[Roaming Dragons on your map] How about looking up in the sky instead?

Dusk_Coven · October 2019

In Southern Elsweyr I see lots of people looking at their maps. This is obviously a useful thing to do to find where a dragon is headed.
But I think it would be cooler and more immersive if we didn't have a Harry Potter Marauder's Map with a moving marker for the dragon(s).
Instead, in what way could it be implemented so that players could be alerted and LOOK up in the SKY. And THEN look at their map and estimate where the dragon is headed.

In Summerset an active geyser has a pink pillar that's visible from quite far away. Can flying dragons be somehow made visible far enough away in the sky?

VaranisArano · October 2019

Here's why I use the map.
1. There are three areas where the dragons spawn, and the map is the only way to tell if there's a dragon up in one of the spots where I'm not.

2. The dragon areas are pretty mountainous and there are multiple landing spots. I tend to stick to the easternmost one and I have a hard time telling where the dragon is flying/landing if I'm not using my map because the terrain is so vertical. Its very easy for a dragon to be close, yet out of sight.

Having some sort of visual signal might help with #2, but doesn't help much with #1. In Summerset, the distance and terrain is a little mitigated by the fact that there are several geysers within sight of each other, so its easy to see when those are active.

As for an active effect, STRUN BAH QO might be an appropriate visual signal, if somewhat terrifying.

driosketch · October 2019

You can see them fly around. Also, when they call down a rain of fire, you can see the cloud from at least the opposite ridge of the canyon. Of course the terrain is so mountainous, for instance if you are in the canyon near the bottom east landing, you need to climb the opposite side and use the bridge. Otherwise you have to travel halfways down the the canyon and skirt the mountain. The map doesn't just show you where the dragon is, it helps you know if you have time to make it by giving you the three states of the dragon, fresh, under attack and almost dead.