I was doing so calculating as to how long it would take for a person to run from a starting area to one of the other three.
I spawned in Monarch’s Bluffs, spoke to the Lleyson Reese, received a pair of boots, and then took off running for the Everfall starting area. It took about 5.5 minutes, but when I got there, Lleyson Reese wasn’t there. Oh well, I thought. Maybe I need to do one more quest in the starting area (or not turn in that very first quest).
So I took off running to the Windsward starting area. As soon as I crossed the border between Everfall and Windsward, the Sole Survivor mission flashed on my screen, and there was now a green marker in the Windward starting area. After arriving in the Windward starting area (it took about 7 minutes), Reese was there are ready to issue out some quests.
I chose not to speak to Reese in Windsward and then took off for First Light. This was more dangerous than the other two, but after three tries I made it (starting over so I could time it). It took around 12.5 minutes.
No green arrow and no Reese in the First Light starting area, so I took off for Monarch’s Bluffs. I arrived around 12.5 minutes later.
I decided to delete the character and spawn in again, hoping to get a new starting area. After skipping the tutorial (hit ESC as soon as you eat the ration to skip it), I was back in Monarch’s Bluffs. Oh well, I thought. Might as well time the run from Monarch’s Bluffs to Windsward.
As soon as I crossed the border between Monarch’s Bluffs and First Light, the Sole Survivor mission started again. FYI, it took around 9 minutes to go from the Monarch’s Bluffs starting area to Windsward’s starting area.
This leads me to believe that there are only two starting area: Monarch’s Bluffs and Windsward.
Can a Dev confirm or deny there are now only two starting areas?