Targossas vs Ashtan

Agrias

Seems legit. You're forgetting the best part of not belonging to either city is that you have to hear about people hanging out or not hanging out with Siduri.

Kyrra

Ashtan lets you keep a shop at least, @Agrias. I bet Targossas never offered you one there.

Siduri

@Agrias: Don't worry, I grace Cyrene with my presence every once in a while. Hashan too, until they catch me.

Agrias

@kyrra Targossas did offer me a shop.   "Little Shop of Horrors."  There was a weird talking plant, and Rick Moranis played Babel.

Xith

Honey, I Shrunk the Oblivion.

Mathonwy

@Blujixapug's analysis is probably the best one in the thread (really, everything he posts is aces), but to be honest, the forums aren't really the best place to get a sense of what each City is like, in part because there often appears to be a non-negligible amount of ill will OOCly toward people who actively play on each side from the people in the other. Whether it's valid/right/fair/just/whatever or not, it definitely exists, and it definitely colors the way in which faction-related discussions occur. In truth, each side has its merits and pitfalls, and as a good rule of thumb, each of the factionally-aligned classes are done better in their respective Cities than they are in the other Cities that allow them. If you have an interest in the Priest/Paladin types of classes, Targossas is probably the place for you. If you think Occultists are where it's at, you're best off in Ashtan (same is true of Mhaldor and Infernal/Apostate, but you asked about Targ/Ashtan, so).

Your experiences in each City, furthermore, are and will always be essentially what you make of them. People in Targ run the gamut from zealous, holy fervour crusade-y types to the quiet, helpful, live-and-let-live types to the I-was-Team-Evil/Chaos-but-seek-redemption types, and in Ashtan from the zealous, Chaos-y/freedom fighter-y types to the quiet, helpful, live-and-let-live types to the I-was-Team-Evil/Good-but-seek-redemption types. The extent to which you're going to find interaction and RP is going to be proportional to the extent to which you indicate you want to RP; if that's something you want to get into but don't know how, the easiest tried-and-true method to that end is just asking questions about ideology and doctrine and history and etc. over the City channel.

Each City has its own narrative nuances, of course, but in my experience a big part of the fun and RP each City offers is finding that out on your own.

Tahquil

There's a difference between getting in-depth information on the forums and getting a general overview. You have to remember that each person that comes through the rebirth process should technically have 18/17 years of knowledge already at their disposal. Knowing the basics of the theological/philosophical difference between the major cities should be a given.

Tharvis

Tahquil said:

There's a difference between getting in-depth information on the forums and getting a general overview. You have to remember that each person that comes through the rebirth process should technically have 18/17 years of knowledge already at their disposal. Knowing the basics of the theological/philosophical difference between the major cities should be a given.

Unless you rp an event right before your trial that gave you amnesia!

Penwize

Tharvis said:

Unless you rp an event right before your trial that gave you amnesia!

My brains were eaten by eagles during the trial.  Explains everything.

Cyla

When I first started playing, I joined Targossas. First day they had an event over the CT. A trivia competition, with credits for the prize, I believe. However you needed a 5k entry fee, and being a newbie I naturally couldn't afford it. So what did @Aurora do? Sponsored myself and a bunch of others who couldn't pay. We played, lost, and I got 5k from @Anedhel. 

 Then I joined Ashtan and asked over the CT what class I ought to be, and when the answer was "Serpent 'cause we need more snipers", then @Strata and @Rip whisked me away to teach me the subtle art of sniping, I knew I was home. 

So all in all, I had a good experience starting in both places. You have more freedom to say, enter and exit other cities as Ashtani though. However I still like the concept of watching a new city be born (Or perhaps congeal into a blob of discriminating zealotry). So it just comes down to whichever sounds more appealing. (Ashtan, 'cause we need more snipers.) 

 P.S. I cheated my way through the contest.

Anedhel

Poor Silas. Dude foots the bill for everyone, sooner or later.

Siduri

Should've stayed in Targossas bb, I'd have made a fine serpent out of you too

Maroman

Hmm. This is great information. Thank you