Yesterday, in a post on Metroblogging Azeroth, I wrote about home cities and why we choose them. Is it a purely functional choice, or is there something more? Does it require easy access to bank, auction house, training, or do you choose to set your hearthstone to a place that has deeper meaning for you?

Thunder Bluff, the Tauren home city in Mulgore, is a good example. This morning while I was having coffee before work I ran my baby rogue down there to pick up some weapons training. It is the most beautiful area, capturing perfectly the atmosphere of an idealized Native American village. All of the NPCs looked as though they were doing "real" things, rather than just standing around waiting to be talked to. It was fresh, colourful, clean, bright in the morning sun...and I felt such a sense of peace being there.

I would never set my hearthstone there, as one of the things that I need is easy access to the AH. But still...so lovely. That's one of the things that Blizzard has done extremely well, is the sense of place that they can convey. I've been in Stranglethorn Vale in the early morning, fishing (again while having breakfast before work), and sitting on that beach, with that pale-gold morning light reflecting off the water perfectly realised, I felt at peace. It's not the same as being there in person, obviously, but it is extremely impressive for a game to provide that level of immersiveness that you can enjoy a dawn, or a sunset, or the stars at night.

I've played Horde characters before, but dropped them all within the first ten levels. Now, though, I've discovered one whom I'm really enjoying, my troll rogue. Meet Shadowfyre, my Horde rogue pvp twink. :D

(Why, yes, I did intentionally choose one of "those" rogue names. You know, Shadow this and Darkness that. So sue me.)

I levelled her to 14 this weekend, and that included an afternoon clearing BWL and Onyxia on my main. I've never played a rogue before, and it's actually a lot of fun - all that extra damage, plus the ability to stealth, makes solo levelling much easier. Another night or so, taking her up to 16, and I'll see about twinking her out for PvP...it will be nice being on the winning (Horde) side for once.

Professions are herbalism and alchemy, with fishing on the side.