Breakfast Topic: Which race has the best starting zone?
by Olivia Grace 
Feb 27th 2012 at 8:00AM
I like draenei, I really do. I like how kooky they look, with their glowy eyes and their horns and hooves. Their racials are, well, just OK really compared to some of the other ones available on the Alliance side, but they look brilliant.
But, my God, I dislike their starting zone. It really is dreadful, in my book. I don't know if it's because I've played through it a few times, but I didn't like it on the first try, and I sure don't like it now. I regularly pay to race change characters into draenei once they've made it through their own starting zone; for example, my most recent 85 is a priest who began life as a gnome and race changed to draenei later on, just to avoid those pesky islands.
Maybe it's just the novelty of playing new content, but I really enjoyed the gnome starting zone. I have to say, though, the start zone that takes the cake for me is the undead one. I didn't play through it before Cataclysm, but I have done since ol' Deathwing did his thing -- and wow, it's amazing. I reckon it's the best one in the game so far, and haven't found any that even come close to comparing.
What's your favorite starting zone? Which do you consider the worst starting zone? And, of course, why?
But, my God, I dislike their starting zone. It really is dreadful, in my book. I don't know if it's because I've played through it a few times, but I didn't like it on the first try, and I sure don't like it now. I regularly pay to race change characters into draenei once they've made it through their own starting zone; for example, my most recent 85 is a priest who began life as a gnome and race changed to draenei later on, just to avoid those pesky islands.
Maybe it's just the novelty of playing new content, but I really enjoyed the gnome starting zone. I have to say, though, the start zone that takes the cake for me is the undead one. I didn't play through it before Cataclysm, but I have done since ol' Deathwing did his thing -- and wow, it's amazing. I reckon it's the best one in the game so far, and haven't found any that even come close to comparing.
What's your favorite starting zone? Which do you consider the worst starting zone? And, of course, why?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Arrowsmith Feb 27th 2012 8:05AM
I admit that I'm partial to the Dwarf/Gnome starting zone since my Main came from there, and a Shamanette I've been leveling came from there too. the Dark Iron quest chain left something to be desired, but overall I enjoyed it and Loch Modan, which was a pain pre-Cata. Not as much of a pain as Bloodmyst Isle, though.
IMO, the worst starting zone is Gilneas, specifically because of the way questing in that zone ends. Yeah, we got a new BG out of it, but I'd rather see the place reclaimed already!!
Noyou Feb 27th 2012 8:19AM
Gnomes actually have their own separate starting zone now. It's based on the surface of Gnomeregan.
thedoctor2031 Feb 27th 2012 9:27AM
But they both go through Dun Morogh.
malaika Feb 27th 2012 8:06AM
DK starting zone. Simply immersive and yet gets you into the mindset of the class. It is in a league of its own compared to all the other starting experiences.
Noyou Feb 27th 2012 8:18AM
That's kind of apples to oranges there. First of all you start with a level 55 toon. 2nd you get tons of talent points, gear and a kick ass mount. I have gone through it probably 5-6 times now and it is still fun.
ravyncat Feb 27th 2012 9:36AM
I agree that the DK starter zone is my favorite. I love it every single time. ^^
GuyverIV Feb 27th 2012 11:13AM
This is one of many reasons I'm bummed they've chosen to not do the Hero Class treatment with Monks.
When DK's were fresh, coming out of the starting zone ready to plunge into Outland was almost a relief. You got to skip all the old-and-busted starting zone and lowbie stuff that you'd already done at least once, and, frankly, most of us have probably done a half dozen times at least.
I'm wondering if Blizzard decided that since the starting zones were made over and "brand new all over again" that folks won't mind leveling their new new non-pandaren monks the old fashioned way.
Well... I'm gonna mind. I've done both the lowbie Kalimdor and lowbie Eastern Kingdoms once each since Cataclysm, and, frankly, the replay value is just not there. It's the rail-roading. I find it ironic that Olivia can't tolerate the Draenai starting zones, since that's actually kind of my ideal set up. A very coherent "main thread" of quests, with lots of optional side quests. Now the modern design seems to be hubs focused around a mini-story that you finish in 5-10 quests, followed by "Congratulations champion! Your heroic deeds have made the difference! We've got it from here, but our friends down south sure could use a hand!" It's one thing when you've had a long story that ends like that, not every tale can last until level 60/70/80/N, but when that happens 4, 5, 6 times in a zone? It kind of sucks the epic out of epic quests.
I guess what I'm saying is (For the TL;DR crowd)... Yes, the Death Knight starting lines were epic, and I'm so incredibly unhappy that the Monk class is not getting similar treatment. I'm not really ready to level from L1 again.
Noyou Feb 27th 2012 11:42AM
I think at some point, especially with the level cap going higher and higher, we will see the ability to start a class from lvl 55-60 or whatever number they come up with. It would also be interesting if they made a special zone just for those toons.
Luotian Feb 27th 2012 8:06AM
Opposite: I HATE the undead. Not because the zone isn't good, it is, but I have a horrifying and paralyzing fear of zombies. I really really dislike anything undead, and being one is a bit much for me.
I've always really liked the dwarf starting zone, and now that the drop rates have improved I don't mind hanging around until I run out of quests to do and have leveled myself well into Wetlands XD.
Horde side, I quite like the Trolls, although I don't care for the Trolls themselves much.
I really dislike both Worgen and Goblins because I'm forced to stay there. It was worth doing once, but even though I want a Goblin Shadow Priest I won't roll it because I don't want to have to sit through that again (or pay to race change, which I hadn't actually thought about until just now).
ziggler Feb 27th 2012 8:06AM
If we can include the follow up zones, then undeads have by far the best. the tirisfal/silverpine/hillsbrad area is just awesome.
(except for those creepy creepy bears with eggs on their backs)
Jay Feb 27th 2012 9:03AM
I'm a die-hard Alliance player and have to say that I completely agree, the forsaken starting zone and it's followups are amazing. On the contrary to Grace's take on it I love the draenei starting zone, I remember it being quite difficult when I first did it, but now it seems much easier. I also enjoy the night elf starting zone.
All the others are quite horrible acctually. I have a clear distaste for Elwynn and Dun Morgoh.
Tri Feb 28th 2012 9:46AM
I agree with this. Forsaken starting zone(s) are by far the best in game now!
sharlatan Feb 28th 2012 12:51PM
My favorite? Azuremyst-Bloodmyst. By far.
The storey is great, the zone is thematically cohesize, the quests are laid out in a logical and grouped manner and are interesting. The exodar is the best city in the game.
Revnah Feb 27th 2012 9:52AM
I second that! beautiful zones, tons of quests, I levelled quite a few characters through those zones. To each their owm, I guess :-)
AltairAntares Feb 27th 2012 11:28AM
Not for me- I play this game to blow things up! Not to be a hippy and save the world! :p
Al Feb 27th 2012 11:58AM
Hey, the final Bloodmyst quest has you blow up a mountain of Blood Elves. Let's see the Goblins top that!
Noyou Feb 27th 2012 8:13AM
The worgen starting zone to me is by far the most fun and I love the atmosphere of it. That being said, I am not happy you can just skip it after you have went thru it once. I also like the dwarf starting area. Something about the snow and calmness. That is until you start shooting troggs :P Truth is, this is a very complex answer. There are things I like in all the starter areas. The new troll one has great scenery and an awesome cut scene with Vol'Jin.
The best thing to do is roll toons just to do the starter areas and find out for yourself :) Who knows, you might fall in love with a new race/class.
Thundrcrackr Feb 27th 2012 9:32AM
I'm the complete opposite. I was hugely disappointed by the Worgen starting area, primarily because of the phasing, which caused multiple problems. For one, you can't leave the island until you've done most of the quests, and two, as you would progress through the area, previous camps would become unavailable and a lot of the newer camps didn't have mailboxes, which was very annoying when trying to retrieve heirlooms/gold/bags, etc. Also, as you phased through the area it would automatically change your hearthstone location without telling you, and when you get toward the end of the area, there is a NE NPC on a boat who, when you talk to him, ports you to Darnassus with no warning and absolutely no way of getting back to Gilneas. And because so many of the quests involved vehicles and NPCs, a lot of them were bugged early on. I've never been a big fan of phasing to begin with, but to make an entire starting area phased is just bad design in my opinion. I don't understand why blizz thought it was ok to make the worgen/goblin starting areas work so completely different than every other starting area in the game.
Shizukera Feb 27th 2012 10:07AM
The worgen starting zone had one of the most powerful stories I've ever played through in this game - very well crafted and emotional, with characters I grew really fond of and wish I could see more of (Lorna Crowley, Gwen Armstead, even Genn Greymane himself). I wish I hadn't had to divert my leveling experience on my worgen (who is now my first and currently only 85) to roll a Forsaken to see the continuation of that story.
Also I came in a bit later, after the bugs had largely been worked out, so fortunately it was smooth running for me.
AltairAntares Feb 27th 2012 11:26AM
Yep, worgen starting area for me. Far more interesting story, better quests, and much better emotional pull than any other starting zone.