Ask me anything!! (About narrative (for Warwick, Urgot, Swain, Nunu & Willump, and Pantheon (VGUs)))

RiotInterlocutioner·10/15/2019, 8:04:54 PM·1 votes·72,114 views

Lol. If you want. [slayer-pantheon-rainbows] Really, any narrative question is welcome.

It's League's 10 year anniversary and I've been a narrative writer on the Champion Update (and now Champions) team for 3 of them!! Gasp. It seems like a good time to look back, and also to pull back the curtain and show some of the things that excite us behind the scenes, so we can all be excited as players when the champions release. (Well. Never all. But you know.)

Want to know what inspired individual lines? (My grandfather used to say, "We're off like a dirty shirt!" whenever he drove me and my sister somewhere.)

Want to see pitches and stories that are never released? They're probably bad, but I could find snippets!

Want to learn what the process is like writing champions, or how to get a job writing games? This comes up frequently, and every time the question is answered it disappears back into the depths of the Sinking City.

I'll be here all day. Secretly, we're here every day! Thank you especially to you, the players on the boards, your passion for Story, Art, & Sound is why I'm here.

PS: If you'd prefer, tune in to twitch and watch other narrative Rioters read selections from their favorite stories!

Reav3 also has a Champions AMA going on Reddit!

116 Comments

AIQ10/15/2019, 8:12:01 PM4 votes

Can we redo some of Shyvanas lore and bring back her father? There are elements I love from the new lore, but the old one was so powerful. Yvva needing to wait for the rest of her clutch was an awesome addition, but I feel like removing Shyvanas father was a huge blow.

The thief makes no sense and really doesn't fulfill the role of sacrificing himself to save Shyvana from her mother.

Yvva has no reason told in the story why she wants to attack Shvyana.

Would it be possible that kindof like Captian Marvel or Scarlet, that Shyanas cause for transformation is a Rune and how she gets her power?

I love Shyvana (in case you couldn't tell lol).

Can you also explain what the narrative team meant when they said Shyvanas lore was wrong on the website those 5 years and the master never matched?

Thanks!

Garentheon10/15/2019, 9:39:36 PM3 votes

How strong would you say Pantheon is compared to the other Aspects?

I’ve always imagined the Aspects would look like the fights in Fate/Apocrypha. So over the top, so epic

FAAtheguy10/15/2019, 9:29:50 PM3 votes

You da best!

Warwick question: How many Zaunites actually know about his existense? Seems like even for a city like Zaun a giant half-mechanical man-eating chimera would be quite unusual. Do Chem Barons care about him?

Urgot question : How often does he enlist people into his "survivor" band? Daily? Weekly? Does he have any other plans after Zaun?

Swain question: Who did he contact to get under the Immortal Bastion to find the demon? Probably deserves a story of its own considering the infuence Black Rose has on Noxus and its Capital.

Thanks for the AMA, love what you did with these champs, they're all in my top 10.

Divine Pantheon10/16/2019, 12:11:22 AM2 votes

Hey Interlocutioner, thanks for holding this AMA!

I am quite the Pantheon fan/main, so my questions will be solely focused around him and the narrative direction riot is taking with him. I've known Pantheon as the proud Stanpar warrior who joined the league because he got offended that there was an institute of war that did not think of him or his people. Now after all these years we finally again have a Pantheon who is a mortal man who will greet battle like an old friend. The divine Pantheon, aspect of war and so on was a completely cool idea that I really enjoyed. The issue that I feel comes from something like the god Pantheon is that there is no place for character growth or ability to relate to him. He was cool and badass simply for the sake of being badass. With the new Pantheon you reintroduced the human warrior that many of us league veterans will remember. But now he is a combination of the first and second iteration, combining humanity with godly powers. It is a wonderful narrative of a man who resents the gods but uses their powers. He is not truly just a human and I love the potential inner struggles and conflicts he has with himself. These are wonderful sources of character growth, something Pantheon direly needed in my opinion. I am happy that Pantheon is more than a jacked angry dude with a spear now. Hes finally a compelling and intricate character while still remaining faithful to his very roots.

The only issue I have with the rework is the lack of sunshine in this bread loving warriors life. I think its obvious what I am getting at. I really liked that Pantheon and Leona were childhood friends back in the day and really was unsatisfied that they got ripped apart the way they did. From friends to being estranged and now to enemies, its the only story development that saddened me as Pantheons contempt seems to be mostly directed at Leona (and Aatrox) if voice lines are to be believed.

I can't really see why Pantheon would despise her so much. Is it not her duty to protect the people of the mountain as leader of the Solari? In Leonas short story she defended the mountain against invaders, in Pantheons lore story he defended the mountain which was besieged by Aatrox. They both clearly work towards the same goal with overlapping motives, the protection of their people. I understand that Pantheon has a great aversion towards the gods after what was done to him and is angered that Leona did nothing against the barbarians, only to later find out that Aatrox was the real threat all along. Yet in his one line towards her he insists that she is stronger than she knows without aspect and armor. Id really want to know what their exact relationship is now and how it could evolve. Would he help her for the good of Targons people? He aided the Ra'Horak, which are under her command. Where does he draw the line? Would he help her soldiers but not Leona herself if she needed his help just because she is an aspect?

Do you think that expanding their story is something we could expect in the future? With Pantheons lore now updated is there any chance for progression in their story and/or relationship? Targon is such a interesting place and id love to see its two oldest champions interact more and hopefully grow past their misunderstandings.The amount of fan art for the two of them leads me to believe that I am not the only one who liked those two teaming up. What better way to defend the people of Targon then by joining forces?

Congratulations and all the best to 10 years League of Legends! Here's to another wonderful 10 years!

Revive10/15/2019, 9:32:13 PM2 votes

I see the keyword Urgot so here i am, when are we getting a starguardian skin?

The Iceborn10/15/2019, 8:09:36 PM2 votes

Thank you for doing this! I wanted to ask you about Nunu's relationship with Lissandra! I know he admires her warriors and while he seems to find her a bit weird, I believe that he does like her a lot. How would you describe Nunu's relationship with Lissandra?

Regarding a story snippet, I can not wait to read the russian Lissandra story which I believe will be released in the Legends of Runeterra book. Could you describe who thought of making such a story, Lissandra being in other individuals dreams etc. PS: Story,Art & Sound is also my home :)

LordStegosaurus10/15/2019, 10:49:16 PM2 votes

I was wondering...

What is the favourite food of each of those champions ?

I'm working on a fanmade cookbook about LoL/Runeterra and I seek those answers !

Thanks for the AMA, i'm in the love with the lore of Swain and Pantheon, keep up the good work ! :)

Roganox10/15/2019, 10:55:24 PM2 votes

I the Rakan quote to Swain: "You were given Vastayan blood, yet chose to be blind." still cannon after his rework?

Fisher No Chains10/15/2019, 10:04:25 PM1 votes

A question about Swain and Noxus in general: why does Swain ignore the fact that LeBlanc is (heavily implied) to be part of the Trifarix?

I mean, she’s consistently trying to depose Swain, so why does he just straight up ignore her?

Pale Mask10/15/2019, 10:43:31 PM1 votes

Hello. I have two questions I would like to ask:

  • How knowledgeable is Swain about the history of the Noxian empire; specifically, how informed is he about the threat of Mordekaiser that looms from within Mitna Rachnun, and the members of the Black Rose cabal? Does he know how Noxus was originally begot by them?

  • How aware is Willump of the threat that the Watchers pose, i.e. that they are trapped within the Howling Abyss, but slowly awakening? What does he think of Lissandra's intentions? And also, what is his opinion on the various Freljordian demigods that the tribespeople worship?

Fasmodey10/15/2019, 10:50:12 PM1 votes

Don't you think it is quite ironic that Xerath and Pantheon fought against each other, 2 beings with tragic conflict within themselves? Xerath, the slave that did everything to be free to only get prisoned twice, first chained within a sarcophagus, second thrown into a small tomb, and Pantheon, the man at the side of mortals, pittying and disliking the gods, is blessed by power of a dead god, nowhere mortal as he says to be with all these land crushing entraces. Atreus, is nowhere a mortal to me... or is he? What would you say his limits are compare to an ascended? Because he seems pretty godlike to me with surviving against Xerath and Aatrox.

Like, It is such an irony, the man with mortal fetish is using power of the gods and act like "mortals are awesome, mortals are that, im such a mortal uwu" :P it is intended, right?

Also, does Atreus age like a mortal man?

Spideraxe10/16/2019, 2:30:56 AM1 votes

Just wanted to say Senna looks so cool, incredibly excited to read the lore you wrote for her

thefatlazycat10/15/2019, 8:14:45 PM1 votes

I'd love to hear all of it, the lines, the pitches, and especially the process/job

Solo Josh10/15/2019, 8:48:50 PM1 votes

What's Pantheon's goal? What do the other aspects think of him now that the man is in control of the power? How powerful would you say he really is when compared to the other aspects and ascended/darkin?

Does Targon know what's going on with his situation? Does he still age like a normal mortal?

DankGurgem5710/15/2019, 8:55:52 PM1 votes

Thanks for doing this. I've always wondered if there ever will be some massive event to crossover tons of champions and regions, possibly because of the world runes or something. Has the narrative team ever thought of possibly doing something like this?

Also, does Ryze know where the last world rune is. In the cinematic video, there is only 4, and correct me if im wrong, but nunu & willump have the last one, does Ryze know this?

sp44110/15/2019, 9:21:37 PM1 votes

I feel like I need to ask at least one question about my man Urgot, so.

How well-known is Urgot in Zaun-Piltover, and how much of an impact his ideology/rampage is having? Furthermore, what does Viktor think of him? Figures he'd have some thoughts on a man that's half-machine.

Also when are he and Camille getting married.

TacoBrain10/15/2019, 9:49:00 PM1 votes

Hey, Interlocutioner. I'm a big fan of your work on reworks and have a few questions:

  • This isn't meant to be a statement on the quality of the story (you did a great job on Pantheon) but why was the decision made to move away from Celestial Pantheon? I know quite a few people felt the 2016 take was unsatisfying and incomplete, and it certainly adds a quasi-Kratos archetype to League but I'd like to hear your thoughts on why the call was ultimately made to not explore the Celestial Pantheon instead? We have precious little insight on the mindset and motivations of Targon and Pantheon, out of all Aspects, was the one who never relinquished control and who could offer some insight into celestial affairs with some nuance and who was himself extremely underdeveloped due to how much focus his previous bio placed on Atreus.

  • Is Atreus' certainty regarding the evil of the "gods" something you'd like to challenge in the future?

  • What can you share about the implications of replacing/rebuilding War? What consequences are there to a human potentially becoming a Celestial? The way I've been interpreting it celestiality comes at a price, and I'd like to hear your thoughts on what that could mean for Atreus, champion of humanity, as he gradually becomes or is connected to something other than humanity. Is that something Riot intends to explore?

  • How do you imagine Pantheon would feel about beings like Ornn, Nasus or Morgana? Entities who, in spite of their power, have seemingly retreated for so long, even as people suffer without them. Or about ASol? Who is himself a victim of Targon's games?

  • Any tidbits/cryptic hints you can give us about how Swain tricked the demon?

  • How was the process of writing Nunu like? He really does capture that feeling of childhood wonder, how did you go about "identifying" what makes something feel like "childhood"?

For snippets, I'd love something about Swain and the demon (how they communicated before the deal or communicate now after it, how he copes with the power he now has) or about Pantheon versus Aatrox.

Thank you for doing this. Hope your current projects fare well.

Spideraxe10/15/2019, 9:49:23 PM1 votes

Hey Slagle could you share any cool scrapped narrative pitches you experimente don these champs

CaptainAntiHeroz10/15/2019, 9:54:45 PM1 votes

How Swain keep his hair so on point yo Swain like DANG Is haircare products a thing in runeterra? And is hair dye commonplace or frowned upon anywhere specifically? Do Pantheon 's people usually have mowhawks?