This being Path Of Exile's take on the roguelike genre

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This being Path Of Exile's take on the roguelike genre, there's some extra wrinkles and long-term progression involved, too. Each run, you'll build up a variety of Boons and Afflictions, positive and negative modifiers that stay in effect until you win or wipe out. Some Boons can also be purchased with Aureus POE currency trade , a Sanctum-exclusive currency that evaporates upon failing a run.

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

To reduce frustration, there are some long-term perks you can unlock that carry between runs. Templar Relics are special items that can modify the Sanctum itself, and are kept in a special storage screen between attempts. The idea—at least on paper—is that you'll be able to sand down some of the dungeon's rougher edges. But you'll have to cut yourself on them a few times first. And speaking of bleeding…

No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering

For me, the most interesting part of this expansion is Ruthless mode, Grinding Gear's answer to players saying that power inflation had led to the game becoming too fast, too easy and too breakable. These complaints may sound silly to newcomers intimidated by the game, but I assure you, modern PoE has become far faster and easier. Rather than make the game harder through inflating enemy stats further, Path Of Exile is doing the unthinkable: taking your toys away.

Perhaps I'm a bit of a masochist, but I do miss those early days where every enemy felt like a threat, and mini-bosses were frequently terrifying encounters.

While still considered 'experimental' and subject to sweeping changes, Ruthless Mode vastly reduces the amount of loot dropped, with magical items becoming even rarer still. Crafting will be far more limited, and skill gems will become infrequent loot drops and quest rewards rather than something shopkeepers are overstocked on. The idea is that you'll play a more reactive game, building your character around whatever lucky finds you make, rather than beginning with a complete battle-plan that just needs a little grind to execute buy Path of exile currency .

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

There's a lot more to Ruthless than just reducing drops. A whole world of pain, even. Grinding Gear lays out the hurt to come in this extensive blog post. Movement skills are almost entirely removed, town portals no longer refill your healing flasks, skill gems level slower, experience slows to a trickle after a point—if it's a disempowerment fantasy you're after, this is it. Of course, the pain should ease up over time as players build up a new cross-character stash in Ruthless mode, but those initial few runs sound like a cruel and unusual return to form.

Perhaps I'm a bit of a masochist, but I do miss those early days where every enemy felt like a threat, and mini-bosses were frequently terrifying encounters. While I can't see Ruthless mode being my main mode of play, I'm sure it'll generate some interesting stories from players. Plus, whoever completes it first in Solo Self-Found (no trading, no stashes) and Hardcore (one life only) will have no shortage of bragging rights. Doubly so if they manage to make it through the Sanctum with these harsh restrictions, too.