I have alts all over the place but overall North Vern is best for two reasons
It’s right in the middle with 2 ports so very good for islands and horizontal contest.
Currently end game contents are in South Vern which is effectively the same continent.
But the bad side is that cube/boss rush and crafting locations are horrible. Everything is spread apart and almost everything is far away from the Triports.
If I just look at main city map layout I like Arthentine and Luterra castle.
But my main is mostly in Vern due to field boss and chaos gate, so I don’t bother going elsewhere.
My alts are usually in Kalaja because of unas, then I cba moving them after I’m done.
Each alt had their continent while I was doing wandering merchants, but since I’m done with rapport, it’s just Kalaja now.
North Vern. In the middle of the map and you can port both sides of the continent. Easily the best and most accessible place on the map
Then for traveling Bifrosts you setup one in Feiton for the Feiton daily grind and preferable 2 travel bifrosts in Punika/Yorn and Shushire, leaving 1 or 2 for whatever you feel like
Every city seems to have at least one NPC that’s annoying af. I actually despise that NPC you’re talking about and avoid that part of Punika like the plague
i don’t like the place either, but you have to go there, if you want to upgrade your items. (im there with alts). my home location on main is currently north vern, because of south verne, which was the latest solo content.
but if i would choose a place (not because of the latest content) it would be luterra. because of the answers i remember, that you dont need to travel much around there.
at north verne, rohendel, feiton and punika, you need to teleport to the npc for honing
at Arthentine and yorn, the boss rush, cube, tower etc. are not at the same place, like chaos dungeon, npc for honing etc
about south verne, i didnt know you can set your teleport there. i guess i missed it somehow