Reworks / VGUs are prioritized poorly.

DarwinTheory·Oct 20, 2017·5 votes·328 views

Some champs are gutted or buffed for no real reason. Others getting VGUs or reworks that aren't really a priority.

Here's an example. I just read Irelia is getting a rework. Great but how is her a priority over say Yasuo?

Irelia does what she does well. Isn't over bearing but strong if you know how to play her. Thats a textbook example of a good champion. Meanwhile half the LOL playerbase hates Yasuo with a vengeance and think he has a horrible kit but nothing from RIOT about a rework. Players are customers and a far larger portion of customers despise Yasuo than dislike Irelia so why are skin paying customers being ignored? It makes no sense. It's like RIOT do what they do without taking players views into account.

I challenge anyone to justify why Irelia needs a more urgent rework over Yasuo. Please.

9 Comments

ModThe DjinnOct 20, 20175 votes

The VGU teams look at opportunities to completely reimagine a champion that isn't living up to their potential. Yasuo is living up to his potential, just with some problematic mechanics. That's tackled on a smaller scope by a different team, and you'll get changes more in line with those for Cassiopeia, Zyra, or Heimerdinger.

Irelia, meanwhile, needs a whole revamp -- likely a new model suited to her new identity, some lore tweaks, and a nearly complete mechanical overhaul to take her from "woman with floaty swords" to "telekinetic sword dancer." It's much larger in scope, and much deeper in reach.

KaìjuOct 20, 20171 votes

Volibear? I wanna like him but man his kit is so linear it really is straight up bad with how kiteable he is. I get sometimes you just can't think of anything but why hasn't he been prioritized? I get Irelia isn't really fulfilling her fantasy but Voli straight up doesn't have one at this point. You're a big ass armored thunder bear, but you feel like Krugs, the champion. Shouldn't he get it more since Irelia while not fulfilling her fantasy is at least playable?

ModThe DjinnOct 20, 20171 votes

{quoted}

Volibear? I wanna like him but man his kit is so linear it really is straight up bad with how kiteable he is. I get sometimes you just can't think of anything but why hasn't he been prioritized? I get Irelia isn't really fulfilling her fantasy but Voli straight up doesn't have one at this point. You're a big ass armored thunder bear, but you feel like Krugs, the champion. Shouldn't he get it more since Irelia while not fulfilling her fantasy is at least playable?

My personal opinion is that to some extent a design needs to work on projects they're excited about. I think Irelia has a lot of mechanical and visual potential with less lore work required, which makes her an approachable project, and there's a very clear hook for her gameplay that helps exploration.

Volibear needs works, absolutely, but I think he requires a deeper dive into what he's supposed to be, and that's usually (I believe) a longer process.

Ultimately, though? I think someone just had some really cool ideas for an Irelia direction before they had really cool ideas for a Volibear direction.

KaìjuOct 20, 20171 votes

I get what you mean, and it's a super fair explanation it's just so frustrating is the thing. I only play two champions with any real sort of desire, Ashe and Leona. But there are more that I want to like that just don't really perform for one reason or another. Two would be Voli and Skarner. I want to like but they have such binary kits that to make them work you have to be plat or above because they require so much game knowledge that's basiy impossible for someone be low that elo to know. And I don't mean someone like me can, more that it's just extremely hard. Mechanics are easy. I could learn physical mechanics all day. But knowing the game is a completely new beast that makes some champions just completely inasseccable to the average player. A good example would be Aurelion Sol. Another champion I want to like but he's far beyond me and that feels bad because I feel locked out of playing him unless I actively want to lose.

Titanium70Oct 20, 20172 votes

Thing is, Yasuo doesn't need a VGU - he needs a small GU! That's completely different and doesnt even involve the same people.

And Irelia doesnt really need a Gameupdate but lacks a real identity or a lore other than - "she is a strong fighter". But since her Gameplay is.. let's say not as deep as it could be... she is targeted for full VGU.

That's for your Yasuo part - thing is there are PLENTY of other Champions that have the same lore issues.. but OH BOY huge Gameplayissues.

Nunu Udyr Skarner Pantheon

And those really need some work done over Irelia.. or Swain...

But hey in the end - all we can do is hoping for Riot to not screw up AGAIN! ** You're lucky - riots Fighter updates are usually okish to good. Their AP Reworks however.... I've yet to see at least one that's not straight up HORRIBLE! D: **

MuzétOct 20, 20171 votes

lacks a real identity or a lore other than - "she is a strong fighter".

... You should read Irelia's lore.

And those really need some work done over Irelia.. or Swain...

Online Irelia or Swain. They're fulfilling their lore. They definitely need a VGU because they're outdated but they're okay lorewise.

Riot decided after a long débats to go for them since the issue they're for over the one you quoted is lore. They outdated as much as the quoted ones. Yet Udyr kit is okay according to his lore. But I'm not feeling like a telekinetic by playing Irelia and If I didn't know that Swain was a Master Tactician I wouldn't have guess it.

KloqdqOct 20, 20172 votes

First, I agree with what Djinn shared. He has pretty much nailed the issue on it's head but I want to add a little bit to what he missed.

The main part of how the VGU teams pick a champion is based first on their priority, Mordekasier for example is a very large scoped champion, while another reason is based on if the team has an idea of what to do. Part of the reason they haven't worked on Mordekasier, Volibear, etc. yet is most likely due to a lack of direction and possibly interest (though I doubt it based on the teams loving their job). Going into a rework and promising it without a clear direction of what they want to do is only going to spell a disaster waiting to happen because during testing, you may find you can't find a solid idea or direction for the champion that will appeal to the old mains and the potential new players. Riot wants to deliver the best darn thing they can with every new rework and champion and that's why they don't rush head first into those more difficult champions that will require a lot more of a dive. Irelia is a good champion for work but I can see why some people are annoyed.

Another important factor to note is Yasuo isn't in need of the VGU team but a different team completely. Yasuo's work will likely require less intensive work (he isn't that bad) and other than maybe one ability changed requiring art, it'll likely be number changes. Most of that kind of work has been put onto hold while Riot focuses on Runes. That is why that Yasuo work hasn't happened yet. LeBlanc, Karma, Lissandra and more are all in the same boat as well. They need smaller scale work but are on hold for the most part while we move towards runes.

Dr DogOct 20, 20171 votes

because yasuo is in a decent place aside from being pretty ass in higher tiers hence his skill being through the roof, he has a good potential and depth, only people who cant see it are bronzies who cant deal with yasuo, irelia on the other hand is very linear, pretty outdated kit and outdated lore shes only good for duels in a team oriented game which is the same reason they reworked fiora and gave her a teamfight impacting ult her gameplay is generally unhealthy and shes been needing a rework for the past 2 and a half seasons, even though they should really focus on udyr as hes the pretty much worst champion in the game rn