The starter islands were not actually removed. I know you can find them down by the docks.

However, the continuity of the storyline has changed. I argue that the new way detracts from "hooking" storyline for new non-elder scrolls players. This caused a major disjointed storyline. The prophet still has the same dialogue as when players were on the island and there is no sense of purpose when you start. Its just go out and do whatever. So in the end Zenimax sacrificed storyline for player freedom. Why not more of a balanced approach?

Keep the starter islands and keep the monsters around the city the same level. Just allow a captain standing at the dock of the starter islands transport people to the city instead. It would have been a much easier and they wouldn't have make 6 zones obsolete 2 weeks before release. It wouldn't have destroyed the starter island experience.

I'm sorry, but ESO did themselves a huge disserve with this change. I loved the starter areas for all 3 factions and it really hooked me to continue playing. I think some MMO players to the elder scrolls franchise may not get as hooked with the changes. I know as people start playing this game at release they won't even know what the starter islands were and miss out on a good story.

The default should be the starter island, missing them out should be something a player selects themselves if they want to miss them out.

Hopefully simple to make it this way.

I agree with you complete Zooce!

I agree, was disappointed when I made a new character.

So much of the NPC dialog involved you dropping out of the sky into the water, mentioned by several NPCs... and yet, now, on those starter islands we'll just arrive by boat like nothing's unusual?

Agreed. /feedback it in the game and they may change it.

Wow, do you guys not know that the starting islands are all still there?

You can talk to an npc in each area when you get there to go tot he starting islands (And it's recommend you do for your characters, to get the skyshards, etc).

They did not remove them, just made them optional.

So much for storytelling

@stiler

Please re-read my original post. You missed the part where I said the islands are really still there, but the storyline isn't as good now.

I think most people do know this they just think it is more logical making the starter islands the default from which you can escape, rather than the other way around.