I Left My Hearthstone In…
I’ve always thought the choice of a home city was interesting. Where do you set your hearthstone to, and why?
Personally? My characters tend to “live” in Stormwind. I know that IF is the residence of choice for most level 60s, and I admit that Stormwind is crawling with fountain-dancing nekkid noobs, but it still feels like a real city to me. Although you don’t actually see any residences, it feels like a place where people live and work. Darnassus, although pretty in a My Little Pony way, feels like a stage set, very sterile. You just know that there are no bathrooms there, no kitchens, nowhere that people actually live. (Which possibly explains the lack of elvish children, and also the Nelf stick-insect physique.) Ironforge is better, but still…I don’t get the impression that there are homes there.
I’ve just recently started my first serious Horde character, so I can’t give a real opinion on Orgrimmar or Undercity. Orgrimmar, although impossible for me to find my way around in, feels grimy and real – much better than the sterile Nelf home city. Undercity, for an admitted ex-goth, is totally cool; I love the Halloween decor. Thunder Bluff was gorgeous – yes, I feel that people live there. Probably in teepees in the woods, but they still live there.
Do you choose a home inn based on auction houses and proximity to trainers? Do you choose the most convenient point between all instances, such as Menethil Harbor? Or (probably if you’re a roleplayer) do you choose a home based on who your character is?
Personally? I’m looking forward to Silvermoon. Hopefully the city planning will match the gorgeous look and feel, and you won’t have to run across the whole multi-levelled city in order to find the first aid trainer.
My main’s Hearthstone is in Ironforge, since I find it closest to the majority of instances that I do as a level 60. I’m also an gnomish engineer, so I can teleport to Gadgetzan and get to Silithus rather quickly.
My alt, who isn’t quite 60 yet, lives in Stormwind. There are more people near his level there, and it’s a nice change of scenery.
My bank alt lives in Darnassus. Bank and Auctionhall are fairly close together, and that’s all he needs. As an added bonus, there’s no lag at all since the town is devoid of life.
Being a mage, the location of my hearthstone is a non-issue. Currently it is set to Kargath to save me the 8-minute flight from Undercity. IC, my character currently lives in Cenarion Hold, but would like to move to Winterspring.
My dwarf priest is not quite 60 yet, so he sets his heartstone to the place where he quests most (Gadgetzan right now).
My undead priest is 60 however, and has the heartstone set to Orgrimmar. Reason: I like the layout of the city. Bank, mailbox and auction-house are comfortably near each other. If I need to travel it is no problem either with the Zeppelin right outside the city.
I just set it to where I am currently questing. Pretty helpful when getting in as much gaming as possible just 30 minutes before work.
Dinar, Dwarven Warrior – Light’s Hope Inn, Eastern Plaguelands
Xoruka, Orc Shaman – Hammerfell, Arathi Highlands
My main’s hearthstone is in IF, namely because I can set it right next to the AH and the bank, for convenience’s sake.
My mage, however, is set in Darnassus, since he can teleport to everywhere else. :)
My 60 mage has his hearth in Gadget. He can port to the other three cities, and all other locations are within 5 minutes flying distance from one of those 4 locations.
I just set it to where I am currently questing.
Me too, for the most part. I change it all the time.
Sometimes I’ll actually keep it set to a city on the opposite continent of the one I’m questing on so I can easily get back across without having to wait for the zeppelin.
( Hi! De-lurking to add… )
My default hearthstone for most of my characters is Menethil, what with it being one hop from Ironforge and right next to the boat.
Magdalyn, my 60 ‘lock is set to Menethil and thinks her Everlook transporter is the most brilliant thing she ever built.
Dalla, my 45 warrior is in Theramore for its easy access to Gadgetzan and the Ferry, but as I start moving towards the Un’Goro Crater I’ll probably set it to Marshall’s Refuge.
All of my other alts are all lowbies who have their stones set to the nearest inn to where they’re questing.
Anais – 60 mage – Silithus for 2 reasons: AQ & a moonwell right next to the inn which is really handy for making mooncloth just before or after a raid. And it allows me to teleport to all 4 corners of the world, getting everywhere in under 2-3 minutes.
Ithilien – 60 druid – IF. Still that way after focussing on BRD & BRS for more of the 50-60 level grind. Could probably set it in Darkshire as I only do ZG with him atm…
Mine is set to XR (Crossroads), of course. Easiest way to meet and have fun killing allies. On Eitrigg and alliance? Come to XR, lets have some “fun!”
As hordie, I find myself relying on Grom’Gol more and more. It gives you easy access to Stonard, Kargath and the Burning Steppes, yet both Kalimdor and Lordaeron are only a zeppelin flight away. Very handy for me.