Grim Dawn has a fantastic core experience. I think GD showed also that you don’t need the fanciest and innovative ideas, just just need excellent execution and quality.
I’d like GD2 to innovate further in a couple of areas, but not break the core:
New weapon types, but perhaps reduce damage types to stop bloat and enable more synergies. Spears, 1h crossbows, trap types, Etc.
Merge classes and then add new ones (Infected, Groble, Assassin, Etc)
Evolve and expand the story: expose more of the greater war, introduce new lands, Etc. This is a natural progression set up well by GD. Add more of the moral dilemma situations with consequential rewards.
More rogue dungeons (I think personally these are the most fun and repeatable part of GD) with interesting rewards and more nemesis and hidden quests.
Stay the fuck away from MMO ideas.
I think the way GD grew and succeeded, I’d want GD to give that warm embrace of an old best friend who’s matured and wisened over time. I don’t want reinvention, flashiness and appealing to the ‘broadest market,’ we want to be able to say “of course you should buy GD2, it’s Grim Dawn but better!” anything on top of that is gravy.
I know that runs the risk of reviewers saying it doesn’t move the genre forward or doesn’t do much new, but I think reviews matter less these days than advertising and strong positive community feedback.
Anyway, looking forward to whatever comes next from Crate