Path of Exile
Encyclopedia
Path of Exile is an upcoming online Action RPG
set in a cut-throat fantasy world. It is developed by New Zealand based independent developer Grinding Gear Games and will be marketed as a digital download free-to-play
game supported by "ethical microtransactions".
to gain experience points
and equipment. All areas aside from the central encampments are randomly generated for increased re-playability. While all players play on (currently) one server world the game play outside of encampments is highly instanced
providing every player or party with an isolated map to explore.
As is customary with this type of game, the items are also randomly generated from a wide variety of basic types and endowed with special properties and gem sockets. They come in different rarities with increasingly more and/or more powerful properties. Thus a large part of game play is dedicated to finding well balanced and synergetic equipment.
to play as. Each class is aligned with one or two attributes
.
The different classes are not precluded from investing into skills not aligned with their core attributes but will simply gain higher benefits or have easier access to the ones that are aligned with their core attributes.
Skills are also aligned with one of the three core attributes (Strength, Dexterity and Intelligence). In theory every skill can be used by any class but will be more difficult to use if it isn't aligned with the character's core attribute(s).
, Health or Damage dealing capacity. They are arranged in a complex network starting in one trunk aligned with each of the three core attributes.
to prevent inflation. Some Examples are:
enthusiasts became frustrated by the lack of new releases in the genre and decided to develop their own game. It was developed under the radar for three years before publicly announcing the game on 1. September 2010. In the time since then Grinding Gear Games has published a number of development posts on their website ranging from screen shots of new classes, monsters and skills to presentations of game play or technical aspects. The designers are also heavily involved with the community, taking suggestions from the attached forum or directly asking for input on specific issues.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
set in a cut-throat fantasy world. It is developed by New Zealand based independent developer Grinding Gear Games and will be marketed as a digital download free-to-play
Free-to-play
Free-to-play refers to any video game that has the option of allowing its players to play without paying. The model was first popularly used in early massively multiplayer online games targeted towards casual gamers, before finding wider adoption among games released by major video game...
game supported by "ethical microtransactions".
Gameplay
The player controls a single character from an overhead perspective and explores large outdoor areas and underground caves or dungeons, battling monsters and fulfilling quests from NPCsNon-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
to gain experience points
Experience point
An experience point is a unit of measurement used in many role-playing games and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's progression through the game...
and equipment. All areas aside from the central encampments are randomly generated for increased re-playability. While all players play on (currently) one server world the game play outside of encampments is highly instanced
Instance dungeon
In massively multiplayer online games, an instance is a special area, typically a dungeon, that generates a new copy of the location for each group, or for certain number of players, that enters the area. Instancing, the general term for the use of this technique, addresses several problems...
providing every player or party with an isolated map to explore.
As is customary with this type of game, the items are also randomly generated from a wide variety of basic types and endowed with special properties and gem sockets. They come in different rarities with increasingly more and/or more powerful properties. Thus a large part of game play is dedicated to finding well balanced and synergetic equipment.
Character Classes
Players can choose from six available classesCharacter class
In role-playing games, a common method of arbitrating the capabilities of different game characters is to assign each one to a character class. A character class aggregates several abilities and aptitudes, and may also sometimes detail aspects of background and social standing or impose behaviour...
to play as. Each class is aligned with one or two attributes
Attribute (role-playing games)
An attribute is a piece of data that describes to what extent a fictional character in a role-playing game possesses a specific natural, in-born characteristic common to all characters in the game. That piece of data is usually an abstract number or, in some cases, a set of dice...
.
- Marauder (Strength)
- Ranger (Dexterity)
- Witch (Intelligence)
- Duelist (Strength / Dexterity)
- Templar (Strength / Intelligence)
- Unannounced (Dexterity / Intelligence)
The different classes are not precluded from investing into skills not aligned with their core attributes but will simply gain higher benefits or have easier access to the ones that are aligned with their core attributes.
Active Skills
Unlike most other games of this nature Path of Exile does not impose a fixed skill tree on each class. Instead skills are itemized into skill gems, which have to be earned or found in game. These gems can be socketed into weapons and armor and will only then grant their skill to the character. As the character advances and levels up the equipped skill gems also gain experience and automatically change into more potent versions.Skills are also aligned with one of the three core attributes (Strength, Dexterity and Intelligence). In theory every skill can be used by any class but will be more difficult to use if it isn't aligned with the character's core attribute(s).
Passive Skills
All classes share the same selection of 750 passive skills, from which the player can choose 1 each time his/her character levels up. These passive skills improve the core attributes and grant further enhancements such as increased ManaMagic point
Magic points are units of magical power that are used in many role-playing, computer role-playing and similar games as an expendable resource that is needed to pay for magic spells and other abilities, such as special attacks...
, Health or Damage dealing capacity. They are arranged in a complex network starting in one trunk aligned with each of the three core attributes.
Currency Items
The game's economy is not based on coined currency such as Gold, Credits or similar. Selling and buying is instead accomplished by bartering for rare currency items. Unlike traditional game currencies these items have their own inherent uses and thus provide their own money sinksGold sink
Gold sink is an economic process by which a video game's ingame currency , or any item that can be valued against it, is removed. Most commonly the genres are role-playing game or massively multiplayer online game...
to prevent inflation. Some Examples are:
- Scroll of Wisdom - Identifies unknown properties of higher tier items.
- Orb of Transmutation - Upgrades a base item into a magic item.
- Chaos Sphere - Picks new random properties of a rare item.
Leagues
Grinding Gear Games aims to offer several alternate play modes for Path of Exile:- Hardcore - Characters cannot be resurrected but instead respawn back in the default league.
- Ironman - No NPC vendors and no inherent Mana regeneration for increased difficulty to foster group play.
- Cut-throat - Characters can enter other characters' instances to try to kill them in order to steal their items.
- Attrition - A short-lived league where the lowest ranking players are eliminated at regular intervals.
- Paid League - For a small fee the players may have a private league created, for which they may choose their own rule modifiers.
Plot
The game is set in a dark fantasy world. The player starts the game waking up on the shores of Wraeclast, a remote continent that serves as a colony for criminals and other unwanted individuals. Regardless of the reasons for his exile the player must now face the unforgiving wilderness with its dangerous inhabitants and band together with other outcasts to survive.Development
Path of Exile began when a small group of Action RPGAction role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
enthusiasts became frustrated by the lack of new releases in the genre and decided to develop their own game. It was developed under the radar for three years before publicly announcing the game on 1. September 2010. In the time since then Grinding Gear Games has published a number of development posts on their website ranging from screen shots of new classes, monsters and skills to presentations of game play or technical aspects. The designers are also heavily involved with the community, taking suggestions from the attached forum or directly asking for input on specific issues.