I'd actually say Bastok, and it's not out of any sort of nationalism, because a) I'm San d'Orian, and b) I effing hate Bastok.

The problem with Windurst is getting to the point where you can go to Valkurm--In Bastok or San d'Oria, you would have an easier time getting parties as a mage. In Windurst, everybody's a mage, and they want tanks.

Of course, if you don't plan on partying at low levels, it doesn't matter, but I find that it helps a lot.

Although I have to agree on the Bastokan ring--it's pretty much useless to a mage. The Windurstian Ring is much more useful, but you'd have to be a Taru or a Mithra and start in Windy to get it.

The other thing I don't like about Windurst is that it's a sod of a long way from Valkurm, where you'll want to level from lvs 10-19...you'd have to go from E Saruta to Tahrongi, circle around that infernally irritating mountain, go through Buburimu, which is just as dangerous as Valkurm, waste 15 minutes on a boat to Selbina, and then you're there...and then if you want to do any missions during lvs 10-19, you have to go back to Windy, which is the same infernal procedure.

That's what I like best about Sandy--it's closest to Valkurm. Just a straightforward jog through W Ronfaure and La Theine. Bastok's not far, but you do have to go through an extra map (Valkurm -> Konschtat, which has an annoying detour that's almost as bad as the mountain in Tahrongi -> North Gustaberg -> South Gustaberg -> Bastok.

It wouldn't be so bad if it were possible to get from the part of North Gusty that connects to Konschtat to the part of North Gusty that connects to Port Bastok, but there's a big frigging ridge in the way, and you have to detour through South Gusty.

Also, I generally find that the low-level (1-10) is easiest around Bastok, even if it's pitifully depressing and the prices at the AH are ridiculously inflated.