bloodmyst-isle
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Best starting race
I've been leveling a few Draenei alts off and on and finally figured out just why it is that I keep rolling the damn things in addition to my beloved Tauren; their starting quests rock. You wake from stasis, meet the locals, save a princess, make early ties to the Alliance and find out why there's a good reason the some of 'em won't trust you right off the bat, discover nefarious deeds afoot, fight a dragon, and then save your people and get a cool tabard. "Find your way back to the Outland, Hero of Argus," Exarch Admetius tells you, in a nice preview of things to come, and Velen has a good lore moment with you shortly afterwards.Having leveled a toon out of every starting area to at least 20, it's hard not to notice that some areas make it a lot easier than others. I don't mean the general ease of leveling per se, but just how fast the time seems to fly by. For all that a certain percentage of the playerbase frowns on RP on non-RP servers, most peoples' favorite quests do have an element of RP to them, or at least the RP sense of being fully engaged with the world. And in that respect the Draenei starting zones are, in my opinion, unparalleled. If I had to rank them --
One Shots: Moon over Bloodmyst
World of Warcraft's Bloodmyst Isle has a fascinating sky -- going from brilliant red during the day to this tranquil purple in the evening. Reader John sent us this shot with little explanation, so we can only take it at face value: as a lovely scene of the moon rising over Azeroth's shores. (Also available in wallpaper size.)One Shots lives on a steady diet of your screenshots! Snapped a good screenshot lately? Tired of seeing the same old games featured? Send us shots from your favorite game! It's easy to participate -- just send your screenshots and stories to oneshots@massively.com. %Gallery-9798%
Around Azeroth: Wyrmscar Island
Reader Kazzul of Turalyon (EU) sends in this picture of Wyrmscar Island off the coast of Bloodmyst Isle. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, this red-skied land is the Draenei starting zone.) Though the image bears some resemblance to the ruins you'll see in Azshara and even Desolace, the color of the sky here is a dead giveaway of the location. (Also available in convenient wallpaper size!)Do you have any unusual World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? Because we'd love to see your idea of the best looking instance on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next! %Gallery-1816%
One Shots: Venturing onto Bloodmyst Isle
Our own Akela Talamasca sends in this shot taken from the Draenei starting zone from World of Warcraft. For those of you in the audience who haven't played since The Burning Crusade was released (or haven't played at all), the red-hued landscape of Bloodmyst Isle is different than anything you may have seen in the publicity shots.Do you have any images of unusual people or places in your favorite game? Send 'em our way so we can feature your screenshot and story for tomorrow's One Shots! It's easy to participate -- just send your screenshots and stories to oneshots@massively.com. %Gallery-9798%
Around Azeroth: Sunset, with Naga
Reader Milosh sends us this shot which, while we weren't given a specific location for it, must be from Azshara somewhere. (Sure, there are Naga in Outland, but Outland skies are much more exotic than this ordinary starry night.) However, I don't recall running into this precise temple during my last explorations of Azshara -- anyone out there who can specifically pinpoint it for us?Update: My mailbox has been flooded with people making suggestions for where this shot is actually located. Most commenters pinpoint it as Bloodmyst Isle in the Draenei starting area (sorry, folks -- I've never seriously attempted leveling a Draenei!), and now looking at the reddish sky, I can see the resemblance to that zone. However, a few people ademantly believe the shot was taken on an island off Desolace, and the sky color is simply due to the time of day. However, for now, Bloodmyst seems the more likely location.Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! Or perhaps you'd just like to see more of your pics from Around Azeroth. %Gallery-1816%
Around Azeroth: The Vector Coil
Reader Jon sends in this shot of the Vector Coil on Bloodmyst Isle. For those of you who have never played Draenei, the Vector Coil is a portion of the Exodar that crashed into western Bloodmyst Isle, and its power is currently being harvested by the Keal'Thas' Sunhawks. (Of course, a brave adventurer might try to put a stop to this... but that's another post!)Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! Or perhaps you'd just like to see more of your pics from Around Azeroth. %Gallery-1816%
Around Azeroth: Bloodmyst Isle
Thirlwell of Khadgar sends in this excellent shot of the northern shore of Bloodmyst Isle, in the draenei starting zone. Of the two newbie zones included in the Burning Crusade, I can't pick a favorite. Bloodmyst, as you see it here, is an interesting red-tinged version of a night elf zone, and home to one of my favorite quests in the game: The Kessel Run. In comparison, what does Ghostlands offer? Just wandering elites which occasionally come by to say hello just as you're finishing a mob. Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! Or perhaps you'd just like to see more of your pics from Around Azeroth. %Gallery-1816%
