Path of Exile has introduced a new game mechanic called Prophecy. This mechanic includes the new PoE Item Navali, as well as Silver Coins, the oracle NPC with whom players can trade Silver Coins for information about new quests, or things to look out for upcoming tasks. Prophecy becomes part of the core game, adding content to enrich the gaming experience for players in PoE.
It is utmost importance that the challenges of adding Prophecy are treated as a core game mechanic and the balancing act of integrating Navali and her prophecies will not interfere with the original questing experience. For instance, reducing the frequency of Silver Coins is one strategy to keep Prophecy engaging, rewarding and unobtrusive, but important.
As the player kills a large horde of monsters, the gameplay of Prophecy is simple: a Silver Coin or poe exalted orb may appear at random upon clearing a zone. Silver Coins can be exchanged for Prophecies when consulting with Navali. As of this writing, one Silver Coin affords you one Prophecy, but this may change in the future along with the role of Prophecy evolves.
Some Prophecies present tasks that come with rewards or unique PoE Currency. These tasks may or may not state specific targets or goals, and the player must figure out what Navali really means, but with enough experience, players come to learn to decipher the prophecies for themselves. For example, Master Missions refer to the NPCs that spawn in-game, and present missions for the player. Fated Uniques contain clues that instruct the player to approach the task with a specific strategy in mind. “From the Void” is the task of killing Barneth when wearing the Blackheart ring. Successful completion of this task results in the upgrading of the ring to Voidheart, which has much more power behind than its predecessor.
As a league, Prophecy works well with high player engagement as stated by Grinding Gears Games. Because a lot of build options seems impossible or unattainable for many Path of Exile players, it becomes attainable. Prophecy may allow for the conversion of useless PoE Items into worth having and using, which has important implications for gameplay and strategy.
As a game mechanic, the potential for Prophecy may be as vast as the imagination and effort the developers in the process. Such as Rigwald, whether they plan to involve Prophecies in interactions with heralded boss characters, or create a currency exchange between Perandus Coins and Silver Coins, careful implementation and consideration of the wants and needs of their target audience as a dynamic, fickle and demanding clientele must be tempered with suitability and common sense.
Prophecy can potentially be an important expansion of the game indeed, especially with the prospect of creating much more content. For more interesting poe news, please visit MmoGah.
