I posted this information to my guild’s forum originally to help alleviate some of the many questions we all see being asked in the early days of WotLK. With many death knights now approaching or in Northrend I figured this information will come in handy here as well.
Starting Zones: Borean Tundra vs Howling Fjord (Alliance Bias)
There are details between the two that may make you want one over the other, but if you are coming in with raid epics on then from a progression stand point it doesn’t matter which you choose first. There is transportation between the two zones provided and choosing one does not lock you out of the other at all. You can do both, do one then come back later and do the other, or do one and save the other for your next alt. Both start towns have profession trainers, faction gains are the same, and the quest rewards are very similar. The stories they tell are different, as is their geography. In both you will come face to face with the Lich King and be lead on to the Dragonblight when ready.
Borean Tundra
Borean Tundra is accessible by boat from Stormwind City or zeppelin from Orgimmar. It is inhabited by the Tuskarr, D.E.H.T.A., Drakkari trolls, Blue Dragonflight, and the Scourge.
The largest zone in Northrend it is mostly flat and allows more roaming around. Valiance Keep (Alliance base) is up and running and quite active, with quest givers and their targets merely yards away from where you get off the boat. This is a good zone to hit first if you aren’t coming in with raid epics and it is where I recommend death knights start in Northrend specifically for the gear upgrades available (you can literally have a weapon upgrade within 10 minutes of arriving).
The quests mostly go over the variety of conflicts found in Northrend. You are introduced to the war between Dalaran and the Blue Dragonflight, help a death knight against the Scourge, and learn about the possible origins of the gnomes.
The zone’s instance is The Nexus. You’ll need to complete a quest chain in a secondary quest hub to get there, then complete a longer quest chain to gain quests for the instances.
BigRedKitty’s Top Ten Reasons for Starting Out in Borean Tundra (Alliance-biased)
10. Baby Rhino! He?s right there, waiting for you. You want a Rhino, this is where you?ve got to go.
9. Flat landscape means you can run in any direction and find stuff to do. You?re not channeled or funneled in a specific direction, so you can do what you want and not feel like you?re skipping stuff.
8. Stupid humans and their farms. ?The tunnel is cursed!? Yeah, the tunnel is always cursed, isn?t it. Lots of quick quests just outside the Alliance keep.
7. Speaking of the Alliance keep, it?s pretty sweet. It?s big, there?s upstairs and downstairs, it?s basically a mini Stormwind.
6. The existence of the Gnome airstrip means plenty of Horde trying to wipe that place out. It?s not an official world PvP event, but the Destruction of the Airport will be high on every hordie?s list of fun things to do. While we were there, the place was under attack almost constantly.
5. Speaking of the Horde, they get a massive, just huge town. It dominates the landscape, looking down on the Alliance keep.
4. The ?There?s broken pieces of stuff out there, go pick it up!? quests. Aren?t those always a blast with 20,000 people all trying to pick up the same gear and piece of wood?
3. Murlocs. Say no more.
2. Mammoths! Not the mounts, but roving herds of mammoths are a skinner?s dream come true.
1. Those animal-loving druids accomplish the exact opposite of what their charter says. You?ll want to slaughter the mammoths just to p!ss these guys off.
Howling Fjord
Howling Fjord is accessible by boat from Menethil Harbor or zepplin from Undercity. It is inhabited by Vrykul, Drakkari trolls, nerbuians, murlocs, and Iron Dwaves.
Howling Fjord’s landscapes vary from dark forests to open plains to cliff walls. The Alliance town of Valgarde was the only establishment of its kind in Northrend until recently. Now the Forsaken also have a town and Valgarde is under siege by the Vrykul. The place is partial chaos and as soon as you step off the boat you are fending off invaders. The zone itself funnels you from quest hub to quest hub. There is less a sandbox feel and more of following the path.
Quests deal mostly with the Vrykul, but you’ll also see some early signs of the Forsaken’s new plague and you’ll even fight pirates and join up with ghost pirates! Dwarf origins are delved into a bit. If you recall the original trailer for WotLK it was shot entirely in Howling Fjord.
The zone’s instance is Utgarde Keep. The instance is just past the Alliance town and quests for it are available with a minimal of questing.
BigRedKitty’s Top Ten Reasons for Starting Out in Howling Fjord (Alliance-biased)
10. The longest d@mn boatride ever.
9. A to B to C progression. If you like a bit of order to your questing, this is your starting area. Follow the roads, everything is clearly marked, it?s obvious when you?re going in the wrong direction, or headed somewhere you shouldn?t be.
8. The buring boat. That?s a ?Welcome to Northrend? sign from the locals.
7. The Alliance starting town is basically a disaster in-progress. If you like chaos, start here.
6. The first instance is right, frickin? there. No flying, no searching, no uppity talking dragons, just walk up and do it.
5. Dwarf explorers. The carpet. The costume. Best Alliance quest line in Northrend. You?ll love it.
4. Horde starting area is like the landing on Normandy. Get on the beach and kill everything!
3. Frickin? vertical as all get-out. Mountains and cliffs and huge trees! And the Trams and elevators rock.
2. Blue Chimaeras. You don?t have to hunt for Nuramoc anymore if you love this pet but hate them in green.
1. The elite orca and the penguins. That?d be a great band-name, too.
That’s about half the post (yes I encourage work productivity losses of entire hours in my guild). I’ll get the other half up tomorrow.
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