Is Malygos a completely wasted character?

[x_ponent]

Having read the lore books and played the game, it seems that Blizzard and Knaak tried to make Malygos a tragic character but messed up and just wasted someone who had soooo much more potential but killing him off.

Warcraft is a game of magic, and they killed off the Aspect of Magic.

I think the stories dealt with Malygos terribly, they didn't give him nearly enough screen time as it were, a few lines here, a mention there, but there was a whole story waiting to be told. Ysera ripped apart loads of demons at seeing Malorne's body, Malygos must have done a lot of damage to the legion and hunted a few black dragons before he retreated to isolation. In DotD Knaak mentions that even Deathwing respected the inner sanctum of Malygos, (although Knaak's judgement of the potential power of beings in WoW seems suspect to me at times, given his statement about Medivh and Azhara).

So basically, I think there should be another story written about Malygos, and retconned his involvement in the WotA to bring him in and have him suffer an injury or mental relapse when Deathwing removes the Demon Soul from Sargeras' spellwork above the Well.

[Lon-ami]

Well, we'll have Dragons of Outland, where I hope, much as you, that he gets some lore-love. Also, we have Mage, too, but I don't know if it's involved with the Nexus War, though I suspect it is.

In DoO we're supposed to see how he was cured, so let's have hope.

[x_ponent]

I still think they shouldn't have killed him off, he had the potential to be the most interesting along with Nozdurmo. Although as an Eternal, he'll probably come back.

[Lon-ami]

I think his spirit should endure, and teach the future generations about the magic.

Just like dead jedis :P.

I don't have any problem with his death. I didn't like it so much, but just because he wasn't involved too much outside his lair. From WotA, I always depicted him as a proud leader, leading his flight with him at its head, and not hidden in his lair.

[RobLore]

I think he died way to soon in the expansion.
I would still have liked a Dragonflight patch for 3.2 rather then the Coliseum :(

[Lon-ami]

But we only had 3 patches, so his death was well for 3.0. We had 4 stories, and I think they classified them well:

3.0: Nexus War
3.1: Yogg-Saron
3.2: Alliance vs Horde
3.3: Lich King

[x_ponent]

But we only had 3 patches, so his death was well for 3.0. We had 4 stories, and I think they classified them well:

3.0: Nexus War
3.1: Yogg-Saron
3.2: Alliance vs Horde
3.3: Lich King

They brought him out as an adversary but didn't actually delve into the blue dragon flight much.

[Lon-ami]

Know what I'd love?

That in some quest we get the chains of command of the enemy. I would love to see the position of each member and/or who is in the important positions.

Because it ain't the same being just another soldier than being the leader, and with the lack of lore in instances, it's hard to guess if you're killing just another guy or one of the big bosses. Also, titles give some "respect" to the character.

[Mikrakov]

Looking at Crystalsong Forest it certainly looks like they were going to put in a bunch of stuff to do with the blues and the Nexus war but obviously ran out of time. Makes me sad :(

I certainly felt like the Nexus war was an OK plot line, but not great, and definitely felt that something far more drastic should have actually happened when we killed a dragon aspect instead of just Alexstrasza showing up & essentially saying "grats".

[Lon-ami]

Yeah, Crystalsong should have been occupied by some Nexus troops, and quests involving the Silver Covenant and the Sunreavers. That would have made it ok.

Summarized: they should have had the same presence as the vrykul (including subraces).

Malygos' death was ok, but he should have had more presence outside his lair, directing his troops by an image or something like that. Interacting with the players should have been a must.

Hope DoO explains it and the start of the Nexus War. Would be nice if they started it way before WotLK, it would explain why it lasted that short.

[Gurtogg_Bloodboil]

Ysera ripped apart loads of demons at seeing Malorne's body, Malygos must have done a lot of damage to the legion and hunted a few black dragons before he retreated to isolation.

Not really. They cover the events in the novel. Basically as soon as the dragons roll out to engage the Legion, Deathwing swerves them and starts fucking everybody up. The Blues attack them, and using the power of the Demon Soul DW blasts Malygos off and then toasts his entire assembled flight. Malygos was basically insane after that happened and didn’t get better for millennia.

[Gurtogg_Bloodboil]

I guess it takes a long time to release the stuff. Storyline wise it hasn’t been a year since his death yet, and we can use some more information about the War. A “better late than never” type thing, as I would not say that it is now “too late” because the info and story contained therein will still be interesting.

Also, just because a story is set in the past does not mean it is no longer relevant. Look at almost every single novel, comic, and manga they released. Almost none of them were absolutely contemporary.

[Darkwind]

Malygos' death was fine. It was suitably tragic for an already tragic character. The Nexus War, however, was grossly underdeveloped.

[Tabarax]

Yeah the nexus war was not as good as it could have been. i still hold out hope for the azure sanctum to clear up the last loophole with it (IE what is going to be the aspect of magic)

[SomeRandomEvilGuy]

Yeah the nexus war was not as good as it could have been. i still hold out hope for the azure sanctum to clear up the last loophole with it (IE what is going to be the aspect of magic)

What makes you think there is going to another one? It doesn't appear to be absolutely necessary to have one, like with losing the Earth Warder.

[Omacron]

Well, despite being functionally immortal, aspects apparently select heirs (Nozdormu has, at least, not sure about the others). If there was no need for a new aspect, why would they select someone to take their place?

[RobLore]

Sindragosa, Sindragosa, Sindragosa

:P

[Gurtogg_Bloodboil]

Well, despite being functionally immortal, aspects apparently select heirs (Nozdormu has, at least, not sure about the others). If there was no need for a new aspect, why would they select someone to take their place?

In addition to being the Aspect, they also function as the leaders of their respective flights. Should they die, there would need to be a new leader.

[SomeRandomEvilGuy]

Well, despite being functionally immortal, aspects apparently select heirs (Nozdormu has, at least, not sure about the others). If there was no need for a new aspect, why would they select someone to take their place?

Ah, but Nozdormu is fighting a foe specifically linked to time itself. If he died, then it would be harder for the rest of the Bronze Dragonflight to maintain the timeline from the Infinate Dragonflight. An Aspect of Time may very well be essential in stopping the Infinates from destroying the timeline, where as Malygos was not fighting some magic destroying foe (he was trying to do that himself). Malygos did nothing for 10,000 years and magic did not significantly damage the world (unless you count the Scourge). On the other hand, Nozdormu is presumably fighting the Infinates - without him, they may succeed, which would have unknown consequences.

[Rolandius]

In lore I believe it says that even when a young dragon dies it shudders the planet or something. Malygos was a pretty important and powerful dragon.

[Tabarax]

hell azeroth must have been just trembling during the second war then. i just don't like the fact that killing the aspect of magic did nothing at all. no mention of it whatsoever

[ShinMaruku]

Well, despite being functionally immortal, aspects apparently select heirs (Nozdormu has, at least, not sure about the others). If there was no need for a new aspect, why would they select someone to take their place?
Aside from Nel'tharion I'm sure they all know something can kill them.
I bet some human will kill Deathwing. Humans are apparently dragon killers. (Given the recent info makes sense they were the dragon masters before they mutated.)

[Atomic_Piggy]

In a way, the need for an aspect of magic is redundant. As per the Warcraft 3 message, mortals have taken the mantel. Dalaran is in a way, the aspect of magic, as it regulates and promotes responsible magic use. And just like the aspect of magic, if someone uses magic for immoral purposes, they exile them (see Kel'Thuzad) and would probably kill them if they became a threat.

That's my take anyway. Azeroth has survived thousands of years without an Earth-warder or an aspect of magic, why would it need them now?

[Cantus]

In a way, the need for an aspect of magic is redundant. As per the Warcraft 3 message, mortals have taken the mantel. Dalaran is in a way, the aspect of magic, as it regulates and promotes responsible magic use. And just like the aspect of magic, if someone uses magic for immoral purposes, they exile them (see Kel'Thuzad) and would probably kill them if they became a threat.

That's my take anyway. Azeroth has survived thousands of years without an Earth-warder or an aspect of magic, why would it need them now?

The message was that the mortal races can defend and uphold their civilizations without help, I think the Aspects are there more maintenance and upkeep of an artificially constructed world. Azeroth wasn't a verdant paradise with millions of species (at least one hundred of which are sentient) before the Titans came, and it's more than likely that the Aspects and their flights are keeping things in a very tenuous balance. Not to mention I still feel Malygos' "sane" acts of insanity were caused by the DNA-corruption of the Black Flight leaking through the Nether Dragons that "cured" him. Not that I want another Old Gods did it moment, but really there are too many dangerous experiments taking place for something not to have gone wrong here.

I mean, what Aspect in their right mind just up and decides to remap Ley Lines established by the Titans themselves at the dawn of Azeroth's origination?

[x_ponent]

I mean, what Aspect in their right mind just up and decides to remap Ley Lines established by the Titans themselves at the dawn of Azeroth's origination?

Well Malygos wasn't really in the right state of mind.

I just think Malygos had so much potential, lore-wise, he's an ancient creature probably the only one still living (till he was killed) who was around when the TItans left, he's thousands of years older than the mortal races, even than the other dragons. Knaak killed off Tyran (the red elder consort) now they've killed off Malygos, I'd much rather they killed off Ysera and Alexstrasza too, they are the most boring and pointless characters among dragons.

They could have just wounded Malygos or put him into a trance and imprisoned him in the Emerald dream or something. I think they're messing the lore up too much for the sake of the game, taking out Malygos and Ner'zhul too.

[Atomic_Piggy]

I'd much rather they killed off Ysera and Alexstrasza

Knowing WoW we probably will.

[Darkwind]

I think they're messing the lore up too much for the sake of the game, taking out Malygos and Ner'zhul too.

Well, consider that without the game, there would be no lore. Just a thought.

Knowing WoW we probably will.

Ysera is almost a definite. Whether we kill her or not, I have no idea, but I guarantee she will be corrupted by the Nightmare and be a raid boss in the Emerald Dream expansion.

Alextrasza, on the other hand, I doubt. She has shown to be an ally throughout Wrath and likely into Cataclysm and beyond (To deal with Deathwing and, eventually, Ysera and Nozdormu). It would be anti-climactic to suddenly make her a villain.

[Yuber8900]

Deathwing's our next big boss.

We kill Nozurmudu because he's the Infinite's leader.

Ysera becomes corrupted and we kill her.

Alexstraza becomes overcome with grief at her fellow Aspect's demises and blames humans leading a war against them. With her death Kraus becomes the new Aspect of life. He also randomly gets a sex change because men cannot be the embodiment of life hurrrrrrrrrr!

[Lon-ami]

I think only Alexstrasza and Nozdormu should survive.

Aside from Nel'tharion I'm sure they all know something can kill them.
I bet some human will kill Deathwing. Humans are apparently dragon killers. (Given the recent info makes sense they were the dragon masters before they mutated.)

Wait. You gave me an idea.

What if it was Deathwing who "cursed" the vrykul to create the humans?

That would certainly be a plot twist :P (and could explain why black dragons like to take human form).

But yeah, just speculation.

[Rolandius]

I think only Alexstrasza and Nozdormu should survive.



Wait. You gave me an idea.

What if it was Deathwing who "cursed" the vrykul to create the humans?

That would certainly be a plot twist :P (and could explain why black dragons like to take human form).

But yeah, just speculation.

How would said curse work? Why would he create humans when he doesn't like anyone.

[Darkwind]

Nozdormu is likely going to die. His death has been foreshadowed for a long time, and with all the evidence pointing to him leading the Infinites, his death by our hand is ineveitable.

What I do believe would be interesting, though, is if Present Nozdormu helps us fight his future self, who is the real leader of the Infinites. I think that'd be an interesting battle. Future Noz would obviously be more powerful than Present Noz, so he enlists us to help ensure his own death. It would make Nozdormu quite a tragic character.

[Lon-ami]

How would said curse work? Why would he create humans when he doesn't like anyone.

Read it again. Carefully.

Vrykuls, and therefore humans, are good dragon slayers.

What I do believe would be interesting, though, is if Present Nozdormu helps us fight his future self, who is the real leader of the Infinites. I think that'd be an interesting battle. Future Noz would obviously be more powerful than Present Noz, so he enlists us to help ensure his own death. It would make Nozdormu quite a tragic character.

That's my point. We kill one of the Nozdormus, but the original one still survives. Deathwing is just killed, and Ysera gets corrupted and dies after being defeated and cured.

[ARM3481]

Read it again. Carefully.

Vrykuls, and therefore humans, are good dragon slayers.

Not really. Considering Deathwing's betrayal during the WotA and the rampant killing of other dragons by his flight over the ages, then the battles of the Nexus War, statistically the most effective dragon-slayers on Azeroth are probably other dragons.

The whole "humans are good at killing dragons" thing feels like it's plucked from some other fantasy universe. Really, what precedent even exists in Azeroth that establishes humans as particularly good at slaying dragons? The Black Dragonflight (and Deathwing personally with the Demon Soul) seem to have racked up the highest dragon kill-count, followed probably by the Blue Dragonflight with the Nexus War against the other flights at Wyrmrest and the Scourge attacking the Dragonshrines, then maybe the Alliance (which wasn't entirely human) during the time when the horde controlled Alexstrasza (which doesn't really count the same way, since the orcs were mostly flying around on young drakes rather than full-grown dragons, and most of their mounts weren't portrayed as having grown into much more than clever beasts at that time).

Otherwise it's indicated that historically, Azeroth's dragons have avoided contact with mortals, including humans. So really there isn't any particular evidence suggesting that Azerothian humans are somehow exceptional at dragonslaying. That's just a holdover from the fact that in most other fantasy universes they're the ones slaying dragons.

[Lon-ami]

Don't worry, ARM, I say that just because someone commented Vrykul seem to be good dragon slayers :P.

Also, the best non-draconic dragon slayers would be the wildhammer dwarves, no doubt!

[Omacron]

I actually agree that Vrykul are good dragon slayers. Good PROTO dragon slayers. They're good at slaying BEASTS, but not sentient creatures. After all, so many of their houses are covered in proto-dragon skins and trophies it'd be silly NOT to call them dragon hunters.

[ShinMaruku]

How would said curse work? Why would he create humans when he doesn't like anyone.
Well they can be just as insidous as he is they are extremly adaptable and they are the only race that has a ego coming close to his.
He doens't have to like them for them to be a tool.
On the vrykul dragon slaying thing, they were the masters of the protodragons and if they were put as defense for Azeroth by the Titans they could be dragon slayers quite easily.

[Lon-ami]

What if the titans created them to hunt the dragons?

You know, hunt the dragons to modify them and create the new dragonflights that would watch over the world :P.

[ARM3481]

Well they can be just as insidous as he is they are extremly adaptable and they are the only race that has a ego coming close to his.

Humans on Azeroth aren't any more or any less capable of being insidious, egotistical or otherwise than most of the other races.

[ShinMaruku]

Given that the other races pay dearly for having massive egos, the humans have suffered no such set back.
I would say they have a higher propensity since they have short genrations and a penchant for conquest.

[ARM3481]

Given that the other races pay dearly for having massive egos, the humans have suffered no such set back.
I would say they have a higher propensity since they have short genrations and a penchant for conquest.

They suffered the loss of Stormwind to the Horde because a human Guardian dismissed the warnings of her elders in the Council out of hand, and they lost Lordaeron to the Scourge partly because of their leaders' general dismissal of the rising threat until it was too late to prevent, followed by the actions of their human prince.

If losing half of one's civilization to genocidal invaders twice within a generation isn't a setback, then what is? Azeroth's races have proven pretty equally capable of succumbing to a reckless lack of foresight and enduring horrific losses as a result.

[Rolandius]

Don't worry, ARM, I say that just because someone commented Vrykul seem to be good dragon slayers :P.

Also, the best non-draconic dragon slayers would be the wildhammer dwarves, no doubt!

I have to say the Burning Legion. Who knows how many they killed during that war in Northrend.

What if the titans created them to hunt the dragons?

You know, hunt the dragons to modify them and create the new dragonflights that would watch over the world :P.

I think the titans wouldn't hunt them as they were "given" their gifts. Plus it was only one dragon they needed I believe, Galakrond.