Your favorite Starting Area

[losludvig]

Being a hardcore Alt-Oholic I've tried out most of the starting areas and for me, the most enjoyable was Kurashasa.
I like the idea of several small zones where all of the mobs are there for a reason (quest wise) and the whole dimensionally traveling hunter race theme appeals to me too.
But the half-elf (and that human race I can't pronounce or remember the name of) starting area is cool too. Starting out as a officer in an army that's never heard the word or even know the meaning of the word "mercy" only to be "converted" and having to help the very people you formerly massacred and be assimilated into their way of life is great.

So, what about you, what areas did you enjoy the most?

[Iendan]

the half-elf/kojani starting area, while an awesome story line and such, really annoyed me cause i wanted to keep the cloak and sweet weapon and such, i looked so badass

the vulmane starting area is awesome up until lvl 10, then it kinda drops off... and the bloodletter caves have been made solo i think, they were much better as a group dungeon.

overall my favorite is prolly the qaliathari/mordebi starting area, mainly because khal is the best city ever, originally made a char there just to be a crafter, and then all my following chars started there, just because its so beautiful, fun, and desert-like

[Sheazy]

I loved the Kojani starting area the first time I went through it. I found the quests intuitive, story interesting, and landscape pleasant to look at. The lore there was really top notch, and the stronghold is a great starter "dungeon". Now that the game is live, I fully intend to make a Kojani alt of some sort, if I could just stop playing my little gnome long enough to do that...

Also, while I'm not a big fan of the desert areas (even though my main is a gnome), the qaliathari/mordebi area was great from a gameplay perspective. Everything you needed was easy to find and relatively close together. And the view from the cliffs down to Khal is just gorgeous.

[losludvig]

Originally Posted by Sheazy

And the view from the cliffs down to Khal is just gorgeous.

Hopefully with my new graphics card I can crank the view distance a bit up so I can enjoy it as well

[FEDS-91]

Of all the areas I've tried, pretty sure I like the Tursh area the most. Seems the most wide open and jsut has a great overall feel to it.

[Hooahman]

I've enjoyed the Vulmane starting area, only problem is I am only level 8 (almost at 9) and already out of quests . Gotta head up north to the giants city now to finish it off I guess.

[Cobalt Katze]

Martok, for sure! I absolutely love that the process of starting out as a goblin or orc involves you becoming initiated into the clan by following a ritual of initiation set by one of the unifying acts from the past. It really immerses you in the lore, and gets the racial pride flowing Which certainly is a benefit for greenies, since we're so hated by the rest of the world...

[Iendan]

Originally Posted by Hooahman

I've enjoyed the Vulmane starting area, only problem is I am only level 8 (almost at 9) and already out of quests . Gotta head up north to the giants city now to finish it off I guess.

if you follow the road past bloodletters cave you should find someone with a quest line, but you may need to be lvl 10, not sure.

[Sigurd]

I loved Halgarad (I'm a Norse fan so that's my favorite) and now have 2 guys there.

Kojani was VERY original and I share the hope to find similar gear in the future from that area lol...

Kura was the best when it was introed in beta but now I like others more.

Tursh is very 'classic' feeling.

BC is pretty fun quest wise (in late beta) and nice looking to boot.

Cliffs...the view...wow

Varathi was my first set so unsure - so much prob changed since earlier beta. I liked it then tho.

Hathor - amazingly interesting Diplo line with ambushes etc heheh - the quests as well as the diplo are vicious - well written - kudos! (love assasinating someone IN the town over a game of dice gone bad ;P)

Never tried Gnomes/Vulman. HE only since Beta 2.5... WE, only in last day of Beta. Didnt get chance to do Orc/Gobbies tho saw it as a friend tried it - great look. Who knows the ton of others I forgot to mention due to the plentitude of races ;P

[Dalenu]

So far, I haven't found a starting area that I didn't like some aspect of...

The first starter area I played in beta was on the cliffs overlooking Khal... looking down on the harbor was my first "Woah!" moment of the game. This area quickly followed by the halfling and then lesser giant areas left me satisfied that the starter zones were not cookie cutter images of each other with only the names and mobs changed to provide "variety."

The dark elf starting area is where I have started my newest alt and didn't play that area in beta... I agree with Sigurd... "diplomats" remind me of a pack of blood-thirsty, vicious parana... and I mean that in a "good" way.

I played both an orc and goblin in beta and love that starter area... mostly because I love the look of the races here and the story line. Diplomats are more of the heavy-handed sort and not the sneaky, back-stabbing sort that dark elves are... another interesting take on diplomacy.

The woodelf city... forget all you know about woodelf cities from other popular MMOs... make a Woodelf or Raki just to take a look. Now. Not the easiest city to get around in, but cool nonetheless.

I also enjoyed the half-elf intro where you must change allegiance and that is where one of my two mains are now.

I will stop here... but to summarize what I think: Kudos for the designers for coming up with starter areas, lore, and quests that are soooo unlike each other. Starting in a new area is like starting a new game to me. I really can't point at one area and say "that is my favorite hands down!"... but if I had to choose... the orc/goblin area by a whisker.