Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

[Moriquendis]

I hope to be returning to the game and I am wondering which city would be best to start out in. The last time I played I was a mithra and started in Bastok. I still plan on playing a mithra, so which city is best? Can anyone give me some pros and cons of each city?

[Armando]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

It doesn't make a difference. Go with the one whose scenery or story you like best.

Also, there's no 'h' in Windurst.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

Bastok is where all the people that don't bathe live.

[Firewind]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

Windy = Fun story if you can stand Shantotto and that Taru that talks like Ned Flanders. Great if you like the Taru, not so great if you dislike the taru constantly stealing the spotlight from Mithra (are there any Mithra NPCs even remotely important to the nation plotlines?)

Sandy = Pacing is horrible and nothing actually happens until Rank 8 or so but I enjoyed it.

Bastok = Something something angry turtles shadow lord something something Zeid something something airships Volker shadowlord

[Nandito]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

Windurst.

Reason?

Shantotto.

[Yygdrasil]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

(are there any Mithra NPCs even remotely important to the nation plotlines?)

Yes. In WotG. There are many. In the present? Not so much.

[Firewind]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

Yeah by "nation plotline" I mean the original storylines. I've been playing my way through the Windurst WoTG storyline and really enjoying it so far though I'm not that far into that yet (I started out with Sandy and their WoTG plotline is basically like the Tales of Graces prologue but shit).

[Yygdrasil]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

Well... in the main story... no, nothing.

[Icemage]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

Windurst has the best city music and the nicest visuals, but is the hardest to navigate around in when you're first starting out (4 main city zones, as opposed to 3 for Bastok and San d'Oria). It's also full of Tarutaru, which could be good or bad depending on whether one finds them cute or annoying. And yes, Shantotto in the city missions.

Everything else is a non-issue (guilds, outpost control) once you get a few levels and methods of transportation start opening up.


Icemage

[Yygdrasil]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

The quick city-warp Tarutaru make travel inside the city a little bit easier... but to take full advantage of it you really need to label them on your mini map. That combined with the Moghouse zoning and it's not so bad anymore. Still, I prefer Bastok for a starting nation based on its proximity to everything.

Also: Bastok has 4 zones. You're forgetting the Metalworks, Ice. In terms of missions, it's an important zone to remember, you go there a lot.

[Romyro]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

Nation: Windy

Reason: Mage Gate Key Item (even if you barely ever use it)

[Armando]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

The quick city-warp Tarutaru make travel inside the city a little bit easier... but to take full advantage of it you really need to label them on your mini map. That combined with the Moghouse zoning and it's not so bad anymore.

IIRC Windurst is also the only nation where you can go from any zone to any other zone without the use of Mog House. But it's definitely a bit harder on beginners when they don't know about the warp NPCs.

Also: Bastok has 4 zones. You're forgetting the Metalworks, Ice. In terms of missions, it's an important zone to remember, you go there a lot.

But if you include Metalworks, you need to include Chateau D'Oraguille and Heavens Tower. Windurst still ends up with one zone more.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

I always felt Bastok was more of a pain to navigate since it branches out and isn't really interconnected.

Windurst loops - one zone ties into another.
Sandoria is just North and South, pretty easy to manage.

Questing your Mog Exit helps Windy and Bastok a great deal, though.

[Armando]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

Bastok also loses points for that fucking drawbridge.

[Yygdrasil]

Re: Sandy, Bastok, or Windhurst?

I do hate the drawbridge. I hate it so much. Even more than I used to these days since I'm 100% certain that there's never anybody on the damn airship anymore.