My 11 NEW predictions for Path of Exile

My previous prediction attempt was a semi-failure; now that another big patch is coming (1.1.0) let's see if my crystal ball is improved this time...

1) New 4-month challenge leagues

This is the easy one: a standard core and an hardcore league starting with the patch. There will be new base items and new uniques that are exclusive to this league, together with new experimental metagame changes. Oh, and challenges.

2) Item quantity nerf

Sorry guys, this has to be done. After the current 4-month challenge ends, the IIQ gem will be nerfed, and so will the IIQ affixes.

3) Shrines everywhere, nemesis mod from Cruel onward

After the 4-month league ends, the shrine will spawn everywhere (including races), but the nemesis mod will have a chance to spawn on rare monster from Cruel onward. Finding a nemesis on the Prisoner's Gate may be too much punishing for a new player, after all.

4) Improved Guild

Guild will be improved and expanded: Guild event, Guild achievements, Guild tournaments. The member cap will be raised to at least 350.

5) Forum trading

This. I'm expecting nothing less, GGG.

6) "Act4 prelude" on north-ish Wraeclast with at least 3 new tileset, one of which is some kind of sewer/aqueduct

Chris said that act4 won't be included on 1.1.0. But I think he refers to the "full" act4, and on March some of its content will be playable with at least 3 new tileset by means of new maps. On the newsletter there was a screenshot of some sewer/aqueduct thing and I'll bet this will be present.

7) Charan's monster is inside (and also the tentacled striped green plant/shellfish)

As part of the "act4 prelude", at least two new monster will be inside: Ruler of Wraeclast Charan's and the mysterious "thing" that replaced the tentacle miscreation on the front page of the site. This is reinforced by its 3d art showed on a newsletter.

8) Season 7 on late March with new demigod (ring?), possibly an expanded Descent Champions

Act4 prelude content will creep into races, and Descent Champions is the prime candidate. Why? Because Descent Champions is designed to be more challenging. Also a new Demigod is coming; why not a ring?

9) New weapon item type aligned with str/dex/int (whip?)

We have a central class that is aligned with str/dex/int but she doesn't have a weapon designed for her. What a shame! A weapon aligned with all attributes will open new opportunities and foster build diversity. Why a whip? Because it is semi-ranged and should deal average dps.
(By contrast, I do NOT expect str/dex/int armor types. A build depends on one or two type of defenses that should be maxed; having a mix of the three is probably not optimal)

10) Patch 1.1.1 with new art for body armour that removes the need of repeats (like the helmet upgrade on 0.11.1)

It's not a matter of IF, it's a matter of WHEN. My guess is for 1.1.1 on late march/early april.

11) Full act4 by 2014, maybe split in act4 and act4x

After "act4 prelude" we will get the full thing by the end of the year; maybe we will see a act4x...

Bonus 1) Fishing spots for the new fishing rods

This is likely to fail, simply because fishing rods in Wraeclast are only useful for trolling :)