Game play issues and changes that are direly needed, coming from someone new to the POE franchise.

Hi,

These are some changes that I am fairly certain will make the difference between retaining a large number of those new to POE, like myself, or having them becoming disinterested in the game. I'm sure these have been mentioned by others, but wanted to submit my feedback as well.

1. Waystones - The drop rate for these needs to be increased and/or the way to obtain them needs to be modified. This is my #1 issue with the game and I'll explain why. I ran 5 level 5 maps to meet the Cataclysm's Wake requirement. Out of those 5 runs, only 1 level 5 waystone dropped. I cleared the entire maps, including all pots and chest. Each the 5 maps were irradiated which is the best option I had using the waystones I had. Unless I'm missing something, once a player hits this point, there are no options other than trading with other users to obtain a waystone. I also reforged all the maps I had to get one of the waystones used. This is ultimately hitting a brick wall for us... and while I understand the rarity of waystone, here is an option that would remove the wall. If increasing the drop rate is not a viable option, having the waystone ilevel be matched to the players ilevel would remove this wall for us. But since the mob levels don't scale to the players level, there would need to be a map where we can go and while the drop rate may be low, at least let us obtain level appropriate mobs where we can at least gain experience and loot while we try to find a waystone. I have no desire to run maps several levels lower to try and obtain hundreds of maps that then have to be reforged in the hopes I can run another level X map only to come up empty handed yet again.

Another suggestion is to have the vendor always have a level appropriate map and if not, a way to use gold to refresh his inventory so we can obtain a map.

Another suggestion is to have a guaranteed level appropriate waystone drop from at least one mob on the map. Being new, I'm not sure if there is a way to tell the size of a map prior to entering. I've gone to several maps that were a 1/4 of the size of others, which reduce the chance of obtaining a waystone greatly due to the lack of mobs.

Another suggestion, let higher level maps fill the requested level map quest requirement. I see no reason a level 7 map, should not be able to satisfy the "Complete Tier 5 maps".

2. Minion pathing - As a minion based infernalist, the minion pathing needs some serious work. There's nothing like running into a rare mob pack while your mobs are all stuck in a doorway behind you and you die, losing the level X map you just spent hours trying to obtain. The warping to the player is a nice idea, but it doesn't work as well as it should. Especially when there are so many small corridors and doorway in the maps where they get stuck.

3. I just began trading and I think the integrated site where we can direct whisper the seller is fantastic. Now if you could modify this to where we can buy the item directly, like the currency exchange, you would take the QOL of the game to the next level. I see so many items being bought and resold at higher prices, it's ridiculous. This would allow the players who actually want to use the item a chance of obtaining it. The resellers wouldn't be thrilled, but the actual players trying to obtain gear to actually play the game should take priority. I understand that sometimes this is the seller realizing it's a popular item and they relist at a higher price. But he majority of the time, I see the item I wanted, relisted 2 min later by a different user. If someone was happy with the price the listed it for, let the item be sold for that price. With an instant sale, the players would actually a chance to obtain a good item for a price the seller was initially happy with.
Another suggestion... mark the item so it can not be sold again for 24 hours. This would cut down on the resellers and they wouldn't be thrilled, but again, it would make it so that players who actually want to use that item in game, have a better chance of obtaining said item.

4. The auto targeting for console players - Have the auto targeting modified so that it targets these items over mobs if close enough. 1 - Death Crystal! Nothing like trying to disable the first crystal during the short timer duration, only to have a mob pop up and you can't target the crystal and you fail the trial. 2 - waystones and exalted orbs. I would, as I'm sure most would, prefer the auto targeting to target these over mobs if standing over them. I've lost several waystones that were on the ground and I would have really like to have been able to pick them up as soon as possible. This goes back to the rarity and difficulty obtaining waystones. Same with exalted orbs as they are the main in game currency. I don't feel having the auto targeting take priority for these items vs mobs for a split second click would be an issue. And again, only if the user is standing within so many tiles of the item.

5. End game activity description - Again, being new to POE, there really needs to be a better tutorial for the endgame content and options available. I've been trying to go it alone without resorting to YT videos, but if you're new to the franchise, it really is overwhelming and confusing. At least for this 55 year old player *smile* There needs to be more guidance on the various options, rewards for said options to help guide new users. I may be missing the option, but on console, I have been unable to get to the various descriptions in the map legend to read what they do. On pc, you can hover over each and get a general idea. But some kind of tutorial or place in game that explain each, what the rewards are, what those rewards can be used for, etc... would be a tremendous help.

Thanks for hearing me out.