Quality of life

Hello,

I want to start off by saying, I am truly having fun with the current state of the games. I have spent more hours playing PoE and PoE2 in the past year or so, over any other game I currently have access to. Thank you for giving me a game worth playing on repeat.

I am a 52 year old child gamer in an old ass body. I've spent the past 35+ years in construction as a carpenter. The past 10 years have been rough. I am struggling with carpel tunnel and arthritis in my hands and wrists. I am primarily a PC gamer, which has had to resort to controller gaming. Of which, I fought for as long as I could. Being a a person that started gaming on a TRS80 creating my own games, which I still have on cassette.

While I understand why there is a separate UI for controller in the past for console. Is there really a need for that with todays technology? (other than action bar, hints, etc. of course) I think it's time to bring modern UI to console, and quality of life to PC gamers that (not HAVE to) use controllers for comfort, physically. I use PoE on both console and PC. Even though I can do the same for PoE2. Playing couch co-op on my brothers PS5, it's frustrating.

Ideas to consider:

Keyboard and mouse can be used on consoles that support it ie. XBox and PS3+. using the same UI would allow the ability to use this feature. It's so much easier to search gems, stash, etc. Move gems in the skill tab. Respec passives and so on.

Having the same UI, specially on PC, would allow you to implement seamless controller to mouse and keyboard support. Give more competitive incentive to Console as well as merge 2 segregated platforms to compete against each other. (with obvious disadvantages and advantages).

For those that can't use or have access to mouse and keyboard. turn the controller into a mouse. Whether you use button combinations, like press both thumb sticks to go into mouse mode. Using left stick to move cursor LB and RB as right and left click and face buttons as alt or control and shift. Or use the controller ALT bar switch key to select the option for Mouse mode. It would make the access to menu movement modern and fresh. Easier to navigate. give moving inventory to and from stash faster and easier. Yes there is a key that auto moves inventory to inventory, but, I like to position new potential upgrades upgrades in a localized area in a stash tab. Ease of navigation.

The rebind system for controller is awesome in PoE2! Love it!

On controller moving around the inventory is very frustrating. While better than PoE. It's clunky and moves way to fast. Stick sensitivity is to high (for me). An option to control it would be nice in settings. I hate sliders to adjust things. Give me numbers with a base line I can work from. But, I'd settle for what ever, as long as I have the option. The reason I say this, I like the option to to move around the inventory two different ways, depending on the DPad or stick option. But, when this is set up, it is clunky in inventory management. having a ring or gem surrounded by larger items. You can circle that item 5000 times before the selection cursor lands on the single inventory slot item. So frustrating!!! Mouse mode would help.

When highlighting items that are equipped with tooltips on, it can cause issues using controller. The tooltip window sometimes covers the item slot you are actually on. It really is only an issue with the ring and weapon slots. If you don't remember what side (left or right) you're on you end up moving the selection cursor around the inventory window 100 times to figure out where it is. Again, way to fast (for me).

For the chat window, A similar style would be nice. Left stick click and face button or trigger button combo to select chat room, ei. guild or party etc. Instead of having to navigate to the drop down would make it smoother. Outside using virtual keyboard or analog keyboard symbols.

There is so much more I'd like. But, a foundation for ease of use would change industry standard would be a good start. I'd love to help. you can ask me any time!

Again, thank you so much for 2 great games! I am far from a min max player. I just enjoy playing.

Have a great day!

Regards
Detri Maea

Hello again,


I've been thinking about this for quite a while. I've been playing every league for 4 or 5 years. Which includes my PS account. I think my PC account is only about 3 years old.

Up to the past year or so I was an extreme casual player. Maybe 12 hours a week until I felt lost and didn't know how to progress. Then I would wait for the next league. Specially when I was playing solely on PS. I didn't have access to a PC to look things up. Even after I started playing on PC. There was no value to me to watch 100's of hours of videos to play a game for less time to figure out mechanics.

Once I wrapped my head around the atlas in PoE1, I felt stupid for not engaging with it sooner than I did. Same with PoE2, once I decided to engage with the atlas, the game play changed for me in a positive way.

Anyway, enough about the atlas. I was the one stopping me from engaging with it.

The reason for this post is actually game/league mechanics.

My intention is to express how I would like to see introductions of new mechanics as a newb. Despite the hours I've spent playing the past few years, I still feel like a newb. In POE1 I've only scratched the surface.

Ideas to consider

This is just my opinion. I am not trying to discredit you or the game! I love both games!

If your intention for POE2 is to make the game more new player/casual friendly. I feel you need to introduce new mechanics, specially ones like Fate of the Vaal, you should set up the player introduction to it via an explanation/tutorial.

2 reasons:

1: You get to show "Your" vision on how to implement/build out the mechanic. A small explanation of "Why" I want to make a choice. Not "What" to do. Your vision is the most important. For example; in the temple it is intuitive I can place a room and what happens when I place it. But, it's not intuitive "Why" I should place a room in a certain spot. Why should I put it here, instead of there. Why that decision will impact the outcome, and that impact will effect your progress. Giving me a reason "Why" I don't need a third party program to figure out "How". New mechanic with new player experience in mind. Why does my decision matter.

2: there are 100's of people that will look for ways to exploit new content. There are 1000's of people willing to copy and iterate on it. There are 10's of 1000's that are willing to copy and paste them all to gain power without effort. I'd say mostly because they can't see the vision, or don't care to.

But, I'd bet that 100,000 plus are people that try the mechanic and leave out of frustration. Most likely not seeing the end vision of the mechanic. While 1000's are enjoying the league for the core game, and engaging with the temple just because it's there. Like me. I have no desire to spend 20+ hours to watch some creators idea of there temple, while I can spend that time hoping I can figure it out myself. I do spend more time engaging with other mechanics like, Ritual, Abyssal and Delirium. Because I know what I get for the time I spend on it.

Anyway, I hope you find this constructive. It's not meant to be a complaint. I hope you find it as helpful feed back.

Thank you
Detri Maea