Season 17 of Diablo 3 has begun and everyone is busy leveling their characters. Many players even offer their help with the lengthy grind to level 70. Micha also had such a “helpful” friend over the weekend, much to her dismay.
When a new season in Diablo 3 starts, players rush to the servers to level up their chosen characters to reach the maximum level of 70 as quickly as possible. Some form groups to get through the grind as fast as they can. Once they have reached the big 70, lower-level friends are often brought along.
What is well meant in the community, however, means nothing to me. I love my grind and I’m always a little sad when I reach the maximum level and can play with the “big ones”.
This situation also led to a particularly helpful friend driving me to despair over the weekend.
That’s why I love my grind
In each new season of Diablo 3, players start fresh with their seasonal characters from scratch. A new character, without gear and Paragon points. The goal is to complete the seasonal journey with its various tasks and, if possible, secure a spot on the leaderboard.
For me, the seasons have a meditative quality. I throw myself on the couch and completely switch off while dragging my character through the different levels.
I prefer to get my leveling done alone. I love the grind and the feeling that you become stronger with each level you gain and can conquer more monster packs.
With the question in mind: Will I manage the next mob, the next group of elite opponents, or am I pushing myself too much?
Leveling myself or being carried?
It seems I am not alone in this mindset. On my friends list, there are some players who prefer to get through the leveling phase alone. They are enthusiastic about the story or want to explore the world at their own pace.
On the other hand, there are players who prefer to team up in groups to skip the tedious leveling as quickly as possible. They want to reach the endgame quickly, where the real game actually begins.
These players are also the ones who often and gladly offer their help. I have never experienced so many players asking if they can help you level up in any other game.
Well-meaning gesture leads to despair
Such a well-meaning gesture, however, led me to despair last weekend instead of excitement.
Someone from my friends list sneakily joined my game session and completed my bounties for me. In Diablo 3, you can set whether you prefer to play alone, make your session public, or allow friends to join directly or via invitation. I must have forgotten to set my game to “Private”.
All I could do was watch in horror as my character leveled up, level after level. The hours I had already spent leveling my Necromancer – wasted. The thrill of whether I would manage the next mob or would have to resurrect at my corpse – gone. Because now I was already nearing the big 70 within minutes.
What should I do? Simply leaving the game seemed very rude. I had probably set my game session so that friends could join me immediately. My buddy did just that and jumped into the enemy masses cheerfully.
I decided to message my teammate. But try doing that on the console. While I was typing as fast as I could, my friend, who already had a Paragon level over 800, dragged me across the map.
Now I was regretting that I always play at a difficulty level that is just bearable for me: Having soloed past level 50, the levels were now zipping past me. By the time we finally agreed that I didn’t need help, I was already at level 62.
Frustrated, I left the game session and turned off Diablo 3. The evening was ruined for me, even though it was just a well-meaning gesture from my teammate.
I am still considering whether to delete my Necromancer and create a new character. It no longer feels like I have overcome the challenge of the new season on my own.
My request to all Diablo 3 players: Even if you mean well, please ask first before joining a session. Not every player wants to be carried to the maximum level.
What about you? Are you also into the leveling grind in Diablo 3 like I am, or do you prefer to reach maximum level as quickly as possible and face the great Nephalem Rifts?
