Mordliss
11-08-2011, 12:29
Greetings all, I've noticed a small gathering of Path of Exile fans here, and figure that anyone looking into the game should have a quick reference point to know just what Path of Exile is.
----- Game Overview -----
Q:What is Path of Exile?
A: Path of Exile is an Action RPG, much like the Diablo/Titan Quest/Torchlight series, however it is set in a much more dark and gritty enviornment.
Q:When is Path of Exile coming out?
A: Path of Exile is currently in closed Beta. A Release date has not be determined for Open Beta or for Final Release.
Q:How do I get into the Closed Beta?
A:Simply registering on their forums will place you into a random lottery type pool to be accepted into the Beta for Path of Exile. www.pathofexile.com
----- Is Path of Exile Free? -----
Q: Will Path of Exile be free to play?
A: Path of Exile will be free to download and play, but will offer Microtransactions to bring in money for the company.
Q: Oh, Microtransactions, that makes me squirm!!
A: Sometimes they make me squirm too, but Grinding Gear Games assures us that they will only sell cosmetic items, and NEVER allow players to buy power.
Q: Can I have an example of a Cosmetic Item in an ARPG?
A: They will sell a new skin for your generic Fireball Spell. Maybe this new skill turns your Fireball into a Flaming Dragon Head. It does the same damage, and has the same stats as your fireball, but it makes you stand out and adds a level of uniqueness to your character!
----- Character Classes/Attributes -----
Q:What kind of Characters are in Path of Exile?
A: Currently 5 of the 6 character classes have been revealed, these include; The Maurader (Red), Ranger (Green), Witch (Blue), Duelist (Red/Green), and the Templar (Red/Blue). The last class is unannounced and will be a Green/Blue combo.
Q:What does Red, Green, Blue stand for?
A: Each color in Path of Exile stands for an attribute. Red is for Strength, Green for Dexterity, and finally, Blue for Intellegence.
Q: How does the color of attributes affect my game?
A: Each character class, monster, item, and skill will be aligned to a particular color/attribute combination. If an Item is Red/Blue it means that it is best weilded by a Templar, Maurader, or Witch. The same with skills, however for Monsters it will provide an at a glance determination of what that creature can do.
Q:What do you mean, what the creature can do?
A: If a Monster is aligned with Red. You know it is a Strength oriented monster, and as such will either hit hard, or be able to absorb some serious damage, or both. The same with a Blue only monster, only this creature will have powerful magic, but probably be weak as glass.
Q:Can my charactger learn skills like in Diablo 2?
A: Skills in Path of Exile are handled interestingly, and very different. Players will find Skill Gems that can be socketed into their equipped items, which offer the use of said skill item.
Q:So everyone can have the same skills? Sounds a little boring...
A: Yes and No, everyone has the ability to weild the same skills however those skills that have say, a Blue (intellegence) alignment will work better for a Blue Aligned Character. The way they will work, and the penality for using an unaligned skill is unknow just yet.
Q:Can I allocate my stats when I level up?
A: This has not been revealed at this point, however we believe that based off of Color Alignment of Characters that your stats will go up automatically.
----- Items -----
Q: Items come in Colors? Red/Blue/Green?
A: Items will be aligned to a specific color. A scimitar for example is a brutal, yet eligant sword and as such will be aligned to Red and Green (Strength and Dexterity) so that it is best weilded by a Red, Green, or Red/Green class.
Q: What item rarity will Path of Exile offer?
A: Currently the items drop in Normal, Magic, Rare, and Unique quality. This includes all items, from Swords and Shields, to Flasks and Gems.
----- In-Game Currency System -----
Q: Does the game have In-game Currency?
A: Yes, however not in the sense of gold, or copper/silver/gold scheme that is used. The game will offer actual items that drop to assume the communities currency.
Q: Ok, that needs an explination!
A: Path of Exile does not want its in-game currency to lose value, like so many of the games that use gold do. To attempt to remedy this, Path of Exile will drop gems,trinkets, or other items that are USEFUL to the player, however take up a small area in the inventory. The trade off is, I can trade you this item that is very useful to most classes, or I can trade it for some other item that I desire.
----- Play Styles/Hardcore Mode -----
Q: What about Hardcore Mode? Is it offered?
A: Hardcore Mode and several other modes are planned. They are titled: Leagues.
Q: What other Leagues are planned?
A: Leagues are planned for Hardcore Mode (1 Death and your character goes to a Non-Hardcore League). Other leagues have not been totally fleshed out, but could include customer rules that make the game harder, never easier. Such as every 4 hours after a 12 hour initial level up period, the lowest level player is booted out of the League.
Q: That sounds harsh, my character just booted out, after all that work?
A: Your character will always return to its "Parent" League, so a Hardcore character that dies, will return to the Non-Hardcore Parent league, and continue to use their character there.
Q:Will each league be isolated from other leagues?
A: Leagues will each have their own seperate economy, when you return to the Parent League, you will retain your items, but no longer be able to interact with your old Leagues Economy/Trade.
Q: How many players are in a League, how many players can play together?
A: Currently the number of players allowed in a league appears infinite, and the number of players that can be in a game together appears to be a number between 4 and 8 in the wilderness areas, and 20 or more in Towns.
----- Potion System ------
Q: Will Path of Exile be a Potion Fest during combat?
A: No, Path of Exile will not even offer Health Potions OR Mana Potions.
Q: What?! No Health Potions or Mana Potions??? That sounds to tough!
A: Path of Exile will offer a new system, a Flask System. No longer will you need to find and carry 20 health potions and rapidly click 1,2,3,4 to use them, then need to replace them in your belt. The Flask system will provide refillable "Potions" for you to use.
Q:Sounds the same, just slightly simplified, is that all there is to the Flask System?
A: Not at all, Flasks will be considered finable items now, and with that will offer unique stats and suffix/affix's that might add a passive regeneration to Mana, or give a 10% to refill the flask in the middle of combat when you are critcally struck!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thats it for now, I will continue to update this posting with new information as it becomes available. Again, these answers are to the best knowledge of my research, as I have been following this game for some time. If I get into Beta I will also post additional information, as it is approved by Grinding Gear Games for release. Thanks!
- Mordliss
----- Game Overview -----
Q:What is Path of Exile?
A: Path of Exile is an Action RPG, much like the Diablo/Titan Quest/Torchlight series, however it is set in a much more dark and gritty enviornment.
Q:When is Path of Exile coming out?
A: Path of Exile is currently in closed Beta. A Release date has not be determined for Open Beta or for Final Release.
Q:How do I get into the Closed Beta?
A:Simply registering on their forums will place you into a random lottery type pool to be accepted into the Beta for Path of Exile. www.pathofexile.com
----- Is Path of Exile Free? -----
Q: Will Path of Exile be free to play?
A: Path of Exile will be free to download and play, but will offer Microtransactions to bring in money for the company.
Q: Oh, Microtransactions, that makes me squirm!!
A: Sometimes they make me squirm too, but Grinding Gear Games assures us that they will only sell cosmetic items, and NEVER allow players to buy power.
Q: Can I have an example of a Cosmetic Item in an ARPG?
A: They will sell a new skin for your generic Fireball Spell. Maybe this new skill turns your Fireball into a Flaming Dragon Head. It does the same damage, and has the same stats as your fireball, but it makes you stand out and adds a level of uniqueness to your character!
----- Character Classes/Attributes -----
Q:What kind of Characters are in Path of Exile?
A: Currently 5 of the 6 character classes have been revealed, these include; The Maurader (Red), Ranger (Green), Witch (Blue), Duelist (Red/Green), and the Templar (Red/Blue). The last class is unannounced and will be a Green/Blue combo.
Q:What does Red, Green, Blue stand for?
A: Each color in Path of Exile stands for an attribute. Red is for Strength, Green for Dexterity, and finally, Blue for Intellegence.
Q: How does the color of attributes affect my game?
A: Each character class, monster, item, and skill will be aligned to a particular color/attribute combination. If an Item is Red/Blue it means that it is best weilded by a Templar, Maurader, or Witch. The same with skills, however for Monsters it will provide an at a glance determination of what that creature can do.
Q:What do you mean, what the creature can do?
A: If a Monster is aligned with Red. You know it is a Strength oriented monster, and as such will either hit hard, or be able to absorb some serious damage, or both. The same with a Blue only monster, only this creature will have powerful magic, but probably be weak as glass.
Q:Can my charactger learn skills like in Diablo 2?
A: Skills in Path of Exile are handled interestingly, and very different. Players will find Skill Gems that can be socketed into their equipped items, which offer the use of said skill item.
Q:So everyone can have the same skills? Sounds a little boring...
A: Yes and No, everyone has the ability to weild the same skills however those skills that have say, a Blue (intellegence) alignment will work better for a Blue Aligned Character. The way they will work, and the penality for using an unaligned skill is unknow just yet.
Q:Can I allocate my stats when I level up?
A: This has not been revealed at this point, however we believe that based off of Color Alignment of Characters that your stats will go up automatically.
----- Items -----
Q: Items come in Colors? Red/Blue/Green?
A: Items will be aligned to a specific color. A scimitar for example is a brutal, yet eligant sword and as such will be aligned to Red and Green (Strength and Dexterity) so that it is best weilded by a Red, Green, or Red/Green class.
Q: What item rarity will Path of Exile offer?
A: Currently the items drop in Normal, Magic, Rare, and Unique quality. This includes all items, from Swords and Shields, to Flasks and Gems.
----- In-Game Currency System -----
Q: Does the game have In-game Currency?
A: Yes, however not in the sense of gold, or copper/silver/gold scheme that is used. The game will offer actual items that drop to assume the communities currency.
Q: Ok, that needs an explination!
A: Path of Exile does not want its in-game currency to lose value, like so many of the games that use gold do. To attempt to remedy this, Path of Exile will drop gems,trinkets, or other items that are USEFUL to the player, however take up a small area in the inventory. The trade off is, I can trade you this item that is very useful to most classes, or I can trade it for some other item that I desire.
----- Play Styles/Hardcore Mode -----
Q: What about Hardcore Mode? Is it offered?
A: Hardcore Mode and several other modes are planned. They are titled: Leagues.
Q: What other Leagues are planned?
A: Leagues are planned for Hardcore Mode (1 Death and your character goes to a Non-Hardcore League). Other leagues have not been totally fleshed out, but could include customer rules that make the game harder, never easier. Such as every 4 hours after a 12 hour initial level up period, the lowest level player is booted out of the League.
Q: That sounds harsh, my character just booted out, after all that work?
A: Your character will always return to its "Parent" League, so a Hardcore character that dies, will return to the Non-Hardcore Parent league, and continue to use their character there.
Q:Will each league be isolated from other leagues?
A: Leagues will each have their own seperate economy, when you return to the Parent League, you will retain your items, but no longer be able to interact with your old Leagues Economy/Trade.
Q: How many players are in a League, how many players can play together?
A: Currently the number of players allowed in a league appears infinite, and the number of players that can be in a game together appears to be a number between 4 and 8 in the wilderness areas, and 20 or more in Towns.
----- Potion System ------
Q: Will Path of Exile be a Potion Fest during combat?
A: No, Path of Exile will not even offer Health Potions OR Mana Potions.
Q: What?! No Health Potions or Mana Potions??? That sounds to tough!
A: Path of Exile will offer a new system, a Flask System. No longer will you need to find and carry 20 health potions and rapidly click 1,2,3,4 to use them, then need to replace them in your belt. The Flask system will provide refillable "Potions" for you to use.
Q:Sounds the same, just slightly simplified, is that all there is to the Flask System?
A: Not at all, Flasks will be considered finable items now, and with that will offer unique stats and suffix/affix's that might add a passive regeneration to Mana, or give a 10% to refill the flask in the middle of combat when you are critcally struck!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thats it for now, I will continue to update this posting with new information as it becomes available. Again, these answers are to the best knowledge of my research, as I have been following this game for some time. If I get into Beta I will also post additional information, as it is approved by Grinding Gear Games for release. Thanks!
- Mordliss