I am very pleased with this Season’s theme. It seems to me it is the exact opposite of last Season’s. Here’s why.
Last season we had three random effects that would randomly appear on hit in random locations, for a random period of time. This combination meant that you never knew when the effect would appear, what it was, how long it would last, if you could get to it before it disappeared, and if it would do you any good when you got there.
Sure, the effect was occasionally helpful to ranged players, but it was almost always useless for melee classes. The effect would almost never appear under or near enough a melee character, and if you had to run to the effect, you were usually standing alone in a circle with nothing to hit.
This Season is completely different. We know exactly what the effects are because Blizzard published the information, and since they are based on kill count, we know when they are going to appear, and we don’t have to estimate that, because Blizzard gave us a little icon that shows us what the kill count is. Based on that, shrewd players can actually use these effects tactically.
And attaining the kill count is made easier because Blizzard increased the monster density in all areas, which not only makes attaining the counts necessary to enable the effects, but it makes the entire game much more fun because there are more monsters to kill; fights are more hectic and fast-paced, and that means more fun. Except for the Shrouded Moors, which still need work. But all the "Kill 150 of x Bounties are so much more tolerable!
Better yet, the effects are always centered on or emanate from the character. No matter what class you play, when you attain the kill count necessary to enable an effect, it happens. You don’t have to run to it and hope it’s still there when you get there, it happens at the character’s location, and it’s always helpful. These effects work! How many times have you run two screens away and saw all the monsters on the map still frozen? Even now I giggle with giddy pleasure!
It’s even possible to get to that 1000-count kill streak, and spawn the D2 Diablo, but I’ve seen a few videos, and as a hard-core character, I’m staying away from him. But the videos are fun to watch.
In all, this Season’s theme is far better, and I’d say that everything about it is the exact opposite in every way from last Season’s.