation that the 6C disconnect timer becomes less significant as instances are paused after 100 milliseconds, allowing for potential adjustments in timing.

Suggestion to increase the disconnect time limit since it no longer poses a downside, potentially aiding players with internet recovery.

Racing Community Ideas

Mention of interest in revisiting racing features while acknowledging financial implications for the company.

Proposal for a battle pass or singular item dedicated to racing, allowing community contributions based on interest levels.

Pay-to-Enter Race Concept

Introduction of an idea for pay-to-enter races where participants would pay a small fee per race, generating revenue while offering cosmetic rewards instead of player power items.

Discussion on how original race rewards could be transformed into cosmetic items like skins if player power elements were removed from the equation.

Community Feedback and Development Challenges

Uncertainty expressed regarding community reception of pay-to-enter races versus battle passes; both concepts aim at engaging players financially and emotionally.

How Do Character Names Work in Path of Exile 2?

Character Name Mechanics

Character names will function similarly to how they did in Path of Exile 1 (PoE1), maintaining uniqueness for now.

Unlike account names, character names can expire after one year of inactivity, allowing them to be reused by other players.

If a character is not logged into for a year, the name goes back into a pool for others to claim.

The expiration system alleviates some concerns associated with account names and their management within the game.

There is potential consideration for implementing discriminators on character names if issues arise, but this would complicate whispering mechanics.

Database Independence Between Games

Characters from PoE1 and PoE2 are stored in completely separate databases; thus, players will need to create new characters in PoE2 even if they have existing ones in PoE1.

What Are Runes and Their Functionality?

Runes as Crafting Tools

Runes replace the crafting bench system from previous versions of the game.

Currently, players cannot override runes once placed; however, there may be future discussions about allowing this feature.

Concerns About Gear Upgrades

The introduction of runes aims to simplify gear upgrades but raises concerns about needing to adjust runes when acquiring new items.

Players previously faced challenges with socket colors that required extensive adjustments; runes aim to streamline this process by providing easier currency-based modifications.

Understanding Resistance Management in Early Game

Importance of Sockets and Resistances

Early game resistance management is primarily focused on socketing, especially during the campaign phase.

Players often upgrade items frequently, making resistance adjustments less of a concern as they progress through the campaign.

Resistance runes are more impactful early in the game due to their singular value compared to other sources of resistances.

Transitioning to Late Game Strategies

As players advance, the focus shifts from fixing resistances to utilizing Soul cores with different mods that address late-game challenges.

The need for resistance management diminishes after the first 30-40 levels, indicating a shift in gameplay strategy.

Modifications and Rarity of Runes

Potential Changes to Rune Mechanics

There is an openness to allowing rune replacements; however, discussions with team members about this have not yet occurred.

Concerns arise regarding trade scenarios where players may encounter items with undesirable runes.

Availability and Rarity of Runes

Runes are generally not rare; players can find several by Act One and continue finding more as they progress through acts.

Soul cores are identified as significantly rarer than runes, presenting challenges in acquiring them for higher-level gameplay.

Stacking Ailments: How It Works

Mechanics Behind Ailment Stacking

Generally, ailments do not stack unless specific mechanics allow it; understanding these mechanics is crucial for effective gameplay.

For stacking poison specifically, only the two largest poisons remain active on a target at any time. When one expires, another takes its place.

Buff Management in Gameplay

Mana and Elemental Leech Mechanics

Overview of Mana and Elemental Leech

The discussion begins with a question about the existence of mana and elemental leech mechanics in the game. It is confirmed that mana leech exists but is limited to attacks.

Elemental leech is acknowledged as a potential mechanic, though it may be more complex to implement. The developers aim to avoid mana leech for spells to maintain game balance.

Crit Mechanics in PO2

A community question arises regarding crit builds, specifically if achieving 100% crit chance is necessary in PO2. The response indicates that while it's possible, it may not be optimal due to trade-offs involved.

Achieving 100% crit might require sacrificing other important build aspects, especially when relying on conditional crit mechanics.

Balancing Player Power

The developer explains that the decision not to increase certain mechanics isn't due to a lack of sources but rather because the trade-offs could be too significant.

By keeping values at a midpoint, players are encouraged to make meaningful choices without making high crit rates commonplace.

Crit Build Dynamics Compared to POE1

There’s an intention to prevent crit from becoming the only viable build option. In POE1, crit builds were perceived as overwhelmingly powerful due to superior suffixes available.

To address this imbalance, changes were made where crit modifiers were moved from suffixes to prefixes, aiming for parity between crit and non-crit builds.

Adjustments Based on Player Experience

Despite initial intentions for balance through prefix adjustments, player feedback indicated that weapon rolling became less enjoyable in PO2 compared to POE1.

As a result of this feedback, developers reverted some changes by moving crit modifiers back into suffixes while ensuring other build options also have compelling suffix choices.

Ensuring Exciting Suffix Options

Developers emphasize the importance of having exciting and powerful suffix options at higher levels. They aim for each suffix type to provide meaningful strength enhancements.

Tearing System and Crit Mechanics in Path of Exile

Tearing System for Mods

The discussion begins with the importance of having "bad rolls" when acquiring suffixes, emphasizing that high-tier items should be exciting to obtain.

The tearing system for rare mods is explained, noting that tier 5 rares are exceptionally rare but can yield very good mods due to their unique properties.

It is mentioned that certain bad mods may be excluded from the pool entirely at higher tiers, enhancing the quality of obtainable mods.

The rarity of tier 5 rares means that players can expect high-quality mods when they do acquire them, which adds excitement to item hunting in RPGs.

Crit Mechanics Discussion

A transition into crit mechanics occurs, particularly regarding enemy crit systems in Path of Exile 2 (PE2), comparing it to previous versions.

The speaker notes that while there haven't been significant changes, designers have control over how crit functions for abilities and projectiles.

There’s a suggestion that some design choices might not always consider the visibility or impact of crit mechanics on gameplay experience.

Preferences on Crit Mechanics

A preference for individual projectile critting over whole ability critting is expressed; this allows for more nuanced gameplay strategies.

An anecdote about early player experiences highlights confusion around critical hits and suggests a need for clarity in game mechanics.

Design Considerations

The conversation shifts towards whether every mechanic should default to individual roles or if there should be exceptions based on specific abilities like Rain of Arrows.

Concerns arise about balancing between making abilities feel impactful while also ensuring they don't become overly predictable or easy to exploit.

Final Thoughts on Boss Mechanics

The discussion concludes with thoughts on boss mechanics and whether they should have static or variable critical hit chances, reflecting a desire for consistency in gameplay.

Discussion on Boss Mechanics and Crits

Thoughts on Mods and Boss Fights

The speaker discusses the balance between tanking capabilities and unexpected critical hits during boss fights, expressing curiosity about the role of mods in these scenarios.

Mods enhance gameplay by making each boss fight unique based on different modifiers, which adds variety to encounters.

There is a preference for static bosses in top-tier content as they provide a consistent benchmark for players to measure their performance against.

Crit Mechanics in Boss Fights

The speaker acknowledges the complexity of implementing crit mechanics for bosses, noting that while variance is important, it may not be desirable for players.

A concern arises regarding mandatory mechanics; if crit immunity becomes essential, it could lead to negative player experiences similar to past game changes.

The discussion highlights the potential loss of character development options if certain mechanics are deemed necessary.

Innovative Ideas for Crit Mechanics

An interesting suggestion is made about conditional buffs related to enemy crit animations, allowing players to react strategically during fights.

The idea emphasizes enhancing player engagement by providing visual cues that indicate when an attack might critically hit.

Monsters and Support Characters

Changes in Monster Charges

Current monster mechanics do not include charges as they no longer provide inherent bonuses; future uses for charges may be explored but are currently absent.

Role of Support Characters in Path of Exile 2

Unlike previous iterations where support characters were passive, PoE2 aims for active participation through debuffing enemies or setting up advantageous situations for allies.

Support characters can create opportunities by slowing down enemies or breaking armor rather than merely providing auras or passive boosts.

Respecing Ascendancies Discussion

Ongoing Conversations About Respecing

The topic of respecing ascendancies remains relevant among players; further discussions are anticipated despite no recent updates on this matter.

Game Mechanics Discussion

Rewarding Difficult Map Mods

The speaker discusses the differences in reward systems between difficult map mods like penetration and easier ones such as chill ground or monster variety, noting that the situation has changed from previous versions of the game.

In the current system, rewards are categorized into prefixes (rewarding mods) and suffixes (negative mods), which separates their effects on gameplay.

The impact of hard map mods on item drops is less significant than in earlier versions, indicating a shift in how difficulty affects rewards.

The speaker expresses uncertainty about player choices regarding mod difficulty and its implications for gameplay dynamics moving forward.

SL Ladder Implementation

The SL ladder remains unchanged for now; it was initially a temporary feature before the release of PE 1, with plans to implement a proper ladder screen still pending after many years.

There is an acknowledgment of delays in creating an in-game ladder screen despite intentions to do so since its inception 15 years ago.

Community API Requests

A discussion arises about enhancing community access to APIs for features like ladders and tools, with questions about what additional data could be beneficial.

Suggestions include tracking boss kills as part of event participation metrics, highlighting community interest in more detailed statistics beyond current offerings.

Clarification is sought on whether players want data on total boss kills or just confirmation of having killed specific bosses at least once.

Game Development Insights

Leveling and Area Announcements

The team plans to announce new areas and leveling updates, with a focus on limiting notifications to every five levels initially to avoid overwhelming players.

Concerns about spammy notifications are acknowledged; however, for significant milestones (e.g., levels above 65), more frequent updates may be warranted due to the increased difficulty in progression.

First Kill Notifications

There is uncertainty regarding first kill notifications for bosses, particularly in the ACT. The goal is to ensure that new players do not feel overwhelmed by information.

Free Respec Mechanism

Players will receive free respec opportunities during major changes, similar to past practices when significant alterations occur in skill trees.

Clarification on currency: only gold will be used for respec; concerns were raised about builds being "bricked" after using gold before a major change.

Patch Impact on Builds

Not all patches will guarantee a free respec; some minor nerfs could affect specific characters without offering compensation.

Respec options are limited to global changes rather than targeted adjustments for individual builds.

Ascendancy Skills and Sockets

Questions arise about how many sockets ascendancy skills start with; these skills gain sockets based on character level, specifically around late 80s.

Items gain sockets based on their item level (ey level), which influences trade site visibility and functionality regarding socket information.

Trade Site Functionality

The trade site may not display complete socket information immediately due to ongoing development work but aims to provide essential details for trading.

Community Engagement Regarding Ascendancies

Discussion on Game Mechanics and Community Feedback

Community Input on Information Transparency

The speaker acknowledges the community's desire for more information regarding game mechanics, emphasizing that players appreciate not going in blind.

A suggestion is made to consult the community team about potentially conducting a poll to gauge player interest in additional information.

Changes to Low Life Mechanics

Clarification provided that the low life percentage has reverted from 50% back to 35%, aligning with previous game settings.

The change was influenced by past reservations related to gameplay, which are no longer a concern.

Keybinding Adjustments for Force Move

Discussion around whether Force Move can be assigned as a keybind instead of occupying a skill slot; current setup mirrors previous versions of the game.

Players express frustration over Force Move taking up valuable skill slots, leading to suggestions for potential adjustments in keybinding options.

Player Preferences and Poll Results

A Twitch poll indicates that 77% of viewers prefer knowing more about certain mechanics, surprising the speaker who expected more opposition.

Insights on Tower Mechanics and Buffing Mobs

Inquiry into how Towers function within gameplay; players previously felt it resembled tedious mechanics from earlier versions (e.g., synthesis).

Explanation of Tower mechanics: players unlock various Towers with large radii affecting map dynamics positively despite initial concerns about resource consumption.

Gameplay Experience and Future Outlook

Players can only use each Tower once per run, encouraging strategic planning when utilizing them.

Game Mechanics and Player Experience

Steady State of Gameplay

The speaker discusses the concept of reaching a "steady state" in gameplay, where players grind indefinitely. They express uncertainty about how this will feel since they haven't invested enough time to fully understand it.

There is mention of generic tablets that add general mods affecting all maps, indicating a layer of complexity in gameplay mechanics.

Mod Pools and Balancing

The speaker anticipates extensive testing with mod pools to enhance the "juicing experience," suggesting that this area will undergo significant balancing during Early Access (EA).

A podcast discussion reveals that making the game more difficult was not a conscious choice; rather, the focus was on creating engaging combat.

Combat Engagement and Difficulty

The speaker clarifies that while combat engagement naturally leads to increased difficulty, their primary goal was to improve combat quality rather than simply increase challenge.

A community question arises regarding whether every attack from Rapid Fire grants stacks of Tailwind. The answer indicates ongoing discussions among designers about potential balance concerns.

Motivation Behind Game Development

When asked about motivation after long-term development, the speaker emphasizes a desire to create a game they are proud of, reflecting on past dissatisfaction with previous versions.

They express an aspiration for perfection in action RPG design, acknowledging that achieving true perfection may be impossible but remains their driving force.

Hardcore vs. Softcore Gameplay

The mechanics for transitioning from hardcore to softcore remain unchanged from previous iterations (po1), allowing players flexibility in gameplay style.

Concerns are raised about hardcore viability for new players due to learning curves associated with boss mechanics; preparation is emphasized as crucial for success.

Game Launch Concerns and Server Capacity

Initial Gameplay Recommendations

The speaker suggests that players should experience the game for the first time themselves, recommending softcore mode for beginners. They mention bouncing between options before being convinced by a friend to play softcore due to server issues.

Server Issues and Player Capacity

There are concerns about potential server issues at launch, with speculation that problems may arise from backend systems rather than individual instances.

The speaker expresses uncertainty about how many players will join on day one, emphasizing the unpredictability of new game launches and their notorious issues.

Confidence in Server Performance

Despite extensive testing, there is a lack of confidence regarding server performance due to possible unforeseen backend problems that could lead to chaos for players.

The speaker hopes for a smooth launch but acknowledges the challenges of managing player load and backend stability.

Preparedness for Player Volume

The team is prepared for an initial capacity of one million players on launch day, with plans to scale up if necessary.

While they believe reaching one million players is feasible, they anticipate higher numbers during free releases compared to paid early access.

Testing Backend Systems

Synthetic tests have been conducted simulating up to 1.6 million players; however, there's concern over accurately predicting real player behavior which can differ significantly from simulations.

Game Instance Management and Launch Challenges

Understanding Instance Managers

The discussion begins with the concept of instance managers, which are backend processes that track all game instances and their statuses.

Multiple instance managers exist, but players need a method to determine which one to contact when entering new areas in the game.

Player Behavior During Launch

Initially, all players start in the same area (G11), leading to simultaneous transitions to subsequent areas, causing heavy load on specific instance managers.

This synchronized player movement can overwhelm instance managers at launch, potentially negating the benefits of having multiple managers.

Anticipating Issues

The team acknowledges that many potential issues may not be apparent during low tests; they must consider actual player behavior on release day.

A significant concern is encountering problems without any logs or crash reports, making troubleshooting difficult.

Community Engagement and Future Events

There’s speculation about community engagement through events like Exile Con; however, planning for such events close to a game release poses challenges.

Exile Con Planning Insights

Event Scheduling Considerations

Originally planned for another Exile Con next year, the team decided against it due to workload concerns as they approach release.

Running an Exile Con requires substantial effort from the entire studio; thus, scheduling it too close to a major release could lead to burnout.

Future Possibilities

While there is enthusiasm for future Exile Cons post-release, logistical challenges prevent them from committing to an event next year.

Boss Mechanics Discussion

Death Mechanics in Boss Fights

The conversation shifts towards boss mechanics; specifically whether players will face a single death penalty when fighting bosses.

Design Integrity Concerns

Discussion on Game Mechanics and Player Experience

Balancing Hardcore and Softcore Gameplay

The developers are currently inclined to maintain a single death mechanic in the game, despite discussions about its implications for gameplay.

There is curiosity regarding how softcore players will react to the game's mechanics, particularly concerning safety features.

Tailoring Content Difficulty

Players have significant control over content difficulty in Path of Exile (PoE), allowing them to adjust map modifiers and mechanics.

Running lower-tier maps generally poses minimal risk if players are adequately powerful, emphasizing that added difficulty increases safety.

The relocation of bosses from regular maps allows players to choose whether or not to engage with them, enhancing player agency.

Pausing During Boss Fights

Currently, players cannot accept invites while paused during boss fights; however, there were plans for a more flexible pause system that didn't materialize.

Players can still communicate with friends while paused and quickly unpause to accept invites if needed.

Checkpoints and Inviting Friends

When inviting someone during a fight, they would typically appear at the last checkpoint location before entering the boss fight.

The ease of joining another player's boss fight varies depending on whether it's during campaign mode or within maps.

Potential Exploits and Future Adjustments

Developers anticipate potential exploits related to pausing and checkpoints but aim to address these through future tweaks as necessary.

Discussion on Game Features and Community Questions

Mini Games in the Core Gameplay

The speaker expresses a personal bias towards running a boss service, indicating excitement about potential game features that allow for player rescue missions.

Discussion arises around mini games like fishing, with the speaker noting that while some players enjoy them, they view such activities as akin to different League mechanics rather than core gameplay.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Concerns

A question is raised about improvements to two-factor authentication in Path of Exile 2. The speaker acknowledges its ease of implementation but highlights complexities surrounding support policies.

Challenges include verifying users who lose their second factor and the potential for support errors, leading to complications in recovery processes.

The speaker emphasizes the need for a recovery process when users lose access to their second factor, acknowledging public sentiment regarding user responsibility.

Privacy implications arise when discussing verification methods like government IDs due to regulations such as GDPR.

While expressing confidence that 2FA will eventually be implemented, the speaker notes current policy issues hinder progress. They suggest using Steam's 2FA as an alternative.

Support Gems and Weapon Swaps

A community question addresses limits on support gems; it is confirmed that only one instance of a gem can be used per character regardless of weapon swaps.

Clarification is provided that skill slots are not divided by weapon swap; all skills appear on one screen for enabling or disabling.

Game Settings and Network Modes

There’s confusion regarding certain settings (like lock step or predictive modes), which leads to clarification about their availability during gameplay.

The speaker confirms these settings should exist but may not be visible while in-game.

An explanation follows about hybrid mode combining aspects of predictive and lock step networking, aimed at improving performance during lag situations.

Hybrid mode freezes everything if there’s no server response while still utilizing predictive networking, aiming for better stability without causing too many desynchronization issues.

Gameplay Mechanics and Technical Challenges in POE2

Concerns About Lockstep Gameplay

The speaker expresses concern that the lockstep gameplay style may lead to insufficient testing, potentially resulting in unrecognized issues during production.

It is suggested that players should utilize lockstep mode when experiencing high latency to ensure smoother gameplay.

Asset Loading Issues

The issue of invisible assets loading in POE1 persists in POE2, which remains a significant frustration for the developers.

Higher resolution textures and models in POE2 complicate asset loading, but improvements are planned over time to minimize asset pop-in occurrences.

Pre-download and Data Mining Concerns

Players with slow connections have requested pre-download options; however, concerns about data mining prevent this from being implemented.

The developers acknowledge their vulnerability to data mining due to the new content introduced in POE2 compared to POE1.

Rarity Mechanics Explained

Clarification is provided that player rarity is multiplicative with map monster rarity, maintaining consistency from previous versions of the game.

Inspiration for New Leagues

Developers confirm that leagues will continue to be inspired by various sources beyond just games, including movies and other media.

There has not yet been a brainstorming session for new league ideas specific to POE2 as they focus on ensuring existing mechanics are solidified first.

Engine Changes and Global Illumination System

Most engine changes have been made on the original engine (POE1), allowing for asset transfer between versions.

Enhancements in Game Mechanics and Features

Lighting and Asset Portability

The new game features improved lighting capabilities compared to the previous version, enhancing visual quality.

Efforts were made to maintain asset portability from the first game, ensuring consistency across versions.

Engine Features and Ground Material Interaction

A technical feature allows reading ground material properties to influence shaders of objects above it.

This interaction is exemplified by the bear's slam attack, where debris matches the ground texture, creating a cohesive visual experience.

Particle System Upgrades

Transitioning from a CPU-based particle system in the first game to a GPU-based system in the second has significantly enhanced particle effects.

New particles can react dynamically to environmental factors like wind, adding realism to explosions and other effects.

Guild Stash Tabs and Technical Limitations

Guild stash tabs will not transfer over due to technical limitations related to guild integration between games.

Players will need to repurchase stash tabs as they are tied to specific guild systems that do not merge across versions.

Future Development Plans for Mobile Version

Development on the mobile version is currently on hold as resources have been redirected towards console interface improvements for the second game.

Once console development stabilizes post-launch, there may be plans to resume work on the mobile version.

Community Feedback and Player Experience