ive tried playing the new season of diablo 3. its saying season is not avalible
I was under the impression it starts 15 minutes from now – for the US.
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5pm pacific time, almost there
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Starts at 8pm eastern time for me,10 mins from now
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hasnt dropped for me either just someone confirm if it starts for them so we know its starting
It has started
20 Chars
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I want to test to see how long it actually takes a barbarian to level to 18 versus the time marks I’ve seen most streamers level a necro to 18 and then get a second character to 18.
Everyone says it’s faster to do the necro first, but I don’t believe it. If I can get a barbarian to level 18 within 31 minutes, then it is best to not roll the necro first.
whats special about lvl 18?
You can unlock the Altar node that removes the level requirements at level 18 since gems start to drop at that level.
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I’ve started my first char in over a dozen years yesterday, so what you’re saying doesn’t make much sense to me yet. I will find out. 
Basically, the idea here is that the Altar (which is a season-only thing, in Act 1 town at the upper left of it) has nodes that you unlock by sacrificing various things to it. These costs are predetermined based on how many other nodes you’ve unlocked, and they follow a set list. The first node you can unlock by taking your followers’ white weapons and salvaging them. The second node, which is on the right side of the Altar tree, reduces level requirements of all items YOU equip (NOT your follower), to 1. Like a permanent Gem of Ease for all items.
The problem is that node, requires a Flawless Diamond. And the only ways to get gems that early, are by lucking out via goblins, or boss chests from bounties. But, boss chests from bounties, only drop gems, starting at character level 18.
Now, something that seems unrelated at face value is the Challenge Rift cache. LATE in the saccing list on the Altar, you’ll need a Challenge Rift cache, unopened, to sac to it. But, seasons historically start on a Friday (this one being no exception) so you can do the CR for “this week” and then do the next one on Monday/Tuesday (depending on your time zone). So you get 2 caches, relatively quickly. “Most people” - myself included - would advise you to open the first cache, to help you jumpstart your season. Especially since the node you need the cache for happens LATE, and you need resources NOW.
Here’s why this all coalesces together to be relevant: you start on a character that’s FAST at leveling to 18. This can vary depending on playstyle but Necros are said to be one of the easiest/fastest leveling classes (unsure why, never bothered to look it up). So you start a Necro, then you do a CR, then you open the cache and max your artisans, you pop the first node, then you rush your Necro to 18, you pop an easy boss bounty like Kulle or Skellie King, you get that second node. And then the fun begins.
With the leftover Cache items, you can get yourself a full set of level 70 yellows for ONE character. This will be powerful enough to allow a level 1 to run on T6 until at least the mid 40’s if not upper 50’s. As you start approaching max level you’ll find yourself having to lower the difficulty back down, since monsters are now outscaling your yellows. But leveling is STUPIDLY fast once this happens. I’m level 70 and I probably only “played” about 5 hours yesterday (some of that was spent in gen chat because let’s be honest: we all like to stare at train wrecks).
Now, the choice people find themselves making in that moment, is “do I want to MAIN the class I used to get to 18 and get the gems to break that 2nd seal?”
That’s why some people “rush 18” with “insert fast class here” and then re-roll their main. Because once you unlock that node you have ONE character you can deck out for that easy first ride. And going from 1-18 is entirely irrelevant but getting to 70 is kind of important.
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If you can find an early Gem Hoarder before level 18, things will be easier as you can level up the Jewelcrafter and craft them as needed.
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Thank you for taking the time to write all this down!
I had created a season char.
But I can’t find an altar in act 1 town. Maybe because I’m playing campaign setting atm?
Yes. Campaign/Story setting don’t have the Altar or Kanai’s Cube. You have to be in Adventure mode to find those.
Once you enter the Adventure mode, teleport to act I and just take the path ahead of Slaughtered Calf Inn entrance; the path that mayor blocked once in Campaign mode. For the Kanai’s Cube you need to talk Zoltun Kulle’s spirit first then head to Act III, Ruins of Sescheron, an Adventure Mode only area to search for it.
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Right! The altar is only available in Adventure mode.
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