For a challenging playthrough I like using the seed "Irongate"

The Boss stones (starting area) is placed on a very small (meadows) island. Far enough from mainland, that it requires you to build a raft to be able to reach the rest of the world.

You start off secluded and cut-off in a small bit of meadows and everything you would normally be seen, in a meadows, can be found there.. and the Boss stones of course.

Once you manage to scrape together the materials to build a house and a raft, you have to decide the direction you want to sail... The closest, most obvious shore is immediately met with Black Forest, or go the opposite way, and a very LONG raft trip to get to Eikthyr Altar.

Sail North from there to find the Merchant, in a rather peculiar spot.

Great map where nothing is handed to the player, and even locks the player into the starting area until the player can craft their own freedom from it.