You choose what order you tackle content in. If your character is part of the Ebonheart faction, you can skip merrily right off to an Aldmeri Dominion zone to do quests and level.

And that's good? What's the point in having a levelling system if you don't have zones laid out for each level?

Back before some certain changes in this game, there was a set pattern of zones to level in. For example, in Ebonheart Pact you would begin in Stonefalls, then Deshaan, Shadowfen, Eastmarch, The Rift and then Coldharbour. If you leveled multiple characters, you had to do the same exact zones in the same exact order up to level 50 and finish the main storyline. After level 50, you had Veteran levels which were annoying as hell because it took an entire zones worth of content just to level up again. When you finish the main storyline, you have an opportunity to begin questing in the next factions zones to "experience their story." After the second faction, you had to quest in the last factions zone to "experience their story." Recent changes removed Veteran ranks and now the extra leveling has been worked into a system similar to Borderland's badass system called "The Champion System." Champion points are now shared across all characters and level 50 is the max. When you play this game for a length of time, you appreciate the freedom update brings.

[quote]Back before some certain changes in this game, there was a set pattern of zones to level in.[/quote] Sounds fine to me. That's like most games.

Now I can't just go back and 1 shot my way thru all the delves I left in the first area. Now if I want I can start my journey in skyrim and work my way out,not have to go thru 4 areas to get there. Tired of the snow? Go somewhere tropical and quest. Tired of tropical? Go to the desert. The areas are to large to just have typical area progression

[quote]Now I can't just go back and 1 shot my way thru all the delves I left in the first area. Now if I want I can start my journey in skyrim and work my way out,not have to go thru 4 areas to get there. Tired of the snow? Go somewhere tropical and quest. Tired of tropical? Go to the desert. The areas are to large to just have typical area progression[/quote] I don't see why any of that should really be an issue. Isn't there a multitude of different areas you can quest at any given time anyways? A zone progression system worked for WoW for 12 years...

When you started an orc character, you had Durotar as a zone. Alternatively, you could go level in Mulgore, Eversong, and Tirisfall Glades for those same levels. What areas are equal in level to Stonefalls? Glenumbra and Auridon. You had a choice in where you wanted to level, we didn't. We were forced into our factions 1-16 zones time and time again because while we have huge well made zones, we weren't given those alternatives. Not all of them are that pleasing to look at either. Shadowfen is one of the worst zones as far as aesthetics go... unless you feel at home in a swamp.

Iunno. Just really doesn't seem like a big deal to me. 16 levels out of 50... But good for you if you wanted that.

No, I just like being able to go to Daggerfall areas or Aldmeri Dominion areas to level up as opposed to same old Ebonheart Pact zones I've done multiple times to reach max level. It's also nice that at max level, no matter where I am I can get the highest quality ores/leather/cloth/wood.