Breakfast Topic: Your favorite places in Azeroth... and beyond!

by Elizabeth Harper Dec 14th 2007 at 8:00AM

When leveling my latest alt (a Druid, thank you for asking!), it's become very apparent that there are certain zones in the game that I simply fly through -- and other zones in the game where I can't seem to make any progress. Every character I get into the 40s, for example, hits Stranglethorn Vale and comes to a screeching halt. It's not because it's not well-designed or because it's a poor place to quest and level, but because I just don't like the place. (Sure, it was fun to spend ten or more levels there the first time and perhaps even the second time -- but by now it's too long in one place for my short attention span.) However, I burn through quests in Felwood and Winterspring, the two zones comprising some of my favorite places in Azeroth. So today I wonder what some of your favorite places in the World of Warcraft are -- and why?

Tags: azeroth, leveling, world-of-warcraft, wow, zones

Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Leveling

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Metaphyzxx Dec 14th 2007 8:10AM

Wow, I guess it depends on horde vs alliance

Alli:
I like the human 1-20 zones, more because of the arching storylines leading up to and including deadmines

I like darkshore as well, just the feel of the place. There's a heaviness to it that grows as you play. The only thing that could make it better is something like a zone "boo-buddy"... a ghost you could see off the side of your field of vision that disappeared when in view.

Horde, I think it's mostly Ghostlands and Thousand needles. The story for the zones is well enough written that you feel that something has been accomplished when you complete the zone's quests. That's why I like horde more than alli now anyway... the quests BEG to be completed.

LostOne Dec 14th 2007 8:16AM

STV tends to be where I decide if I like a class enough to go through the tedious 30-40 level range or not. But I don't just stick in STV, I can't grind straight through it, it seems that I get all the north end (alliance) quests done and I'm not quite high enough level to start doing the southern end quests. So I'll hit Desolace, Arathi Highlands, Alterac Mountains then back to STV. But I haven't leveled an alt since 2.3 hit, with the increased XP gains I might skip STV altogether. 30-35 in the other zones I mentioned then Dustwallow Marsh with their added quest content.

arb Dec 14th 2007 8:18AM

I have a love/hate relationship with STV. I love the compactness of the area around Grom'gol, and the number of quests it's possible to do there. I also enjoy the opportunity to engage in some same-level PvP, as Alliance and Horde find themselves questing in the same area. I do hate the tendency of L60-70 characters to make a sport of trying to one-shot opposition players as soon as they set foot into out of their base. Ganking with a 30-40 level difference is pretty ridiculous.

As a Hordie with a penchant for attractive scenery, I also enjoy spending time in Felwood/Winterspring, Feralas and Un'Goro, and again there are plentiful quests in a reasonably compact space.

Finally, I do love most of Outland, although I have only had 2 characters make it that far to date. The varied scenery of the different zones is good, quests plentiful, PvP reasonably balanced and flightpaths well thought out (not too many hideous runs just to get to quest givers).

[Not what you asked, but the worst zones imo are The Barrens, Tanaris, Durotar, Searing Gorge and EPL.]

Khalimaa Dec 14th 2007 9:17AM

My contribution is without a doubt southshore and Arathi. I like the green fields and the wounderful forests.

The worst zones is in my oppinon STV and WPL/EPL due to me not liking jungle and the dead forests.

Extremitus Dec 14th 2007 8:37AM

STV, Barrens, 1k Needles, Ghostlands and Hillsbrad are my favorites. The apothecaries in Hillsbrad, the speed of 1kN, STV and Barrens and the awesome cape and gloomy feel of Ghostlands are the main factors. My least favorites are Dustwallow Marsh (even post 2.3), Burning Steppes, Searing Gorge and Durotar because I find them very dull and painfully rocky and linear.

ThorinII Dec 14th 2007 8:39AM

I like Tanaris. Lots of quests to do, great for grinding a little extra XP, and plenty of money to be made. But, to get from 30-40 in order to get to Tanaris, I'm not thrilled with any of the joices right now. I do whatever quests I have to, but I don't really enjoy the "long dark" of 30-40.

Chriasas Dec 14th 2007 8:58AM

Barrens...Just Kidding. I like the stark beauty of Winterspring. But, I think that it has a geneal lack of quests, and a nice elite area to the south for seemingly no particular reason.

Acidulante Dec 14th 2007 9:02AM

I love Desolace. I think I'm the only person I know who does. Also, Thousand Needles. Durotar and Nagrand are nice too.

As for zones I don't like... well, I'd have to say the Barrens, Terokkar and anywhere between 50 and Outland. My mage is suffering post 50 blues at the moment, I don't really know what to do with him. Azshara is very nice (although I have to look it up every time I want to write it), but there's not really enough there. I haven't tried the new Dustwallow yet, though. I took my hunter there at 30, only to remember it's 35+. Curses!

Electrocuted Dec 14th 2007 9:03AM

Irontree Woods in Felwood is one of the most interesting place I've been to, with the 3 petrified ancients there.

Other than that, for richness, probably netherstorm. I love the quest lines out there.

Angus Dec 14th 2007 9:45AM

Ghostlands, and the Plaguelands.

My Belf paladin just sort of made giggly noises when she was there. Something about tanking 5-10 mobs at once and then moving to the next group after looting that made levelling fun and easy. Especially on kill quests.

Arathi has some fun quest lines though I hate 2 or 3 in particular. Trying to get low drop rate items in the middle of quest chains makes for never completing the chain...

epsilon343 Dec 14th 2007 9:43AM

I'd have to say Arathi, Hillsbrad, and Elywnn are actually my favorites. I love the sunny, happy, forest places compared to the war torn and dreary areas.

arkhell Dec 14th 2007 9:48AM

Feralas.. i just love that place. Heavy plantachion, green, kinda misty and when it rains it's just like omfg gona get wet! it really looks like you'll gona get soked when it rains there. just the whole feel of the place :) i really hated it when i was done there and i had to go to an other place (un go'ro.. it has +/- same looks but feels so difforent). i was so glad when i could ride trough it again thanks to that long linkin quest line ^^

Syme Dec 14th 2007 10:04AM

Without a doubt, my favorite zone is Mulgore. I just love the way it looks and the sense of home that I get with my Tauren characters.

My wife and I like to go fishing in Shadowprey Village when we just want to relax. While Desolace is one of my least favorite zones, that spot of green on the coast is really nice.

& actually, I really like Stranglethorn. Nice scenery, plenty to hunt, coasts to fish, Booty Bay for all your town needs. I might feel differently if I were ever in a hurry, but stress is what real life is for.

mike Dec 14th 2007 10:16AM

STV is completely bypassed now with mudsprocket and the leveling boost. I have a 55 toon now and have not stepped foot in STV other than for riding the boat to ratchet.

Cailleach Dec 14th 2007 10:32AM

Oh my god I love Stranglethorn Vale! I race through my 20s to get out of the hell of Duskwood and get to my beloved STV. I can do the first 2/3 of the quest in two giant, long circles. The last third have to wait until I hit Arathai and level up a bit, but that, too, is one giant circle. C'mon, guys.. every three steps is another XP opportunity, with loot, and mostly skinnable, just waiting!

My second favorite has got to be Darkshire, for the same reason. The quests group beautifully if you know how, and it's a fast, fast level. If I don't have to go clear to Eastern Kingdoms to train I always level 13-20 there in about 3-4 hours flat.

For sheer beauty I do love Winterspring, though.

Cailleach Dec 14th 2007 10:32AM

SweetPoison Dec 14th 2007 10:34AM

My favorite has to be Un'Goro crater. Killing raptors, dodging T-rex's, barrel dropping gorillas, and the killer Zelda-esque quest chain.... Its definently my favorite!

SteveK Dec 14th 2007 10:57AM

My favorites were always Desolace and Duskwood. Desolace because it's a huge pain to quest there for most people, and out of the way, so it tends to be empty, and there are some really original quests there. Good place to grind.

Duskwood because it has a great ambiance and feel to it, it's completely unlike the other human zones which are bright and happy. Great quest chains in Duskwood, like the Stitches quests, Mor'Ladim, and Stalvan.

Ryan Carter Dec 14th 2007 10:54AM

I love Winterspring, Felwood, Nagrand, Netherstorm, Elwynn, Darkshore, Azshara. I guess I am a moody person and those zones suit my weird moods.

Twailight Dec 14th 2007 11:32AM

Pre BC, my favorite place to level is probably Darkshore, but now my favorite place to quest is Nagrand. Not only is it huge and beautiful, but the pvp quest there is absolute fun...and I hate pvp. It might have something to do with the fact that when I got to Nagrand the first time, I was a 68 druid and capable of flight. I just love it there.

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