Where is the most optimal place to bind as a melee character?
 

I'm wondering what everybody's opinion is on where the most optimal place to bind would be for a level 60 melee character (tank, DPS, puller, or support) that will be doing casual farming in places like Seb, Velks, HS, DN, and SG but also raiding in places like Kael, VP, PoSky, Kunark dragons, ToV, etc.

Would it be best to just bind at the NFP bank so that you can grab CR gear (SoW pots, invis clickies, port money, back-up gear) and then hop over to EC to find a port, or has anybody thought of a more optimal place where you can still efficiently get back to your corpse?

I bind in Thurgadin near the bank. Hopping a port from GD isn't terribly difficult and you're somewhat centrally located in Velious near some of the higher end grouping areas. There really isn't a convenient location for kunark group/raiding. Getting to kunark is a cinch with OT hammer and there isn't usually a lot of traffic in FV for porting.

Thurg vs Freeport is probably the most ideal.

I always kept my bind in skyshrine for easy access to CS ring and easy to get a TL to bind and run to tov

Also has banking option if not kos (i always FD'd before dragons died)

I'm thinking Skyshrine is going to end up being a very good answer. You have easy access to get back to Kael and NToV without a port or to just get a TL like you said. There are rings in both CS and WL, but how hard is it to find a porter to get back out?

I bound skyshrine for a long period of time until my services were needed elsewhere. I very much enjoyed that bind spot. Never any issues finding ports out. Set up a recharge mule in WC and blow a cap charge if you have to.

Rivervale. Nice supplies to buy while waiting for rez, can make javelins and tonnes of druids passing through for rides.

If rez will be a while can go farm orcs for belts (Misty Thicket) or scalps and idols (Highpass).

Can farm / disarm guards for spears.

Plus excellent ambient music!

My vote goes to Skyshrine near the CS statue, hammer to OT for port and you can say whats up to Shajuk farming guardians when you die/TL

Why not in the bank?

Well lets say you die and are getting picked up at the CS ring, shortens that process. Plus i just like that room

Plus when you eventually become KOS you can zone right out.