Breakfast Topic: The best city for shopping
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 16th 2009 at 8:00AM
This discussion site we linked the other day, Epic Advice, is humming with activity, and full of interesting queries and answers about the World of Warcraft. Like this one: which city is the best for running to and from the bank and the AH (the question-asker also wants to get the mage portal in that circuit, but for the purposes of our discussion, we'll assume you're on a bank alt, so no portal necessary)? In terms of speed and ease, which is the best capital city to set up shop in?
On Horde side, the answers suggest Orgrimmar, and I'd actually argue that one -- Thunder Bluff is my city of choice for pure Auction House action, as it's a short walk back and forth on the Lower Rise from the AH to a mailbox (and as other comments on EA say, the forge is right there as well). UC is definitely a mess, as you have to go up and down those ramps, and Org is close, but it's so busy that it's almost distracting.
For the Alliance, Ironforge is an old standby, though I have to say that Stormwind has its advantages. You do have to wind between buildings a bit to make it back to the AH from the mailbox, and it is busy (almost surprisingly so), but it's a little easier than Lagforge, and once you know the route, it's fast. Can't say I've ever bothered with the AH in Darnassus, just because getting out there is such a pain. What do you think?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Hakker Oct 16th 2009 8:04AM
First it was stormwind now dalaran IMO
Boz Oct 16th 2009 8:35AM
Actually, if you are an Engineer Dalaran is the best city for shopping. Engineers can access the AH from the Steam-Powered Auctioneer at Like Clockwork. Then you can create your own mailbox right in the store; you don't even have to move, and still have access to all the portals and battlemasters nearby in Dalaran, as well as close access to Northrend.
And to think only a couple months ago nobody wanted to be an engineer.
LilBanshee Oct 16th 2009 9:31AM
Stop downranking this guy, he's right. Engineers setting up shop in Dalaran have many, many advantages. First you don't have to hearth back to Dalaran afterward since you're already there. This also allows for convenient Wintergrasp breaks for those who are into that. Most importantly, the nearest mailbox is extremely close, that helps everyone.
Whatever your second profession is, useful tools are also closer in Dalaran - i.e. the anvil's right there, the alchemy shop is right there to buy vials, etc. - that also applies to buying raw mats and hiring someone or asking a friend to craft you something, the anvil is a stone's throw away; and if your Crafter friend isn't already in Dalaran, you're guaranteed a fast and free portal to whatever city they are in.
catharsis80 Oct 16th 2009 10:19AM
Seriously, why's he downranked? This was the response I was going to give (except Org, not SW). Engineers have it made in Dalaran. Someone in trade chat you need to do business with? Port to whatever city they're in. AH in Dalaran makes all the difference. (I still wonder why the robot stands on the counter, though.) Every time I think about dropping Engineering, the AH in Dal (among other things) changes my mind.
Of course, when you think about it, MAGES have it made when it comes to business.
Stephen Oct 16th 2009 2:04PM
Yep, Dalaran is the best. On Horde side, I used to love Thunder Bluff. Auction house, bank, inn, reagent vendor, cooking fire, fishing pond, forge & anvil were all close together. It's not so good for inscription though.
I always hated Org, especially on any toon that needed to smelt ore or use the anvil. UC was even worse and I think I never took the right ramp to get to the mailbox. Silvermoon is too spread out.
Worcester Oct 16th 2009 3:03PM
Actually, Dalaran is only the SECOND best place to set up shop if you're an Engineer.
The BEST place is anywhere... once you have Jeeves :)
But I totally /agree. I almost never go to old world cities anymore. Even when I was grinding for my Venomhide mount, I could teleport to Tanaris each day and hearth back when I was done. I rarely go to Outlands, but I'm thinking of making the teleporter there just for kicks.
cmichaelcooper Oct 16th 2009 8:04AM
There is actually a mailbox right outside the AH door in Stormwind, probably making it the easiest to access in any city.
nyctef Oct 16th 2009 8:24AM
Same for Darnassus, but with Stormwind if you stand on the little ledge by the mailbox you can use the auctioneer on the other side of the wall without having to move from the mailbox.
Gnosh Oct 16th 2009 8:58AM
Same with Org and undercity. Added in the most recent patch. There's supposed to be a forge near the Org AH/bank, also, but I haven't searched for it.
LilBanshee Oct 16th 2009 9:34AM
"with Stormwind if you stand on the little ledge by the mailbox you can use the auctioneer on the other side of the wall without having to move from the mailbox"
Really? I'm going to have to try that.
kooda Oct 16th 2009 10:56AM
@gnosh its near the general goods place near the main gate i think
shkss Oct 16th 2009 11:51AM
@gnosh
As you go into the city via the main gate, the anvil/forge is on the left.
Nieker Oct 16th 2009 8:05AM
darn is indeed the biggest pain in the ass, exodar sucks also.
IF is best choice because most of the low levels go to stormwind so it is less laggy(on my server at least)
traptinacivicsi Oct 16th 2009 8:45AM
Exodar is actually kind of nice assuming you have a mount.
Mailbox right outside the AH and Bank which are close together, and anything you need is in a close radius.
But I couldn't defend Darnassuss' layout to save my life..
rosencratz Oct 16th 2009 8:50AM
I'd rank the Exodar as equal to Ironforge, it's only disadvantage is its lack of convenient flight paths. Stormwind definately beats Ironforge these days aswell in my mind.
Darnassus is way worse than Exodar, though it might be quite nice if you could use flying mounts there.
Psiwave Oct 16th 2009 10:28AM
The only problem I have with stormwind is that goldspam seems to be a nightmare there I'm my server. And if you go into the bank they actually run up to you and whisper adds.
I've had this happen and then had another 80 bank user whisper me to say he saw me trading with a farmer and they'd reported me.
Still I'm set in my ways and often forget there us an ah in any city but ironforge now. (showing age)
Banthis Oct 16th 2009 12:46PM
For my bank alt, it's Stormwind. But if my main needs to hit an AH really quick, it's all about Exodar. Assuming you arrive via Dalaran, you're still mounted and can easily get to the AH. Any other Alliance city you're dismounted as soon as you get there. It's surprising how much time it saves.
D Oct 16th 2009 5:47PM
If you're starting to lvl jewelcrafting, Exodar can't be beat as it's the only place before you get to Outland that has an AH and a JC trainer. Once you out-level the trainer there then any other city will do just as well.
rufwork Oct 17th 2009 2:32PM
Darn has one nice advantage: For Druids without a hearth left, you can Moonglade your way there pretty quickly. Occasionally I run a rep run or two after hitting the instance, and note that I'm still waiting for my hearth when I'm ready to cash out.
It's a pain to hit bank-AH-bank again, but if you can keep it to one bank-AH run, you can drop guild contribs, grab mats from bank, grab balance of mats from AH, craft, and sell before logging off in your hometown.
Mulgarath Oct 16th 2009 8:06AM
Ironforge, always!