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Go for christ's sake

well, I guess it's good that I just went to bed last night instead of waiting till 10pm local and don't get to play.

I'm trying to decide what to start with, from the things I have not played I picked after browsing forums for a while:
Tornado Shot
LL Crit Freeze Pulse
Essence Drain/Contagion

Any thoughts? Is any of these currently too popular so therefore I should maybe not try it if I don't want to face expensive gear? All of them are suited for first char in the league (and considering I'll be behind everyone due to limited time this weekend). My goal this league is I guess t16 and above. I didn't get to experience it due to playing SSF previous league and limited time and I quit shortly after 24 challenges having done normal atziri and t15 maps. Will create a second char once I get some wealth.

I sound like a noob with this post considering I have close to 1000 hours, I've just been out of the loop.

And a reminder! we have a 2+2 guild with 40 members which is really active especially in the first weeks of the league (or recently even after that I think). Please let me know if you need an invite.

https://www.pathofexile.com/guild/profile/2556

Went with Essence Drain and even though I'm only two hours in I'm loving it

I found a tabula rasa at level 4. Did they change the drop rate on that?

Small sample size, but I've been seeing more unique drops overall.

It's good if leveling uniques drop more often

was becoming super mega rich

facebreaker build completely finished (200c+) in a day and a half and basically couldnt ever die, killed all A10 solo ez

get detonated-dead totem in a tier 6 map away from screen on the corpse of the boss

rip

Hit me up with an invite. Used to be in the guild back during Invasion a couple years ago, but took some long breaks away from the game.

Account name: yougemthatbro
IGN: StreamerRNGPlz

from reddit, looks pretty decent to me

Any thoughts on the new expansion? I updated and started playing. Graphics updates are nice -- especially the map. Been trying to watch some streams, but it just looks like the same game, which I guess it is, but with different content?

Acts 1-4 are the same. I think the new content is 5+

I'm still in Act 3 so can't confirm

IME, new map is infinitely better, boss fights are bossier, fewer bull**** mechanics like the old volatile which should allow for more viable builds.

Am I correct in assuming that orbs of binding are more for leveling gear kinda like essences?

as with every major content update absolutely loving it.

To me, the new league mechanic itself doesn't feel like it's adding much depth or variety to this league. As a result, now that I've gone through the leveling content I don't think the game will feel that much different from regular old standard or hardcore - which is mostly fine.

Everyone is going head over heels to praise ggg for so much new content, but a lot of the new acts are simply the old zones rehashed. Nothing wrong with recreating the old content, but too much hyperbole can be a bad thing I think.

They added some new gems, remade the minimap, and remade the leveling process. Once you're in maps -- if your build doesn't use the new active skill gems -- then the new map might be the only noticeable difference unless I'm forgetting something.

I really really wish they'd do something with trade, even if only for currency items.

I'm enjoying levelling so much, I'm really not looking forward to hitting maps...

Not too bothered about them rehashing maps to make content, and think it's worked pretty well.

What're some fun builds to run that won't require much $ investment for the new league? I'm a fairly casual player but I always run marauder and it's getting boring. Wanna do something different. What can I do that's not going to require a bunch of buying **** and I can mess around with?

if anyone suggests flicker, block them

actually maybe it's just me. i don't have a ****ing clue what's going on when it's a big mob. i just flicker until i randomly die, i guess.

I think "rehashed" content is fine, it still way better than 3 difficulties and the new fights are absolutely fantastic imo. Of course if you played PoE for 1000 hours then after hitting the 'normal game' which are maps and above you'll feel it's probably the same.

New content is awesome, though there seems to be some mismatched voice overs here and there.

Killer, I'm playing a scion bladefall totem which is far from optimized in any way and I haven't invested a dime yet (though I am not even done with the new content yet, only on act 9). It was a pain until 30ish or whenever bladefall becomes available (after you kill gravicius I think), but after that it gets pretty easy.

ok. i have to be perfectly honest. i don't have the slightest idea how melee splash works, but since i sacrificed some tooltip dps for it in a 4-link flicker, this build is actually so much fun. large packs that sort of randomly killed me before now just melt. my impression is i actually earn this as an ascendancy and can lose the gem. i am happy, albeit eye cancer is still a legitimate possibility.

You need to use Melee Splash and Multistrike for Flicker to work.

I'm away for the weekend for a wedding, but if you need a hand killing Izaro I can help when I get back, or ask in the guild. He's a real pita to kill with flicker...

i got the splash ascendancy so yeah, this build is actually a lot of fun. also diamond flask and just generally better gear as i level. i retract my statement; flicker is pretty awesome. love the clear speed even if it's not what I'm accustomed to.

viper strike for bosses, right?

Got my xbone beta key this morning, but I learned last night that there isn't local multiplayer, so not sure I even care enough to redeem it.