Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Kiivar86]

Hmm, wouldn't Tyrande be a good guess here? Like, Tyrande switched from vengence for redemption. If the time-skip is a thing, I can see a scenario in which the new seed from Ardenweald has been planted and thus peace brought back to the night elves. Tyrande mission is therefore essentially over, and she can sacrifice her life to bring Ysera back as she may have a purpose to serve. Life for life - balance must be maintained Also, it's a good opportunity to develop Elune's theme. We have seen that both moons got a visual upgrade (that might be a reach on my side), but I can imagine it being done because Elune themes intensify. I'd much prefer to go with "magical" ways rather than pure Titans, as that's more into fantasy imo.

Isn't part of the thing in the Dragon Isles about the seed and seeking out Ysera's daughter for help? I don't think it'd have been planted yet.

Like I said above, loading screens aren't always indicative, unless Margrave Krexus had more than three appearances before dying that I'm not aware of.

[Plehnard]

What is the folks opinion on the new loading screen with Alex and the crew?

Particularly the identity of the Green dragon in their visage form in the back. I've seen conflicting opinions on whether it is Merithra (based on her taking a lead role in the Green flight's story), or whether it is Ysera (facial markings, horns, and moon-crest-thing are a dead giveaway, but why would they have her revival plastered on a loading screen unless it's a loading screen for after her revival?).

There are also some datamined weapons with Ysera's name in the file-name which seem to match this figure's armour.

I just hope it's Merithra and the Artist took some creative freedom with it or knows details with her we don't. Just replacing her would be pretty stupid and cruel.

[Ersula]

I just hope it's Merithra and the Artist took some creative freedom with it or knows details with her we don't. Just replacing her would be pretty stupid and cruel.

It's clearly Merithra. Ysera's elf (not sure if its even supposed to be a night elf. It has night elf tattoos but its a blood elf model) form is green & purple. I guess I never thought of it before but if they chose their visages millennia ago as suggested by the Chromie Story why are so many of them High elves? Those didn't exist back then.

[Nebron]

I think people are reading way too much into this.

It's just a fancy loading screen portraying each big Flight character, Ysera being on it does not entail anything that we don't already know.

Well yeah, could be true. But then again, why would they bother to re-create her appearance in human form, once it's already been established in the past?
We know Nozdormu's previous appearance and it has barely changed, and yet he is probably being set up for something big this expansion - so why would they put Ysera with a completely different look if they had no bigger plans for her? Also, my money is still on Merithra.

Also I'm pretty tired of Ysera, to be honest her plot was never really that much of a fun; I don't think they were ever able to build a proper emotional engagement with that character. She dies in Legion, mkay - but it's the emotional music in cinematic that makes it dramatic. And then we have her 'rebirth' in Shadowlands - have anyone actually been waiting for that moment, I mean... she didn't do much in SL. Just scrap that character and let the concept of death be an actual death. Replace her with her daughter and give her a new, unique, exciting story.

[Edoll]

Maybe Ysera is tied to the seed and when it blooms in Azeroth she’ll be there too. Like a mythical dryad.

[Ersula]

Well yeah, could be true. But then again, why would they bother to re-create her appearance in human form, once it's already been established in the past?
We know Nozdormu's previous appearance and it has barely changed, and yet he is probably being set up for something big this expansion - so why would they put Ysera with a completely different look if they had no bigger plans for her? Also, my money is still on Merithra.

It's just a fancy loading screen portraying each big Flight character, Ysera being on it does not entail anything that we don't already know.

Do none of you remember what these characters look like. The person on the loading screen looks exactly like Merithra and looks nothing like Ysera.

[Civciv]

Merithra doesn't have blue eyes tho.

[Makorus]

Do none of you remember what these characters look like. The person on the loading screen looks exactly like Merithra and looks nothing like Ysera.

Uh, the character on the loading screen looks more like Ysera than Merithra? Just look at the eye markings. The ones from Merithra are vastly different, Yseras are the same. Ysera has the weird forehead ornament thing. The horns look more like Yseras as well, with them slightly going outwards towards the top. The hairstyle also more closely matches Yseras (but that is probably irrelevant).

Ysera is also the only green Dragon with blue yees.

[Civciv]

Uh, the character on the loading screen looks more like Ysera than Merithra? Just look at the eye markings. The ones from Merithra are vastly different, Yseras are the same. Ysera has the weird forehead ornament thing. The horns look more like Yseras as well, with them slightly going outwards towards the top. The hairstyle also more closely matches Yseras (but that is probably irrelevant).

Ysera is also the only green Dragon with blue yees.

I agree. That's literally Ysera.

[Xilurm]

Merithra also used a generic model.

Not to crazy to think that she will get a unique model for Dragonflight.

[Raetary]

Well yeah, could be true. But then again, why would they bother to re-create her appearance in human form, once it's already been established in the past?.

Established?
Her visage was a recolor of Alex but with druid shoulderpads.

They gave her a unique outfit to set her apart, as they did with everyone else.
Besides, all of her core design features are all still present:
- bright horns
- markings
- moon earings
- moon tiara thing
- bob hairdo with tail
- dark blue eyes (as of SL)

Again, the art does not tell us anything that didn't already knew.
All it tells us that 1) she'll be involved, which we already knew she would and 2) she'll get a new model which we knew she would.

- - - Updated - - -

Merithra also used a generic model.

Not to crazy to think that she will get a unique model for Dragonflight.

A model that just looks identical to Yseras model design, down to the tiniest detail?
Including details that shouldn't be there, like her dark blue eyes?

[Khaza-R]

I'll just chime in and say its Merithra.

I think should Ysera come back she will definitely have an aesthetic that reflects how she's bound to the weald instead of the Emerald Dream.

[Makorus]

I mean, Merithra is literally already in the files, and she has the same model she has in BFA.

The Green Dragon on the loading screen is Ysera.

[Kiivar86]

I mean, Merithra is literally already in the files, and she has the same model she has in BFA.

The Green Dragon on the loading screen is Ysera.

Not out of the realm of possibility they simply haven't gotten to her model to update it yet.

That said, I'd lean toward it being Ysera and wouldn't give it much important anyway.

[micwini]

It doesnt matter who it is on the loading screen. Krexus was on the loading screen. He got killed offscreen 2 hours into leveling. It could be ysera. It could mean she gets revived, or not. It could be Merithra, it could not be. I think it is OK for Ysera to be there, even when she will play no role in DF. She is after all the most popular green dragon. No one knows Merithra.

[Fahrad Wagner]

What if it's Merithra after she's elevated to the rank of Aspect? Yes the moon crescent jewelry is very similar to Ysera, but it's not the same tint or exact shape. Eyes could be explained through a connection to Ardenweald and Ysera passing some of her wisdom or powers to Merithra. After all, she's her daughter, it's not too crazy to think she'd look like her mother especially when occupating the same role?

I'm conflicted on this, part of me sees Ysera, the other thinks it could be an updated Merithra which doesn't have her new model yet in the files

[Makabreska]

Blizz talks about Prot Palas:

Avenger's Shield not silencing is a bug.
Divine Steed has a bug that increases its cooldown by 15 sec.
Avenger's Shield is intentionally not granting Holy Power.
Shield of the Righteous uptime will be constrained, but some defensive power will be removed out of SoTR and into other forms of mitigation.
Divine Toll will likely be updated due to the removal of Holy Power from Avenger's Shield

[Hitei]

A model that just looks identical to Yseras model design, down to the tiniest detail?
Including details that shouldn't be there, like her dark blue eyes?

Imagine that, a daughter looking very similar to her mother.

It's also not identical. The crescent isn't the same crescent, it's a new smaller more elongated one. The hair isn't Ysera's typical high ponytail, it's a longer, thicker braided style. The eye marking aren't Yseras (merithra doesn't have consistent markings), the skin color isn't the same, and perhaps more improtantly, unlike the other four who all have outfits directly in line with/updated from their previous versions--the green dragon here is wearing an outfit that is absolutely nothing like Ysera's previous clothing in shape, style, or color.

Ysera was specifically soulbound to Ardenweald and can't leave without "a great sacrifice". She also phrases her potential return as a "one day" thing. They're not going to bring her back 1-2 patches later. Follow the simple story beats, guys. They've been building Merithra as someone struggling to step into her mother's role for a couple expansions now, and Ysera was firmly sidelined.

They lost their Aspect, Ysera being killed in Legion--and now she is in Ardenweald, in the Shadowlands, and she remains bound there. So her daughter, Merithra, has had to try to take up some of that mantle and lead, but she faces questions about herself and her role as well. So the green flight has a lot of things to answer and explore in their legacy.

is Danuser's exact description of the green flight's story in Dragonflight. The answer to who Merithra is and her difficulties living up to her Mother's role are not going to be "Ysera comes back and retakes her place, and Merithra goes back to not having to worry about anything and is just a dragon".

It is very likely just Merithra's new model, given actual similar horns to her mother rather than default demon hunter asset horns, given a proper dragon eye glow like Alex and Nozdormu instead of the generic night elf one, and given a crescent similar to her mother's.

[Ilir]

So we know that Tyrande is going to give Merythra the seed of Elune infused with SL power + dead night elves.

We know that Ysera told Tyrande to give it to her daughter because she will know where to bring the seed to secure it (aka the dragon islands, which makes me wonder how Ysera knew there were open again).

I guess we will get a questline (maybe prepatch ?) where Merithra meets with Ysera and she gains some of the power from her mother... explaining the same outfit and blue eyes.

Or we won't get any of it and it's just a complete redesign of Merithra and blizzard will tell us that "she decided to change her visage form to match her mother".

[Khaza-R]

I am trying to limit how much of DF I spoil for myself but the more and more I see from the zones, the more Shadowlands looks worse in retrospect. Dragonflight so far feels like the real successor to BfA and SLs was just some weird and mostly unnecessary side story we were forced to detour with for 2 years.