Starting off and spawning in Ashes

LightKingS

To keep things short: Will you be able to choose your spawn location?

I wouldn't like to get a random spawn or having a spawn locked by race so that I would have to walk for 3 hours before being able to play with a friend on the release of the game, or even worse and only being able to play with friends in the late game, especially if the late game takes too long to be reached

Asgerr

Yes.

You will have a handful of starting areas to choose from. They are ideally race-based, but you get to choose through which portal you come to Verra.

The difference will only be the prevalence of certain races in the NPCs of the starting area.

Wololo

Yes you can choose the divine gateway to spawn trough no matter the race !

tautau

Divine gateways are portals located in the ruined cities of the four ancient races of Verra.[2]

Divine gateways are where players first arrive in Ashes of Creation.[3]
Each divine gateway is in proximity to one or more starting area.[2]
Players can choose their starting gateway.[4] This choice is not restricted by their choice of race.[5]
Tulnar characters have the same option of starting at any of the divine gateways as other races.[6][5][7]
The divine gateways were created by the Goddess of Creation in response to a warning from the Goddess of Fate that The Ancients and The Others would return from exile and seek retribution for their defeat at the hands of The Seven gods.[1][8]
Where players start, they enter this portal from another world called Sanctus. Sanctus is a place of no magic, low technology; and players are the first expeditioners that are coming through this portal into the world of Verra.[9] – Jeffrey Bard

BaSkA_9x2

In case you'd like to read more about this and other things, take a look at the Wiki.