Why the discrepancy with class skills?

Just curious what other people thought about the different class skills. I have always enjoyed and played mage classes mostly in my games. I started playing the druid, and I am having the most fun in POE2 so far by a lot. I started looking through the skills and came to the conclusion that the focus for GGG was not on the sorceress. The sorceress skills feel generic. They added remnants but it only changed a few things and added a "run around and collect" mechanic. I wish GGG would have put more effort into some interesting skills for the sorceress (Not just the ascendancies). Or at least made customization more interesting. Familiar support skills, something like arc being a fire skill. Ways to change the burn mechanic so that its not completely based off damage. POE2 just feels restrictive in comparison to 1. It doesn't seem like its going to change much either. With so many skills being locked behind weapon types (which sucks because other classes can easily use the elemental skills). I still love POE1 because of the skills. I do like the "use it to level it" mechanic of games as well.

Not saying the game is bad or anything but curious if anyone else feels this restriction. Druid is just more fun, interesting, with new skills. The plant skills are fun, transforming is fun. I am currently doing more sorc things with the druid then I could with the sorc. The way the paladin in D4 finally makes things more interesting with additional choices.

Also, there seems to be someone at GGG who absolutely loves the lightning fantasy. Why would I use a slow moving projectile when I can get more damage from a point and click lightning bolt that also does AOE, amps damage, and spells that auto chain. At least pretend to care about the other elements.

Agreed. Played Warrior and Sorc on release in 0.1. Sorc has felt stale since and the infusion mechanic seems half-hearted. Played it again with the changes for a few days this league and it still seems like I'm being forced to play a specific way with very specific spells.

I sincerely hope they put some effort into revamping the infusion system. Making infusions apply to all spells cast for X seconds would be big, instead of having to always be gathering them. While specific effects for spells is nice, it takes a lot of effort. And it doesn't seem like they have done this for most spells. So if they want an easy fix they could change it so infusion do something generic for spells like increase duration, damage, etc based on the infusions used.

I agree with you. I know it would be difficult but I think it would be worth it. I am curious about how GGG feel about it though. Do they care? Are there any plans to make changes or just minor adjustments (to sorc specifically)? To me, its so strange how developers just leave sorc/wizard style gameplay the same when the potential for innovation is so strong.

I actually miss guild wars 1. I played an Elementalist / Assassin as secondary. Really fun build, Enchant weapon (daggers) with lightning, ride the lightning elite skill for movement, lightning touch skill to knock down, used assassin skills for the combo. Great for PVE and PVP. I feel like that game, at that time, was the most fun in relation to skills and interplay. It felt less restrictive then games do now even though realistically it was restricted by classes. Also, having to learn elite skills was great for immersion. You had to do x,y,z to get them. I still remember getting ride the lightning. It was an elite area boss. One of the goat things. Was able to do it with NPC group, but it was tough because it was an endgame area.

Lore wise, it would be cool if they had "advanced skills" in POE2 where you needed to beat a side boss to get the skill with a blank skill crystal. Or a way to incorporate getting skills into the lore instead of just picking from a list that's complete from the beginning. Games really don't take advantage of the lore/world to integrate skill learning. Still miss leveling up skills by using them as well. Mostly because it feels more immersive. "Get stronger by doing," not by "clicking a button after a drop."

Bit off topic but oh well. Many Isometric ARPG players don't care about lore and background anyway. They just want the loot.

I have not tried the Sorceress yet so I cannot comment on that class. I started with the Witch which was the class I played in Path of Exile 1.

Recently playing on the Druid. I like the Druid a lot more. Although the Druid could use some more different kinds of skills as well.

The Witch has things I enjoy. I like minions and the Dark Magic skills except besides a few Chaos skills, there is not much choice. Even the Bone skills are more interesting and there are not a lot of those either. The Chaos skills were disappointing, and the minions were kind of disappointing.

I actually went back to play the Witch recently in Path of Exile 2. Even though I want to play the Witch, the skills that the Witch has, make me not to want play that class anymore. The skills are not interesting to watch and even less interesting to use.

Overall, it feels restrictive as there is not a lot of options for skills.

I think all the classes could use more skills and choices of skills.