Gating Skills Like PConc Behind Ascendacy Feels Bad

Hey gang!

This is specifically directed towards PConc if only because it's the only skill I've invested to majority of my time in to and wanted to explain how it feels bad to have it gated behind an ascendancy. There may be other examples with other acendancies but I'll stick to my lane.

**The Problem**

Something which I feel has come up from time to time is how build diversity feels as though it's taken a step back from PoE1. Where that's likely through a combination of factors such as missing half the classes and the nature of balance/tuning in an early access environment, I feel like there's some credibility given within the context of skills which cannot be accessed by all but the single ascendancy they are tied to in spite of the nature of PoE when one of its selling point is that of customization and diversity. Good or bad, it's all there for us to try.

While comparing both titles may be apples to oranges, we've already seen that a skill such as PConc can be used by more than just the ascendancy which is poison-related and this is further compounded by the fact that the Pathfinder itself is far from fulfilling its identity/theme because:

1. It has a disappointing amount of flask-related ascendancy points and, those which are there, are underwhelming.

2. We only have two flasks which, because of charms, exist in the most basic state as health and mana potions rather than be treated as pseudo gear slots for PF to take advantage of.

3. Flasks aren't only used by Pathfinders but they should be able to use them more efficiently and deal more damage without having to invest as much

4. Running Assault and Relentless Pursuit feel like they're afterthoughts and feel more like "Ranger" ranger nodes

5. Rework Contagious Contamination so it's not a worse version of the Herald

6. The PF class is built primarily around poison damage but Concoction gives the option to use it as elemental hit or with other ailments which the ascendancy doesn't buff

**A Potential Solution**

The solution should be pretty obvious and that would be to move Concoction to the Ranger skill tree for all to access and you pick which damage source you want to use.

Then, at the very least, do another pass on the Pathfinder where extra emphasis is given for flasks where PConc was. Have a two-point node where you can instill a flask with a classic set of options, give a third flask of your choosing between damage, defence or utility, or anything really because there needs to be that extra oomph when it comes to flasks. A return of the Flaskfinder, if you will.

Then take out Running Assault as well as Relentless Pursuit and replace them with something even as boring as baseline ailment damage or ailment damage while flask is active and you have a tree which actually looks like it's designed for flask users.

At the end of the day, I just don't want skills to be gated because it undermines the freedom we expect with the game and there are likely far more interesting and creative ideas which should be put in place of them especially when it comes to reinforcing the theme of certain ascendancies.

Thanks!

A quick follow up but I don't mean we should go back to piano flasking or mashing either. There just needs to be more weight given to the Pathfinder in this case where a large part of her theme being flasks has 1/4 of the ascendancy dedicated to flasks in the most boring way possible.

Replacing those four points would go a long way in achieving that theme while also allowing players to enjoy PConc without having to go PF.

The ascendancy and players as a whole both win.