PoE2 mapping made me use the forums.

7k hour PoE1 vet here. I'm not a god gamer. I do have extensive knowledge of PoE1 and all things PoE2 since its first announcement. I consume and read everything if I cannot figure it out for myself.

TLDR: Running the same map node a second time (without all the perks of the first) is GGG's take on the mini-game called Logout Macro. Everything below is regarding endgame mapping, and has NOTHING to do with any other part of the game.

Context: I have spent an average of 7+ hours a day in game since EA release.
Leveled 4 chars to 85+. I'm not a god gamer. I do have extensive knowledge of PoE1 and all things PoE2 since its first announcement. I consume and read everything if I cannot figure it out for myself.

Yesterday I failed to get 4th ascendency (lvl90 char) three times in a row. Followed by a failure on Breach Boss. First attempt ever, blind, only had one portal?
Failure on Stone Citadel. First attempt ever, blind, only had one portal?
Failure on Iron Citadel. First attempt ever, blind, only had one portal?
I logged off.

Yes I saved all those attempts until I got the 4rth ascendency. When I failed that I decided I wasn't going to wait anymore. I wanted to play new content.

I log on this morning, open atlas and began to start to plan a new route into the atlas. 45 minutes or so go by and I'm ready to run a map. T15 Boss/Deli/Irradiated map on Savannah. Clear entire map easy as usual. Engage with boss, get slammed by 2 spears from off map and stunned, boss two taps me. I go back to hideout and open atlas to see where else I could go and then i realize there is no other way to go efficiently. I grab a map and go to run the SAME EXACT Savannah node and as I am about to hit "traverse", I realize I have absolutely zero desire to run it. In fact I have zero desire to run this type of endgame.

The sheer amount of time that I have spent in the last week setting up this atlas, not by running maps, is all time I regret spending.

I spend more time in game moving the atlas around in circles trying to create some sort of reason to go into any one direction. Things we are supposed to factor into this decision:
Is this a node to invest in or a node that is required to get to the nodes I WANT to run. Node layout: Does it have tiny corridors? Are there dumb levers or other silly mechanics that stop me from killing monsters? Is the layout horrible for my farming preference (deli/breach in massive square layouts, riddled with corridors).

Once we establish all that, when then need to repeat this process for EVERY NODE that branches off of it to determine the path we will find enjoyable.

Now I have to grab 5-10 maps and roll them factoring all of the above decisions and also all of the added choices of map rolling. There are many, many decisions there as well.

Then you fail a map in the chain.

The entire process now has to be redone OR you are running the same map node a second time only this time without all the perks of the first.

Its exhausting and not fun.

Suggestions:
Change the way nodes/maps are chosen by the player. There is no amount of loot you can put into some maps to make them enjoyable. Being forced to run a layout you don't want is fine in a game like D3/4 where you cost is only a Rift key. Just open a new Rift and get a new layout. It cost nothing, not even time. That does not work in a game as complex as GGG wants to make.

I would like to hear some ideas that support this change. I don't think adding 6 portals is bad solution, but I am not asking for that. I think GGG and this community could find a more elegant solution.

Thanks for reading my opinions. they are just that.

MLH

You just had an unlucky streak. It happens.
And honestly savannah boss is one of the worst, you can't really go to the northern part of the arena cause of off-screen shooters and the boss also hits pretty hard. I'm talking about t15+ juiced and with max boss lvl from the tree ofc.

You know what I do? I just keep on grinding exp till I lvl up while saving up all the breachstones, then do them in one bunch when I have like 1% exp and if I die for any reason - nothing of value is lost so to say.