Racial Starting Areas

[Ephraim]

It's been made clear that each race will have a starting area distinct from the other races. Those areas will be geographically distinct. We've also heard, however, that the Asuran gate network will connect all of the major cities in Tyria. Has there been any mention of how early in a character's development he or she will be able to meet up with new-ish players of other races.
Specifically, my wife and I are excited about this game. She would most like to play a Sylvari and I would most like to play a Norn or a Charr. We'd prefer to play together, though. If it takes an hour to clear the starting area and then we can meetup someplace, that's fine. If it takes a week of gameplay before we could begin campaigning together, I'd just play a Sylvari.
Has there been any information relayed about this?

[Centaur]

Hi Ephraim, welcome to these forums. To answer your question, yes, ArenaNet have stated that, as soon as you're out of the tutorial (approx. level 2) you will be placed in your race-related starting area in the persistent world with everyone else. This starting area will be in or near the major city for your race. You have absolutely no obligation to do the quests in your starting area before you are able to use the asura gate in that city. So if you want, you can travel straight to your spouse's starting area once you're out of the tutorial.

[Armory]

Oh dude that's awesome, I really like the Norn snowy areas and atmosphere, although I really like the human's as well.. But man, playing a Human Guardian in the Norn area would be pretty sweet.. Might have to go over there for a bit.

[Centaur]

Armory, do note that, if you want to progress your own Personal Story, you will have to adventure in your own race's starting area. But it's definitely not required to do so...

[Armory]

Ah yeah I didn't think about that, either way though it'll be my own personal 'storyline' I make about my character traveling off to the distant lands.. RP nerd slightly, so should be fun!

[Centaur]

That's the fun thing about the way GW2 is set up... you can if you want to. And you can always come back to advance your Personal Story at a later time, should you so desire.

[Ephraim]

That's the fun thing about the way GW2 is set up... you can if you want to. And you can always come back to advance your Personal Story at a later time, should you so desire.

Indeed. If travel is that easy, we'll bounce back and forth between pursuing each of our characters' personal stories. Being able to meet up early in the game is the important part.

[Risugami]

If you only follow your personal storyline, you'll me the other races on lvl30 first (if no other races' players visit your areas). At least that's what I read somewhere.

[hondroid]

I like the Iksar Field of Bone. Oh wait... wrong game.

[Sirthomas77]

Well shoot, now I'm gonna have to convince both my friends to come to Norn starting area so that I can follow my personal story, which I am very excited about .

But, if I get them to come to Norn starting area, will they be able to follow me on my personal story from start to finish?