I’ve been playing Path of Exile since the early days, and while I’ve enjoyed many leagues, I’ve always felt a certain itch that wasn’t quite scratched. This time, though, with 3.25, something clicked. The new league mechanic, while initially daunting, has proven to be an absolute game-changer for the game’s trajectory.
Path of Exile’s 3.25 expansion, Settlers of Kalguur, introduced a fresh and engaging mechanic that breathed new life into the game.
This league centered around building a settlement in the harsh land of Wraeclast, offering a unique blend of resource management, trade, and combat.
The main deal with the Settlers of Kalguur is the titular town of Kingsmarch. Players take on the role of a settler, aiding in its growth and development. This involves gathering resources, managing workers, and defending the town from various threats. While this might seem like a departure from the core gameplay loop of Path of Exile, it seamlessly integrates into the existing system.
What’s Path of Exile 3.25 all about?
Three simple words: Quality of life!
In fact, I’ve always praised Path of Exile’s trading system. It’s a “hand-to-hand” system where you interact directly with players. In my opinion, this was one of the many important elements that kept the game so alive for years.
I had never thought an auction house was the thing this amazing game something needed.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the league is the trade market. Players can buy and sell currency, items, and other tradeable goods with other players asynchronously. This innovative system streamlined trading, making it more efficient and accessible. The introduction of Faustus, a dedicated trade NPC, further facilitated this process.
As Kingsmarch grows, so do the challenges. The town attracts the attention of powerful enemies who seek to exploit its resources. These endgame bosses, each with their own unique mechanics, provide a thrilling test of a player’s skills and ability to protect their settlement.
So how did Path of Exile evolve from a hack’n slash game to an RPG? Well, the settlement introduced in Path of Exile 3.25 allows you to:
- Have a mapping team complete thousands of maps in your stash
- Get away from the trade flipper that everyone hates with the auction house
- Be able to play Farmville 2.0 and say I planted corn, now it’s wheat’s turn
- So much mining to make even dwarves jealous
- Trade all your materials with side settlements for unpredictable rewards
The best part? You can continue your build grind while you have a 9 to 5 job like me! Yes, even if you can’t be in front of your PC, your settlement and trusted men are working for you!
Sunder bois! Arise!
Beyond the core league mechanic, Settlers of Kalguur brought significant changes to the base game. Melee builds received a much-needed boost, with increased damage scaling and the removal of Ancestral Totems. This change has made melee combat more viable and engaging. Additionally, the introduction of new Retaliation skills and reworked Banner skills offered players new build possibilities.
The expansion also introduced reworked tinctures, which added another layer of customization for characters. These changes, combined with the Settlers League mechanic, created a wealth of opportunities for players to experiment with different builds and playstyles.
Let’s face it: We had enough of the Explosive Arrow totems and broken %100 physical-to-elemental conversion Pathfinder builds…
While some players initially expressed concerns about the potential impact of the league mechanic on the core gameplay, Settlers of Kalguur managed to strike a good balance. The town-building aspect offered a refreshing change of pace without detracting from the core action-RPG experience.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to Path of Exile, Settlers of Kalguur offers something for everyone. It is a league that encourages both solo play and group interaction, making it a truly enjoyable experience.
It will be interesting to see how Grinding Gear Games builds upon the foundation laid by Settlers of Kalguur in future expansions. The success of this league suggests that there is a strong appetite for innovative and engaging mechanics that complement the core gameplay loop of Path of Exile.
Finally, this league suggests that Path of Exile 2 will be here very soon, the bosses of this expansion are very different from what we are used to and I am sure that GGG is doing little tests of the bosses they will put in their new game.
Stay safe exile!
Featured image credit: Grinding Gear Games
