Will you try a new class for Season 1 or replay your previous one?

This is my first Diablo and first game with “seasons.” I’m currently playing a level 55 Barbarian. Can someone explain: What can I expect from season 1 and why would I switch to a new character to play it?

Everyone playing seasons has to start a new character. You also don’t have access to your old stash / gear.

Especially for those who play with friends it can be really fun to put everyone at the exact same point again and allow you all to play through again. Seasons are usually big updates that add new unique / legendary items, new gameplay mechanics, new quests, etc. You play the season, get whatever loot and whatnot you can, and (if you want to) try to rise up the seasonal leaderboards. Once the season is over, you can move your character over to a “non-seasonal” character and continue to play them whenever. At this point, Diablo also merges those changes, new loot, etc. into the general game for everyone to get.

So you can generally get all the seasonal stuff later on even if you don’t play the season, but you have a better chance of getting seasonal loot during the season.

That’s basically it.
- Thanks for the explanation. That sounds cool.
Hopefully someone else can elaborate more, but just to start you can only progress the battle pass with a seasonal character, not the eternal ones. Seasons also have new loot drops. I'm also new, so I unfortunately don't know much more.
Two main reasons:

It’s about the leveling experience being different every season. MMO fans don’t typically understand that the fun in ARPGs (usually) comes from variety, whether that be different skill builds or different loot along the way making every playthrough a little different. Seasons also change mechanics and add new season-exclusive items to tweak the leveling experience.

New season-only items, cosmetics, and battle pass. Everything other than the battle pass should usually be available on the Eternal realm after the season ends, but you get it sooner on the new Season realm.
A bit to explain what's the point of seasons in arpgs: basically a season gets a few new changes/mechanics that are supposed to change the experience. Everyone starts fresh, and the seasons theme is what makes it different. It also affects the balance of the game, because it means all the new mechanics affect you from early game - instead of balancing mechanics around uber late game grinders.
With living games, you either do vertical progression, or horizontal progression, or you do seasons and wipe the board clean.

As a casual-ish player I like seasons because everyone is expected to run around sub-optimal setups and the game is balanced around that. Getting stronger is kinda the point. Then once I reach a certain point where my setup is "good enough" I can call it for the season. I've "completed" the season, and people who want to push further can keep going and keep perfecting their builds until the season is over.

I'm d3 I've played every 2/3 seasons, each time a DH build, and it was a fresh experience each time.

I played a sorc to 60 and a barb to 40, but I don't enjoy the grind for sacred/ancestral items so I quit until they add obtainable chase items.

I might play season one if friends join, and I'll probably play a rogue.

Anyone else feels items are missing some "flavor" that prevents them from enjoying the grind? I miss the feel of dropping HRs or rare uniques in D2...

Definitely feel like, not excited about drops.

Nothing feels exclusive, really. When a unique drops I'm not able to recognize what it might be so it feels like just another drop. Really hoping they make some changes to address this.
Yeah I hear you. Got to level 70 on world tier 4 and I can't be bothered to grind NM dungeons to have a chance at better gear. I just find it boring. I will probably start a new class season 1 because I know my friends will play but we will see how long I stick around.

I’m really hoping Sorc gets some buffs to make it more fun to play, I just tried starting a third one (abandoned all 3 before WT3) with full renown bonuses and it still feels like wet tissue paper both offensively and defensively.

As they play now, probably Rogue (movement speed/skills feels so good while leveling) or Necro (just the best feeling overall despite terrible speed).

I actually ditched my rogue for a sorc as i kept running into trouble myself. Felt like i very badly needed some better drops.
- It may be dependent on your build, Rogue was the character I beat the campaign with first and got to WT4 first, it was pretty painless.
  
  Used melee Flurry/imbues with Close-quarters combat and combo points. I think it helps that most of the core skill aspects for Rogue (flurry, TB, Barrage) are available from the codex, so you don’t need to rely too much on drops.

In both D3 and PoE, I've always played one character per season. I don't really do "alts".

Knowing this, I'm planning to do the same in D4. I've only leveled Rogue to lvl 100 since launch, but haven't even created other characters. I'll just spend the first few seasons trying out the different classes. Probably going Sorc for S1, likely starting out with Lightning but time will tell if I stick to it or just try out multiple different builds.

I agree, seems a waste to make preseason alts. My barb is basically done, probably going to make a rogue for season 1.
I always played one character per season. There were a few times I rolled alts in a season and they were always a massive pain to gear up. It was never worth it.

Now, we don't really know what the first season is going to be like. Rolling an alt might not be that big of a deal, who knows. But I have a hard time imagining it not being a waste of time.

New class for me. I'm saving Druid for it.

Currently playing Druid and nearing level 100. I'll stick to Druid up until season 1, and I'll try a new class at that point. I think it will help keep it new and exciting that way.

Same. I also started with a druid (currently LVL 53) and feel like I've got a good feel for the class. I'll keep playing this character until S1, at which point I'll try something new. Right now, I'm thinking Barb but depending on the new mechanics that S1 brings that might change.

I will most likely skip the first season entirely. I don't see myself starting a new character. I tried the other classes (except sorc) and I don't like any of them. So because you need to create a new one, I will skip this season and might play its content in season 2 when its content gets to the eternal realm.

I might skip it as well, but for a different reason. I'd like to try a necro after playing Druid but they are going to need to make a ton of QoL changes (gear) as well as drastically improving the endgame. If they don't do both, then I don't really have a desire to play.

I’m currently playing Druid. Just finished campaign on world tier 2. I do want to try rogue, necro. Haven’t decided yet.

Definitely depends on what the Season affixes are! My intention is always to play a new class but it depends on the modifiers.

I'm not sure if we'll be getting unique armour sets like D3, because those always played a big part in what classes were going to have the most satisfying end-game play for your play style.

Thinking about trying a female barbarian. They just give off a huge dommy mommy feel 😩

I guess I'm in the minority but I'll probably stick with doing another Necro build but maybe a blood build.

Loving my lvl 59 sorcerer at the moment, but I really want to try druid. Can't really justify it until the season starts though, so I'm just holding out and trying to do all the renown until then...

Personally, I'd like to play a Minion Necro build if they actually buff it a little. Everything I've seen for Minion Necro shows it doing everything a little worse than almost any other class. I'm currently doing Barb atm.

Just finished leveling Necro to 100, going to max sorc 92 + rogue 82 next ( I have too much time passion and fun )

For season it will be rogue or sorc if the fix some core problems, since Sorc is a hot mess in endgame rn

I have been mostly playing Barbarian but I'm looking forward to digging into to Sorcerer with the new season

Sorc for S1, because tradition. Started D4 with Druid and have stopped playing at level 60. Don't feel like re-roll another character so soon

I started Druid too, and I burned out hard around 60 (which makes me sad, since Druid was what I was most excited about pre-launch). Leaning Necro next, but my heart's not in rerolling with news about S1 right around the corner.

Currently on rogue and necro. Season 1 I'm gonna change it up and diablo save me I'm leaning toward druid.

Currently on Barb but planning to try Rogue in Season 1.

I'm currently playing a druid and having a blast with the lightning wolf build. I'll probably go Rogue or Sorc for season 1. The last two games I've ways gone Necromancer so I figured it's time to mix it up a bit.

I decided to play druid for launch as it was the one that seemed the least interesting to me (due to class fantasy and not gameplay reasons). I figured that if I didn't try druid at once, I was likely to maybe never try it, but now I'm actually having a blast with druid!

Probably doing rogue or barb for s1!

I played Druid at launch, I will probably go Sorc for season 1.

I'm currently playing a Sorceress as well, but I think I'll branch out a bit for Season 1. Trying to decide between Barbarian, Rogue or Necromancer!

Played necro, sorcerer, and druid into the 60s. Probably starting necro for season 1, depending on what happens with patches before the season starts.

Currently playing Infimist Necro. On season I'll only pick one class and play it all season. Most likely druid.

Currently playing sorc but will probably try a blood nec for S1. Not crazy about ice Sorc builds pretty much relying on one aspect to be good

Talking about the glacial aspect for the blizzard build? Leveled chain lightning to 50 and switched to the arc lash build. Been thinking about trying that blizzard build but I don't think I've seen 1 glacial legendary drop.. and I'm 94.

I’ll play a new one. Currently a druid but I might try rogue.

I’ll be picking a new class. I played Barb on launch. I’m torn between rogue and sorceress.

I have a barbarian in waiting, level 17 but I snuck him into world tier 3 with a friend lol

What build did you do with your sorc?

Rn I have a lightning build and have 7 levels of glass cannon lol

Played necro for my first playthrough, and now got a barb. I think I will try sourcer for season 1

yep. Im on Barb and will do either Necro or Druid. Whatever doesnt get nerfed too hard until then lol

I've been playing Sorc and I'm hoping for significant Necromancer buffs that makes Summoner viable. Without them I'll probably go for Barb or Druid.

Reading all of these replies helped. I think I’ll try a Necro for S1, and come back to Sorc at a later time. Makes sense… but will wait until patch comes out in case they rework some classes.

Currently have a lvl 60 Sorcerer and a lvl 30 Rogue. I’ll likely go Necromancer for S1.

Absolutely rolling a rogue. Playing a necro currently, and it's fine, but I don't love the build choices. I'm prob gonna go rogue, maybe a barb, they both look crazy fun.

I would love to roll a sorcerer but they need some major rework before I'm willing to jump in there.

Yeah I think I'll stick with Sorc for season 1.

Currently playing sorcerer. Definitely going to change it up for season 1, was thinking about a druid run, not. 100 % yet.

New class all the way, I just mained necro on my first play and I have views on Drood so I'm keeping it for Season 1.

Definitely a new class. Necro looks fun....

Going same. Sorc (just love the class - even if they’re underpowered currently)

I played barb on launch and I'm thinking about doing sorc for season 1

Probably switch and play Barbarian. I really wish they had more melee focused classes with a templar/paladin/cleric. I was disappointed that necromancer can't really play melee other than their reaper scythe ability. I didnt play much of D3 so I'm not sure how it was there, but I liked doing it in D2.

Thats the one thing I've been liking about POE is the multi use classes, it's been fun.

I am at level 51 necromancer right now, and haven't explored any of the other classes. I like the idea of trying another class for the new season, any suggestions for something different?