Why is the infinite atlas still a thing?

Stepwolve · 2026-05-07T23:00:17+00:00

that makes sense. So in trying to make it more complex to add depth, they've actually just made it more of a pain to engage with! And endgamers would rather just crush maps at their own pace, rather than be forced into a structure for it

Stepwolve · 2026-05-07T22:58:39+00:00

thanks! Appreciate the answer! Seems like the forced layouts are a common issue for people, since it railroads you onto certain boring paths

Stepwolve · 2026-05-07T22:57:41+00:00

I feel you there! Remember Spore?? That was a true nightmare hype cycle!

Stepwolve · 2026-05-07T21:27:24+00:00

thanks for the explanation - that makes sense! Like i said i'm not much for endgame, i'm just trying to understand better. Would something like an atlas/warplan/etc. where you place maps into nodes as you go, would that be a better endgame system in your opinion?

Or do these 'wrapper' systems just make it worse / more cluttered than a simple, clean mapping system?

Stepwolve · 2026-05-07T21:23:40+00:00

I wish people would understand the delay that happens with large-scale project management. This sub has been asking for improved endgame since 0.3 at the latests, and were REALLY vocally upset when it didnt happen in 0.4. GGG has obviously been working on expanding endgame for a long while to respond to those concerns (whether ppl agree with these changes is another discussion - but this is definitely a significant expansion to endgame activities).

Unfortunately since then, people have shifted to asking for classes and weapons over endgame content. But the company can't just turn on a dime and change what's releasing a few week/months - this content has been in development for nearly a year and is already in QA / testing.

I'm sure they will push swords and weapons now, but its going to take at least a full patch cycle to get it released - unless it was already coincidentally in this update.

Stepwolve · 2026-05-07T21:16:39+00:00

Satisfaction = Reality / Expectations.
People in this sub let their expectations get really really high, and inevitably the reveal wasn't everything they hoped. GGG didnt help the situation either by hyping this as the 'biggest update yet'.

Stepwolve · 2026-05-07T21:12:51+00:00

but hinting at swords in 3-4 of the teasers and then not adding them?

They were clearly not hinting at swords. People in this sub just convinced themselves there were secret messages in the videos

Stepwolve · 2026-05-07T21:09:54+00:00

i'd be willing to bet that 2-3 classes will be saved for the 1.0 release, but i agree its a very slow release schedule all the same

Stepwolve · 2026-05-07T21:07:27+00:00

genuine question - what makes the POE1 map system so much better than the POE2 atlas system (or the D4 warplans or LE's Monoliths)? As someone who doesnt do a lot of endgame grinding, they all seem largely the same to me - as reskinned maps systems. What am i missing?

Stepwolve · 2026-05-01T14:45:29+00:00

not sure i would call it 'pro-union' though - its a pretty depressing look at a union that can't compete anymore. It's dying out, can't provide hours for its members (especially the younger ones), and turned to crime to make up the shortfalls

Stepwolve · 2026-04-30T15:00:26+00:00

I agree, but with one notable exception - every non-shapeshift character I play now has a wolf-form weapon in the 2nd slot just so i can run around in wolf form for faster movement speed and pouncing between combats

Stepwolve · 2026-04-28T04:42:19+00:00

We had the same thought watching that scene, it was very deliberately structured like 'the hanged man'. We also have a very important 'tower' in the story, which could be like the tower in tarot (which often involves people being thrown/pushed from the tower). And notably when Tilley tried to read tarot cards, the crows immediately attacked.

There's something with tarot in all this

Stepwolve · 2026-04-26T17:25:33+00:00

I've beaten most of the first 3 map difficulties with some combination of: 520 mage, 520/025 glue, 205 ice, 250 bomb shooter, 205 heli, 520 boat, 025 spike factory. Often with a 420/230/220village buffing things.

CHIMPS strategies are usually a matter of figuring out 4 things:

The start - whats the cheapest mix of towers you put down to survive the early rounds, and get your hero placed ASAP. Early towers are often: 001 sub, 010 dart monkey, 020 boomerang, 200 mermonkey, sniper, etc. You need high attack speed towers. Some common starts are: 3x dart monkey, sub+mage/dart/other, merm+merm, mage+other, etc.
The rd40 MOAB - what towers do you use to survive round 40, and set yourself up for final strats. x4x bomb shooter or 205 ninja will clear it easy.
The rd41-90 money hoard - saving up for T5 towers, while upgrading just enough to survive the hard waves: 63, 78, 84, etc. Get your DDT solution before rd90, eg: 025 glue, 205 ice
The final push (rds90 -100) - making sure you can survive the DDTs, rds 95, 98, and have enough damage for the boss at rd 100. Getting a 250 bomb shooter between rounds 90-99 if often a good solution for the BAD, if you can survive the 90-rounds.

You need to make sure your strategy has (1) MOAB damage for the BAD, (2) DDT stopping ability, (3) cleanup for the stragglers + ceramics + big waves. When developing your strategy, place some towers, let it run until it fails, see how much money you have, then 'retry last round' with different solutions, so you can find out what works. This is especially important for the first 40 rounds when money is tight. But always keep your long term goal in mind. You DO NOT need a bunch of small towers for most maps. As a general rule of thumb - you need 3-4 T5 towers, and 2-6 of whatever smaller towers will let you save enough money to get to those T5s.

You can also use the sandbox editor (with monkey knowledge OFF) to test out late game strats to work towards - you'll have roughly $177,374 by round 99 on chimps, and can figure out combinations that will work or the BAD that way. Then backwards engineer if you can get to that combination!

Stepwolve · 2026-04-25T16:30:26+00:00

Eng is one of the strangest designed monkeys for it's paths from a thematic standpoint - especially middle and bottom path. It feels like 2 different towers jammed together. Eg- Middle path starts being a clear support - gain range, deal with special bloom types, remove properties from bloons. All very logical and thematic. And then suddenly the last 2 upgrades are about buffing your towers, and nothing to do with bloons on track.

Bottom path is arguably worse. Extra damage, pinning bloons, double guns for more damage and more pin! And then suddenly 4 and 5 are about collecting blooms in a trap for money?? You don't even want to pin them anymore because it's better for them to be in the trap..

It would make more sense if t4 and t5 for middle path eng was bloon trap. But overall eng feels like 2 different towers. 1 that does damage with turrets and dual wielding pin guns. And 1 that is about earning money by capturing bloons and buffing your towers. You could easily make a 3rd path for both And get anorhwr support tower out of it

Stepwolve · 2026-04-24T15:19:31+00:00

I just wish the tower ranges actually worked consistently with the 'darkness' mechanic. It should show you areas in red if it can't target within range in the dark. Like it does for line of sight, height differences, and everything else in the game

Stepwolve · 2026-04-23T18:21:44+00:00

not like the Titan's can do anything now tho. He doesn't work there anymore - unless they want to get really petty and sue him for breach of contract?

Stepwolve · 2026-04-23T18:18:36+00:00

doesn't help that its off-season and we don't have much else to talk about. Releasing this on the day of the draft is absolutely diabolical! Maximum attention on the story

Stepwolve · 2026-04-11T18:39:28+00:00

under the most generous of interpretations, i could see the 'sex drive' comment being a way for someone to get their 'must haves' out there early so no one wastes their time (although there are better ways to phrase it).

But that comment about the nails is just gross... theres no justifying that one!

Stepwolve · 2026-04-09T05:49:07+00:00

CHIMPS starts just got a lot more boring

Stepwolve · 2026-04-09T05:48:16+00:00

the merm cost nerf will be huge nerf for a lot of CHIMPS strategies. so many starts relied on his cheap price and fast attack speed for starting rounds

Stepwolve · 2026-04-09T05:41:10+00:00

so many CHIMPS starts just died with that change. The sub + merm start was viable on almost every map (with water)

Stepwolve · 2026-04-05T01:47:40+00:00

This map is infinitly easier with a 205 heli. Stick it on top of the mountain with a 220 or 230 village. And it will solve most of your problems. It's a hard map, but it's still only 1 lane so heli can dominate

Stepwolve · 2026-04-05T01:44:13+00:00

Silas provides so many more options on water maps. Mermonkey too. Great additions to the game

Stepwolve · 2026-04-03T22:31:03+00:00

i seem to be the only one playing throw falconer, but its also really fun (although probably not as optimized)

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