Some of my friends who play the game but are casual players let me know that they wouldn’t know about the loot filter if I didn’t tell them about it, and even then just want to play so they don’t bother with them. This lead them to not even read the loot on the ground most of the time (because it’s too long and they just want to play), and for some, only use starting items / uniques until they see purple items, because it’s not worth it and time consuming in the mean time.
I would suggest that the game includes a tutorial to point new players towards the loot filter, and that you provide a couple of “default” loot filters with the game for some simple builds (simple to figure out with the items the filter show) with each class / specialization (not corruption pushing builds, but filters for simple builds that can do most content except high corruption and T4 dungeons). It would let casual players enjoy the game without having to delve into the mechanics of it, while giving those that what to learn more a starting view into how loot filters are made, and an easy starting point to customize.
I wouldn’t really use it, but I know “templates” like that would be an “easy” way to make casual players more interested in the game, without having to “dumb down” the game for experienced ARPG players who want to push farther or try more mechanically interesting builds.
I don’t think that the kind of player that “just wants to play” to the extent that they blow past all the loot on the ground “because it’s too long to read” is the target demographic for a feature like customized loot filtering.
Handing out templates might - in theory - be a way to get people initiated into the system, but we kind of already know what happens in practice with that thanks to POE. Most people slap on a premade filter having very little idea what it’s filtering or why, or whether or not it meets their needs, do little or no customization of it, and pretty much forget it exists most of the time. People already do that in LE right now. It gets them using the system but if it doesn’t get them caring about or understanding it does that really add that much value to somebody that is full on ignoring loot on the ground?
And meanwhile, if EHG is providing these templates, they’re taking on a certain level of responsibility for the experience of using them, including and especially the confusion and frustration when the filters inevitably don’t line up with somebody’s desires. Personally, as someone who has experience in game support, I cringe intensely at the idea of asking EHG’s support to have to start fielding those questions and complaints.
First of all you can always ask @Heavy if his templates are up to date. He puts in some work to make lootfilters for everyone that aren’t to strict or to hard to understand.
Then again… Yes the game needs a better new player experience because so far it only tells you pots, passives, skills and ruuuun it down! I know somone who wasn’t aware of crafting untill he needed to klick a forge after the End of Times. Some parts of unawareness mixed with realy bad prompts make a bad mix.
Sure some people might argue that LE shouldn’t explain everything to playrs so the explore game systems on their own but the new player experiencein every regard is subpar.
Honestly at this point they should just point to Shared Loot Filters - Last Epoch Loot Filters to teach players. The new loot filter wizard dammit made is basically exactly what you’re looking for. A generic ready-to-go filter that asks you a couple of questions and you just import it.
I just found the game a few days ago, still have a lot to learn, but I found some loot filters on maxroll I just grabbed and imported. Works better than the ones I put together myself so far.
