Make SSF a valid alternative to Trade

SSF can only exist if we have meaningful crafting and drops. Currently we have neither. I am a ssf/guild found player and just getting through the acts is a nightmare. Having to buy most of my gear from a vendor because drops are such crap. I can't even come close to fixing my res while also keeping up with the attribute requirements. Let alone trying to keep up with getting a better melee weapon every 5-10 levels.

If they did a circle of fortune like thing I'd probably exclusively play SSF. I think what you don't get though is they want most people trading cause more players in trade = better trade markets.

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KaosuRyoko#1633 wrote:

This game has always be explicitly described and designed as being focused on trade and a player driven economy. Interacting with trade as you progress has always been the expectation. SSF was only added as an additional challenge mode back in 1, and they had a manifesto where they were very clear that even after adding that their focus is trade and that's why they'll always allow transfer into trade league from SSF and never allowed increased drops or different mechanics in SSF.

Well. Never until they change their mind of course hah.
But so far I've never seen anyone at GGG chip away at this pillar at all.

That's BS. I got few 90+ SSF chars and I am a casual player. SSF is very doable from 1-90lvl, but the deep endgame stuff can be frustrating. Loot scarcity and 0.001% stat RNG does not mix.

No. You intentionally play a challenge mode then expect extra challenge. That's what SSF is.

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holyblazeer#7712 wrote:

That's BS. I got few 90+ SSF chars and I am a casual player. SSF is very doable from 1-90lvl, but the deep endgame stuff can be frustrating. Loot scarcity and 0.001% stat RNG does not mix.

You being 90+ on multiple SSF characters doesn't negate that fact. The game is designed around trade and a player economy. Clearly, devs consider that first and foremost as they should.

If you choose to play SSF, then you choose to accept what comes with that experience. (i.e. 0.001% stat RNG)

SSF is what? 5-10% of the playerbase? Would be a waste for devs to invest heavily in a mode most don't bother with.

Once we get more crafting mechanics it will be a lot better. Its still a little bare bones at the moment in ssf. You can still easily complete all of the normal bosses deathless in ssf without easily farmable powerful crafting mechanics.

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Kashou#2868 wrote:

SSF is already valid and is the intended way to play the game. They just need to bring back the crafting bench so there's some agency in fixing your items.

And no, PoE was never explicitly about trading, it was always explicitly about not limiting trade. The game has always been designed to be finished solo on your own and always will be, even for end game. This is why trade was always kept at a distance by not fully incorporating it into the game.

Yes it is valid, I didn't suggest otherwise.

Yes the game has always been explicitly about trading:
"Path of Exile is an online Action RPG set in the dark fantasy world of Wraeclast. It is designed around a strong online item economy, deep character customisation, competitive PvP and ladder races. The game is completely free and will never be "pay to win"." -GGG
https://www.pathofexile.com/game

"It's important to stress that the expectation is that most SSF characters do turn into regular characters eventually. Some players just last longer than others before they decide to party up or trade. For example, you might play to level 20 before you decide to trade for a rare item that triples your killspeed. Your friend might play all the way to low maps before she wants to start trading. These scores of level 20 and 70 respectively would be recorded on the SSF ladder.
...
Despite the addition of this mode, Path of Exile is still designed and intended to be multiplayer with partying and trading." -GGG
https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1823776



These are about PoE1 of course, but this game is clearly based on the same foundation and they've never said anything to suggest that PoE2 is designed differently. Being able to take the materials from the Vaal Temple to sell is evidence that this design philosophy stands strong.

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holyblazeer#7712 wrote:

That's BS. I got few 90+ SSF chars and I am a casual player. SSF is very doable from 1-90lvl, but the deep endgame stuff can be frustrating. Loot scarcity and 0.001% stat RNG does not mix.

No one said you couldn't play SSF. Not sure why you think that makes my point BS? I just said the game had been designed explicitly for a trade economy, and SSF was a hard mode added later.

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CyberData4#5867 wrote:

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holyblazeer#7712 wrote:

That's BS. I got few 90+ SSF chars and I am a casual player. SSF is very doable from 1-90lvl, but the deep endgame stuff can be frustrating. Loot scarcity and 0.001% stat RNG does not mix.

You being 90+ on multiple SSF characters doesn't negate that fact. The game is designed around trade and a player economy. Clearly, devs consider that first and foremost as they should.

If you choose to play SSF, then you choose to accept what comes with that experience. (i.e. 0.001% stat RNG)

SSF is what? 5-10% of the playerbase? Would be a waste for devs to invest heavily in a mode most don't bother with.

I wish I could find the quote right now, but I do remember GGG saying that it's actually a majority of players that never engage with trade at all. Though they're not all in SSF leagues.

I remember that kaosu.

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KaosuRyoko#1633 wrote:

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CyberData4#5867 wrote:

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holyblazeer#7712 wrote:

That's BS. I got few 90+ SSF chars and I am a casual player. SSF is very doable from 1-90lvl, but the deep endgame stuff can be frustrating. Loot scarcity and 0.001% stat RNG does not mix.

You being 90+ on multiple SSF characters doesn't negate that fact. The game is designed around trade and a player economy. Clearly, devs consider that first and foremost as they should.

If you choose to play SSF, then you choose to accept what comes with that experience. (i.e. 0.001% stat RNG)

SSF is what? 5-10% of the playerbase? Would be a waste for devs to invest heavily in a mode most don't bother with.

I wish I could find the quote right now, but I do remember GGG saying that it's actually a majority of players that never engage with trade at all. Though they're not all in SSF leagues.

I expect the async trade dramatically changed that. I was one of the people who hated manual trading now I'm always posting stuff on the market and looking for items.