The Path of Exile 24 hour Hardcore Race is on again. March 8th. 160 STEEM up for grabs.

Free to play, free to enter.

This is going to be a big one. Synthesis. A break neck, cut-throat ordeal through the fading dreams of a mysterious, ethereal figure.

Countdown timer -here -

A lot of people have expressed an interest in this one; with several first timers itching to show us what they can do. I just love this game.

This will again be a 24 hour race and I'll be awarding 20 STEEM to the highest ranked character in each class.

Templar
Marauder
Shadow
Scion
Ranger
Duelist
Witch

There'll be an additional 20 STEEM awarded to the highest level character overall.
If two or more players have evenly leveled characters, the prize will be split evenly.

---

ZiggyD does a more thorough exploration of the Synthesis expansion here.

If a character has died, the level they achieved is irrelevant.
The higher you go, the more you have to lose.
If you're way out in front it may even be worth benching your character and starting a backup.

Click here to sign up and get practicing for the main event.
Take note of your account name and make sure you've unticked the privacy options.
Home tab > My Account > Privacy Settings (on the right hand side of the page)

To enter;

Post your intention to compete, including your pathofexile.com account name, using #poecomp as the first tag.

This must be done more than an hour before the league starts or you won't be included.
If your account is set to private you won't be included.

Tell us about yourself. Are you a grizzled veteran, or an eager newcomer?
Will you be dealing physical damage up close and personal, or raising an army of the dead to fight on your behalf?
Will you lay traps, mines and totems to outwit the enemy, or stick 'em with poisoned arrows from a distance?
Are you going to charge headlong into each level, or take it slow and stay alive?
Will you check the other accounts, and choose an under-represented character, or forge on with your favourite?

When that timer hits zero you'll want to create a new character.

Make sure you choose the red, Hardcore banner or your char will be softcore; which isn't suitable for grown ups and wins nothing.

NB: I've previously required that character names begin with SHR_, that is no longer a requirement.

Characters must also be Solo Self Found.
It's a tick-box in the character selection area.
It prevents a character from interacting with the marketplace, so no buying and selling with other players.

If your character dies, that's obviously a setback, but you can start again with somebody new.
It may seem that others have an unassailable lead, but they can die too.
It's quite possible that a mad dash for the finish line may be the undoing of one or many of your competitors.

If you're equipped to record and/or stream, please do so.
Use the tag #poecomp when posting. (Assuming you have time to post)
Glorious deaths are bittersweet and better shared.

See you on the field, ladies and gentlemen.

Thanks, @linnyplant for the image, and best of luck in the race.