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Being marked by Kindred doesn't feel scary? Here's how to fix it without buffing them!

Scopé·8/16/2017, 2:40:24 PM·73 votes·3,415 views

Once upon a time, there was a discussion on reddit on how being marked by Kindred doesn't feel scary compared to Warwick. I have to agree, with spooky music playing for WW's victims, it's pretty spooky experience. However it's not too difficult to achieve similar effect on Kindred's prey. Here's how:

  • When a marked champion drops below a % health threshold, mark will appear above their head, sounds of Kindred's W will start playing along with one of the quotes marked champs hear upon activation of the mark. To prevent the feature from being annoying, it could occur only once per minute or so. Here's a little visualization:

https://youtu.be/pvlh4XXkpaA

Pretty simple, huh? Yet it'd be a nice thematic change since Kindred is pretty deadly to low hp people with their E execute. Also, keep in mind that it doesn't add anything to their power, only adding a bit more personality and giving marked people feel that they are actually being hunted by death.

What do you think, guys?

43 Comments

Muzét8/16/2017, 2:48:51 PM26 votes

I'd also like to hear Lamb's humming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U56KarLfJo

Don Spaghetti8/16/2017, 2:56:08 PM14 votes

ww has a pretty similar feature and it's really more irritating than fear-inducing.

"Oh. That wasn't a good trade. Now I get to sit here and listen to these stupid noises until I back."

Eeyore8/16/2017, 10:50:08 PM7 votes

The reason why it's scary when Warwick has your scent is because Warwick can see where you are, and is actively enabled to chase you down. While giving Kindred's target some audio cues is definitely interesting, it would only serve to remind players they are marked - there's still not necessarily any imminent threat. The only way it would be scary if if you knew that Kindred was coming - and that she was likely to beat you.

It could be interesting to give Wolf some element of "pulling on his leash" in the direction of Marked targets when they're low - but this would definitely qualify as a buff.

"This way, faster!"

Lamb on Wolf8/17/2017, 12:26:44 AM6 votes

I agree as a (aspiring) kindred enthusiast, but the difference between being hunted by warwick is that the passive activates on critical health, and gives Warwick a speed boost, it reveals your location to him--in addition to the huge, fast range on his ultimate. It's scary because its an actual threat and he can come from anywhere, and is a hindrance (the music helps accentuate the threat too)

Being marked by kindred however is negligible. "Let me put this on you just in case i catch you slippin'" and its like well hey better not get outplayed at full health. The startup time for the mark to complete allows more than enough time to see it coming and back up before she can capitalize on it. It doesn't give her a speedboost, it doesn't reveal your location, she doesn't do extra damage on the mark itself, it doesnt synergize with her ultimate. It's just a bonus from pulling off a successful jungle gank. It doesn't help the gank happen unlike Warwick.

What youre suggesting is a cool aesthetic change that would make her more interesting' but overall it wouldn't change anything.

I think the time it takes to cast the mark needs to be reduced, and to further stretch the imagination: be given an ult that synergizes or takes advantage of securing your marks on champions.

Kindred are omnipresent. They are reapers that appear to those that are dying to offer them a peaceful death, or a vicious one. When i used to play dota i was a big fan of Spectre's Haunt ultimate. I personally imagine something like that for Kindred on her specific mark target. She could maybe Teleport to their vicinity at a certain health threshold. I always felt like Kindred's ult was just a place holder because they didn't know what else they could have given her. Its a good ult to have in the game, but i think its on the wrong champion completely. That could just be me though.

Shahamut8/17/2017, 4:18:34 PM5 votes

Personally, I think Warwick's Mark mechanics should have been used for Kindred... any champion close to death should be marked... they are supposed to be a spirit of death...

They show up when you are about to die, not when they want to kill you.

Nymzo8/16/2017, 3:45:29 PM4 votes

I'm not sure how you are suppose to be scare of a walking humanoid Lamb holding a bow with a talking zone and empowered auto attack.

LostFr0st8/16/2017, 11:28:06 PM4 votes

Good idea. I vote for Lamb humming.

RedCrestedTuraco8/16/2017, 2:48:56 PM4 votes

[deleted]

Lambtail8/16/2017, 8:09:34 PM3 votes

As a Kindred otp, I agree with this 100% tbh

WinBoat8/17/2017, 5:14:38 PM2 votes

I hope a riot member sees this, brings it to attention. Also, a lot want a little more added. How about a fake ghost of Kindred that can be seen by the player marked who is low and almost dead? Somehow introduce a new mechanic for the champion where a ghost comes from the brushes that are the closest nearby running out towards the champion marked for a second? That would be so amazing. Sadly it would be a rough design and hard to create that effect possibly, but I'm not a game maker, maybe it wouldn't be hard? Maybe put a poofer that just comes out keyframed from a brush close to a dying champion marked.

Anyhow, do something, make Kindred more scary and more appealing!! 'Til this day, Kindred has still had the biggest champion launch. Most champions are ignored and forgotten when released. Kindred was really hype, and dodges were happening all weak compared to any other champion after KIndred.

Mogarl8/17/2017, 1:16:55 AM2 votes

I think the VO and emblem showing up when you hit a health threshold are fine, but I think further changes are unnecessary. Warwick needs something actively reminding the player that he can see where they are. Kindred don't actually get anything from you being low Kindred mark also has an animation for when it's ending.

Karfuss8/17/2017, 10:21:14 AM2 votes

I'd just rework her marks entirely.

I think Wolf dashing at ungodly speed across the Rift and sniping out those that are marked and fall below 10% health would be far more true to form, than it is now. Obviously with a significant cooldown.

In Kindred's lore, that is what Wolf does. Wolf hunts those who flee from death, while Lamb grants a swift death to those who embrace it.

sad þoy8/16/2017, 10:07:41 PM1 votes

I can get behind this.

Iźuku Midoriya8/17/2017, 1:04:15 AM1 votes

IMO the mark itself doesnt look scary. Its hard for me to see and doesnt seem that scary and sometimes goes unnoticeable for me

Fairyfleur8/16/2017, 3:42:58 PM1 votes

My only issue with it is that it might indirectly nerf Kindred. Hearing this might make you a lot more aware a less likely to be killed.

V0jt3X8/16/2017, 2:50:43 PM1 votes

That could be actually good.

Fawksea8/17/2017, 1:36:42 PM1 votes

i'd rather she not get this doe? like giving marked targets a warning that they're marked and low is just. "hm better ACTUALLY be safer cus kindred can gank and get a free stack+kill" like it would be basically a nerf, people already back off knowing ww will have movespeed towards em when they're low. so all this achieves is kindred players having a harder time because people actually remember they're marked. instead of just forgetting about it / not paying attention

DragonShea8/16/2017, 10:53:29 PM1 votes

I like it. I makes you get scared when you have low HP.

Ionian Vulpix8/16/2017, 11:32:12 PM1 votes

The issue is that Kindred doesn't truly hunt low health targets like WW. They hunt their marked target. And the issue with your video is that their mark is usually only presented on the marked champ.