Minority Mindset

The first post that started the conversation expressed concern over the growing peril in Raft’s waters, as the original author was dealing with not one, but two sharks – a scenario that would strike fear into even the most courageous of survivors. The general feeling among commenters was understanding of the stress involved. One user succinctly summarized the situation: “In hard mode, it will summon more sharks when you kill them, up to five!” This creates a vicious cycle where killing one shark could lead to facing multiple aggressive sea creatures. Players pointed out that in some cases, allowing a shark to take a piece of your raft might result in less overall damage, which may seem illogical but is actually a clever strategy.

As I struck level 80 on my Void Knight character in Last Epoch, I encountered the familiar predicament often referred to as the XP penalty. This seemingly sluggish progression in leveling can be a test of one’s patience, but it’s important to remember that this game isn’t as harsh as some other action RPGs when it comes to penalizing players based on area difficulty. A fellow player, Istarial, eased the concerns of many by confirming that there’s no penalty for being in an area above your character’s level; the XP rate simply slows down a bit instead. So, even though tackling those level 90 monoliths might feel tiresome, it isn’t as daunting as it initially seems! As a Void Knight, after all, isn’t taking on challenges part of the thrill?

When sonnyblack69 asked, “Should we get started now?”, the community offered diverse opinions, highlighting two possible approaches for beginners. Many users such as Rain-Outside advised waiting a couple of weeks to prevent burnout, hinting at the potential addictive aspect of these games: “Hold off until the new season to avoid exhaustion; once you begin playing this type of game, it can be hard to stop [laughs].” This idea echoed through multiple comments, fostering awareness that striking a balance between enthusiasm and self-restraint is crucial when diving into ARPGs like Last Epoch.

The main source of annoyance lies in the enormous quantity of favor that gamers are expected to invest in obtaining Exalted Shields. A player named “DenverSuxRmodSux” expressed their disappointment after spending an astonishing 14,000 favor with minimal rewards, a sentiment echoed by many others within the gaming community. The lengthy periods spent repeatedly rolling the dice is a contentious issue, as numerous players believe that the odds are unfairly tilted against them.

At the heart of many conversations about Last Epoch lies its intricate crafting system, which some gamers find remarkably advanced. One player, Equivalent-Bad5011, even referred to it as nearly flawless, sparking genuine enthusiasm from players who’ve wrestled with complex crafting mechanics in other games. On the subreddit, this view is widely shared, with users emphasizing that the ability to attach affixes from exalted items to unique items with legendary potential is a game-changing feature. As Daegon8 put it: “That’s a significant way of dealing with uniques, in my opinion.” The crafting system isn’t just about haphazardly combining resources; it’s a considered design that offers customization and strategic options seldom seen in other Action Role-Playing Games (ARPGs). This richness has encouraged players to experiment, as they seek the optimal ways to modify and upgrade their gear, creating a unique persona for their characters and enhancing the overall gaming experience.