Path of Exile

[Firecrest]

Int is pretty awesome actually. Mana regen is based off of total int, so higher int = higher mana regen as well as higher mana / energy shield. This makes you pretty powerful since you can run multiple auras increasing dmg and survivability. This allows you to use 4-5L skills more effectively.

I've not found any Auras and haven't been given any (I assume because I'm not a Templar). So more mana doesn't really do it for me. Without putting any effort into it at all, I have enough mana/regen to spam cast Fireball, Firestorm and minions with only occasional use of my mana pot - which, as you know, fills up as you kill. That means anytime I need to cast a lot, I'm also killing a lot and the pot is filling up a lot.

Right now at least, I view Int abilities as wasted points that are necessary to get me to things that are actually useful like faster Cast Speed and +Spell Damage. I agree that (hopefully!) will change later in the game, but that doesn’t help much now when I've got a character that doesn't feel any different at level 30 than it did at level 10.

I would say an ability that drops your hp to 1 and makes you immune to chaos dmg is pretty super. Or the node that removes your mana pool and has you spend life instead of mana for skills. Or the one that converts your energy shield into mana.

Even if we grant that "Resource X is now Resource Y" is a new and interesting mechanic, that's three out of what? Like 15? 20% of your super awesome skills are actually mildly interesting. That's an F-.

Don't get me wrong though. I like the game. And most of my complaints will most likely resolve themselves in the end game. I'm guessing that I'm about half way through Act 3. I want to at least beat normal with my Witch to give the MM build a fair chance. If it doesn't work out, I'm probably going to reroll one of the Str based classes.

If I could change any one part of the game, it wouldn’t be any of that though. I’d get rid of the damn 10 minute instance reset. Random maps + 10 Min reset + Frequent required backtracking makes me want to punch a puppy.