While I haven't owned a new Nintendo console since the Wii, I was interested in Breath of the Wild from a design standpoint even before it was released. There's a lot of little things you pick up about their design choices if you have the eye for it; how the world consists of a number of individually made set pieces in order to fill out a large map with stuff to do, for instance.

At least one of my friends had his interest piqued in the game just for its more anthro take on the Rito. I'll have to ask him about his thoughts on the Hyrule Warriors spinoff for it. Alas, my own fan character stuff for the franchise tends to be less feathered, and while I'm increasingly contemplating getting these ideas in my head depicted somehow, it's not in my budget to do so for the foreseeable future.

If you don't mind me asking, do your characters having an affinity for exploration have any relation to your usual line of work, or is it simply an aspiration of yours?

I've been enjoying all of the various Zelda Lore which includes game design and so forth so I can confirm what you've seen as well as your friend. What's your fan character?

I am afraid my line of work does not involve this kind of exploration but it is something I love and something I wish was in my budget to do. I love getting to visit places and discover things about them. It's something my parents did with my family when I was young, and it's something I hope to do with my wife and daughter as she grows up.

Dominus tecum

Thanks for taking an interest! I've had a few different ones, but the character I did specifically for BotW's Post-Calamity setting was a yet-unnamed Hylian courier based on, and possibly descended from, the recurring postman character. Since travel is dangerous and remaining settlements far apart, I imagined a lot of mail in the setting gets delivered by Rito instead due to their ability to fly, but he maintains a strong dedication to his work and a sense of rivalry with his avian counterparts due to how valuable his family legacy is, and wanting to believe he can live up to the challenge as long as he keeps trying.

His inability to naturally fly hampers this, but he uses a combination of a good pair of running shoes and a wingsuit-like deployment of his cloak (implied to be a pair of Pegasus Boots and the Roc's Cape, respectively), to get as near to flying as any wingless creature has yet been able to. He doesn't do much fighting, but has learned a few tricks to keep monsters and brigands at bay, and is especially adept with boomerangs and other thrown weapons that make use of his momentum.

I hear you about the expense of travel as a hobby. Especially if the places one wants to see are at all popular with tourists. Not advisable in these conditions, but I find a lot of my own interest in discovering places on the cheap has been satisfied by checking my local area for museums and such. Where I am has a number of free and low-cost places that I enjoyed going to before things started closing up.

Well, the Rito can fly, but except for Revali, they always had to rely on natural up-drafts and jumping off of cliffs, so I expect foot/hoof traffic still manages a lot of mail. Still, like your equipment description there! Nice and creative!

We've done one of the Museums here back before the latest big surge. If we go anywhere for a while it'll be too the less populated rural areas nearby. There are plenty of parks to visit. It's just a little cold for it right now.

Dominus tecum

Happy Rito! :D

What's funny is I was JUST watching that zelda theory video this week! The Zonai are super interesting! It's awesome to see that mystery inspire this awesome commissioned piece, Howlite did a phenominal job and you look great as a rito Matthias! Hope to see more of this feathered form :D

Yeah, the Zonai theories were real popular for a while especially after the BotW 2 Trailer last year. I've half a mind to draw some connections there myself with my pictures, but I'm hesitant to do anything only to find out it's evil Ganon stuff I just took on!

And you will see more of my Rito self next year. Too much fun not to. Howlite really nailed it, and I'm sure I'll try for them again someday.

Dominus tecum

I’ve been on a strange Zelda theory binge lately, so this is kinda funny to me. Amazing look, btw. Never thought of a Rito with a woodpecker design. I hope the Zonai are explored in the sequel.

I first got the idea because  Essence_of_Rapture was doing Rito-ize your character commissions (how I got these two: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/34339228/ and https://www.furaffinity.net/view/33822972/ ). My Rat character lives in a tree, so Woodpecker made sense to me. Now I really love the look and am eager to get more, both from EoR and Howlite!

There's just so much awesome Zelda Theory stuff out there. I wish I could take a month to just play through the games to experience them all and see these things for myself.

Dominus tecum

Amazing! I’m gonna get a Rito version of my sona when I get the chance for sure!

You’re not the only one. I’m still planning to buy Skyward Sword, A Link between worlds, and more!

Nice, definitely do so!

Skyward Sword is a lot of fun, though be prepared for a very compact world and a very linear story-line. There's a few side quests, but not many. But the story, gameplay, and characters are excellent and make game replay worthwhile.

I haven't tried Link Between Worlds yet, but I did have fun playing Link's Awakening back when they released it on the Switch.

Dominus tecum

Now I’m even more curious.

Skyward Sword is the first Legend of Zelda in the official timeline and tells the story of how the Master Sword was forged, of who the various Princess Zeldas are, and why there are so many Zeldas and Links. Also has one of the creepiest villains.

Dominus tecum

So much fascinating lore. I can’t wait to dive into the clouds myself.

Also, it’s got Ghirahim. Any game that has Ghirahim is automatically good.

Yeah, he's pretty darn freaky and chews up the scenery so well. I don't think any bad guy in Zelda has ever chewed scenery better than him actually.

Dominus tecum

I think you’re right. A close runner up, in my opinion, is Zant. His calm demeanor as he completely wipes the floor with anything in his path is horrifying.

Yeah, Zant was pretty epic. I thought his actual face was more insane nutso, so seeing him with the helmet off really changed his character for me.

Dominus tecum

Ah, too true. His mood going from calm to having way too many bats was a surprise, but a welcome one in my book.

I also love the theories with Zant.

Did you see the one about Zant's Neck Crack killing Ganondorf?

And did you see we're going to get Skyward Sword HD on the Switch this Summer?

Dominus tecum

I did. It really got the gears in my head turning.

And yes. I plan on getting it day 1.

I really enjoy several Zelda tubers including NintendoBlackCrisis, CommonwealthRealm, MaskedNintendoBandit, and MonsterMaze. I'm sure I'm missing some other good ones.

Ditto!

Dominus tecum

I love watching their theories! My favorite is Zeltik. His theory vids make me think about the lore I would have never known otherwise.

Ah yeah, Zeltik is another good one.

Dominus tecum

I’m watching his vid on the Forest Temple from Twilight Princess. Something hiding in those roots.

I just watched that one as well. Really makes me realize just how many things they had in Ocarina of Time that just seemed to vanish by the time of Twilight Princess. I do wish they made more games for the Child Timeline. More Wolf Link and Midna too!

Dominus tecum

All so mysterious. I wish we had them back, too. I’d love to see what other adventures they could get up to

They actually had in mind a sequel for Twilight Princess but it got scrapped. Ah well.

Dominus tecum

Maybe they’ll pick it back up. They did that with Metroid Dread.

I so hope they do; Midna and Wolf Link were the best pairing in Zelda history.

Dominus tecum

That I can definitely agree with.

Sorry I vanished.

No worries. At least now we know the name of the sequel! And given the designs I've seen plenty of folks theorizing on the Twili being the Zonai.

Dominus tecum

Really? That sounds awesome! That’ll be a day to remember

I would be thrilled if they did that, but wouldn't be surprised if they didn't. We'll find out next May.

Dominus tecum

I guess we will. Until then, high hopes.

I'm just hoping for a bigger trailer and maybe some gameplay in the next couple of months to whet our appetites!

Dominus tecum

a wonderful sequel of this amazing game but i made me thoughts if still Zonai exist hidden from this world. we will it see on a DLC.

I am very eager for DLC for TotK! I do still need to finish the main game of course. Happily taking my time exploring the world and finding all of its secrets. There's just so much there!

Dominus tecum

well special this annoying korok seed reward for collect all of this. it will be cool to trade this to a special item. this lightroot reward is nice but hope that this had a function in the DLC. But i am in the point of flashback videos of TotK that i finish the four tribe thing to get the next memory 10 and then go to the geoglyphe memory 11. but i hope that Nintendo is not lazy by creating Zonai walking in this world if the answer is that Rauru and his sister are the last both of the species. i think not that a whole tribe can not vanish suddenly how the Maya Tribe from the Real World. is it so bad if a only Zonai that is no Spirit exist in Hyrule.

I'm only partway through the game so don't give me any spoilers! I've only beaten the Rito and Goron temples and just opened the way for the Zora. I'm taking my time and enjoying the adventure since there's so much adventure and discovery to find. I won't go for the Korok seed reward, but I will get all of the Lightroots and Shrines at least before I beat the game.

Dominus tecum

well it is good to collect a few korok seed, because the limit place on the bag. the reward for shrine is wonderful and the lightroots is too nice. enjoy the game. i must complete TLoZ BotW by finding all shrine and Korok seed. i wonder me what for a Thought had Nintendo by put this high amount of korok in this game. Have they beleive that it make fun to collect this. i am happy by a small number of korok seed but 900 in Botw and 1000 in TotK. it feel to making the game longer in time but more not by this reward.

I have no intention of collecting all the Korok seeds in TotK; I think I found about half of them in BotW. I will be finding all of the shrines and lightroots though.

Dominus tecum

me too maybe the half for all bag uprage is enough and hat not making the game bad. for 100 percent you get a another ending version played after the credit.

It wouldn't surprise me if that were true. I'm sure there's plenty of folks who've already managed it at this point.

Dominus tecum

so is it and the ending give lot of option what happen after this.

I am glad what happen in this ending but sad that Nintendo not find a another way for this Story of this Tribe and the best King of Hyrule that doing a bravery act to save Hyrule but lost his own love.

i have still this scene where Rauru wished to meet Link by this Tea Scene. he had hope that he meet him in a physical form and not than Spirit.

Yes, Rauru's fate is not happy, but neither were the Champion's. If your in a Zelda Game and your not named Link or Zelda, watch out!

I have not yet completed the game. Taking a short break from it but I'll get back to it soon. Need to explore the Faron region and then go deal with the Gerudo. That'll wrap up the four races for me. Still plenty to see and do.

Dominus tecum

Yes i am glad to have the Name Crow but for the Case is the Name Curo a cobinaton for the latein word corvus and the japanese word for Balck called Kuro.

i have collect all tears,shrine and light roots and doing this korok seed, bubble frogs and few side quest doing and finding all places on depth and Hyrule.

But too after this. make i a little break and too finish Botw,that is lot of harder to stay by this.

Nicely done! I'm on break from the game since August but expect to get back into it sometime next month. I'd like to finish it before I get any new games for Christmas!

Dominus tecum

me too. Botw make i finish. by TotK only collect all but not defeat the Final Boss. makea Break and continue a another game that i have started but not continue because Totk and Botw.

I'm on break from TotK as I play through the shorter games I received for Christmas. I did manage to get all of the area phenomenon dealt with, plus found Mineru, so I have five sages. Haven't attempted Hyrule Castle yet. I'd love to give that Wolf Link Mod somebody made a try at some point, but not for my main game.

Dominus tecum

i play too not to active by the point of no DLC coming for this. i am too in next time lot of busy for this. maybe if i have time on weekends.

I started playing again. Goal right now is to finish exploring the map areas I don't have and then I'll look up where the shrines are that I cannot seem to find. And double check that I've investigated all the sky islands. I'd like to get that awesome Zonai armor reward at the very least.

Dominus tecum

yeah maybe will we get a DLC. it will be a one year anniversary for this game. Nintendo act strange sometime say they that no DLC come and then come one so suddenly. Well let us surprise.

I'm not counting on it since the "No DLC" comment was pretty clear. But there could be a third game set in this world given the way it apparently ended. But maybe not. Ah well, I still have my head-canon.

Dominus tecum

you have right. maybe focus on alternative time line where Rauru and his Tribe survive this chaos.

That would be one heck of an alternative timeline. I really hope we get to see more Zonai. Bring them and the Twili back!

Dominus tecum

well if the next game focus on this will it cool or play than one.

I'm not going to get my hopes up, but the Zelda team has surprised us before. Nobody thought we'd get another game in this setting until they dropped that trailer on us, so...

Dominus tecum

yes let us surprise what Nintendo plan for Zelda.