What are your thoughts on a thief Champion?

darkdill·Jul 21, 2014·2 votes·470 views

While some Champions have, in lore, been thieves at one time or another (Janna, Graves, Talon, etc.), no one has kept it as a lasting occupation. Filling in the thief archetype is something that, I feel, should've been done a long time ago.

How would one make a thief? I'd have it revolve around "stealing" gold, but since gold theft is a toxic mechanic, I would compromise by using the same mechanics as Spellthief's Edge. Namely, you poke someone, you get some money. And from the money you "steal", you would actually get more damage power, not just power from items.

Yes, this sounds like a hyper-carry in the works, but League doesn't have enough of those (just Veigar and Nasus). It could be a lotta fun, though.

To illustrate the case, I have a concept on Reddit that has such a mechanic:
http://www.reddit.com/r/LoLChampConcepts/comments/28r8av/ritz_the_princess_of_thieves/
Drop by if you want.

14 Comments

ZarkkastJul 21, 20141 votes

I like the idea this idea a lot. Maybe instead of the hypercarry mechanic (which, by the way, you forgot Sion who has infinite health), the gold stolen could be a resource like mana. There would need to have some thinking into the abilities to make this work though.

darkdillJul 21, 20141 votes

Using gold stolen as a resource would be too tough to manage and would lead to "feast or famine" cases. I'd prefer that it adds to your firepower, but only in certain cases.

And yeah, I forgot Sion, but he's broken and being remade, so he doesn't entirely count.

Flying BuntcakeJul 21, 20141 votes

Using "stolen" gold as a resource bar wouldn't be too bad, i mean look at Aatrox, uses used hp as a resource.

darkdillJul 21, 20141 votes

So does Vladimir, Mordekaiser, Mundo, and Zac. Health is easier to work with than stolen gold because you could be kept completely unable to steal anything, and thus be left entirely without a resource.

KhodexusJul 21, 20141 votes

That entirely depends on how you approach the resource. If you make it something like Rengar's resource, where it empowers his abilities, rather than being 'required' to use them, it could work just fine. The more you fight, the more often you can use empowered abilities, but even without the greed mechanic, the champion is still playable.

Flying BuntcakeJul 21, 20141 votes

exactly

ZarkkastJul 21, 20141 votes

It'd definitely be tough, that's why a lot of thought would need to be put into the champion to make an entire kit of abilities and passive that makes him viable (not to mention the mechanic would make him a high skillcap champion). There are no champions that work like this and it would be nice if they could manage to implement something of the sort and make it viable. Diversity really makes the game more fun.

MaknBacnPancakesJul 21, 20141 votes

I would love a thief Champion, and I am VERY shocked that there is not one..

The closest champion to a "thief" archetype IMO would be Shaco.. -daggers -backstab mechanic -invisibility/cloaking Really the only thing missing is some sort of "stealing/theft" mechanic.

I don't view a theft mechanic as toxic.. I mean, it is what it is.. If it is in a theifs kit to gain extra gold, or you lose x amount of gold when attacked, I believe it should be nature of the beast when a thief is on the opposing team.. Like stuns from Leona or heals from Sona...

How about this? Call the passive: Scavenger- champion gains X amount of extra gold from killing a minion (lore relation: thief doesn't just kill a minion, he/she actually rummaged the body, gathering collectibles and nets extra gold)

darkdillJul 21, 20141 votes

Ashe and TF already have that in their kit.

Also, my version being based off Spellthief Edge means you need to take risks for that reward.

MaknBacnPancakesJul 21, 20141 votes

Take a risk? As in you gain extra gold in a passive by striking enemy champions... Okay, but where is the risk in that? It's a necessity.. And ultimately, how would that differr from what is already in Ashe or TF kits?

darkdillJul 21, 20141 votes

My ideal thief would be melee, not ranged. Thus the enemy could hit you back.

Flying BuntcakeJul 21, 20142 votes

Or have it so little gold dropping are left when minions like that he has to collect, kind of like thresh

MaknBacnPancakesJul 21, 20141 votes

That is an awesome idea.. Haha.. And it gives a risk/reward factor.. You know people will run out there into harms way to get those little gold looking coins laying there... Hahah.. Genius!