I agree. When he first showed up in the walking shore I really liked him. He was strong and cared deeply for his flight. He showed intelligence and the willingness to not fight when he didn’t have to. (Escorting the eggs to the life shrine. He chose a stealth mission instead of fighting his way there like Wrathion wanted to do. He was willing to put himself on the line as a decoy in order to get his eggs to safety.)
However, he still sees compassion as a weakness. We see this with both ther Dracthyr and the Slitherdrakes. He doesn’t see them as people, but tools to be used.
He doesn’t like asking for help even when he’s infected with Shadowflame. It’s on the constant insistence of Ebyssian and the threat of death/corruption that he finally accepts Ebyssian’s help.
He’s slowly growing, but he’s definitely the kind of man that thinks the only emotion a man should show is anger.
He’s “Andriod Saga” Vegeta. He’s arrogant and thinks that rage is the only way to get things done.
Exactly this^^ have wrathion be his rebel and breakoff and help andiun in stormwing and let Sab lead the black dragons (I don’t think that will be the case though, wrathion is to written in to take his fathers place)
I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, and you said it yourself. The first what? 10-15 years of the game was dominated by “strong, male leads”.
BFA’s “lead character” would probably be Jaina, and the horde barely felt like they had a lead character at all tbh. Sylvanas had us go do some stuff for her. But that’s about it. Magni Bronzebeard??? I guess?? Lmao. Hanging out with Rastakhan for a bit was cool. Then, they threw Talanji in the trash anyway. Should’ve just left him alive.
SL felt kind of the same. There really didn’t feel like a “lead” at all. We were just kind of directed to go here, go there, etc.
I can see the discussion you’re trying to create, but I feel it’s kind of lackluster as it doesn’t feel like there’s a central lead much at all these days to be honest. We just have some NPC helping us in one patch, then it moves to another npc, and so-on.
I don’t really like or care about most of these characters so if deleting manly men from the game means that there will be more time for characters who are different from those, then I hope the anti-manly man conspiracy is real and successful
lol that reminds me of a story that dad told me when I was a kid.
I used to paint his toenails because he wouldn’t let me paint his fingernails (back then it was a thing of “no don’t do that” as a guy to paint your nails). Well him and mom went to a motorcycle event and dad was talking to another one of the party goers. He had on flip flops and dad had on sandles and both of their toenails were bright pink.
“You’ve got a little girl too, huh?” - dad
“Yeah I do.” - Other guy
I wasn’t there but dad told me about the story and I thought it was super cute. (FYI this was early 1990s I would say around 1995… god I’m old).
I do too, but it also feels weird. The community tends to start disliking the leads after a while. Whether it’s from bad writing or simply fatigue of the same character appearing over and over.
Green Jesus in Cata definitely felt like that. The community seemed very fatigued by Thrall. Sylvanas had a plethora of problems. And I think people were ready for a Khdagar break… until he got replaced by Magni… Lmao. “tHe WoOoOuNdS”.
Respectfully, I think those adjectives are exactly what make him a strong leader. Is your definition of strong brash and arrogant? Because there are plenty of leaders that could fit that narrative, both male and female.
Granted, yes… I havn’t turned on in game sound since bfa, but in moderation also works. Like Tyrion in Wrath, is a great example. He wasn’t in naxx or ulduar because he is actively fighting in icecrown vs the big bad.
I’d not use the words brash and arrogant to define a leader.
Decisive, determined, and possessing a strong willpower would be the main traits that Ebyssian is shaky on. He’s closer to an advisor that comments and follows along with other people’s ideas rather than leading or innovating.
I don’t think Ebyssian is so “shaky” on these traits as some people seem to paint him as.
I’d say his Highmountain version was more so (as his explicit role was that of an advisor), yet even then he takes action and guides us players through some stuff with decisiveness. But in his current version he is determined. Compassionate, sure, but also determined. Even the other 2 “leaders” disagree with him in several occasions, yet he follows through with his decisions, making the others follow him.
It’s his decisiveness and will power that prevails in regards to Emberthal’s participation, for example. Wrathion complains that’s not necessary to ask for her help (which is part of Ebyssian’s idea to build a future for the Dracthyr, not just seeking help due to weakness), but it’s his decision that prevails because he seems to be stubborn as a cow to see it through.
When Sabellian is hurt it’s him who makes the decisions and calls the shots, against Sabellian wishes.
I can agree with some of your points. Ebyssian is not very decisive, but I do find him to be the level-headed leader that the Black Dragonflight needs. He listens to his advisors, he learns from the past, and he is still gentle whilst maintaining firm ideas moving forward. He’s the perfect example of what a male leader should be in my opinion; he’s growing in strength and not losing his compassion.
