"Ryze cares deeply for his fellow men" Question about Ryze ult and the rest of his kit

Is that the inspiration behind his ultimate? He is able to take allies with him and into safety?

I'm curious if this is a chicken or an egg thing. Did riot think of the ultimate first and throw it onto Ryze giving him the little lore to fix it, or vice versa.

I initially saw that ability and was a little aggravated because it seemed so disjointed from the kit. And to be honest, i think it's a neat ability, but honestly it just doesn't seem to fit thematically. I like it, don't get me wrong, and i can see it being used in cool ways, and i understand the fact it's easier to balance utility, but it seems so odd.

I heard that a lot of new champions lack counter-play because Riot, in the attempt to give them a niche, breaks them free of them. I.E. Ekko being the slippery re-do assassin and skirmisher, but now a super tank that cant kill and drop aggro with more of a reward than tank fizz ever had, and then Azir, the Late Game DPS Mage, but he can survive with his mobility and peel so good Azirs rarely place themselves in danger. I see that happening with Ryze possibly with this rework.

By giving him a speed boost, and the ult that repositions him, are you taking away the problems he suffered from earlier that defined him? He is a short ranged combo mage that punished people who got to close to him. Remove boot enchants all you want but this mobility creep is still happening with Ekko's three-hit speed boost, Ryze's speed boost, Taliyah i can understand more because of her TF-ish mentality of lose lane and help others.

I'm just curious why he needs that speed boost at all? Sure it's situational and he has to choose between AOE/SPEED + SHIELD/CC but still between that and his ult he looks like he is circumventing the issues that come with being a short ranged mage. If he can speed up and reposition, does it really keep him gated like he should?

Swain for example will destroy in a cluster of enemies, the problem is getting there, and Ryze doesnt seem to have this issue.

I watched someone play him today, and it looked as if he can chase forever with his speed, not even making range matter. Maybe in time people will learn how to fight him.

I dont know, i just know that I do like the changes, I just wonder how much of the original Ryze I loved is left after all these reworks. I used to play him so much and i still may fall in love with the new one, but i just worry.

And the ult just confused me so much. It's just so out of place in my opinion.

If a rioter responds with insights, I would love it, but I doubt that will happen.

If someone else responds with insights, go for it. I wanna know what you think as well