GW2 Starting Locations and Places of Interest

[Mordakai]

I'll be updating this with new info, pics when they become available.

Info here comes from www.guildwars2.com, Movement of the World, and various interviews.

CONFIRMED: Each race will have a starting city. "According to Eric, the trailer shows the Human and Asura starting cities, Divinity's Reach and Rata Sum." http://pc.ign.com/articles/102/1022360p1.html



Capital Cities / Starting Locations


Divinity's Reach Capital of Kryta, and confirmed Human starting city.
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/File..._prealpha.jpeg

Rata Sum Confirmed capital and starting city of the Asura (confirmed by www.guildwars2.com & http://pc.ign.com/articles/102/1022360p1.html)

Iron Citadel Charr capital, possible starting location for Charr characters. Built by Iron Legion on the ruins of the human city of Rin.
EDIT: One interview refers to a "Black Citadel", but I think it's just a typo/misunderstanding.

Hoelbrak Norn "capital". "Forced by the ice dragon to leave their homes in the far north, the norn have settled in the Shiverpeaks, building new homesteads and totem lodges on the high peaks and in snowy valleys. The greatest of these settlements, Hoelbrak, provides a central meeting point for these rugged, individualistic hunters..." http://videogames.yahoo.com/news-1346068-2

The Grove Assumed to be the location of the Pale Tree that grows the Sylvari race. The Sylvari capital/starting location may in Arbor Bay or near the Henge of Denravi, but this is not confirmed. (STILL NEED MORE INFO)


Places of Interest

Durmand Priory is a monastery hidden in the Shiverpeaks. It contains many volumes of information rescued from Lion's Arch during the flood by the Order of Whispers, who remain its guardians to this day. It is named after Durmand, a master Historian who established the truth about the rise of the White Mantle, the Tengu accords and the Battle of Jahai, among other things. (http://www.wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Durmand_Priory)


Kodan Iceberg Home of new polar bear race, the Kodan.
"Ree Soesbee: Kodan are not norn. Kodan are not shapechangers; the form you see is their sole physical form. Some scholars hypothesize that the two races may share a common history, but they are not at all the same race. The great kodan sanctuaries, their cities, are mobile. However, with the rise of the dragon Jormag in the far north, their Sanctuaries have been pushed out of the massive ice seas and into the shallow bays and harbors that border the Shiverpeaks. They cannot return to the arctic oceans, for fear that the dragon will destroy them utterly." http://www.onlinewelten.com/games/ar...view-teil-1/5/

http://img5.imageshack.us/i/38515515.jpg/

Ebonhawke Last Ascalon stronghold versus the Charr. Located where the Blazeridge and Shiverpeak Mountains merge. Probable location of some casual PvP events. Probable outpost that leads to Charr controlled areas of Ascalon.

Ebonhawke concept art (thanks to pumpkin pie for posting, confirmed by http://www.facebook.com/GuildWars2)



Lion's Arch The new "Battle Isles", populated by pirates, mercenaries and the priests of Balthazar. Here will probably be GvG battles, the GW2 version of Hero's Hall, and other PvP events.

Ascalon City Now a literal ghost city, the eternal defenders of Ascalon fight friend and foe alike. (Expect Mission to return legendary swords to their rightful owners to quell the spirit of King Adelbern and his followers).


Corrupted Orr
Orrian dragon Zhaitan's homebase, will probably be end-game or elite area. "Only the greatest of heroes dare venture within the ruined cities of Orr; to adventure there is to face the dragon and its minions directly, and that creature's power is not to be underestimated."

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...6714208&ref=mf


Sorrow's Furnace confirmed to be in GW2 by Ree Soesbee in interview. Possibly controlled by Dredge. http://www.guildwars2guru.com/forum/...sbee-t981.html


Hrangmer After the fall of the Titans and Kalla Scorchrazor’s rebellion, the Flame Legion was overthrown and cast down. With their mystic power shattered and their Shamans reviled, they barely had enough strength left to fight off the other legions and stay alive. The broken legion retreated northeast to their primary citadel at Hrangmer.
http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery...-hrangmer.html


Black Citadel Mentioned in interview, now with concept art. Possible Ash or Blood Legion home.
(thanks again Pumpkin Pie)


....more to come





Possible pictures of Divinity's Reach, Hoelbrak, and Iron Citadel: http://www.guildwars2guru.com/forum/...8&postcount=53 (fixed correct link) (thanks BiiiiiigS )

3 more shots of Rata Sum, Kodan Iceberg, and Iron Citadel: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...7&postcount=67

[Arkantos]

I'd say Eye of the North or Gunnar's Hold would be the capital for Norn.

[Ariena]

Asura would likely start somewhere on the Tarnished Coast.

[Thalador Doomspeaker]

Well, I think the best candidates for Norn settlements would be Grooble's Gulch, Krok's Hollow and the remnants of Maladar's Fort, Beacon's Perch and the small villages in Deldrimor Bowl and Anvil Rock. Of course, these are not their names now, but those areas would fit for the Norn, and could easily build on the ruins of these abandoned places. I doubt that they will have towns/outposts in the Southern Shiverpeaks, after all, those areas are in the hands of the Dredge. Although, as we know that the Norn are a "little bit" bloodthirsty and proud, they can easily break into Dredge territories, and build their hearthsteads under the Dredges' nose.

For the Asura, I would say it's 80% that they are still inhabitating Rata Sum and Vlox's Fall, including new areas like the one, that was found in 'O Brave New World'.

[Free Runner]

Gunnars Hold is supposed to be overwealmed by the Dragon of ice and snow. However EotN is still an option - we're going to have to travel there anyway. I reckon the Norn wil lstart from somewere in the Northen Shiverpeaks. Perhaps somewere near beacons perch.

[Karuro]

Originally Posted by Arkantos

I'd say Eye of the North or Gunnar's Hold would be the capital for Norn.

Nope, the Norn are chased down the Shiverpeaks due the Dragon and are now living in the old dwarven buildings, at war with muscled-up dredge.

[Konig Des Todes]

Now I have a reason to close GW2 threads in Druid's! Yay!

Anyways, my starting locations, if different locations:

Charr: Iron Citadel

Human: Divinity Coast

Sylvari: Arbor Bay (at Sylvari Tree - GW2's name unknown)

Asura: Three ideas:
1) Arbor Bay, at ruins north of the Sylvari Tree
2) Maguuma Jungle (near Bloodstone Fen) - issue here is the Centaurs and White Mantle
3) Southern Maguuma Jungle (near Henge of Denravi) - to give space between the Sylvari and the Asura

Norn: Grooble's Gulch (territory extending down to mimd-way through Snake Dance)

Points of Interest:

Durman Priory - Temple of Grenth (located in the Shiverpeaks, and Grenth was a god of knowledge to a degree while Abaddon was locked up *proved by House Durheim of the Kurzicks*)

[Mister_Smiley]

I could see the norn starting mabey from Yak's bend, but it also kinda depends on how fair they are driven down in the shiverpeaks

[Arghore]

Yeah, with the Norn driven down, and the dwarfs not there, wouldnt Droknars make sence as a Norn starting area (capital), Though i could also see that as being taken by the 'Dark Dwarfs' as they didnt fight at the side of the Dwarfs and thus might not have turned to stone...

[Mister_Smiley]

I thought about Droknars, but thats way fair down and very close to Orr and the Dragon, but its possible. Also the dark dwarfs aka the stone summit are gone.

[Konig Des Todes]

Originally Posted by Arghore

Yeah, with the Norn driven down, and the dwarfs not there, wouldnt Droknars make sence as a Norn starting area (capital), Though i could also see that as being taken by the 'Dark Dwarfs' as they didnt fight at the side of the Dwarfs and thus might not have turned to stone...

The "Dark Dwarves" - or Stone Summit, their actual name - are wiped out with Duncan. Those in the Eye of the North are the exiles and remnants. Duncan is their last leader at the end of the campaign, and with his death, there are no others (hence the quest name "The Last Heirophants").

As for Droknar's Forge, one word: Dredge. With the main mine being Sorrow's Furnace, the Dredge can effectively place themselves between the Northern Shiverpeaks (and thus the Norn) and Droknar's Forge. If any race controls Droknar's Forge now, it will be the Dredge or the Grawl which are just south and east of it. The Avicara would probably control the eastern portion of the Southern Shiverpeaks, the Grawl controlling the ridge and the southern/southeastern sections of the Southern Shiverpeaks, the Dredge controlling the center of the Southern Shiverpeaks, and the Norn controlling the Northern portion of the Southern Shiverpeaks, and the southern portion of the Northern Shiverpeaks (if not the whole Northern Shiverpeaks). And of course, right above the Norn would be the Dragon of Ice and Snow.

Originally Posted by Mister_Smiley

I thought about Droknars, but thats way fair down and very close to Orr and the Dragon, but its possible.

It's not that close to Orr or the dragon there...

[Thalador Doomspeaker]

Originally Posted by Arghore

Yeah, with the Norn driven down, and the dwarfs not there, wouldnt Droknars make sence as a Norn starting area (capital), Though i could also see that as being taken by the 'Dark Dwarfs' as they didnt fight at the side of the Dwarfs and thus might not have turned to stone...

No, it wouldn't. As I mentioned earlier, large parts of the Southern Shiverpeaks has been taken by the Dredge.

Originally Posted by Movement of the World

There they found abandoned Dwarven forts and a new challenge in the form of the Dredge, the old nemeses of the Dwarves, now almost unrecognizable from the primitive, frightened creatures of the past.

The Dredge, reveling in their new-found freedom after the Dwarves fell to the Destroyers, seized that opportunity to become a real threat in the Shiverpeaks, while the Norn revel in the hunt of new enemies. The Norn and the Dredge fight over control of these lands in a continual war that rages along the highest mountains.

So, it's unlikely that the Norn starting area/town is Droknar's Forge. Again, Grooble's Gulch, Beacon's Perch, Krok's Hollow would be the best shot.

And yes, it's still possible, that the Stone Summit managed to survive after all, although with the death of their last hierophant (Duncan the Black), they've fallen to disarray. But who knows? Perhaps they've found the Deldrimor women, and restarted their race.

[Winterclaw]

I don't think the iron citadel would be where the charr start... seems too close to other things. I'm guessing it'll be a place you get to "after 20" like keining center or a mission point.

[Mister_Smiley]

Originally Posted by Konig Des Todes

The "Dark Dwarves" - or Stone Summit, their actual name - are wiped out with Duncan. Those in the Eye of the North are the exiles and remnants. Duncan is their last leader at the end of the campaign, and with his death, there are no others (hence the quest name "The Last Heirophants").

As for Droknar's Forge, one word: Dredge. With the main mine being Sorrow's Furnace, the Dredge can effectively place themselves between the Northern Shiverpeaks (and thus the Norn) and Droknar's Forge. If any race controls Droknar's Forge now, it will be the Dredge or the Grawl which are just south and east of it. The Avicara would probably control the eastern portion of the Southern Shiverpeaks, the Grawl controlling the ridge and the southern/southeastern sections of the Southern Shiverpeaks, the Dredge controlling the center of the Southern Shiverpeaks, and the Norn controlling the Northern portion of the Southern Shiverpeaks, and the southern portion of the Northern Shiverpeaks (if not the whole Northern Shiverpeaks). And of course, right above the Norn would be the Dragon of Ice and Snow.

It's not that close to Orr or the dragon there...

Good points, i keep forgetting about the Dredge. And i suppose thats true its not that close to Orr.

[Konig Des Todes]

Originally Posted by Winterclaw

I don't think the iron citadel would be where the charr start... seems too close to other things. I'm guessing it'll be a place you get to "after 20" like keining center or a mission point.

The Iron Citadel is where Rin is. That's far from most things, depending on how they scale the game. Ebonhawke is far, Shiverpeaks is semi-close, but still a good distance for a starter area, might be close to the path of "Grothmar"'s flight of corruption, but so would be just about 90% of the Charr homelands (what the heck is that lands' name! So aggravating not knowing... )

[Arghore]

Originally Posted by Konig Des Todes

what the heck is that lands' name! So aggravating not knowing...

Even if you knew you would need a Char decoder to translate it to something we would actually understand ... perhaps they just call it homeland

[Konig Des Todes]

Originally Posted by Arghore

Even if you knew you would need a Char decoder to translate it to something we would actually understand ... perhaps they just call it homeland

Gaile said when EN was coming out that it had a name. So while when translated it might mean "homeland" - in the human language, it has a name!

[Thalador Doomspeaker]

You forget Primordus' living stone minions.

Originally Posted by Movement of the World

The four primary legions of the Charr, the Ash Legion, Blood Legion, Gold Legion, and Iron Legion, each control city-strongholds, spread out across the eastern lands. Charr warbands strike out from these safe havens to defend their territories, battling the shades of Ascalonian warriors, the twisted servants of the desert dragon, and the horrifying beasts that come up from beneath the ground throughout Ascalon and the Shiverpeaks.

It states that they've entered almost the whole region. Although, (Rin/)Iron Citadel is far from the beasts' "HQ" (Primordus' Chamber), they can erupt from the earth everywhere. I think it wouldn't be a pleasant starting/newbie area for Charr players.

[Konig Des Todes]

Originally Posted by Thalador Doomspeaker

Although, (Rin/)Iron Citadel is far from the beasts' "HQ" (Primordus' Chamber), they can erupt from the earth everywhere. I think it wouldn't be a pleasant starting/newbie area for Charr players.

Key words. From Primordus, technically no where is safe. Just like the Destroyer Threat.

[Ryuzaki]

I hope they make small cinematics to introduce the race when you create a char.
For example if you choose Sylvari you will get a small cinematic that shows how the Sylvari comes to life etc.
Would be interesting to see