For roleplayers, it is difficult to tell others from what country they are, while keeping in role.
“Greetings sir, where were you born?”
“Ich bin deutsch, ich möchte diese Realm mal probieren”
“Keep in role please!”
Therefore, i think may be quite handy to link in-game area’s to real european countries.

I was thinking about something like this:

England: The Englanders will receive Hillsbrad Foothills
Scotland: The Scots resaive Loch Modan
Wales: Cymru yn derbyn y: Mulgore
Ireland: …
Netherlands: Nederlanders krijgen The Wetlands (that’s me baby)
Belgium: …
Germany: …
France: Les Hommes français recevant Elwynn Forest (vineyards, yum!)
Spain: Españoles recibe the Barrens
Portugal: Português recebe Westfall
Italy:…
Switzerland: Das Schweizzer bekommen / Les Suisses recevant Winterspring
Austria: Österreicher bekommen Dun Morogh
Denmark: Danskerne kan have the Hinterlands
Norway: Nordmenn kan ha Howling Fjord (what else?)
Sweden: Svenskarna får ha Grizzly Hills
Iceland: Íslendingar hafa Icecrown (Don’t complain, you guys got the toughest area! :P)
Russia: Borean Tundra (is there a tundra in Russia?)
South Africa: Suid-Afrikaanse kry Stranglethorn Vale

I left four countries open, i couldn’t come up with something…
Anyway… in this way, people will remain in their role for longer of course:
“Good Priest, where were you born?”
“Hillsbrad Foothills, and i am no good, i am shadow specced!”
“Keep in your role man!”

Sorry for any spelling Errors :P
If anyone doesn’t agree or wants to add something: feel free to do that.
Oh, and if you want to piss me off because i made your language look bad, feel free to do that too :P
I am off to questing, byebye.

ps: When i log back in tomorrow, i want four pages of squabbling and arguing gamers and a link on the front page of WoW-Europe :P



EDIT:

I would like to expand the discussion to cities too.

- I think Stormwind would be a good reflection to any city with a huge harbour, like Rotterdam or London.
- Goldshire would be a good reflection of any touristical village, like: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. (been there)
- Shattrath would really reflect a city that is located in the middle of nowhere, without any good infrastructure... Anyone knows such a city?
- Kharanos would be a good reflection of something like Napapiiri (google maps, finland --> polar circle)
- Human starting zone would truly be some quite vally in France.
- Valgarde could represent a military base in Norway :P

And what about the instances?!? :))

Come on people, ideas, ideas!!

I'm sure my German Colleagues here at the office won't mind if I nominate Desolace as a match for Germany ;-)

/disappears before their attention is drawn to this thread