I now have characters in all three of the starter areas and each has something different to offer.
If YOU were going to start a new character (today) where would you want to be?
Your favorite starting area and why?
mappam
RedDog91
This is more of a discussion than a question...
anyway
I generally start my new characters in Nightfall because I like the character models in NF and you can easily get your extra 30 attribute points within 1 hour of making a new character. You can also get someone to take you to the Consulate Docks and from there go on to any of the other campaigns. NF is just the easiest to start in if you plan to go really fast.
anyway
I generally start my new characters in Nightfall because I like the character models in NF and you can easily get your extra 30 attribute points within 1 hour of making a new character. You can also get someone to take you to the Consulate Docks and from there go on to any of the other campaigns. NF is just the easiest to start in if you plan to go really fast.
Acehole2006
Always Prophecies pre-searing for me, Being there at the start when Guild Wars first come out it all just brings back memories.
I still like to go play there from time to time because of this. I remember first walking out the doors and wondering what i meant to be doing and how hard it was fighting foes there like the bandits haha. Going round kicking over barrels to try and get a better weapon other than my beloved starter cane.
I dont like Nightfall at all as i feel soon as you start your surrounded by Level 20's and Guild Hall travel makes for no experience at all as a starter campaign.
However Factions is cool and remember starting my Sin there first time, But this has no experiences like Pre-searing Ascalon Has.
I still like to go play there from time to time because of this. I remember first walking out the doors and wondering what i meant to be doing and how hard it was fighting foes there like the bandits haha. Going round kicking over barrels to try and get a better weapon other than my beloved starter cane.
I dont like Nightfall at all as i feel soon as you start your surrounded by Level 20's and Guild Hall travel makes for no experience at all as a starter campaign.
However Factions is cool and remember starting my Sin there first time, But this has no experiences like Pre-searing Ascalon Has.
LifeInfusion
Prophecies for nostalgia (and character appearance most of the time...), but Nightfall otherwise.
Nightfall actually has potential for drops you can use.
Factions gets you to 20, then plops you amidst a bunch of exploding mobs.
Nightfall actually has potential for drops you can use.
Factions gets you to 20, then plops you amidst a bunch of exploding mobs.
Verene
Factions or Nightfall.
Pre-Searing is lovely, but after that...no thanks. After dragging two characters through the desert to ascend I decided no more. I've a character that permanently stays in Pre-Searing for when I want to play around there.
Pre-Searing is lovely, but after that...no thanks. After dragging two characters through the desert to ascend I decided no more. I've a character that permanently stays in Pre-Searing for when I want to play around there.
Lord Dagon
Factions here. i really liek the character models and the storyline is my favorite. i also like the idea of training with masters of professions to learn your abilities.
so yea i got to say that factiosn si 100% my favorite starting area. proph jsut takes way too long to get anywhere and nF is jsut not preety at all :/.. so yea thats my opinion
so yea i got to say that factiosn si 100% my favorite starting area. proph jsut takes way too long to get anywhere and nF is jsut not preety at all :/.. so yea thats my opinion
Icecream
prophecies allways, nf is awfull and factions is, well factions.......... factions is boring that's y point. prophecies has the character apperance and I allways love to start at pre 
Peace <3
Peace <3
DeanBB
Prophecies for sure since I've spent so much time there over the years. It is easy enough to run a toon to LA and then go wherever you want. Plus all the free skills in Prophecies.
Xiaquin
Prophecies, no question. The tutorial experience is really fun, but it's entirely nostalgic for me. I still remember learning Flare that first time and never taking it off my bar for a long time. 
xxfah
Each starter area has its ups and downs...
Like a lot of people, I like Presearing for nostalgia (even though I haven't been around THAT long and didn't even *have* Proph as my first campaign...)
I also like Shing Jea Island for its scenery and the almost-storyline of learning from certain people.
I do NOT like starting in Nightfall. I don't like the environment. I don't like the foes. I don't particularly care for the character models. I don't like the story. I find it boring.
If I had to pick, I would probably want to start in Factions.
Like a lot of people, I like Presearing for nostalgia (even though I haven't been around THAT long and didn't even *have* Proph as my first campaign...)
I also like Shing Jea Island for its scenery and the almost-storyline of learning from certain people.
I do NOT like starting in Nightfall. I don't like the environment. I don't like the foes. I don't particularly care for the character models. I don't like the story. I find it boring.
If I had to pick, I would probably want to start in Factions.
Squishy ftw
Prophecies without a doubt.
Factions is factions and nf has forced grind.
Now when I just want a char ready asap, I'd start it in factions though. Simply because imo it's fastest.
Factions is factions and nf has forced grind.
Now when I just want a char ready asap, I'd start it in factions though. Simply because imo it's fastest.
Stolen Souls
Factions. It's a good balance of nice scenery and fast leveling. I don't like to be stuck on 'noob island' (NF) for days. Factions has the best character models by far (imo). So yeah, Factions is the clear choice for me.
LifeInfusion
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Squishy ftw
Prophecies without a doubt.
Factions is factions and nf has forced grind. Now when I just want a char ready asap, I'd start it in factions though. Simply because imo it's fastest. |
light hero-ing:
Nightfall up to Hunted!, jump to LA, EOTN (for skills), backtrack to Ascalon. Wipe out everything to the end of Prophecies. Continue to Kaineng center. Wipe out everything to end of Factions. Jump back to Nightfall, grind the stupid Sunspear General (not that hard) r7. Get to end of Nightfall.
As an experiment I leveled from 1 to 17 in Nightfall on a clean account, took about 10 hours. Factions takes about 4-8 hours iirc (been a while).
Being able to get to consulate docks at level 3 for max armor is pretty imba. You can't do that in Factions.
Hero-ed:
Nightfall up to Hunted!, jump to LA, EoTN (for skills + Xandra/Hayda/Livia/Vekk/Pyre), and Kaineng to buy skills. Grab Olias. Jump back to Nightfall. Do Nightfall, grab Razah...steamroll from there.
Prophecies' and Factions' monk henchmen suck. Having Tahlkora/Dunkuro as options is nice.
Even if you start in Factions/Prophecies then you are still locked in progress in Nightfall.
Starting in Prophecies results in having zero heroes til you hit Lion's Arch and a shortage of attribute points til close to the end (Southern Shiverpeaks). Starting in Factions results in not having a decent monk who does something besides orison/Zealous Benediction/Blessed Light + Healing Breeze spam.
P.S. favorite does not mean most efficient I guess. In that case, Prophecies.
Veldan
Factions, no doubt
1) it's fast exp, I think at least as fast as in NF
2) 2x15 quest attribute points can be aquired on the starter island, maybe not as fast as in NF but still really fast
3) I just like Shing Yea much better than Istan, pre searing is ofc very nice too, but creating a new char in proph, no thx, takes ages to level, gameplay is more boring and the prophecies attribute point quests take ages to get to
1) it's fast exp, I think at least as fast as in NF
2) 2x15 quest attribute points can be aquired on the starter island, maybe not as fast as in NF but still really fast
3) I just like Shing Yea much better than Istan, pre searing is ofc very nice too, but creating a new char in proph, no thx, takes ages to level, gameplay is more boring and the prophecies attribute point quests take ages to get to
mappam
I ended up starting a new character - in Nightfall.
I started her in Prophecies and have done it SOO many times I just couldn't do it again. Nightfall is brand new to me so decided to go that route. Also I have 5 characters in Factions.
Can we say "Alt-a-holic"?
I started her in Prophecies and have done it SOO many times I just couldn't do it again. Nightfall is brand new to me so decided to go that route. Also I have 5 characters in Factions.
Can we say "Alt-a-holic"?
Expherious
Not Nightfall! /12chars
gremlin
If you mean which start area did I enjoy the most then Presearing prophesies without any shadow of doubt.
But then the game was new to me so that may be colouring my view somewhat.
The Factions start area was extremely good and I did start 4 characters there.
Got the advantage of being able to revisit after leaving and pretty scenery.
Post searing prophesies is depressing.
Nightfall has the advantage that the start area is one mission and after that you are on a combined start island and trading hub which is why its taken over much of the game imo.
Its likely to remain the best place to start a character until embark Beach arrives, which may remove Kamadan as the place to be.
I give presearing 9 out of 10
Shingjea island 7 out of 10
Kamadan 4 out of ten
But then the game was new to me so that may be colouring my view somewhat.
The Factions start area was extremely good and I did start 4 characters there.
Got the advantage of being able to revisit after leaving and pretty scenery.
Post searing prophesies is depressing.
Nightfall has the advantage that the start area is one mission and after that you are on a combined start island and trading hub which is why its taken over much of the game imo.
Its likely to remain the best place to start a character until embark Beach arrives, which may remove Kamadan as the place to be.
I give presearing 9 out of 10
Shingjea island 7 out of 10
Kamadan 4 out of ten
Xenomortis
Pre-searing because it's pretty.
Nightfall is easy and the attribute quests are done without you really noticing, but Istan seems to last an age.
Factions is quick, but not as pretty as Pre.
Also Proph gets the best looking chars in general (call me unethical if you must).
Nightfall is easy and the attribute quests are done without you really noticing, but Istan seems to last an age.
Factions is quick, but not as pretty as Pre.
Also Proph gets the best looking chars in general (call me unethical if you must).
Chasing Squirrels
pre-searing pretty much self explanatory and prophecies also has the best character models:S
dancing gnome
Factions. Shing Jea Island is one of the most beautiful places in Guild Wars, on top of that it's not a complete bore fest like pre-searing. In pre you can wand everything to death even if you're on a warrior, on Shine Jea Island you actually have opponents that are enjoyable to fight and dare I say challenging if you are creative with your party set up and go to areas a little further away from the Monastery earlier on. There are greens that can also drop if you want to spend a little more time enjoying the experience (I still remember zoning in and out on my ranger going for Jin's Hornbow simply because I could). Lets not forget Factions has the best soundtrack in all of Guild Wars. There's just more to Shing Jea Island than there is to pre-searing and the quests and locations you visit are a lot more interesting. Bonus points for allowing us to return to Shing Jea Island unlike stupid pre-searing.
On top of that you get out of there quick enough and have access to a tonne of NF heroes with a single quest (two if you want Jin or Sousuke) and with 10-15 minutes of Kaineng messenger quests you and your heroes are level 20, faster than either of the other two campaigns, it's also easier to use hencmen to get to Elona from Cantha compared to Lion's Arch (Cantha has a full party of 8 and Lion's Arch has a party of 6 with level 10 henchies against level 20 foes). If I want to survive I do it from Cantha.
Prophecies takes forever to play through to Lion's Arch and the Ascension points and Nightfall is the most infuriating of all. Sunspear point grind - why??? They make you do it on noob island and then again when you get to the main land. I have no idea why some developer thought having a Sunspear grind was a good idea. It's a completely arbitrary and pointless grind inserted into the middle of what is already not a smooth starting area. You also get costumes in Shing Jea Island and Kamadam. Ascalon stick you with the lamest of the lame armours which look pretty ghetto these days. Even if it didn't, armour from Shing Jea and Kamadan look way cooler than the lame crap you get in pre.
On top of that you get out of there quick enough and have access to a tonne of NF heroes with a single quest (two if you want Jin or Sousuke) and with 10-15 minutes of Kaineng messenger quests you and your heroes are level 20, faster than either of the other two campaigns, it's also easier to use hencmen to get to Elona from Cantha compared to Lion's Arch (Cantha has a full party of 8 and Lion's Arch has a party of 6 with level 10 henchies against level 20 foes). If I want to survive I do it from Cantha.
Prophecies takes forever to play through to Lion's Arch and the Ascension points and Nightfall is the most infuriating of all. Sunspear point grind - why??? They make you do it on noob island and then again when you get to the main land. I have no idea why some developer thought having a Sunspear grind was a good idea. It's a completely arbitrary and pointless grind inserted into the middle of what is already not a smooth starting area. You also get costumes in Shing Jea Island and Kamadam. Ascalon stick you with the lamest of the lame armours which look pretty ghetto these days. Even if it didn't, armour from Shing Jea and Kamadan look way cooler than the lame crap you get in pre.
CrustyEarl
I almost always Start in factions. I like the Character design options best. Even if I'm not planning on doing much of Factions it's easy to get through the lowbie stuff and get to KC to port me where ever I plan on playing first. Usually I head over to NF to grab some hero's then who knows.
I hate the Beginning prophecies missions and try and avoid them as much as Possible.
I hate the Beginning prophecies missions and try and avoid them as much as Possible.
Kunder
Prophecies is long and boring. Post-searing Ascalon has a horrible environment (it was good the first time through after joyful presearing, but now its just dull), and the shiverpeaks aren't much to look forward to. Difficulty-wise Prophecies areas in general have been left in the dust and there is no challenge what so ever. Its also really long to play through. Character designs you can make in Proph also, for the most part, look worse than those in other campaigns. You are forced to play well past LA just to get your character points, which is annoying. Did I mention prophecies was long?
Nightfall sucks. Sand. Sand. Sand. Sand. I hate sand. Just the Crystal Desert in Prophecies was enough for me. It would be much shorter than prophecies, but then Anet forgot that they needed to pad out the game length and required title grinding to pass stuff, so it ends up being not all that much faster then prophecies (and much slower than simply running from Ascalon->LA). The mere fact that a non-nightfall character doesn't have to grind sunspear ranks is enough reason not to start here.
Factions is excellent. Fastest leveling, Great atmosphere on the island, and the rest of the game manages to take you to new locales quickly enough to prevent you getting bored (which Nightfall epicly fails at). Enemies are respectably deadly (unlike prophecies) without being infinity-bullet sponges with too many defensive skills (unlike a number of enemies in nightfall). Zen Daijun gets points for being the only early game mission that actually requires some sort of skill to pass, and missions in general are better about not wasting my time doing stupid crap like other campaigns. Then as soon as you go to Nightfall to get your heroes you can go right back to Cantha and complete 5 or 6 ferry quests in about 20 mins to level yourself and them to level 20 quicker than a Nightfall character could (and when you want to go further in the Nightfall campaign to get more heroes you don't have to deal with the motherRED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing title grind). Factions is simply the best. What more could you want? Ahh, I guess you can't start Paragons or Dervishes there, but who uses them anyway?
Nightfall sucks. Sand. Sand. Sand. Sand. I hate sand. Just the Crystal Desert in Prophecies was enough for me. It would be much shorter than prophecies, but then Anet forgot that they needed to pad out the game length and required title grinding to pass stuff, so it ends up being not all that much faster then prophecies (and much slower than simply running from Ascalon->LA). The mere fact that a non-nightfall character doesn't have to grind sunspear ranks is enough reason not to start here.
Factions is excellent. Fastest leveling, Great atmosphere on the island, and the rest of the game manages to take you to new locales quickly enough to prevent you getting bored (which Nightfall epicly fails at). Enemies are respectably deadly (unlike prophecies) without being infinity-bullet sponges with too many defensive skills (unlike a number of enemies in nightfall). Zen Daijun gets points for being the only early game mission that actually requires some sort of skill to pass, and missions in general are better about not wasting my time doing stupid crap like other campaigns. Then as soon as you go to Nightfall to get your heroes you can go right back to Cantha and complete 5 or 6 ferry quests in about 20 mins to level yourself and them to level 20 quicker than a Nightfall character could (and when you want to go further in the Nightfall campaign to get more heroes you don't have to deal with the motherRED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing title grind). Factions is simply the best. What more could you want? Ahh, I guess you can't start Paragons or Dervishes there, but who uses them anyway?
AngelWJedi
factions for me. has the part of pretty looks like in pre prof and has the fast lvling like in nf.
IamI
Before Nightfall, Prophecies was the ideal starting location for me. Now it's just sheer torture. The few skills you get before and around Lion's Arch are not worth the extra work you have to put in to even get started with your character. You can forget about having an even 200 attribute points before you hit the Southern Shiver-peaks(arguably endgame).
With that said, this topic is about one's favorite starting area; mine would have to be Factions. It doesn't spoil you with too many skills, the quests are fun, and missions are straight-forward in their objectives.
With that said, this topic is about one's favorite starting area; mine would have to be Factions. It doesn't spoil you with too many skills, the quests are fun, and missions are straight-forward in their objectives.
Kojima
Ah. this is great. I just restarted the game and had one in Prophecies. Lasted till level 14 and I deleted it. I think the game is way too slow. So I deleted my ritualist and started a new rit in fractions. Stopped after she turned level 15. Got bored. Even though the game is fast, there isnt much going on. It is just you looking for teachers and more teachers for much of the beginning. Ran her all the way to the Bayway and the Pier, got her up North, got her some heroes, got her on a boat out of Cantha to other lands and then stopped. Now I have my second ranger in Nightfall and I am still playing her. So I guess NF is my favorite place to start again. It is more fun, and allows me to get not just exp but double exp with the bounties. And I do like to see my toon having some sort of rank. If they are going to be saving an entire continent, that is always a good thing to get as a memorial of their services. Plus, they do look better.
Lasai
I start in NF now. Fastest bonus attributes, heroes, max armor a short cheap ferry away and instant access to GToB and menagerie. Nice gentle curve to difficulty levels.. unlike Factions where you leave Newb isle and difficulty ramps up considerably.. not to mention getting stuck in that horrid slum. NF has a better new player experience, to me, as there are quests for mats, a vigor rune, dye, Sunspear skills, ect. I also like progressing with my heroes. IF you always take bounties and do all the Sunspear questing there is no "grind" to Sunspear rank.. it just happens as you play the game.
Shing Jea Island IS pretty.. but, I get really tired of the afflicted..and the shock of going from that pretty Island to KC is very nearly as bad as the pre to post shock.
Missions to go to LA and KC from Kamedan involve no combat at all..again, very unlike the other quests. Trying to solo LA to Kamadan with LA hench is an excercise in stupidity.
Speaking of stupidity.. starting in NF all I get stuck with is bla bla Kormir.. not that Moron Togo whose sole mission is to help you fail quests.. Togo is proof that you CAN fail horribly at this game as a Rit.
The other issue I have with Factions is timed missions. Either Togo will mess that up or the low level noob you draw for Vizuna Square.
I only start in Factions for a Sin or a Rit.. and I bypass KC and go to NF after level 10. KC annoys me so much.. most of my Characters that have finished factions have not done a single side quest in that place.
NF is best, to me, if you enjoy playing the game to level. IF your sole interest is leveling up for whatever repetative endgame farming or whatever it is people are so worried about getting to in the shortest time.. then Factions.
Shing Jea Island IS pretty.. but, I get really tired of the afflicted..and the shock of going from that pretty Island to KC is very nearly as bad as the pre to post shock.
Missions to go to LA and KC from Kamedan involve no combat at all..again, very unlike the other quests. Trying to solo LA to Kamadan with LA hench is an excercise in stupidity.
Speaking of stupidity.. starting in NF all I get stuck with is bla bla Kormir.. not that Moron Togo whose sole mission is to help you fail quests.. Togo is proof that you CAN fail horribly at this game as a Rit.
The other issue I have with Factions is timed missions. Either Togo will mess that up or the low level noob you draw for Vizuna Square.
I only start in Factions for a Sin or a Rit.. and I bypass KC and go to NF after level 10. KC annoys me so much.. most of my Characters that have finished factions have not done a single side quest in that place.
NF is best, to me, if you enjoy playing the game to level. IF your sole interest is leveling up for whatever repetative endgame farming or whatever it is people are so worried about getting to in the shortest time.. then Factions.
Veldan
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Lasai
Missions to go to LA and KC from Kamedan involve no combat at all..again, very unlike the other quests. Trying to solo LA to Kamadan with LA hench is an excercise in stupidity.
|
yitjuan
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Lasai
Shing Jea Island IS pretty.. but, I get really tired of the afflicted..and the shock of going from that pretty Island to KC is very nearly as bad as the pre to post shock.
|
KingCrab
Factions is the best for speed but my least favorite of the three. Reasons have all been listed above by others, but I also don't find Shining Sea Island to be pretty.
Prophecies is the coolest in the beginning, but I won't start there because it takes forever once you leave pre-searing.
Nightfall all the way. The most beautiful regions are in nightfall. The coolest armors are all nightfall (and as many have said you get max armor early). Plus you have heroes, which makes a huge difference. My next character will definitely be nightfall (though my last three were Factions because of the speed.)
Prophecies is the coolest in the beginning, but I won't start there because it takes forever once you leave pre-searing.
Nightfall all the way. The most beautiful regions are in nightfall. The coolest armors are all nightfall (and as many have said you get max armor early). Plus you have heroes, which makes a huge difference. My next character will definitely be nightfall (though my last three were Factions because of the speed.)
Lord Mip
Pre-Searing.
Nuff said
Nuff said
Polgara Val
Factions for me, the vistas and fast leveling not to mention the pace of the story is pretty much what I love about it.
Pol
Pol
ValaOfTheFens
Prophecies. From start to finish its the nostalgia campaign. ^_^ I love the various locations and epic storyline. Also, I'm explorer and so the size of the areas isn't a concern for me. Going into an area and discovering something new is always awesome. I remember beating Villainy for the first time and seeing the floating Wizard Tower. I tried for like an hour to access it. 
Bobby2
Proph is boring as RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO
NF has Soothing Images spam and boring deserts
so, Factions
NF has Soothing Images spam and boring deserts
so, Factions
MithranArkanere
Well, each region has two starting areas.
First, the 'basic training' area, and you usually can't go back there after you leave.
You can go back to an area that 'uses the spot' for the Factions one and explore the spot, but it has different decorations and ambient lights, so you don't really go back there.
There is absolutely no way to go back to the Prophecies and Nightfall basic tutorial areas, not even copies of them like in Factions.
For the basic training, my favorite is pre-Searing.
After than, you get to an 'advanced training' area in which you for teams, learn more skills, level up, and finally get to level 20 and the signet of capture quest.
For that, I prefer Factions, since they have the Instructor Ng quests and they actually teach you something, instead just throwing you the skills as telling you to use them, they give you quests you'll pass by actually using the skills.
First, the 'basic training' area, and you usually can't go back there after you leave.
You can go back to an area that 'uses the spot' for the Factions one and explore the spot, but it has different decorations and ambient lights, so you don't really go back there.
There is absolutely no way to go back to the Prophecies and Nightfall basic tutorial areas, not even copies of them like in Factions.
For the basic training, my favorite is pre-Searing.
After than, you get to an 'advanced training' area in which you for teams, learn more skills, level up, and finally get to level 20 and the signet of capture quest.
For that, I prefer Factions, since they have the Instructor Ng quests and they actually teach you something, instead just throwing you the skills as telling you to use them, they give you quests you'll pass by actually using the skills.
Iuris
Pre-searing. It has Gwen, the wizard tower, the earth elemental cave, etc. etc. etc. The other starter areas are just too small and annoyingly unwelcoming (one hill top and one swamp...).
Voodoo Rage
I almost always start in Factions. Other than my hot asian chick fetish, it think it's a nice balance between "making me actually play the game" to level up but not a bunch of boring as hell missions and tasks that I have to grind through for minimal improvement. Plus the chat in SJM is so intellectually stimulating! :sarcasm:
Quaker
I like Pre-searing the best, but if I was to start a new character - which is not likely since I have 11 characters + 1 mule already - I'd start in Nighfall for the Heroes.
Lest121
Factions.... because it takes me 7-8 to max level...
As for game lore and just enjoying the game.....Prophecies...
As for game lore and just enjoying the game.....Prophecies...
BladeDVD
Pre because it's fastest plus Gwen stuff.
I get the tapestry piece and do the minimum to get out of pre, then run myself (2 accounts) to LA, which gets me to EotN, Kamadan and Kaineng. With a ferry to Consulate Docks, you now have 3 choices for max armor and all unlocked non elites in the game without having to spend time buying tomes. (Level up in empty D'Alessio Seabed Districts to get to lvl 10 and EotN access.)
From Kaineng I can run to the marketplace and run myself to the Faction cities on Shing Jea, and I can skip the starter quests and just do missions or go right for Vizunah and then Nahpui and be ascended.
From Kamadan I can run to the other cities and also quickly SS level up using the land of heroes quest and most of the heroes you get (koss, talkora) start at a higher level than if you started in NF. You also get to skip the interminable starter quests in NF starter Isle and can get to the Dock's mission pretty quick. That's the main reason I don't like to start in NF right now. And EotN makes the hero issue not a problem.
That's for speed.
For enjoyment, I'd probably still stick with Pre. I've always wanted to spend more time exploring around there, really enjoy the scenery. Factions is fun too, but I've done that and NF a few times already.
I get the tapestry piece and do the minimum to get out of pre, then run myself (2 accounts) to LA, which gets me to EotN, Kamadan and Kaineng. With a ferry to Consulate Docks, you now have 3 choices for max armor and all unlocked non elites in the game without having to spend time buying tomes. (Level up in empty D'Alessio Seabed Districts to get to lvl 10 and EotN access.)
From Kaineng I can run to the marketplace and run myself to the Faction cities on Shing Jea, and I can skip the starter quests and just do missions or go right for Vizunah and then Nahpui and be ascended.
From Kamadan I can run to the other cities and also quickly SS level up using the land of heroes quest and most of the heroes you get (koss, talkora) start at a higher level than if you started in NF. You also get to skip the interminable starter quests in NF starter Isle and can get to the Dock's mission pretty quick. That's the main reason I don't like to start in NF right now. And EotN makes the hero issue not a problem.
That's for speed.
For enjoyment, I'd probably still stick with Pre. I've always wanted to spend more time exploring around there, really enjoy the scenery. Factions is fun too, but I've done that and NF a few times already.
ensoriki
Factions, only reason to start in Kamadan is for the skin color and afro.
Prophecies is crap, I don't think I've ever fully gone through Prophecies. My first character was like an elementalist who never left post searing Ascalon and I hated it. I essentially disliked Guild wars heavily for awhile because pre-searing was not enjoyable I felt aimless, I left pre-searing early and whenever I go back I don't feel nostalgia, I feel fatigue.
I made a ranger finally and got to what the winter missions with flare on my rangers bar I may add (now thats nostalgia), and was still like "Jesus this is some bull".
Factions came around, made my assassin never looked back, quick, efficient, difficult (bloody afflicted).
Nightfall was whatever, only toon I made in it thats off the Island is my Dervish, I have an ele and a warrior made there and again it's only for the hair.
Factions is the most pleasurable, urban Cantha is actually quite beautiful but you don't see it while just passing by. I remember doing that mission to get to Vizunah square being in the tunnels and the tunnels breaking into a plaza basically with some buildings. Took time to really look at it one day, and I realized "wow I dig this".
The starting island is also cool but then again I really don't look at scenery much.
Pre-searing far as I'm concerned only has the catacombs.
Prophecies is crap, I don't think I've ever fully gone through Prophecies. My first character was like an elementalist who never left post searing Ascalon and I hated it. I essentially disliked Guild wars heavily for awhile because pre-searing was not enjoyable I felt aimless, I left pre-searing early and whenever I go back I don't feel nostalgia, I feel fatigue.
I made a ranger finally and got to what the winter missions with flare on my rangers bar I may add (now thats nostalgia), and was still like "Jesus this is some bull".
Factions came around, made my assassin never looked back, quick, efficient, difficult (bloody afflicted).
Nightfall was whatever, only toon I made in it thats off the Island is my Dervish, I have an ele and a warrior made there and again it's only for the hair.
Factions is the most pleasurable, urban Cantha is actually quite beautiful but you don't see it while just passing by. I remember doing that mission to get to Vizunah square being in the tunnels and the tunnels breaking into a plaza basically with some buildings. Took time to really look at it one day, and I realized "wow I dig this".
The starting island is also cool but then again I really don't look at scenery much.
Pre-searing far as I'm concerned only has the catacombs.