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For The People Who Designed Janna (Please bump for visibility)

Magical Gurney·10/14/2015, 3:06:15 PM·132 votes·12,971 views

For the people who designed Janna,

I just wanted to submit a support ticket to try and reach the person who designed Janna. Whoever you are, please know that you saved my life. As someone who has been battling anxiety and depression for the longest time, I have always been drawn to the solitude that video games can offer. I've always loved League of Legends, but the community can be a taaaaad toxic at times. I'm not going to lie and say I've never contributed to the vitriol myself, but around two years ago, it (along with a ton of personal life stuff) escalated to the point where I found it challenging to function within a 5 v 5 game environment. I resorted to spamming Coop v Ai games where I was given some artificial control over whether or not I could enjoy games. I just couldn't get up the confidence to play a real 5 v 5, and my main account slowly accrued upwards of 1600 Coop v Ai games. As I continued to battle severe depression, it felt like this game was the constant I could always rely on. I loved it. And I felt it was time try something new, so I started a smurf account through which I could gradually hone my mechanics, build confidence.

I've always been a support player. There's something about helping prop up a teammate and outskilling an opponent with the least amount of gold possible that excites me. I'm drawn to peeling/skirmishing champions like Alistar, Nunu, Brand, and Gragas that dominate the zone control game by delicately balancing a thread between baits/initiates. Playing them in normal solo queue over the last couple weeks eventually led me to Janna, a champion that not only shines, but can turn the tide of the game through that skillset. It just felt right playing her, and I know it may seem silly or sappy or weird, but I just wanted to reach out and say thank you to the people who helped design her, however minute their contribution might have been. If it hadn't been for you, I don't think I'd ever have been able to say, "I played a game with 9 strangers today, and I wasn't scared."

Thanks.Janna Proof 1 Proof 2

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who took the time to read this and comment. I just went through all you guys had to say and can't emphasize enough how much every little ounce of compassion means. I got a reply for the support ticket I submitted saying, unfortunately, that they won't be able to directly pass on my message to the design team, but a friend of mine has reached out to Brackhar on twitter.

113 Comments

Brackhar10/19/2015, 12:54:46 AM18 votes

Your friend did manage to get a hold of me via Twitter. Hi!

I'm really glad that the work our team did has been able to help you through a tough period. Janna was the second champion I worked on (after Anivia), and at the time we only had one other support character in the game - Soraka. At the time Soraka was a really heavy push champion, the kind that could support a minion wave through all the enemy towers and then into the enemy base, so when working on Janna I really wanted to make her the exact opposite - a kind of anti-push champ. That's why she has two different displacement abilities in her kit, and why her shield is/was able to be placed on towers. That last idea ended up being a bit half-baked, but that was the intent!

In any case, thank you for writing this post up. I know it's rough working through stuff like this, so at the minimum I thought I should write you a reply even though I left Riot over a year ago. It's always nice to know you work has helped others.

Cowgirl Ed10/14/2015, 3:19:38 PM16 votes

this is really pathetic

Ionian10/14/2015, 3:37:47 PM14 votes

Janna was designed by Brackhar. http://leagueoflegends.wikia.com/wiki/Brackhar

There you go!

BIG BAD AXE MAN10/14/2015, 6:45:07 PM11 votes

counselor janna skin confirmed.

BigSkinny80510/14/2015, 4:00:38 PM9 votes

I reported his comment for harrassment. Rito will sort you out sir.

SgtMacGruber10/14/2015, 5:00:23 PM5 votes

"Whoever you are, please know that you saved my life." (...) "If it hadn't been for you, I don't think I'd ever have been able to say,"I played a game with 9 strangers today, and I wasn't scared.""

I think the issue is addiction, not depression.

Zair Umbras10/14/2015, 11:32:42 PM5 votes

Janna was designed by Richard 'Brackhar' Hough and he probably won't be seeing your post since he left Riot as of May 16th, 2014.

This should be his twitter, though.

FlippyGoneTrippy10/15/2015, 3:19:47 AM5 votes

Inspiring post :)

BigSkinny80510/14/2015, 4:10:18 PM5 votes

Where is the RED when someone actually has something nice to say about riot and one of the champs they came out with.... Does brackhar still work for riot? #Brackhar Yo bro you got a fan for life. Would be cool to say something gooey and heartwarming back :D

Umbernox10/14/2015, 4:02:30 PM4 votes

Also, good job Bull of Minos. That is difficult to do. I know from experience, so good job. It takes a lot of strength and bravery to do that. When you come along some idiot like kussmcfly, just ignore them in chat, and then keep playing exactly how you play. The point of this game is to have fun, so you having fun with janna after going through severe depression, warms my heart, because it shows me that when people find the right things, they change. And they usually change for the better. So great job. Keep it up, and don't let jerks like this other guy get you down. It doesn't matter what others think about you. If you think that you are good the way you are then you are good. Don't let others affect your life. :D good job

Only Play Darius10/14/2015, 9:48:18 PM4 votes

I'm with you bud, depression is some nasty stuff. Got it on both sides of the family, and it got so much worse when my previously close-knit family started fighting with each other and now I haven't even seen half of them in months. I cope with it with solitude so I can at least keep it to myself which I know is bad but I can't help it, having a good time with people just results in me feeling worse once it's over or even worse when I look back a month later and realize how awkward I was in those situations. I use League to at least feel like I'm part of something and don't go insane because that's supposedly what happens if you lack contact.

Sorry if this isn't making sense i'm having a hard time translating my thoughts into words right now. But i'm happy you found a way to combat depression by helping others in league, better then what I do and spend days spamming Nasus/Darius in TB so I can 1 shot enemies and feel good about myself without consideration for what I can do to help my teammates. But good on you for helping yourself and others at the same time. Have you tried Thresh out?

Ralanr10/15/2015, 2:08:09 AM4 votes

Never let the words of others get you down. Take the constructive words words to heart and ignore the toxicity.

Don't let your doubts take hold of you. It's how I try to live. Some days are better than others.

I'm thankful I don't need medicine. I can't imagine the hell for those who do.

Ligerzz10/15/2015, 2:40:57 AM4 votes

Nice to know my main is not only saving lives in game, but helping those in the real world too. Congrats on the great achievement buddy :)

Niyumi10/15/2015, 4:52:56 AM4 votes

I have absolutely crippling anxiety, depression, OCD and so many other things that it's a wonder I can even function, let alone play a video game competitively, though, I'm kind of on the same boat as you; League (and video games / books / TV / anything to distract my brain) really helps me cope with things and not dwell on thoughts that I really shouldn't (Kindred doesn't help that at all though). If I have a panic attack or something coming on, I just play Braum, or Tristana, or Jinx, or some other crazy, silly champion, and I can't help but smile as I'm playing.

Different things help different people, huh? Therapy and medication have done absolutely nothing for me, yet video games just entirely take my mind off things, help me fall asleep, all that. -- Plus, Pokemon taught me to read at ~2 years old. :P

So, I know what it's like, to have depression, anxiety, all that, and to have a video game just take it all away for a while. Just hang in there. ^^

A Liberal10/14/2015, 4:45:05 PM4 votes

There's always something different that works for everyone, I'm glad you found something that can give you the courage to face your anxiety.

Jason the other10/15/2015, 12:53:26 AM3 votes

This is... Sniff.. Just so beutiful

For Carthage10/14/2015, 6:03:11 PM3 votes

Touching, but eh. I disagree about support - Janna's easily one of the most legendarily safe supports and from a gameplay perspective isn't... healthy. There's some oddities about her that stick out like a sore thumb.

One of the strongest shields in the game giving a flat 50 bonus AD, one of the strongest slows in the game while having one of (if not the best) movement speed in the game, the longest range skillshot in the game without qualifying as a global that also has one of the longest possible knockup durations (an unreduceable 1.5 seconds at max, though granted it's hard to both charge it that much and hit that charge), as well as a mass-area displacement with a hefty heal in that same area.

All tuned to function optimally without scaling so she actually can feel free to build bulky and still be useful, and each component adds into her being safe to the point that Mejai's Soulstealer is a recommended item by default.

You can usually tell something's off if the item that scales most off of not dying is a "must buy" in the eyes of the designers.

Pengod10/15/2015, 7:07:10 AM3 votes

Hope they get back to you, maybe even put you in touch with Brackhar so you can say thank you right to him. Best of luck to you, and keep your head up. :)

Tengene10/15/2015, 11:57:31 AM2 votes

Really moved by you're story OP, depression is though to deal with and im glad you've found something to help you with it! It's also very strong of you to come out with something like this, it had to be difficult but im glad you did! Let's hope the Rioter has seen this!

PhoenixOfHeaven10/15/2015, 1:54:11 AM2 votes

If you still decide on playing pvp, Please friend me. Not only would it be an extreme honor playing with you, but i also suffer from cases of depression, But Im easily one of the kindest people in League you will ever meet. if ya ever get the chance, Friend me ingame so w can play a match. Also, if ya like Janna, play Anivia. Shes decently similar. And shes my main :D

Crys3s10/15/2015, 2:19:34 AM2 votes

If only my WIFE knew that videogames can often be life-saving in this sort of fashion. She would have a greater respect for it. Glad it helps you find your center, keeps you out of the dark, and mentally positive.

BTW in your proof 1, I know you blacked out the names on the left.....but they still show in the chat log. Just an FYI.

Good on ya.

ZT Xperimentor10/18/2015, 7:50:25 PM2 votes

Hopefully a hug will get them to notice :)