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VFX Updates for Annie and Nautilus

RiotSirhaian·1/21/2020, 6:39:51 PM·1 votes·72,850 views

Hello everyone!

Similar to the previous VFX updates we’ve made in the past (Ziggs, Thresh, Lux, etc), we're working on updates to the Visual Effects (VFX) of more champions whose spell effects are in need of some love. Our aim is to get their VFX up to current League standards and improve gameplay clarity. In Patch 10.3, we'll be releasing a VFX Update for Annie and Nautilus!

Just like the previous ones, and since these are smaller updates geared toward sprucing up some of the oldest members of the roster, they aren't in the same prioritization conversation as to how we decide who gets a VGU (where we take model, gameplay, and thematic into account too!): they do not affect any other timeline, and are simply dev passion projects.

We're looking for feedback on their VFX changes, which should be up on the PBE soon-ish. Please try them out there —especially if you're a main— and leave us your feedback once the changes are up!

####Annie ANNIEAnnie

VFX Update aimed at improving gameplay readability and modernizing her effects.

https://i.imgur.com/VnVhl3G.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBuCHaU68S8

##Base Kit:

  • P - Cleaned up Passive indicator and added a Passive hit overlay on those stunned by Annie.

  • BA - New missiles and hits.

  • Q - New missiles and hits, and now has a small cast effect.

  • W - New cone AOE now matching the actual hitbox, and added a hit effect. Also made a new UI QuickCast indicator to match the actual hitbox.

  • E - Added the ripples effect often used in damage reduction shields, and modernized the effect as a whole. She now burns the ground under her!

  • R - New cast effect with better representation of its hitbox. New idle effects on Tibbers. Now has a fire effect all around Tibbers to hint at its AOE damage range.

  • Idle Effects - Modernized idle fire effect.

W comparison (Live/New/Comparison): https://imgur.com/jsWPBGy

Skin changes:

  • All Skins: Cleaned up and matched base changes.
  • Goth Annie: Recolored from Base.
  • Annie in Wonderland: Now has Legendary-tier VFXs! Thematic goal was to make it feel Wonderland-y, dreamy, magical. Also has new Recall and Dance VFXs. Let us know how you feel about this!
  • Frostfire Annie: Recolored from Base.
  • Panda Annie: Some cleanup and matched base changes.
  • Hextech Annie: W should better represent the hitbox. Some cleanup, and matched base changes.
  • Super Galaxy Annie: Some cleanup and matched base changes.
  • Annie-versary: Matched base changes.

Known issues or things to add:

  • Add trails on Tibbers attacks for better impacts
  • Add vertical motion on all Tibbers casts
  • Annie in Wonderland E shrooms feel too popcorny
  • Fix Tibbers ground enrage buff (for now it's spawning orange dots on all skins)
  • Panda Annie's Q hit effect lasts for too long
  • Add ripples to all Tibbers E shields
  • Some more snowflakes for Frostfire Annie
  • Recolor for Frankentibbers Annie

Recolor for Frankentibbers Annie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHcRIgLkd70

####Nautilus NAUTILUSNautilus

VFX Update aimed at improving gameplay readability across his entire kit, modernizing his effects and giving him a more defined VFX thematic.

https://imgur.com/NFIKGlk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LderJLIyVHg

##Base Kit:

  • P - New root and hit effect.
  • BA - Now has trails on all his attacks. Also new impacts.
  • Q - New Q missile (finally) representing his actual hitbox (as best as possible). Slightly tweaked the UI QuickCast arrow to better match the length/width of the missile.
  • W - Some cleanup and new shield effect. Removed floating anchor from DoT in favor of a more subtle dark ray of light. Also cleaned up his eyes effect while W is active. New AOE hit effect reflecting the actual size of the AOE.
  • E - Minor cleanup.
  • R - Adjusted sizes of explosions to better match their hitbox, and added a new indicator on the target, which should now reflect the actual hitbox of the approaching charge.

Skin changes:

  • All Skins: Cleaned up and matched base changes.
  • Astronautilus: Some cleanup, matched base changes and added new VFXs across the whole kit. More asteroids, stars and space stuff!

Recolor for Subterranean Nautilus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEf6ghoEHMc

Please test those changes on the PBE once they are up (should be some time later this week) and let us know if you have any feedback!

[slayer-jinx-catface]

213 Comments

Rilea1/21/2020, 6:47:58 PM24 votes

Does this mean Nautilus' Q hitbox will be less deceptive than it currently is? The hitbox feels insane on live.

Wendígo1/21/2020, 6:51:54 PM17 votes

Annie in Wonderland: Now has Legendary-tier VFXs! Thematic goal was to make it feel Wonderland-y, dreamy, magical. Also has new Recall and Dance VFXs. Let us know how you feel about this! Thank you SO MUCH. TRULY THANK YOU. but at the risk of sounding ungrateful, would it be at all possible to recolor Frankentibbers VFX as its a 975? I understand if you can't.

But again, thank you for this project.

4 Step Cadence1/21/2020, 6:54:45 PM15 votes

What, no earth VFX for Subterranean Nautilus? How am I suppose to be a mining machine if all my VFX is water based?

Blood Meridian1/21/2020, 9:30:44 PM15 votes

Probably not the place for it but I would really like to see the changes on goth annie's splash reversed. I just dont see how anyone could look at the two and see the changed face as better

https://i.imgur.com/1nei1WN.png

RiotRiot Exgeniar1/22/2020, 12:52:52 AM9 votes

I am so excited that I am not going to see Banshee's shield pop effect on Naut W anymore! Once you see that, you can't unsee it... XD

F3stanie1/21/2020, 6:56:47 PM8 votes

Annie in Wonderland is ADORABLE and I will 100% buy that skin now with all these effects in place. I've loved the Wonderland theme forever but never bought it because I thought I was basically just paying for the splash (also I only play Annie in ARAM so......). Thank you, Riot!

Solari Fortune1/21/2020, 6:53:27 PM7 votes

I am gonna miss the spin of the anchor Naut's Q had as it flew through the air

Coocon1/21/2020, 7:14:28 PM6 votes

Could you pls think about giving new vfx to Frankentibbers Annie? She would look super cool dark green-ish effects and Tibbers with electricity around him. Please cosider this <3

Top Annie1/21/2020, 7:31:38 PM6 votes

Hey!

Super happy that Annie is getting a VFX update, what a nice surprise! Thank you so much for working on this, and continuing to show some love to some older (and in Annie's case, unpopular) champs. It all looks really nice, especially the Wonderland skin, feels nice to finally get our money's worth for that one.

I'd like to take this opportunity to just mention two things though:

  1. Is it possible to add the ability to ping Annie's passive. So many times, I want my jungle to just WAIT 5 secs as I cs two more minions, but there isn't a good way to communicate that. It would be so good to just ping "Pyromania: 1/4", or something similar.

  2. As a stretch goal (and probably not at all related to your department, although idk how things work at Riot), Tibbers - and by extension Daisy - are still really buggy, to the point where it can matter in some games. In particular two changes in patch 6.14. BEARISH INITIATIVE (Tibbers follows enemies into fog of war) and BEARISH VANDALISM (Tibbers attacks inhibitors) just don't work properly. If you want to DM me I can send you videos from this patch where these bugs have occurred. Pet AI is obviously a hard task, but it is a bit of a shame when things like this affect the game, especially since these bugs have been here for years now.

Thank you again for the VFX, makes us all super happy to see it :)

MightBeAlex1/21/2020, 6:48:11 PM6 votes

Okay, I need one thing, I don't care if Rakan doesn't get a skin for another 1000 years, Please for the love of god give Nautilus Recall Animations, or atleast for AstroNautilus, just something. thank you

DerpPotatoes1/21/2020, 7:22:37 PM6 votes

These changes are really good!! But some adjustments/tweaks I'd like to see would be:

  • Frostfire Annie's old W had these big snowflakes that were very unique in her old vfx. Is it possible to slightly enlarge the current snowflakes or add a few more snowflakes in her overall vfx? If not, is it possible to have the snowflakes linger just a little bit longer on her W? I'd understand if it's not possible to enlarge the snowflakes due to gameplay clarity issues. (They're were just a piece of her old VFX that really made that skin grow on me).

  • When Tibbers is summoned in Panda Annie's skin, is it possible to add some vfx to the firecrackers on the back of him? It seems strange that they aren't lit when he's summoned.

  • I'm surprised that FrankenTibbers didn't get a VFX recolor. I was expecting a spooky green flame for her vfx. (Maybe a pinch of yellow/dark blue for contrast).

  • Astro-Nautilus's E has these white (spore-like?) particles that are a bit distracting. Maybe make them fade out a bit more so it's easier on the eyes?

XyePie1/22/2020, 4:32:45 AM5 votes

sooo when is that annie model update???[slayer-jinx-unamused]

YayYayYayYayYay1/21/2020, 6:58:33 PM5 votes

Yay more vfx updates!

A few things:

Annie: Hextech Annie: I’m surprised to see some hextech patterns got removed with this update. Seems like a regression Super galaxy Annie: tibber doesn’t seem to have the fires effect like others. Hope it’s added soon Overall: is it possible to add an outer indicator for tibber’s firey area for clarity? Also I’m surprised to not see empowered attacks from Annie (with stuns) having different color to indicate it’s importance. Is that possible to add?

Nautilus: Overall: The Nautilus video was mislabeled as "Annie VFX Update" [sg-kiko]

RiotSirhaian1/25/2020, 4:55:21 AM5 votes

I've added previews for the recolors of Frankentibbers Annie and Subterranean Nautilus. Abyssal Nautilus will also be getting a small recolor due to being a 975 skin, but that will be for a bit later.

Frankentibbers Annie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHcRIgLkd70

Subterranean Nautilus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEf6ghoEHMc

[slayer-jinx-wink]

Lord Raphel1/21/2020, 7:11:25 PM4 votes

I believe you muted me on twitter, but I wanted to thank you publicly, Astronautilus is the best skin of Nautilus, I love how funny he looks on that skin, thank you very much!

I just wanted the animation team to create an animation for the recall of this skin. It would be incredible, anything that referred to space. Even if he threw the anchor to up as if he attached to a planet and went up/disappear off the screen.

Thank you! I love your job even before you joined Riot. I hope you are well.

[slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

Agent Corgi1/21/2020, 6:59:39 PM4 votes

There's still abit work to be done, but I absolutely love this kind of Visual Treatment. Never stop doing these. [slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

Tseison1/21/2020, 8:51:21 PM4 votes

When is Zyra getting a visual update for her skills too? Zyra

Kłapouchy1/21/2020, 8:25:39 PM3 votes

The update is great overall, I especially love Goth Annie's new VFX, and it's great that Annie in Wonderland is finally getting some love. I do have some issues with other skins though, so here's my list:

Base Annie - I personally don't like the pink color on her Q, but maybe it's just me. Panda Annie - The W feels like a massive downgrade. The distinctive curls it used to have are now barely visible, and it's pretty much the core of this skin. Hextech Annie - The R's initial cast's visual effect is waaay smaller than the actual size of the AoE. Super Galaxy Annie - She has no hit effects whatsoever, but I'm assuming it's work in progress? Annieversary - The R's initial cast has no AoE indication at all, it almost looks like it's not supposed to deal damage.

When it comes to Nautilus, the anchor's animation of sinking into the ground looks unfinished, but I'm assuming it's also work in progress. Other than that, I really like most of the changes, and I'm definitely excited to play Goth Annie in the future.

Jabalor1/21/2020, 6:55:49 PM3 votes

Wait there are not changed planned for Frankentibbers Annie?

Lord Raphel1/21/2020, 7:43:26 PM3 votes

Would it be possible to maintain on the floor this pink circular area/base, internally checkered in shades of blue that already exist when Tibbers is invoked in the Super Galaxy skin?

https://i.imgur.com/cmpCVqB.png

As with base skins, Frostfire Annie, Goth Annie, Annie in Wonderland, etc? It would be possible?

https://i.imgur.com/WLoFMVD.png https://i.imgur.com/4HZFumf.png https://i.imgur.com/0etSekb.png

Thanks!

[slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

Sukishoo1/21/2020, 7:47:48 PM3 votes

Wonderland is finally starting to become a legendary! Woo. Really love the W effects, those are what I had imagined her to use in that skin, so it works perfectly.

Love the Naut changes too! These are looking great

Roman Reigns1/22/2020, 12:30:21 AM3 votes

Hello Riot Sirhaian! Thanks for taking the time to read my question. I know you probably won't, I never seen to get my question asked, but ill give it a final try. Zilean is a champion who has been looking incredibly outdated for years, Is there any plans for a Visual Rework? (His Kit is great) Thank you!

Zajczyk1/22/2020, 11:37:22 AM3 votes

For me the biggest problem with legendary Annie it's she is not so special in comparision to other skins... Her spells are too familiar to winter Annie. She should have something special, like another animation when she summoning Tibbers or so... special recall animation or dance its too little for legendary.

Watching this video without knowledge which skin is legendary I would say that noone of them was legendary. It's 1350 skin, nothing more.

Is there any chance to 'upgrade' legendary Annie anmiation to looks special? All her skins have different spells colors and Tibbers so another color for Annie in Wonderland doesn't make her legendary skin...

Cpt Creampuff161/21/2020, 10:48:15 PM2 votes

Knowing Franken annie is getting green effect makes me hope youll give sweetheart pink effects shame thats one of the few sweethear skins that got no changes to spells

MR MEGA1/21/2020, 7:41:42 PM2 votes

Man, you've done such an excellent job here. Especially loving the attention to detail on the skins' VFX. (Only one I might worry about is atronautilus' E visuals seeming a little too wispy/brief, but if they're matching the actual hitbox, then it's good.)

Great work especially with the ground effects on Annie in Wonderland.

I was following your VFX folios on YouTube before you started working for Riot, so it's pretty cool to see how you've improved over time and how we actually get to play with your work now.

Echo3s1/21/2020, 8:39:03 PM2 votes

Yes, Nautilus updates! Started playing this champion after watching DoinB, glad to see the titan of the depths getting some love since he isn't getting a worlds skin. Thanks Riot Games!

TundraFlame1/22/2020, 6:51:08 AM2 votes

Absolutely love what you did with all but one skin. I feel like Super Galaxy still needs work. The hitbox on the W still feels deceptive compared to the other skins, and Tibbers doesn't appear to have the aura effect in that skin like he does in the others shown.

Criticism out of the way, I especially like how it feels like there's an added feel to the Panda Skin with the extra smoke particles. I one trick her and it's one of my favorite skins but I always feel less good about using it because of its very basic particle effects. I really appreciate whoever took the time to work on that skin and add the extra touches.

pillowprincess11/22/2020, 9:45:54 AM2 votes

I want the cartoony swirly flames on Panda Annie to be more present, it's one of the reasons I bought the skin initially.

Heavin1/21/2020, 9:42:22 PM2 votes

We need one for blitz now.

wwwgooglecom1231/22/2020, 5:54:50 PM2 votes

Hey

Is there a chance that Lucian Lucian will get a vfx?

since Thresh Thresh & Senna Senna have this cool looking affect, but Lucians feels somehow outdated. :(

I understand if Lucian don't get a visual update like ezreal and morgana, so it could be cool to see fresh visuals on Lucian, i would be so happy, but i understand if he doesn't get, some champion need more. :) [sg-soraka]

yrknaqren1/22/2020, 9:32:46 PM2 votes

Annie in Wonderland seems a little weird, because it's not cohesive any more, mainly because of Tibbers.

Before, it was Annie in a costume, she still used her "normal" attacks which made Tibbers not stand out as much. Now, she has some other magic, but still has a huge bear that doesn't seem to have any connection to that magic or Annie (she holds a rabbit in this skin).

Tibbers should probably be a full on rabbit now (or at least recoloured to be more white to match Annie's magic)

EDIT: actually nevermind that "she holds a rabbit" thing, I am imagining things apparently? Anyways, I still think Tibbers should be changed a little, that also applies to the little version she is holding, even though that one is less noticable.

howlhound1/22/2020, 12:15:54 AM1 votes

All I see are posts about pink fire and green fire. So I'll just add to that pile and say that Sweetheart and FrankenTibbers are the only skins I own of Annie so I'd love for them to get more love xD Would require a slight change in FrankenTibbers splash but nothing complicated at all. Just a HUE adjustment I suppose

Thales1/25/2020, 5:06:59 PM1 votes

A very minor note on Annie in Wonderland: her critical hit particle still has the old flame particles. While Annie shouldn't be building crit anyhow, would it be possible to fix that?