Is the leader of the Academy the same Vodyani as the dissident in the Vodyani story? If so, it would have been pretty cool if the Academy quest is somewhat of an extension of the Vodyani quest narrative-wise. If not then, is there a particular text I should pay more attention to to get to know the leader more?

My impression is that Isyander is the heretic from the Vodyani lore. 

Wasn't sure what to feel when I ended up siding with the rejuvenators during the questline haha

Isyander St Shaiad is the Heretic/Dissident & the Leader of the Academy.

There is more detail in the Vodyani Comic

CyRob wrote:

Isyander St Shaiad is the Heretic/Dissident & the Leader of the Academy.

There is more detail in the Vodyani Comic

Yeah, I think I kinda got a hint from there. The one thing keeping me from taking it fully was the fact that it's kinda counter intuitive that heroes from the academy would openly join the Vodyani lorewise and not start some sort of rebellion.

Maybe all Academy heroes who join the Vodyani faction works as spies.

Well... Maybe all heroes from Isyander are spies. Isyander pulls the strings and has info about all the major factions in the universe.

Hmmm...

It could also be that some of the heroes coming out of the Academy and who joins the Vodyani don't quite agree with the academy. You can see this happen in the Pathfinder cinematic video, where one of the Pathfinders sides with Isyander when he shows his plans (rejuvanators) and the other quits to oppose him (defender). Then again, that can kinda go against the choices you can make as Vodyani.

At the same time, Vodyani got bonuses for heroes, so perhaps Vodyani has ways to entice heroes to join them (dust empowerment?) for power or something like it.

Does anyone know what changed about the academy questline with the new patch?

UndeadPuppy wrote:

Does anyone know what changed about the academy questline with the new patch?

The two last questlines (I think it's only the last two) got increased reward. Such as giving unique system improvement and modules for ships, since previously the reward was rather mediocre, especially playing slower games where getting any form of resource as a reward is meaningless.

Numinumi wrote:

You can see this happen in the Pathfinder cinematic video, where one of the Pathfinders sides with Isyander when he shows his plans (rejuvanators) and the other quits to oppose him (defender). Then again, that can kinda go against the choices you can make as Vodyani.

Not only that but lorewise, it would be strange to have finished the Academy quest and still have the Vodyani quest on-going as if no one is realizing who's the leader of the Academy.

"Hey we beat/helped the Academy with their ultimate plans... I wonder who their leader is after all this time. Anyway, I wonder where my brother is..."