Item Flavour Text
For those who don't know what flavour text is, its basically a small line of text that describes something, and can seen in TCGs like Magic the Gathering to give context to them existing in the game's world. It can range from being a short description to a quote, and I was wondering why we don't have that much of it for items in League.
For an idea of flavour text in other video games, here's a couple:
Greatsword of Artorias (Dark Souls 1): "Sword born from the soul of the great grey wolf Sif, guardian of the grave of the Abysswalker Knight Artorias. Sir Artorias hunted the Darkwraiths, and his sword strikes harder against dark servants."
Zandalari Spiritstone (World of Warcraft): "Souls bound within these gems are used to power Zandalari constructs."
These descriptions aren't very detailed, but give a little bit of insight in to the game world. When you get that spirit stone off of a Zandalari Construct, it gives you a glimpse in to the world of the Zandalari, and how they use souls as fuel for their stone creations. The greatsword gives you some information about the mighty Artorias, and also gives context to the power that the sword has. This is something that could be utilised in League to add a bit of depth to items and paint the game world just a bit.
As it stands there are four items in the game with flavour text:
Ionian Boots of Lucidity: "This item is dedicated in honor of Ionia's victory over Noxus in the Rematch for the Southern Provinces on 10 December, 20 CLE."
*The Ancient Coin support item line: "Gold dust rises from the desert and clings to the coin." — Historian Shurelya, 11 November, 23 CLE
These give some insight in to the items origin and gives some depth to them existing in the game in the first place, and its something that could be leveraged for a bunch more items. I'll give some examples, using some made up flavour text:
Guardian's Horn: "I leave this with you Greyor. Should the Frozen Watchers return, sound the horn. The people of the Freljord will answer the call." - Queen Avarosa
Haunting Guise: "Masks such as this one were long ago worn by Noxians when they cremated their dead. Its pained eyes would ward off dark forces that sought to interfere in the ceremonies."
Morellonomicon: "With my teachings, your enemies suffer, their wounds so grevious they will never fade. Behold the Law of Morello!" - Morello, 07 July, -102 CLE
These are made up, as I said before, but they give a little bit of character to the items that didn't exist prior. Flavour texts don't have to be really serious, I mean I can only imagine how the description of Trinity Force would go, but regardless I feel like adding this text in places could be a cool little addition. It's not a really big thing, but sometimes the little things can make the difference.
Thoughts? Queries? Ideas for flavour text of your own? Leave it below!
"When the sun is at its peak, the pool blends in with the shimmering heat, looking as it its waters run off into infinity."
Only the boldest of men and women dare take the risky trip to the hottest spot in Valoran, in the very center of the Shurima Desert. Those who successfully make the journey may bathe their swords in a magical pool of the purest water known to this world. Any edge dipped into this pool will stay sharper and strike truer than any other sword.