I hate to admit it, but I've started watching twitch streams on Tuesday. I don't have unlimited game time so I like to know at least how to succeed once I can sign on. It really helps to see someone kill the boss successfully. Knowledge and confidence = power.

Before I actually tried playing the "endgame experiences", i.e. PoE 34 and ToO.

Need to complete 34 PoE to get gear to 42 light...can't complete 34 PoE as a 33....

Need to win in ToO to get gear to 42 light .... Can't win as a 33 (without Thorn, BTW)....

Yeah, it's been a GREAT couple of days in Destiny....

You can beat 32 PoE and get armor cores to buy 42 armor. You could have two by now. Add that to an exotic and you only need one etheric light to get 34. I have 34s now and will be happy to grind out poe 34s with you. I think our schedules overlap usually... late night pacific time.

how many times can i run the 32 PoE in a week? Will i need to run it with alts (like i did the raids) or can you get rewards multiple times on the same character?

You can beat 32 PoE and get armor cores to buy 42 armor. You could have two by now. Add that to an exotic and you only need one etheric light to get 34. I have 34s now and will be happy to grind out poe 34s with you. I think our schedules overlap usually... late night pacific time.

Yeah, you can, if you want 9,000 strength.

I have a total of 1 character/build for which that stat distribution actually works. For everyone else, I'm holding my armor cores and waiting until Tuesday to see what Variks has. I really hope the stats/perks on Variks' gear turn out to be random, so that I can get something more sensible down the road.

And even for that 1 character, who now has 2 PoE pieces and an ascended exotic, I need 1 etheric light to ascend the last piece. And where, as someone who doesn't enjoy PvP, am I supposed to have gotten that? From the 6 nightfalls I've run? Nope, not from there, apparently.

The hilarious part is that it's possible once the weekly reset happens, and I (maybe) finally get the boots I need, the 34 might rotate to something I could have completed as a 33.

Before I actually tried playing the "endgame experiences", i.e. PoE 34 and ToO.

Need to complete 34 PoE to get gear to 42 light...can't complete 34 PoE as a 33....

It's entirely possible to beat 34 PoE as a 33. The first time I completed it this week, we had two 33s in the fireteam.
Just need to coordinate better, and try to get multiple Jailbreakers.

Ok, possible perhaps (I don't doubt you), but probable (specifically with Quodron)? Not so much.

Need to win in ToO to get gear to 42 light .... Can't win as a 33 (without Thorn, BTW)....

Zero difference between a 33 and a 34, I think. If one exists, it's nigh insignificant. Bungie themselves made a graph at one point, actually.

That's funny, because I've read SEVERAL people here and elsewhere swear up and down that they definitely notice a difference between running ToO as a 33 vs. 34. I remember the graph, I know exactly what you're talking about. However that was then and this is now, and that's also was before ToO, so who knows what's under the hood this time. Anecdotal evidence is anecdotal, but can't just be ignored.

Yeah, it's been a GREAT couple of days in Destiny....

We can't all climb a mountain on our first try, man. But you can't blame the game for these two problems.

Ok, it was my first 34 attempt, granted. But the number isn't the point, and never once did I "blame Destiny"; I was simply venting frustration over 1) Getting all the way to Round 5 of PoE 34 and feeling futile, and 2) REPEATEDLY getting matched against WICKEDLY outclassing opponents in ToO.

I'm getting a little tired of hearing "just wait til you get better, Ben" or "you get there...eventually" (where "eventually" can be anywhere between 1 day and 3 months). I know my skill is the large factor here, but don't pretend that Destiny's design is 100% innocent. The game is designed to "hurt" the under-leveled, and that's just wearing on me, that's all.

Sheesh. Can't a guy just blow off some steam?

Zero difference between a 33 and a 34, I think. If one exists, it's nigh insignificant. Bungie themselves made a graph at one point, actually.

Shoulder charge not one shotting if you are a 33 is a pretty significant difference.

Before I actually tried playing the "endgame experiences", i.e. PoE 34 and ToO.

Need to complete 34 PoE to get gear to 42 light...can't complete 34 PoE as a 33....

First time I completed 34 PoE was with a group of 33s. Keep in mind this week's 34 is brutal at times. Hopefully next week's will be better.

Yes. So much yes.

And as others have pointed out, you can hit 34 simply by playing level 32 Prison of Elders and using the armor cores to buy new armor. It'll take a few weeks that way (since the vender only sells 1 piece of armor per week) but you'll get there.

I know, but the expansion has literally not existed long enough for this to be possible (yet). I'm not complaining that "I'll never be 34"; I'm just sayin I had a crappy couple days....

Need to win in ToO to get gear to 42 light .... Can't win as a 33 (without Thorn, BTW)....

My first attempt at ToO was as a 33, and we went flawless. Almost no difference between 33 and 34 in terms of ToO power levels. Again, it's totally doable.

Yeah, it's been a GREAT couple of days in Destiny....

I get the frustration. Hopefully you just had a rough couple of days. I'm not at all a fan of Prison of Elders, but Trials of Osiris clicked with me big time. Maybe if you give both modes another try at some point, you'll have better luck.

This is the thing. Destiny is like the ultimate "YMMV" game, at least of ones I've played in a while; and it's just a bit frustrating to read everyone ELSES accounts of their awesome 9-0 nights, and level-34 clears, only to have my own couple days of BUPKIS.

My first attempt at ToO was as a 33, and we went flawless. Almost no difference between 33 and 34 in terms of ToO power levels. Again, it's totally doable.

Just shoulder charge. You can't one shot a 34 as a 33.

Need to complete 34 PoE to get gear to 42 light...can't complete 34 PoE as a 33....

Yes you can! That's how I got to 34 in the first place.

Was it Quodron?

Yes? I concede to your superior skill, patience and perseverance.

No? Ok then.