Lack of challenge in softcore keeps me from playing PoE2

Hey, team!

I've played Diablo II and II Resurrected like a fiend, even hit level 99 in hardcore, because I do feel that the challenge is what makes a game feel rewarding. But honestly? Hardcore is a bit too much, especially with the risk of disconnects or glitches voiding hundreds of hours. Softcore, on the other hand, feels meaningless and unfulfilling. PoE2 looks absolutely amazing, but the huge gap between these two modes will keep me (and my buddies, who feel the same) from playing the game.

I’d love to see an in-between where the stakes are high but not literally nightmare inducing. Like maybe a 24-hour respawn timer on death or remaining dead until your buddies have killed a boss or similarly, and if everyone goes down you start the dungeon from scratch with all enemies respawned.

Having played Elden Ring: Nightreign, a roguelite, religiously for half a year and reaching 9,999 (max rank) in its ranked mode has further proved to me that this middle ground between softcore and hardcore is the ultimate way for at least me to enjoy games like these.

I’d hate to have this gap keep me from enjoying a game that I’m otherwise extremely excited about. Please consider doing something about this and I’m sure many players will end up way more fulfilled.

+1

I play SSF but that only means more grind. 4 minute boss with a bad build is fine but it's boring. Enemies don't have many different attacks. They'd have to be given more attacks along with AI that can actually out-manuever you and dodge. Enemy encounters would need to me more carefully designed rather. Imagine 50 mobs on screen and they're all dodging your AoEs. Next step would to reduce mob density if AI became smarter. That would also mean smaller maps as they'd feel even more empty. Thoughts?