[Last Epoch] Harbingers of Ruin cycle starts 7/9 (2024)

https://youtu.be/ddvY964TCoQ?si=fkbWCdDVxcqsxEiE

https://youtu.be/LGNB-ZuNREo?si=gizodlolT_Pt6rBc

Last Epoch was a lesser-known, early-access ARPG for years, and more recently it has added a lot of really innovative features that aim to set it apart from the others.

In-game names(in progress, drop your name in the thread and I'll try to keep this updated)
(press H for social window)

akThera
AWat
CorriganX
Kragaar (Dalmar)
Fiatil
doctor_ew (m!ttens)
Noggin
Carthuun (Saldonas)
SniperGuy
Samson627 (urahonky)

Resources:
Last Epoch website: https://lastepoch.com/
Maxroll guides: https://maxroll.gg/last-epoch/
Last Epoch Tools [ Builds, info, etc ]: https://www.lastepochtools.com/

Fully offline mode:

• Added the ability to launch Last Epoch in a fully offline mode
• This can be accessed through the Steam UI by following these instructions:
  - Right clicking on the game in your library
  - Select Properties
  - Under general there will be a section titled Launch Options
  - Under the dropdown menu you can select to launch Last Epoch in Full Offline Mode or have it ask you every time you launch the game
• You will likely get prompted to choose this preference when you first launch the game after downloading the 1.0 version
• In order to play the game online after launching in Full Offline Mode, you will need to fully exit and re-launch the game in non-Full Offline mode
• Using Escape in Offline Mode now pauses the game
• Feature differences in Full Offline mode:
  - Bug Report and Support Ticket buttons are removed
  - Chat item linking is disabled, though chat window can still be viewed
  - Region Selection dropdown shows as unavailable
  - Online character tab is hidden
  - Cannot return to the Landing Zone page after selecting Play Offline
  - A full restart of application is required to change between Full Offline and Online modes

Quick class overview
SO, there are five main base classes; Mage, Primalist, Acolyte, Rogue, and Sentinel. Very shortly into the story, you can choose a subclass as follows. The subclasses generally have a focus, but still have quite a bit of freedom in how you build your character:
Mage:
Runemaster - cast spells and sets off combos
Spellblade - melee-oriented caster
Sorcerer - traditional sorc
Primalist:
Shaman - nature magic and totems
Beastmaster - beast pets
Druid - shapeshifting
Acolyte:
- Lich: dots, blood magic, Reaper form
- Necromancer: undead minions
- Warlock: destructive magic and curses
Rogue:
- Bladedancer: shadows, acrobatic melee
- Marksman: ranged archetype
- Falconer: ranged/spear/ballistas with a controllable pet falcon
Sentinel:
- Forge Guard: animated weapons and armor
- Void Knight: melee with a dark-magic flavor, re-occuring damage
- Paladin: fairly traditional

Gameplay
With 1.0 the full campaign will finally be released. As you play through, you will unlock idol slots, which function kind of like D2 charms (passive bonuses while in inventory) only with a dedicated UI space.

The endgame is focused on the "monolith of fate" which is pretty much like rifts/bounties/maps in other games, except you choose them from an expanding web that can lead to unique bosses and blessings, which are like permanent unlockable buffs. There's also an arena mode, not in the pvp sense, but surviving waves of enemies.

Skills and Items
This is where Last Epoch is a bit more unique, and I think much of why many people were saying this game tries to reach a middle ground between Diablo and Path of Exile.

There is a skill tree for your main class, and additional trees for the subclasses. You can go as deep as you like into your selected sub, and take only the early portion of the unselected subs. The further you go into the class and subclass trees, the more skills you unlock for your 5 skills slots. Those skills then have their own trees where you can customize how the work. An example is the Sentinel's new Javelin skill - by default it's a thrown javelin, but depending on how you specialize in the Javelin tree, it can act as an aoe buff, resemble a repeated lightning strike, or fork out from the projectile like the D2 amazon's Lightning Fury!!

Finally, there are "uniques" and "legendaries", but so far the intent seems to be that a lot of what you are looking for is well rolled rares. To that end, you can break down items into crafting materials based on the affixes, then use those materials to either upgrade existing affixes on an item or add the specific affix you want in an open slot. The more you add & upgrade, the more unstable the item becomes, which can eventually mean that it breaks to varying degrees. There are ways to mitigate that downside, though, and it's important to note that the crafted tiers are limited and the most powerful affix tiers are drop-only.

That may be kinda confusing but I'm trying to keep this short for now and I can revise/elaborate or answer questions later.

Anyway, if you like these style games, I think this one is very much worth your attention!