Where do new characters start? Proph+Factions = ?

Anet stated that there will be a version of ascension in Factions for characters who start out there. In the past, ascension may not have meant much, but for merged accounts, it is now a requirement, otherwise there is no point in merging - only ascended characters will be able to travel between contintents, and presumably this will also carry over into the future chapters.

Hanok Odbrook
Real Millennium Group Guild
Truth * Knowledge * Peace

Kaineng City/Center isn't the "Marketplace" They are two different towns. Marketplace is south of Kaineng City.

If a Canthan Character travels to Tyria, s/he will land on Lion's Arch. According to the teaser quest for Factions, the Canthan's do not know what's happening in Tyria and they think that the White Mantle are the good guys in Tyria.

Additionally, with the presence of the Ascalon settlement, their knowledge of Ascalon is limited to the Ascalon refugees. Thus to their knowledge Ascalon was conquered by the Charr and is no more, and thus they won't care "normally" about the Eastern side of Tyria.

But as Canthan characters do the missions, until they reach the Titan quests, they will learn that Ascalon still exists and the King is trying to defend Ascalon from the invading Titan Lords.

Now, let's forget about RP/SL (SL = storyline). Let's talk about technicalities.
Once your Canthan character is at LA, you can trackback all maps, quests and missions up to the Ascalon city. No pre-searing, coz pre-searing happened 2 years before the current timeline (speaking of that, Shiro was killed 200 years before the current timeline, I wonder what's with the number "2").

Start the missions and quests from Ascalon city, though you'll be able to solo all of it since those are low-level missions and quests.

Its the same with Ascalonian Characters going to Cantha continent. They will land on Kaineng City, the continent's port. They can either continue on until the final mission and quest SL related but they are not restricted from trackbacking the rest of the region until you reach the Monastery - which is Cantha's training grounds. The question tho, can we access the Monastery if we will come from the Cantha mainland (the Monastery is a set of islands South-West of the Cantha continent mainland).

Now RP/SL related:
Ascalonian characters were called by the Kurizicks and Luxons to help them in their wars. They landed on Kaineng City and instead learned there's a deeper trouble. They are asked to travel to Marketplace and meet with Mhenlo and his former master (who I forgot the name) and they're asked to unite the Kurzick and Luxons.

That's basically it

Right, a version of ascension. It might not actually be called "ascension" so Canthans performing the ascension trials in Tyria might not be "re-ascending" as the other poster suggested.

Though I hope they explain why you need to be ascended just to get on a boat and take a trip.

I heard there was a temple in Cantha where you would enter a mystic magical portal that would get you to face.... your Clone!

That would be pretty original for an ascension test

Yah, I'm also wondering why you need to be Ascended to get on a continental boat :/ The articles ANet approved about access 20% through the game (via Lion's Arch and Kaineng City) will be useless if characters still need to ascend, coz in Tyria, Ascension is what, 80% (+-) of the game.

If you think ascension is 80% of the game , your missing alot of content my friend. I'd put it roughly at 40% ....which to your point still seems out balanced...

The reason for this may be that we have all had 2 years to get ascended....and Cantha Character need to catch up quickly.

nope, was referring to area. It's like how they said that Lion's Arch and Kaineng City are 20% throughout each of their respective continents. Which of course content-wise there's more than that.
^_^

Well, one thing. Attribute Points quest will be only available to their respective chapter. So a Cantha character can't do the GWP AP quests. And vice versa.
I doubt more quests (except the tutorial areas) will be restricted to either Tyrian or Cantha characters.

And remember, that is another reason to ascend. +30 Attribute Points! That and travel to the other continent.

_Zexion