Zero risk difference only after you’ve hit 50. The areas have different minimum levels, so if you made a new character and wandered into hawezar, you’ll have level 40 mobs around.

All altar and map progress is saved to your account starting yesterday, not until yesterday.

And all progress from any character you log in with will be transferred to your account. So it doesn’t matter which order you sign in with.

New player general tips:

• always play however you find most fun, if you’re looking to be efficient or aren’t sure where to start…

• you get your mount at the very beginning of act IV if you want to get more mobility.

• if you just do the main story (yellow quest markers), you’ll be slightly under leveled by the end of the game.

• get renown up at least up to level 1 for each region. The extra skill points and bonus XP are great

• probably the best things to do for renown are strongholds and side quests. Strongholds are usually 100+20 renown for the included waypoint. Side quests that are also in dungeons will yield 20+30 renown

• Make sure you level up your healing potions every 10ish levels!

• salvaging gear will give you mats you’ll really want later in the game. You’ll probably have enough gold and can skip selling