Horde or Alliance?
If you had the chance to pick the Horde or the Alliance, without friends or guilds swaying you, which would you choose? I've played Horde for a few years and I could use a change of scenery. The Horde seem to have a lot more territory to sneak around in on a PVP server which would make those areas come to life. But I do like Org and UC as lot.

PVP or PVE?
Having played on a PVE server for years I find it to lack a certain amount of spice. Looking over my shoulder and wonder if I'm going to get ganked/attacked certainly adds spice to exploring and questing. I still have very fond memories of doing a warlock quest on the Alliance side, having to sneak, for the first time, into the Barrens. Very exciting to say the least!

Going to Ratchet as an Alliance doesn't mean anything on PVE. But going in as PVP is very dangerous and I've been lucky to get out without being killed half a dozen times.


What Server and Population?
I'm from California and want at least a Pacific server so I can interact with more players. Population-wise Medium is better than full because of long waiting times. Balance between Horde and Alliance is important I think. If I'm an Alliance who has the majority population do the Horde gank a lot more or is it safer in that respect? Would there be a reason to be in the Horde outnumbered 3:1 by the Alliance?

Gender?
I've always had female players because their nicer to look at. Although when I start my five "man" group of dwarves the paladin will be a dude because male dwarves are cool. The backup shaman will be lady dwarves.

Race?
The starting area influences me most on this. But how the femail players look comes up second.