In another thread as well as on Reddit this came up, and I highlighted here why I think there might be a shift back to more non-seasonal play in patch 2.4.1. I'll just copy/paste my arguments in a spoiler for those interested:
Patch 2.4 had more new/changed legendaries than any other patch. There was not much stuff people already had, almost everyone had to farm new gear.
The Conquests were much harder than in S4, keeping many casuals hooked on the Season Journey for much longer, and therefore keeping a large playerbase on seasons for a long time. Many people will get their stash tab in week 1.
Everyone was still in the "GO seasons" mindset, even though there was nothing season-exclusive (except the stash tab). In S6 people might be more reflective about that.
Since there's almost no new gear and only minimal gameplay changes, people might just want to continue their characters they built up in S5 on NS.
Paragon gain in S6 might be a bit slower than in S5 and before, for the first time therefore maybe seasons not being able to "overtake" non-season paragon levels on a broader scale.
Many streamers (who absolutely prefer season, I think there's no NS streamer with more than 10-20 viewers) quit D3.
Seasons is preferable to botters who lost their account or start on a fresh one even if not banned (reduce probability of getting banned from botting in previous seasons). And well, Blizzard finally stood up to botters.
Usually the top GR level increases by 15-20 levels (look at top 4 player group, excluding the super short S2: S1 -> S3 +15; S3 -> S4 +17; S4 -> S5 +18 and still going on, probably +21 in the end). As Wudijo pointed out a few weeks ago, this is unlikely to be bumped up by more than +10 next season, making the high-level gems still valuable on NS.
S5 was the first seasons with Caldessan's - if you have augmented perfect gear on non-season you might not be too keen to spend a few hundred hours on season to get that back.
Seasons vs. non-seasons was always a west-east divide. While non-season on NA is dead, EU was a bit more split, and Korea is always a bit more active on non-season. And since I'm playing on EU, that matters to me
Adding to the aforementioned point, many players in EU won't have time to spend the summer grinding paragons. There's summer, BBQ, beer, and most importantly the EURO coming up! Watching football > D3!
I'm most interested in what people are doing with respect to previous seasons - so I tried to give the poll a little spin that includes what everyone did in previous seasons. Some of the questions are phrased a bit loaded, but pick the one that's closest to you (this is a subjective poll in a fan forum, not a representative survey). Even if you clicked the poll, please reply and elaborate on your reasoning - I'm really curious as to what people's thinking is. I did not include an option for "first time season players" as I think that's a very small sample (honestly, if you haven't played season 5 I have no clue why you would switch to season 6; if that's the case for anyone please enlighten me). Also, I've not included something like "I'm not gonna play Diablo at all", because if that's the case you're in the wrong forum, bro!
Anyways, here are some things that'd be interesting to know with regard to everyone's choice:
Are you going to make a sprint for the stash tab or are you even going to skip that?
What did you play in the previous five patches (season or NS)?
What's your reason to play season or non-season in 2.4.1, respectively?
What factors are most important for your decision (what streamers do, what your clan does, what your friends list does, where the perceived majority of players is, where leaderboards are easier to reach/more contested, or what this poll tells you ;-))?
Are you going to make a sprint for the stash tab or are you even going to skip that?
What did you play in the previous five seasons/eras?
What's your reason to play season or non-season in 2.4.1, respectively?
What factors are most important for your decision (what streamers do, what your clan does, what your friends list does, where the perceived majority of players is, where leaderboards are easier to reach/more contested, or what this poll tells you ;-))?
Since I lack stash space, I'll go for stash tab for sure.
I played seasons 4&5, all classes. Focused on barb.
I don't see any reason to play non season right now.
Factors that were important for my decision:
I like seasonal journey
want to become guardian in s6 just as I did in s4&5
need stash tab
portrait frame looks fine
more ppl play seasons
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Season 6 barbarian solo sc EU grift 85 12m 23.199s MotE build
I will obtain stash space and most likely shift back to NS.
I played season 5, and new Crusader build, first time ever really doing anything with Crusader, never appealed to me.
Played one other season a bit, can't recall which, but only level'd to 70 and stopped if I recall correctly.
Mostly play solo, rarely group.
Are you going to make a sprint for the stash tab? YES
What did you play in the previous five patches (season or NS)? Mostly NS
What's your reason to play season or non-season in 2.4.1, respectively? Stash Tab
What factors are most important for your decision (what streamers do, what your clan does, what your friends list does, where the perceived majority of players is, where leaderboards are easier to reach/more contested, or what this poll tells you ;-))? None of that interests me at all. Friends list is a minor factor at best. Have friends who do seasons and firneds who never do seasons.
I'll play new season and try to complete the journal again but i won't try hard as i did this season; it's extremely taxing with GR fishing and Paragon grind.
No point on playing No-Season because i'll just skip the gearing part with fully decked characters and it's just the same thing, GR fishing and endless Paragon grind.
I just wish the item hunt would last more than 2-3 days....
Edit: i'll asnwer your questions, totally skipped those <.<'
Are you going to make a sprint for the stash tab or are you even going to skip that? Not a sprint, but i'll get the new stash tab, no matter what!
What did you play in the previous five patches (season or NS)? Always season, my main non-season DH from Vanilla is suffering a lot....
What's your reason to play season or non-season in 2.4.1, respectively? Well, i like a new start and regearing up a new character so season is a good way to enjoy the best part of a ARPG.
What factors are most important for your decision (what streamers do, what your clan does, what your friends list does, where the perceived majority of players is, where leaderboards are easier to reach/more contested, or what this poll tells you ;-))? The few friends that still play this game usually go season and we all agree it's fun to start over and work again on a new character. Too bad the magic ends in a week or two <.<' Really, who cares about streamers outside of build guides?
25-30 hours to get the stash tab. After that back to the good old 2200P character that I can actually level faster cause of all the items already stored in its inventories in their close-to-perfect forms.
All those that don't use thFe above way of thinking belong in 2 easily distinguished categories:
A. Those that for some reason like to start the game over and discover the joy of leveling and gearing up a character from scratch.
B. Idiots that didn't give this any thought and play seasons because -> "everyone else does and I don't want to be left out".
Sounds like butthurt is strong within you
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Season 6 barbarian solo sc EU grift 85 12m 23.199s MotE build
Seasons all the way. Non-season is just too boring because you get perfect gear in no time, and then there's nothing to work for. Seasons gives me an opportunity to gear up and progress again. Keeps the game feeling fresh for me.
What's your reason to play season or non-season in 2.4.1, respectively?
Stash space, nothing else
What factors are most important for your decision (what streamers do, what your clan does, what your friends list does, where the perceived majority of players is, where leaderboards are easier to reach/more contested, or what this poll tells you ;-))?
Stash then dash
If history is a teacher, HC NS will be completely dead (NA servers) so will pug for this side of the game
SC is fairly even on NS and S so will go seasons til journey (Conqueror) is completed
Clan usually drops out when they get their stash, mainly solo\pugs for me afterwards
Are you going to make a sprint for the stash tab or are you even going to skip that?
What did you play in the previous five patches (season or NS)?
What's your reason to play season or non-season in 2.4.1, respectively?
What factors are most important for your decision (what streamers do, what your clan does, what your friends list does, where the perceived majority of players is, where leaderboards are easier to reach/more contested, or what this poll tells you ;-))?
1) No matter what I'd be sprinting for the stash tab. I want all 10 of my stash tabs and will jump through the hoops for it.
2) Varied. Previously if there was something shiny and new for one of my favorite builds/classes that was season exclusive I'd jump into seasons. In general not a fan of starting over and over again. Plus once you're over 800 Paragon, you don't have that "Oh goody, I leveled up a paragon and got... 1% gold find...
3) For the stash, maybe go for the entire seasonal journey as that was fun too last season.
4) 100% what my friends do. (PS anyone looking for easy leaderboard spots, Hardcore non season is the way to go ;P)
Anyways, here are some things that'd be interesting to know with regard to everyone's choice:
Are you going to make a sprint for the stash tab or are you even going to skip that?
What did you play in the previous five patches (season or NS)?
What's your reason to play season or non-season in 2.4.1, respectively?
What factors are most important for your decision (what streamers do, what your clan does, what your friends list does, where the perceived majority of players is, where leaderboards are easier to reach/more contested, or what this poll tells you ;-))?
1) I don't sprint for a goal in the game, but I will be aiming to get the stash tab.
2) I have played in each season to get the bonuses they have offered.
3) Generally to play with my friends that are playing in the season.
4) Generally its a combination of my first three answers. I will play either seasonal or non-season depending on where my friends are playing, but in the upcoming season I will be picking a class for seasonal to try and get to the stash tab the quickest. Before Season 5 my class pick was based on what I felt would be interesting, but right now I want to make sure I get that stash tab.
definetely will get stash but like a few last seasons i ll quit D3 after a month or less.
i cant keep up with most of players about paragons. that means i dont have any chance to compete for leaderboards. after a month discovering new things and having some fun i ll quit d3 till next season.
Are you going to make a sprint for the stash tab or are you even going to skip that? yes
What did you play in the previous five patches (season or NS)? season
What's your reason to play season or non-season in 2.4.1, respectively? tired of starting over
What factors are most important for your decision (what streamers do, what your clan does, what your friends list does, where the perceived majority of players is, where leaderboards are easier to reach/more contested, or what this poll tells you ;-))? to have fun, no streamers, no clan, just me playing solo, with friends or randoms and having fun
I am wanting to play in s6 besides just getting the stash tab, but probably going to go back to nonseason after getting it as i have senior finals coming up and am going to be busy this summer preparing for college.
definetely will get stash but like a few last seasons i ll quit D3 after a month or less.
i cant keep up with most of players about paragons. that means i dont have any chance to compete for leaderboards. after a month discovering new things and having some fun i ll quit d3 till next season.
What is "competing" on the leaderboards? Is it top 1000? Top 100? Top 10? #1 or bust? I stopped at ~#67 on Barb boards a couple weeks in and was quite satisfied so I stopped after hitting 800 paragon because I never had. Even now, admittedly after the bans, I'm around #225 (gr78) last I checked. As far as I'm concerned, I can't ever compete on time played, so for the relative amount of time played, that's a solid ranking.
Yep, stash tab. Might even wait a month into season before starting so that I can get powerleveled. Started late in S5 and got it in 40 hours. Since I don't have all classes (S5 was a WD) I'll make a DH in S6.
Then I'll switch back to NS and continue the grind.
In another thread as well as on Reddit this came up, and I highlighted here why I think there might be a shift back to more non-seasonal play in patch 2.4.1. I'll just copy/paste my arguments in a spoiler for those interested:
I'm most interested in what people are doing with respect to previous seasons - so I tried to give the poll a little spin that includes what everyone did in previous seasons. Some of the questions are phrased a bit loaded, but pick the one that's closest to you (this is a subjective poll in a fan forum, not a representative survey). Even if you clicked the poll, please reply and elaborate on your reasoning - I'm really curious as to what people's thinking is. I did not include an option for "first time season players" as I think that's a very small sample (honestly, if you haven't played season 5 I have no clue why you would switch to season 6; if that's the case for anyone please enlighten me). Also, I've not included something like "I'm not gonna play Diablo at all", because if that's the case you're in the wrong forum, bro!
Anyways, here are some things that'd be interesting to know with regard to everyone's choice:
I played seasons 4&5, all classes. Focused on barb.
I don't see any reason to play non season right now.
Factors that were important for my decision:
Season 6 barbarian solo sc EU grift 85 12m 23.199s MotE build
I will obtain stash space and most likely shift back to NS.
I played season 5, and new Crusader build, first time ever really doing anything with Crusader, never appealed to me.
Played one other season a bit, can't recall which, but only level'd to 70 and stopped if I recall correctly.
Mostly play solo, rarely group.
WD Season 8 https://www.diabloprogress.com/hero/finiar-1655/Kildare/84509816
Monk season 7 http://www.diabloprogress.com/hero/finiar-1655/MojoJoJo/42225505
DH season 6 http://www.diabloprogress.com/hero/finiar-1655/DeadShot/75655606
Angry Chicken http://www.diabloprogress.com/hero/finiar-1655/WhoDoVooDoo/68187610
What? Me worry?
I only played season 5 for about 15 hours. Got my stash tab, ran some Grifts. This is it. p670 casually.
I plan to do the same. Maybe play some grifts in seasons if i find a party.
Haven't played season 1-4. Hate seasons.
http://www.angryroleplayer.com/
http://www.youtube.com/c/angryroleplayer
https://www.diablofans.com/builds/105329-2-6-7-rend-bleed-whirlwind-gr130
https://www.diablofans.com/builds/105301-2-6-7-fist-of-the-heavens-aegis-of-valor-gr110
I'll play new season and try to complete the journal again but i won't try hard as i did this season; it's extremely taxing with GR fishing and Paragon grind.
No point on playing No-Season because i'll just skip the gearing part with fully decked characters and it's just the same thing, GR fishing and endless Paragon grind.
I just wish the item hunt would last more than 2-3 days....
Edit: i'll asnwer your questions, totally skipped those <.<'
Seasons 4e. There is 0 point playing non seasonal imo since you already have all the gear/mats/gems etc etc. Gets really boring.
http://eu.battle.net/d3/en/profile/Fordragon-2878/hero/9763301
Season 6 barbarian solo sc EU grift 85 12m 23.199s MotE build
Seasons all the way. Non-season is just too boring because you get perfect gear in no time, and then there's nothing to work for. Seasons gives me an opportunity to gear up and progress again. Keeps the game feeling fresh for me.
2) Varied. Previously if there was something shiny and new for one of my favorite builds/classes that was season exclusive I'd jump into seasons. In general not a fan of starting over and over again. Plus once you're over 800 Paragon, you don't have that "Oh goody, I leveled up a paragon and got... 1% gold find...
3) For the stash, maybe go for the entire seasonal journey as that was fun too last season.
4) 100% what my friends do. (PS anyone looking for easy leaderboard spots, Hardcore non season is the way to go ;P)
2) I have played in each season to get the bonuses they have offered.
3) Generally to play with my friends that are playing in the season.
4) Generally its a combination of my first three answers. I will play either seasonal or non-season depending on where my friends are playing, but in the upcoming season I will be picking a class for seasonal to try and get to the stash tab the quickest. Before Season 5 my class pick was based on what I felt would be interesting, but right now I want to make sure I get that stash tab.
I'll play season only to get the stash tab and go non-season after.
Like I did in S5.
definetely will get stash but like a few last seasons i ll quit D3 after a month or less.
i cant keep up with most of players about paragons. that means i dont have any chance to compete for leaderboards. after a month discovering new things and having some fun i ll quit d3 till next season.
I'll only play seasons now until I can achievement unlock the extra stash space each season and then go back to non-season.
non season
i'll play both.
Sometimes i want to revisit or improve my non-seasonal chars.
I am wanting to play in s6 besides just getting the stash tab, but probably going to go back to nonseason after getting it as i have senior finals coming up and am going to be busy this summer preparing for college.
What is "competing" on the leaderboards? Is it top 1000? Top 100? Top 10? #1 or bust? I stopped at ~#67 on Barb boards a couple weeks in and was quite satisfied so I stopped after hitting 800 paragon because I never had. Even now, admittedly after the bans, I'm around #225 (gr78) last I checked. As far as I'm concerned, I can't ever compete on time played, so for the relative amount of time played, that's a solid ranking.
Yep, stash tab. Might even wait a month into season before starting so that I can get powerleveled. Started late in S5 and got it in 40 hours. Since I don't have all classes (S5 was a WD) I'll make a DH in S6.
Then I'll switch back to NS and continue the grind.
Seasonal all the way