Breakfast Topic: What's the best quest zone in the game?
by Olivia Grace 
Feb 11th 2012 at 8:00AM
The screenshot is a fine example of this. Sure, it looks like Gilneas, but it's actually a little pocket of Blasted Lands southwest of the Dark Portal. Unfortunately, I was on my Horde warlock when I happened upon this little coastal settlement, so its inhabitants were less than friendly to me!
What are your favorite zones to quest in, and what makes a great questing zone? For me, the vital components are atmosphere, looks, convenience of travel and geographical layout, and quality of quests. A zone has to look good -- my preference is for dark, mysterious zones like Duskwood -- and have a great feel to it. I think the feel is some combination of continuity in the looks and the quest content, plus a sense of what's going on in the zone, a bit of a story that I'm part of. Travel has to be convenient -- in long, thin zones, there has to be a way to get around. Obviously, this is tantamount where you can't fly!
And the layout of the quests has to be convenient, too. I hate doing a whole bunch of quests in one area and then moving to another area, only to have to go back to where I started. And having to go back to the same place again and again. That's just me, though. And lastly, the fewer "bring me nine basilisk gizzard" quests, the better. I don't care if they're to make your soup or for a satanic ritual -- it's still dull!
Badlands, since its Cataclysm rework, has some amazing quest lines -- it's now on the list of vital places I'll always level through -- but visually, it doesn't do it for me. My favorite? Duskwood, by a long shot! How about you?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
exogenesis. Feb 11th 2012 8:03AM
Hillsbrad Foothills, hands down. Some of the quests are hilarious, some of them are disgusting, and some of them are sad. I try and make sure to do at least a portion of the zone on each of my Horde alts.
Welcome to the Machine is one of my favourite quests of the expansion.
Clogan618 Feb 11th 2012 8:26AM
I second that. Definitely made me forget the old nightmares of being camped and ganked in HF. I had a great time here
Killik Feb 11th 2012 8:59AM
Hillsbrad for me too. I like the light-hearted tone, like the recurring characters and love the way some things are set up for a gag that then twists into something a bit deeper.
Samuel Feb 11th 2012 11:38AM
Hey guys, I'm reporting Daniel by sending an e-mail with a link to his website to hacks@blizzard.com from the e-mail address associated with my Battle.net account. You all should do the same so that his "business" gets shut down as fast as possible before it does anymore damage to the game!
rodmin Feb 11th 2012 6:22PM
^
daniel, i've got two words for you, kid:
BUSTED!
rodmin Feb 11th 2012 6:23PM
^
daniel, i've got two words for you, kid:
BUSTED!
Swifteye Feb 11th 2012 8:10AM
I don't know if it's my real "favorite" (or if I even have a decisive one!), but I would say Silverpine Forest is a clear contender.
"Long, thin zone" with ways to get around? Check! They even mix up the modes of transportation so I don't get bored with any one; I get to ride in an Ettin-drawn carriage, ride a horse loaned to me by Sylvanas herself, *and* get carried around by the waistband of my underoos by a flying Val'kyr!
(We're talking about "interesting" here, not necessarily "comfortable". :p)
The types of quests are incredibly varied... I'm gathering, I'm collecting mob drops, I'm killing named mobs, I'm hiding in a closet spying on Worgen, I'm hosing down peons with a giant barrel of booze strapped to my back, I'm shooting dozens of swimming Worgen with a giant cannon... there really aren't enough of any one single type of quest to get unreasonably bored with any of them.
And you finish the zone really feeling like a "somebody"; even Sylvanas personally recognizes you as one of her most effective and trusted underlings.
Heh....... the more I think about it and talk about it, the more I realize that Silverpine really *is* my favorite zone mechanics-wise, and the only thing keeping me from calling it my favorite questing zone *decisively* is the fact that I really, really don't like Sylvanas and wish she would die a horrible true death. But hey, it's nice to be noticed by a super-powerful "big name", even if that big name IS a total douche...... right? :p
Zaet Feb 11th 2012 10:07AM
Agree all the way, except fot the Sylvanass part. I love her, and hope she can kick more alliance butt.
jfrombaugh Feb 11th 2012 1:53PM
I agree Sylvanas is overrated & has a really psychopathic personality. However, whose to say that Garrosh is actually any better? Remember, he's a ruthless egomanaiac military general who is ordering the Horde to commit genocide on the night elves, killed Cairne in a duel, does not care for anyone but himself and will willingly take the lives of his own followers to ensure his benefit, and unlike Varian in the pre-Twilight Highlands quests, never seems to see your character as anything more than a pawn to be manipulated.
ThaJinx Feb 12th 2012 1:35PM
Silverpine is easily my first pick; the variety of things to do, the overall story for the zone, and the epic level of the final quests was what actually sold me on continuing to play World of Warcraft when I was still very new to the game. When I finally get an alt started, this is the zone I am looking forward to doing again more than any other.
StClair Feb 13th 2012 12:17PM
It's certainly changed from the Silverpine of old, when you didn't get mounts until 40 (or even 20), and thus had to WALK up and down that road. A lot.
Everclear Feb 11th 2012 8:17AM
Not Vashj'ir
Rezai Feb 11th 2012 8:36AM
Not Uldum either. If I like Indiana Jones that much, I would just watch the movies. Of course I did spend most of my time watching cutscense in Uldum and not playing.
Luotian Feb 11th 2012 8:33AM
I LOVE Stonetalon now, but most of the center three of Eastern Kingdoms are a lot of fun. My sister and I are still working on our Loremaster buuut....come to think of it I can't think of single EK zone that wasn't a complete pleasure to quest through. Even Stranglethorn, which I used to hate and do exclusively for Nesingwary quests only, is a blast.
But seriously, Stonetalon is far and away my favorite zone (Horde side, that is).
Rezai Feb 11th 2012 8:33AM
Silverpine hands down bar none. I know Sylvanis is often portrayed as this evil crazy person (which she might be) but Silverpine shows the personality of Sylvanis besides crazy. I mean I got to ride with her as she explained the plight of the forsaken and how she is fixing it (the lack of procreation). That was one of the most awesome things in all of cataclysm. She was there all through the zone and being able to interact with such a major lore character was just awesome.
What did we get for the rest of the horde? Well I got to see Garrosh get angry at yell a lot (because I never got to see him do that before) at random points. I had some small interaction with Vol'jin for two mins in the troll starting area. Baine, just kind of stood there. Infact the only other one that I remember spending any significant time with was Gallywix. All that did was make me mad when I didn't get to kill him at the end of the goblin starting zones.
Another thing Silverpine did was make it feel like it mattered. I wasn't just there to watch Sylvanis and Garrosh argue, or make some plague for someone else to use. I was helping win a war. I can't think of any other zone that felt this epic. Of course I am all for the forsaken so I might be biased.
Victory for Sylvanis.
Revnah Feb 11th 2012 8:37AM
Of the Cata ones, Vashj'ir. Unlike anything else, breathtakingly beautiful, insteresting stories... I love it.
Before that, definitely Hinterlands horde side. It's gorgeous and interesting, full of troll culture, and it has the most happening settlement ever, Revantusk Village! That dancing shopkeeper is da biz :-)
byronius_prime Feb 11th 2012 11:56AM
I second that. I loved Vash'jir, awesome scenery and certain great quests (like the naga maiden series)... and Captain Taylor. :P
ravyncat Feb 11th 2012 12:42PM
I will third Vash'Jir. I love it.
Hyjal got boring for replay--I have a lot of alts--but Vash'Jir is still fresh and fun. I think mainly because it is so different and 3D--and also because you can't just fly in from quest to quest. You must travel within it and experience it.
My only issue with it was the very first time when all that water freaked me out. But I managed to overcome it--I know my character is not going to drown no matter how much water is around her--and then it was fun.
Mycroft Feb 11th 2012 8:38AM
I used to like Westfall and its story, until Cata made half of it a CSI Miami running gag. I rarely play Alliance though, so it doesn't affect me as much.
Stonetalon mountains, at least the Horde side, was exceptionally gripping, and made me really, really hate orcs and their brutality. Made me hate Garrosh even more, because even though he shows up later to show his disdain, I can't help but feeling that the whole zone and its atrocities were set up and crammed down my throat storywise just to spotlight Garrosh.
Eastern Plaguelands were kinda interesting, I never actually looked into it (or WPL) pre-cata, but I liked the caravan questing that takes you from hub to hub, and giving interesting story snippets all along the way.
Silverpine just flows so well. Hillsbrad seems to flow well out of it too. Posters above talk about it better than I could. (Though I always get squicked by the hemorrhoid bears early in Hillsbrad.)
Searing Gorge was cool, including repeat visits of the pacifist ogre, but too much time spent underground for my tastes.
Noyou Feb 11th 2012 2:24PM
I agree. Like many who have "cut their teeth" in the old Westfall, I miss the wild west feel it used to have. With the Defias running rough shod all over the place. Killing 60-80 of them to collect their "red sashes" and eventually having to track down the runner, (forgot his name already) often resorting to /1 general chat to flag him down. Moonbook used to be a death trap for unaware level 12-14 toons, even claiming some battle tested players as they were easily overwhelmed by defias mages. I do miss the quest chain leading up to the Deadmines. Ah, the good old days :)