@Meddler: I need to ask you about a "Curse" effect I thought of

darkdill··2 votes·1,370 views

This is all just brainstorm prototyping at the moment, so take it with a grain of salt.

I've been looking into making a melee fighter Champion whose damage and defensive capabilities increase as she gets lower on health, and who can force opponents into duels and make them essentially kill themselves fighting her. She differs from Rammus, Shen and Galio in that she's an AD-scaling Champion, not AR-scaling, and is less durable than they are in exchange for more firepower.

One of her skills, however, is one that I'm concerned might break some Gameplay Design rules. Here is a rough description:

Demacian Retribution Fire a skillshot that deals moderate physical damage to the first enemy it hits and Curses it for 3 seconds. Whenever a Cursed enemy performs a basic attack, it takes a small amount of physical damage (this damage cannot kill, but will reduce the Cursed victim to 1 health if it would otherwise be lethal). Additionally, you gain bonus movement speed when moving toward a Cursed enemy Champion.

I worry that this breaks the "Burden of Knowledge" rule, but given how some newer Champions (i.e. Rek'Sai) have borderline broken that rule (i.e. crushing a Rek'Sai tunnel will not stop her ultimate if she is already channeling on that tunnel), I have to ask whether or not a skill like this would be excusable.

11 Comments

RiotMeddler3 votes

Seems ok to me. Burden of Knowledge can be a problem if a gameplay mechanic isn't communicated well in game but a player would alter their behavior if they were aware of it. In the case of this ability you'd want to ensure the damage taken was clearly linked to the act of basic attacking to avoid any problems. Could do something like a spurt of blood from the attacker when they hit an enemy, or even a missile back from people they've hit that inflicts the damage, that sort of thing. Pair that with a really clear 'you are cursed' visual effect and this sort of mechanic should be clear enough.

darkdill1 votes

Coolies. Then do you think such an effect would work with the kit in the following Champion Concept?

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/skin-champion-concepts/s6Yz68uW-nephree-the-dark-crusader

Coupling the Curse with her Taunt ultimate, I imagine a lot of ADCs will blow themselves up attacking her (if they don't use QSS or Cleanse). XD

Raptamei2 votes

Riot doesn't want to do Bloodseeker ult but is down with the ability to nuke towers directly with Azir W or with Kalista's ult.

darkdill2 votes

Bloodseeker's ult is more a case where the victim is left confused on how to deal with it. Do you run and bleed to death, or stand your ground and get slaughtered?

Raptamei2 votes

{quoted}

Bloodseeker's ult is more a case where the victim is left confused on how to deal with it. Do you run and bleed to death, or stand your ground and get slaughtered?

That's like saying cards in MTG like the one that makes the opponent choose between taking damage or milling himself are toxic because both options are bad.

With a stun you have no choice to stand there. This gives you the option to do something else if you think it would be less harmful. How is this confusing?

Blue Collar Bear1 votes

I'm curious what the "Burden of Knowledge" rule is.

Is there a link to gameplay design rules?

Erockandroll1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Fluffysaurus Rex,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=7JEb9Qgb,comment-id=0002,timestamp=2015-04-28T05:02:38.313+0000)

I'm curious what the "Burden of Knowledge" rule is.

Is there a link to gameplay design rules?

Certain effects (especially damage) should be obvious that they are affecting you. If you were taking dot damage, you had better appear to be poisoned, or on fire.

Blue Collar Bear1 votes

I guess this is similar to how Brand's abilities literally light you on fire.

Occams Raiser1 votes

I'm not on board with anything that rewards ass whippings. I grew up in the early era of desperation moves. "I'm winning! What's that? You want half my life bar. Here you go."

darkdill1 votes

You could always dodge the skillshot. Or if it hits you, just run away until it wears off.

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