-sigh- I don't know, Wernher. von Steelbeck's background makes the exploration unnecessary, doesn't it? Twilight can just grill him for information, write it all down, and boom, mission accomplished.

The entire point of the game is that the Explorers have no idea what they're going to find, they don't know [i]if[/i] there will be danger or not, and von Steelbeck clears up all of that uncertainty in a very unsatisfying way.

Rosie:
"From the marks on these walls, I don't think anyone has seen this city for hundreds of years! Everyone be very careful."

Magnus:
"Actually, I've already been here. Don't go down by that lake, the whole place is poisoned. There's a lost civilization under those buildings right there, they already think of me as a god from last time, and every hour on the dot a dragon swoops by singing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. Not much of interest other than that."

Rosie:
"Oh."

That's hyperbole, but hopefully you see what I mean. If Magnus already knows the land, the Explorers don't have much to do. Besides, the "Southern Lands" south of the Elkwood are entirely different from the "Southern Lands" south of Equestria, and the Princesses would not have allowed a massive expeditionary force of Griffons to attempt to occupy Equestrian territory, so I'm quite confused as to where Magnus and his griffons actually went... And if they didn't go to the same places as our team of Explorers are going, why is he even here? :( Apprehension and confusion abound with this character, Wernher.