Since we no longer have game sub section, Im changing this to PoE blog
I think I spent like 12 hours over weekend to play Bestiary League with Solo-self found setting (SSF) and planning to try to beat all bosses along the way (either the last boss of the specific season or boss from new content). All of stuff I wanted to talk about the game since I last played it (prophecy league). So, some changes I mentioned here probably already introduced in past patches but I experienced it first time recently.
1. Game is now newbie friendly
One of the thing I realized is how helpful the game are in introducing new stuff to new player. That help section with built-in video help tremendously especially since they stagger the information that player can get depending on the player progresion. There is something block player from progress forward in Twilight Strand (1st area) if they didnt pick up the starting weapon for example.
2. Map are streamline
Just small detail here are there for player experience. Couple of instance I noticed are:
a. Now you enter the town from waypoint in 1st act town
b. Both sewers are merged in act 3 (places where you get platinum bust + destroyed wall to next area with WP)
c. Plum now in the merged garden area for Fairgrave side quest (last time it was in optional area with higher level in higher difficulty)
Which I think improved the game slightly.
3. Season Content : Bestiary
Out of the many seasons I played in the past, Bestiary probably the most interactive patch I ever played. While there is several patch in the past gave you reason to rerun normal map for certain encounter, this league encourage player to rerun normal maps again to collect more pokem... monster for your collections. Additionally, once you capture them, you can use certain recipe to make certain item (leveling gear, unique and rare) which required you to battle against multiple monster you captured (3 or 4). This league is a bit tricky because if you have too much damage, you will kill monster too fast before you able to weaken them for capturing. I accidentally killed several rare / unique and have to rerun same map again.
Current playing level 41 Gladiator which focused on all shield block, I have no main skill i wanted to aim, I just remembered I havent tried any tanking 1hand + shield setup before. The new "increase DoT on bleed / poison / burning" seem interesting, but not sure if it would be useful late game boss.