I've recently played through every starting zone to get a feel for what I would like to do come release. I have to say that Elwynn Forest has the best balance of questing direction and aesthetics. Things just seem to "flow" better there, and with useful rewards. Some zones like Dun Morogh, if you don't know what you're doing you'll find yourself having to backtrack across the whole zone and miss a good handful of quests.
Definitely Mulgore. It sounds silly but I think rolling a Tauren and playing through that zone first shaped the way I saw and played the game. From a visual standpoint, probably Elwynn Forest. I like bright zones and dislike dark ones although I don't really dislike any starting zone.
I choose to necro this thread out of boredom and because I’m desperate to escape my in laws.
Teldrassil=Tirisfal>
Dun Morogh>=Mulgore>
Ellewyn=Durotar
Coincidentally, all my “=“ zones are each other’s opposite faction foils. My two favorite zones are the outsider race on the other continent. My two second favorite zones are the secondary capitol in the home continent, and my least favorite zones are the two “Martin race” zones that house the faction capitol.
Mulgore
My reasoning. I don't really like any of the Alliance starting zones. The FIRST race I ever rolled when I started WoW in 2013..was a Tauren, the grassy hills and open landscape of Mulgore is so peaceful and SUCKS me right in.
Elwynn is by far the comfiest for me, in fact probably some of the most fun in the game for me is levels 1-25 or so between Elwynn, Westfall and Redridge. The down to earth vibe of riverside towns and wide country fields with encroaching gnolls, wildlife, kobolds etc. is believable enough to be very immersive for me and I think it tells a great overall story. (Being level capped at 20 in stress test was really fun for this actually, as with a group I struggled through some red quests that are normally out of your range, to get better gear)
Mulgore is probably my second favorite, and I always fill as much time in and around Wailing Caverns as I can. I love that dungeon so much, since the damp cave contrasts really nicely with the dusty barrens outside. The way it uses terrain and the map layout is pretty fun too, little pitfalls in the ground you have to hop over and low ceilings give you the sense of going through an actual cave, plus path options despite them mostly leading to the same goals, give you a feeling of navigating a maze.
The secret quests above the entrance, and the deviate fish recipes are cool too which shows the professions guy and the dungeon/quests guys all sat down and planned it out a bit for continuity. I know it seems like I'm overhyping this but you'd be surprised how often game designers don't think about these little things, it's really an art form.
Unpopular opinion but my fav is Northshire :)
Unpopular opinion but my fav is Northshire :)
Well if we are just choosing whatever now I choose the deathknight starting zone, that is by far the best starter experience imo.
Teldrassil always has a special place in my heart. It was my first and still favorite starting zone. It's just so pretty and peaceful. Tirisfal is also excellent but they really did well with all of them except durotar to me. That zone always just rubs me the wrong way. Maybe I just don't like arid climates.
I think Tirisfal Glades is probably my favorite even though I hardly ever play horde.
I can't stand Terldrassil personally, I hate it so much when I make a NE I play it to level 3 then only play it when it has full rested until the rested is gone until level 15 or so.
Coldridge valley