Starting Zone - Revision history

ScienceBall: Link to campaigns. Clarify that this page is for AoA.

2021-08-20T19:28:41Z

Link to campaigns. Clarify that this page is for AoA.

ScienceBall: Quest names and teleport talents. Celestial start details.

2021-06-21T09:15:55Z

Quest names and teleport talents. Celestial start details.

ScienceBall: /* Special Start */ Typos + rares don't spawn below level 4 now + dungeon names

2021-05-12T13:15:41Z

‎Special Start: Typos + rares don't spawn below level 4 now + dungeon names

Duck of Tsumego: Added exceptions for Krog Chronomancers & Ogre Celestials and made minor changes/corrections to the text.

2020-06-03T22:40:07Z

Added exceptions for Krog Chronomancers & Ogre Celestials and made minor changes/corrections to the text.

Duck of Tsumego: Corrected a mistake regarding the Iron Council.

2020-06-03T20:41:56Z

Corrected a mistake regarding the Iron Council.

Duck of Tsumego: Borrowing heavily from Cathbald’s guide to zones, I wrote a quick guide to where each race/class combo starts the game.

2020-06-03T20:22:38Z

Borrowing heavily from Cathbald’s guide to zones, I wrote a quick guide to where each race/class combo starts the game.

New page

The '''starting zone''' for a new character is based on the choosen combination of [[race]] and [[class]], according to a set order. For example, while [[Cornac]]s normally begin the game at the [[Trollmire]], a human [[Archmage]] will start in [[Angolwen]] instead, since this class takes precedence in the zone order.

This is worth paying some attention to because some [[artifact]]s can only be found in specific places and a number of [[unlockables]] require access to certain areas, but some zones are only accessible for characters that start in them and that can be bypassed by elements of the build.{{ref|a}}

==Starting Zone Hierarchy==

What follows is a list of the starting zones in the game, including those introduced by the ''[[Ashes of Urh'Rok|Ashes of Urh’Rok]]'' & ''[[Forbidden Cults]]'' DLCs,{{ref|b}} organized by order precedence—a character falling under two categories will start the game in the zone listed higher in the list.

Short descriptions are provided, but the reader is advised to read the main article for each zone and check out the guides linked at the end.{{ref|c}}

===Special Start===

This section lists the special starting zones: some can only be accessed by those who start in them, others offer quests unique to those characters or can only be accessed later in the game—[[#Krog|the Ruins of Kor’Pul]] being the only exception.

====Undead (Ghoul and Skeleton)====

{{Main|Blighted Ruins}}

Undead characters ([[Ghoul]]s and [[Skeleton]]s) of any class start the game at the level 3 of the Blighted Ruins and must climb up to the first level, where a boss waits. The fight is optional: you can exit straight to the worldmap and skip it altogether, but bear in mind that the ruins cannot be accessed again once you leave (even if you defeated the boss).

====Drem====

{{Main|Kroshkkur, the Hidden Sanctuary}}

[[Drem]] characters of any class begin at the Hidden Sanctuary of Kroshkkur, a special city that can only be accessed by those who start there. In the beginning, the sanctuary is about to be destroyed and you must choose between abandoning it to its fate or saving it, by defeating the boss of [[The Maggot]] (a dungeon only reachable from Kroshkkur), after which you will be able to visit it at any point of the game.

====Krog====

{{Main|Ruins of Kor'Pul}}

[[Krog]] characters of any class start at the Ruins of Kor’Pul. Choosing this race is thus a way to skip special zones in the beginning, supposing you can find a reason to do so—perhaps in order to make the game more challenging, considering that the extra experience from those additional zones is meant as a boost to classes that would otherwise have a rough early game.

====Demonic (Doomelf, Doombringer, Demonologist)====

{{Main|Searing Halls}}

[[Doomelf|Doomelves]] of any class, and both [[Doombringer]]s & [[Demonologist]]s of any race not yet mentioned, start at the Searing Halls, a dungeon in outer space, orbiting Eyal. Defeating the boss will create a portal leading to the level 2 of a random [[Tier#Zones|T1 dungeon]] and, depending on where you end, it is advisable to use the Rod of Recall to escape as soon as you get there.

====Demented (Cultist of Entropy & Writhing One)====

Just like the Drems, characters of the [[Demented (Metaclass)|demented metaclass]] ([[Cultist of Entropy|Cultists of Entropy]] and [[Writhing One|Writhing Ones]]) of any other race not mentioned above will start at Kroshkkur. The start being the exact same, everything in the Drems’ section [[#Drem|above]] also apply to them.

====Dwarf====

{{Main|Escape from Reknor}}

[[Dwarf|Dwarves]] of any class not mentioned above start in the middle of a quest, fighting to [[Escape from Reknor]] along with their squadmate Norgan—and as with the undead start, the boss of the zone can be skipped, although it is possible to go back and face him later. After that, they arrive in the special Dwarf town, the [[Iron Council]], that can only be accessed by characters who got this beginning.

====Yeek====

{{Main|Irkkk}}

[[Yeek]]s of any class not yet mentioned start at the town of [[Irkkk]], in the Island of Rel, and must finish two dungeons—the [[Ritch Tunnels]] and [[Murgol's Lair|Murgol’s Lair]], inacessible to other characters—before they can reach the mainland.

====Celestial (Anorithil & Sun Paladin)====

{{Main|Gates of Morning}}

Characters belonging to the [[Celestial (Metaclass)|celestial metaclass]], [[Anorithil]] and [[Sun Paladin]]s, provided they do not belong to the races mentioned above, will start at the Gates of Morning. The boss will take the fight to the level 2 of a random T1 dungeon. Depending on where you end, it is advisable to use the Rod of Recall to escape the zone as soon as the boss is defeated.

====Archmage====

{{Main|Angolwen}}

[[Archmage]]s of any race not mentioned above will start at Angolwen and be offered an optional quest—not obtainable any other way. Should they accept, they will be taken to a dungeon in outer space where they will have to use cast [[Phase door (talent)|phase door]] in order to move around. Being an optional area, monsters there can be [[Rank|rare+]] and the zone is a hard zone on [[Difficulty|Insane+]].

====Chronomancers (Paradox Mages & Temporal Wardens)====

{{Main|Point Zero}}

[[Chronomancer (Metaclass)|Chronomancers]] ([[Paradox Mage]]s & [[Temporal Warden]]s) of any race not mentioned above start at Point Zero and will be offered an optional quest—not obtainable any other way. Should they accept, they will be taken to a dungeon filled with temporal spiders. Being an optional area, monsters there can be [[Rank|rare+]] and the zone is a very hard zone on [[Difficulty|Insane+]].

===Standard Start===

Characters whose build do not belong to any of the categories above will start at one of the following zones instead, the only consideration being their race.

====Ogre & Shalore====

{{Main|Scintillating Caves}}

[[Ogre]]s and [[Shalore|Shaloren]] of any class not listed above start at the Scintillating Caves. Being a default zone, they can leave and come back at any time.

====Thalore====

{{Main|Norgos' Lair}}

[[Thalore|Thaloren]] of any class not listed above start at Norgos’ Lair. Being a default zone, they can leave and come back at any time.

====Humans & Halflings====

{{Main|Trollmire}}

[[Human]]s ([[Cornac]] & [[Higher]]) and [[Halfling]]s of any class not listed above start at Trollmire. Being a default zone, they can leave and come back at any time.

==Notes==

:1.{{note|a}} For example, since the [[Iron Council]], being the special zone for dwarves, has precedence over the chronomancers’ start, a Dwarf Temporal Warden will never be able to access [[Point Zero]].

:2.{{note|b}} Starting zones in the [[Embers of Rage|''Embers of Rage'' DLC]] do not require much elaboration: [[Orc]]s start at [[Kruk Pride]] while [[Kruk Yeti|Yeti]]s and [[Whitehoof|Whitehoove]]s start at the [[Vaporous Emporium]], independently of their classes.

:3.{{note|c}} Cathbald’s guide, in particular, is rather detailed and was the source of most of the information in this article.

[[Category: Starting Zones]]
[[Category: Zones]]

==See Also==

* [[Recommended Zone Order Progression]]

* [[Zone]]

==External Links==

* [http://forums.te4.org/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=48660 Cathbald’s Guide to Zones & Zone Order]

* [https://i.ibb.co/L67j1Hm/Maj-039-Eyal-all-zones-cults.jpg Map of Maj’Eyal]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The '''starting zone''' for new characters is based on the combination of their [[race]] and [[class]], according to a set order. [[Cornac]]s normally start the game at [[Trollmire]], for example, but a human [[Archmage]] will get [[Angolwen]] instead, since that class takes precedence in establishing the initial area.
+The '''starting zone''' for new characters in the [[Maj'Eyal: The Age of Ascendancy]] campaign is based on the combination of their [[race]] and [[class]], according to a set order. [[Cornac]]s normally start the game at [[Trollmire]], for example, but a human [[Archmage]] will get [[Angolwen]] instead, since that class takes precedence in establishing the initial area.
 This is worth paying some attention to, given that some [[artifact]]s can only be found in specific locations and a number of [[unlockables]] require access to certain areas, but some zones are only available to characters who start the game there and that can be bypassed by elements of the build.{{ref|a}}
@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 :1.{{note|a}} For example, since the [[Iron Council]], being the special zone for dwarves, has precedence over the chronomancers’ start, a Dwarf Temporal Warden will never be able to access [[Point Zero]].
-:2.{{note|b}} Starting zones in the [[Embers of Rage|''Embers of Rage'' DLC]] do not require much elaboration: [[Orc]]s start at [[Kruk Pride]] while [[Kruk Yeti|Yeti]]s and [[Whitehoof|Whitehoove]]s start at the [[Vaporous Emporium]], independently of their classes.
+:2.{{note|b}} Starting zones in the [[Embers of Rage campaign]] do not require much elaboration: [[Orc]]s start at [[Kruk Pride]] while [[Kruk Yeti|Yeti]]s and [[Whitehoof|Whitehoove]]s start at the [[Vaporous Emporium]], independently of their classes.
 :3.{{note|c}} Cathbald’s guide, in particular, is rather detailed and was the source of most of the information in this article.

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 {{Main|Kroshkkur, the Hidden Sanctuary}}
-[[Drem]] characters of any class begin at the Hidden Sanctuary of Kroshkkur, a special city that can only be accessed by those who start there. In the beginning, the sanctuary is about to be destroyed and you must choose between abandoning it to its fate or  saving it, by defeating the boss of [[The Maggot]] (a dungeon only reachable from Kroshkkur), after which you will be able to visit it at any point of the game.
+[[Drem]] characters of any class begin at the Hidden Sanctuary of Kroshkkur, a special city that can only be accessed by those who start there. In the beginning, the sanctuary is about to be destroyed and you must choose between abandoning it to its fate or saving it, by defeating the boss of [[The Maggot]] (a dungeon only reachable from Kroshkkur), after which you will be able to visit it at any point of the game.
 ====Krog====
@@ Line 51: / Line 53: @@
 {{Main|Irkkk}}
-[[Yeek]]s of any class not yet mentioned start at the town of [[Irkkk]], in the Island of Rel, and must finish two dungeons—the [[Ritch Tunnels]] and [[Murgol's Lair|Murgol’s Lair]], inacessible to other characters—before they can reach the mainland.
+[[Yeek]]s of any class not yet mentioned start at the town of [[Irkkk]], in the Island of Rel, and must finish two dungeons—the [[Ritch Tunnels]] and [[Murgol's Lair|Murgol’s Lair]], inaccessible to other characters—before they can reach the mainland.
 ====Celestial (Anorithil & Sun Paladin)====
@@ Line 57: / Line 59: @@
 {{Main|Gates of Morning}}
-Characters belonging to the [[Celestial (Metaclass)|celestial metaclass]], [[Anorithil]] and [[Sun Paladin]]s, provided they do not belong to the races mentioned above and are ''not'' [[Ogre]]s, will start at the Gates of Morning. The boss will take the fight to the level 2 of a random T1 dungeon. Depending on where you end up, it is advisable to use the Rod of Recall to escape the zone as soon as the boss is defeated.
+Characters belonging to the [[Celestial (Metaclass)|celestial metaclass]], [[Anorithil]] and [[Sun Paladin]]s, provided they do not belong to the races mentioned above and are ''not'' [[Ogre]]s, will start at the Gates of Morning. You will start with the [[Serpentine Invaders]] quest, which requires you to investigate the naga invasion of the [[Slazish Fens]]. The boss, [[Lady Zoisla the Tidebringer]], will take the fight to the level 2 of a random T1 dungeon. Depending on where you end up, it is advisable to use the Rod of Recall to escape the zone as soon as the boss is defeated.
 ====Archmage====
@@ Line 63: / Line 65: @@
 {{Main|Angolwen}}
-[[Archmage]]s of any race not mentioned above will start at Angolwen and be offered an optional quest—not obtainable any other way. Should they accept, they will be taken to the [[Abashed Expanse]], a dungeon in outer space, where they will have to cast [[Phase door (talent)|phase door]] in order to move around.
+[[Archmage]]s of any race not mentioned above will start at Angolwen and be offered the optional quest [[Spellblaze Fallouts]] — not obtainable any other way. Should they accept, they will be taken to the [[Abashed Expanse]], a dungeon in outer space, where they will have to cast [[Phase door (talent)|phase door]] in order to move around.
 ====Chronomancers (Paradox Mages & Temporal Wardens)====
@@ Line 69: / Line 73: @@
 {{Main|Point Zero}}
-[[Chronomancer (Metaclass)|Chronomancers]] ([[Paradox Mage]]s & [[Temporal Warden]]s) of any race not mentioned above start at Point Zero and will be offered an optional quest—not obtainable any other way. Should they accept, they will be taken to the [[Unhallowed Morass]], a dungeon filled with temporal spiders.
+[[Chronomancer (Metaclass)|Chronomancers]] ([[Paradox Mage]]s & [[Temporal Warden]]s) of any race not mentioned above start at Point Zero and will be offered the optional quest [[Future Echoes]] — not obtainable any other way. Should they accept, they will be taken to the [[Unhallowed Morass]], a dungeon filled with temporal spiders.
 ===Standard Start===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The '''starting zone''' for a new character is based on the choosen combination of [[race]] and [[class]], according to a set order. For example, while [[Cornac]]s normally begin the game at the [[Trollmire]], a human [[Archmage]] will start in [[Angolwen]] instead, since this class takes precedence in the zone order.
+The '''starting zone''' for new characters is based on the combination of their [[race]] and [[class]], according to a set order. [[Cornac]]s normally start the game at [[Trollmire]], for example, but a human [[Archmage]] will get [[Angolwen]] instead, since that class takes precedence in establishing the initial area.
-This is worth paying some attention to because some [[artifact]]s can only be found in specific places and a number of [[unlockables]] require access to certain areas, but some zones are only accessible for characters that start in them and that can be bypassed by elements of the build.{{ref|a}}
+This is worth paying some attention to, given that some [[artifact]]s can only be found in specific locations and a number of [[unlockables]] require access to certain areas, but some zones are only available to characters who start the game there and that can be bypassed by elements of the build.{{ref|a}}
-==Starting Zone Hierarchy==
+Below you will find every starting zone in the game, including those introduced by the ''[[Ashes of Urh'Rok|Ashes of Urh’Rok]]'' & ''[[Forbidden Cults]]'' DLCs,{{ref|b}} ordered by precedence. Short descriptions are provided, but you are advised to read the main article for each zone and check out the guides linked at the end.{{ref|c}}
-What follows is a list of the starting zones in the game, including those introduced by the ''[[Ashes of Urh'Rok|Ashes of Urh’Rok]]'' & ''[[Forbidden Cults]]'' DLCs,{{ref|b}} organized by order precedence—a character falling under two categories will start the game in the zone listed higher in the list.
+==Starting Zone Hierarchy==
-Short descriptions are provided, but the reader is advised to read the main article for each zone and check out the guides linked at the end.{{ref|c}}
+'''NOTE:''' Characters falling under two categories will start in the zone listed higher.
 ===Special Start===
-This section lists the special starting zones: some can only be accessed by those who start in them, others offer quests unique to those characters or can only be accessed later in the game—[[#Krog|the Ruins of Kor’Pul]] being the only exception.
+Some of the zones in this section can only be accessed by characters who start at them, offer unique quests or rewards to those, or usually become available later in the game—[[#Krog|the Ruins of Kor’Pul]] being the only exception.
 ====Undead (Ghoul and Skeleton)====
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 {{Main|Blighted Ruins}}
-Undead characters ([[Ghoul]]s and [[Skeleton]]s) of any class start the game at the level 3 of the Blighted Ruins and must climb up to the first level, where a boss waits. The fight is optional: you can exit straight to the worldmap and skip it altogether, but bear in mind that the ruins cannot be accessed again once you leave (even if you defeated the boss).
+Undead characters ([[Ghoul]]s and [[Skeleton]]s) of any class start the game at the level 3 of the Blighted Ruins and must climb up to the first level, where a boss awaits. The fight is optional, but bear in mind that the ruins cannot be accessed again once you leave.
 ====Drem====
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 {{Main|Ruins of Kor'Pul}}
-[[Krog]] characters of any class start at the Ruins of Kor’Pul. Choosing this race is thus a way to skip special zones in the beginning, supposing you can find a reason to do so—perhaps in order to make the game more challenging, considering that the extra experience from those additional zones is meant as a boost to classes that would otherwise have a rough early game.
+[[Krog]] characters of any class start at the Ruins of Kor’Pul, ''with one exception'': Krog [[Chronomancer (Metaclass)|chronomancers]] will get the [[#Chronomancers (Paradox Mages & Temporal Wardens)|standard start]] for that particular metaclass. Other than that, picking this race is a way of skipping special zones altogether—to make the game more challenging, perhaps, since the extra experience from those zones is meant as a boost to classes that might otherwise have a rough early game.
 ====Demonic (Doomelf, Doombringer, Demonologist)====
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 {{Main|Gates of Morning}}
-Characters belonging to the [[Celestial (Metaclass)|celestial metaclass]], [[Anorithil]] and [[Sun Paladin]]s, provided they do not belong to the races mentioned above, will start at the Gates of Morning. The boss will take the fight to the level 2 of a random T1 dungeon. Depending on where you end, it is advisable to use the Rod of Recall to escape the zone as soon as the boss is defeated.
+Characters belonging to the [[Celestial (Metaclass)|celestial metaclass]], [[Anorithil]] and [[Sun Paladin]]s, provided they do not belong to the races mentioned above and are ''not'' [[Ogre]]s, will start at the Gates of Morning. The boss will take the fight to the level 2 of a random T1 dungeon. Depending on where you end, it is advisable to use the Rod of Recall to escape the zone as soon as the boss is defeated.
 ====Archmage====

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 {{Main|Escape from Reknor}}
-[[Dwarf|Dwarves]] of any class not mentioned above start in the middle of a quest, fighting to [[Escape from Reknor]] along with their squadmate Norgan—and as with the undead start, the boss of the zone can be skipped, although it is possible to go back and face him later. After that, they arrive in the special Dwarf town, the [[Iron Council]], that can only be accessed by characters who got this beginning.
+[[Dwarf|Dwarves]] of any class not mentioned above start in the middle of a quest, fighting to [[Escape from Reknor]] along with their squadmate Norgan—and as with the undead start, the boss of the zone can be skipped, although it is possible to go back and fight him later. After that, they arrive at the [[Iron Council]], a special town that can only be accessed by dwarves.
 ====Yeek====