[ VFX ] Can we make Sona's auras rise off the ground?

Atuko·Nov 29, 2015·226 votes·7,591 views

http://i.imgur.com/zV2zlOI.png[/img]

Screenshots from Skinspotlights

The more newer aura-ish abilities have VFX that make them actually look and feel like auras because they rise off of the ground, and with Sona being an aura-oriented champion, I feel like this would be a gorgeous addition to her abilities. It'll make them look like actual auras rather than rings on the ground.

Plus it'll work for gameplay clarity as well, be more obvious to the enemy that she's using her abilities and it'll make it more obvious to her allies that it's something that you want to step inside.

124 Comments

FadedFreezyNov 29, 2015107 votes

Harmless change that will most likely be well received by Sona mains. #Upvote

DylightfullNov 30, 201521 votes

Can confirm, am a Sona main. Proof: Before every game, I sing the song of my people- "QWEQWEQWEQWEWQWE" EDIT: Because this post is blowing up and I don't want people to think I'm trash-talking Sona, here's actual proof of me being a Sona main (If it's too small, it reads "106.9k" in mastery points): http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--UaKN-un9--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/f1cjbezkkshnr7rogtew.jpg

Pheonix SparksNov 30, 20151 votes

Yes, I agree. Song of our people. But for me, it's QWQWQWQWERQQQQQ. XD ~ Sona

DylightfullDec 1, 20151 votes

I actually tend to go more like "EWQEWQEWQ" in order to get my passive up before attacking. If nobody needs heals, It's usually EEQ or EQQ.

Pheonix SparksDec 9, 20151 votes

If no-one needs a heal from me, it goes: QQQQQQQQQQQQQQRQQQQQQQQQQ

DJ S0NANov 30, 20152 votes

Yes please! Her DJ Sona VFX are really good. For her default skins, she could have better VFXs. Sona

Aeolian MelodiesNov 29, 201538 votes

Not to be the devil's advocate here, but considering that Sona (unlike these champions who have 1 ability on a semi-short CD) constantly toggles between 3 short CD auras, and her auras have bright colors, don't you think it's going to be visually annoying?

Clockwork MouseNov 29, 20154 votes

There shouldn't be a big problem if they do them like the new champs. how the aura is very dim in the center, but bright at the edge. It would be a major upgrade.

Troll for TrumpNov 30, 201542 votes

If you think THAT is annoying to see you haven't seen a teamfight with 2 illalois.

gg git diffNov 30, 201511 votes

My game just freezes until its over.

TeCoolMageNov 30, 20152 votes

I can't WAIT for next year's all for one!

Kuroi86Nov 30, 20152 votes

All for one hexakill urf mode.

C9 Scott Free Nov 30, 20152 votes

{quoted}

If you think THAT is annoying to see you haven't seen illaloi.

FTFY

AlleoNov 30, 20151 votes

The only time its ok is if they both have a different skin. Otherwise I don't even know whose tentacles are whose

Milodic MellodiNov 30, 20151 votes

Maybe they should have an aura around them to differentiate between teams. Eh? See what I did there? [zombie-brand-mindblown]

Troll for TrumpNov 30, 20152 votes

A aura for Illaloi's tentacles would still be more useful than Sona's auras.

ChimewlanDec 1, 20151 votes

{quoted}

If you think THAT is annoying to see you haven't seen a teamfight with 2 illalois.

Especially when you cant even tell them apart

HabitzDec 1, 20151 votes

2 illalois 1 Nagakabouros

Only Play DariusNov 29, 201518 votes

Can we also make the aura's useful?

Harmony11Nov 30, 20155 votes

As someone who loves Sona and who's best friend used to main Sona, her aurae (thanks Teslablade) hold too-much hidden power. When they are strong enough to be noticed by players, they actually make her team too strong power-budget wise. It's the same reason they got rid of most of the aura items that used to be around. She's one champion who has seen multiple changes (depending on how long you have played you may or may not remember at launch when she could keep all three up 100% of the time at max level) in an effort to not be super-powerful. Sona's problem is that she has auras on 3 of her 4 skills, and all that hidden power eats up a ton of her budget.

This is going to earn hate, but I believe she needs a full rework from the foundation up. The whole idea of an "aura champ" was good way back in the infancy of league, but today it has no place. Keep the musical theme of course, but find something else to project it.

Ulquiorra995Nov 30, 20156 votes

In what way would an AA buff hold more hidden power than Nami's E? In what way would a noticeable shield hold more hidden power than Karma's W? In what way would a decent speed buff hold more hidden power than... well, any other MS boost in this game which is better that this shit?

Sona's auras are no longer true auras. They are AoE buffs. With same logic you might say that Janna's ult is a HP regen aura.

CosnirakNov 30, 20151 votes

"Sona's auras are no longer true auras. They are AoE buffs. With same logic you might say that Janna's ult is a HP regen aura."

That's the point. Auras are too strong with 5 together or too weak with 1-2 in lane. And full of invisible power to boot. That's why they got rid of the old Zeke's Herald. Auras just don't work out in League.

Pika310Nov 30, 20158 votes

I'm still not buying this bs. Are auras truly bad, or is it just Rito saying auras are bad? League is literally the only game in existence that is actively removing these types of spells from their champions and items. Countless other games openly support auras as a balanced mechanic and add more to their game instead of trying to remove them.

Let's look at MOBAs specifically, since that's what League is. Every single one from Heroes of the Storm and onwards is more than happy to give their characters auras. Give their items auras.

It's time to face fact, Rito is just blatantly discriminating against this mechanic. Hell, because Rito hates Sona, that may be the specific reason why they're so clearly hateful of auras. Who's to say? It seems very likely.

chipndip1Dec 1, 20151 votes

{quoted}

I'm still not buying this bs. Are auras truly bad, or is it just Rito saying auras are bad? League is literally the only game in existence that is actively removing these types of spells from their champions and items. Countless other games openly support auras as a balanced mechanic and add more to their game instead of trying to remove them.

Let's look at MOBAs specifically, since that's what League is. Every single one from Heroes of the Storm and onwards is more than happy to give their characters auras. Give their items auras.

It's time to face fact, Rito is just blatantly discriminating against this mechanic. Hell, because Rito hates Sona, that may be the specific reason why they're so clearly hateful of auras. Who's to say? It seems very likely.

To be fair: It was smart not to buff Sona during late season 5 (when Sona discussion most recently blew up) because of the planned changes to season 6, which gave Sona more than enough help from what I can see. She's currently sitting on a healthy play rate with a concerning win rate, although I imagine it's because for every new player that can FINALLY play Sona now, there's someone that's been playing a shit ton of Sona when she was weak while still doing decently well, making these changes even more beneficial for them.

I'd like to see a trade off between the power in Windspeaker's and the power in Sona's actual kit. All of Sona's gains were due to masteries and itemization (primarily masteries tbh). It'd be nice for Sona to be less dependent on outside factors, though.

Pika310Dec 1, 20152 votes

Much the same way it was "smart" to nerf Evelynn's W based on a bs excuse?
Much the same way it was "smart" to release a major bruiser update immediately before worlds?
Much the same way it was "smart" to allow Warlord's Bloodlust to heal on minions?

Ya, no. Rito's "balance" team wouldn't know a smart decision if it recited pi to the thousandth digit.

Battlecast SonaNov 30, 20151 votes

you're actually 100% incorrect about the problem with Sona. What eats all her powerbudget is her ultimate, not her auras - the rework specifically took the hidden power (the hidden power comments mostly come from when her Q W and E were persistent auras that gave stats instead of giving more noticeable buffs like they do now) and retooled it into a more obvious buff. However, an aura support having an AoE 1.5 second stun is a pretty big disconnect, and so her kit as to suck balls because otherwise it's oppressive to play against. People complain about a lot of things with Sona (omg her heal is annoying) but her spells aside from Q are actually super inefficient - if you're not maxing W first, Alistar's heal is more efficient at level 1 (both the health it recovers and the mana it costs are higher and lower, respectively, at level 1). The real problem with Sona is that she has a ton of useful team buffs and then a huge stun - if her ult was a different kind of spell, her other spells would be allowed to be stronger because she wouldn't have so much wombo combo potential in an "aura/sustain" support.

only zhuleDec 1, 20153 votes

[{quoted}](name=A Vitriolic Cat,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=le43rE6k,comment-id=000b00000001,timestamp=2015-11-30T19:49:37.292+0000)

you're actually 100% incorrect about the problem with Sona. What eats all her powerbudget is her ultimate, not her auras - the rework specifically took the hidden power (the hidden power comments mostly come from when her Q W and E were persistent auras that gave stats instead of giving more noticeable buffs like they do now) and retooled it into a more obvious buff. However, an aura support having an AoE 1.5 second stun is a pretty big disconnect, and so her kit as to suck balls because otherwise it's oppressive to play against. People complain about a lot of things with Sona (omg her heal is annoying) but her spells aside from Q are actually super inefficient - if you're not maxing W first, Alistar's heal is more efficient at level 1 (both the health it recovers and the mana it costs are higher and lower, respectively, at level 1). The real problem with Sona is that she has a ton of useful team buffs and then a huge stun - if her ult was a different kind of spell, her other spells would be allowed to be stronger because she wouldn't have so much wombo combo potential in an "aura/sustain" support.

I've seen your messages before but you never really gave a good idea of what her abilities would be like with your suggestion to her ultimate change. What would an empowered / evolved Q do compared to the current version? How would the empowered / evolved W function differently then her current W? What new power do i as a Sona player get from the empowered / Evolved E?

chipndip1Dec 1, 20153 votes

[{quoted}](name=A Vitriolic Cat,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=le43rE6k,comment-id=000b00000001,timestamp=2015-11-30T19:49:37.292+0000)

you're actually 100% incorrect about the problem with Sona. What eats all her powerbudget is her ultimate, not her auras - the rework specifically took the hidden power (the hidden power comments mostly come from when her Q W and E were persistent auras that gave stats instead of giving more noticeable buffs like they do now) and retooled it into a more obvious buff. However, an aura support having an AoE 1.5 second stun is a pretty big disconnect, and so her kit as to suck balls because otherwise it's oppressive to play against. People complain about a lot of things with Sona (omg her heal is annoying) but her spells aside from Q are actually super inefficient - if you're not maxing W first, Alistar's heal is more efficient at level 1 (both the health it recovers and the mana it costs are higher and lower, respectively, at level 1). The real problem with Sona is that she has a ton of useful team buffs and then a huge stun - if her ult was a different kind of spell, her other spells would be allowed to be stronger because she wouldn't have so much wombo combo potential in an "aura/sustain" support.

Except, without some sort of aoe hard cc, this champ would be garbage...so...

Battlecast SonaDec 1, 20151 votes

but no, she wouldn't be. Sona contributes TONS of utility with her powerchords and auras - overlooking them is pretty silly. I honestly think that Sona's ultimate is a fairly weak ability in comparison - the stun is obviously strong, but as far as actual teamfight contribution AoE shields with windspeaker's is really a lot more (especially with high CDR to keep it up often). I also think if her ultimate wasn't a stun her other abilities could be better.

chipndip1Dec 1, 20153 votes

[{quoted}](name=A Vitriolic Cat,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=le43rE6k,comment-id=000b0000000100010000,timestamp=2015-12-01T04:29:26.590+0000)

but no, she wouldn't be. Sona contributes TONS of utility with her powerchords and auras - overlooking them is pretty silly. I honestly think that Sona's ultimate is a fairly weak ability in comparison - the stun is obviously strong, but as far as actual teamfight contribution AoE shields with windspeaker's is really a lot more (especially with high CDR to keep it up often). I also think if her ultimate wasn't a stun her other abilities could be better.

Kayle Nunu Karma They're technically supports too, but there's a good reason no one's singing their praises.

Truth is, supports are extremely important when it comes to making plays come together. You need HARD CC to make that happen, either on offense or defense, and lacking quick hard cc in your ENTIRE KIT makes you a shitty support. You can't name a single support of value that doesn't have hard cc, and I don't think you can name a single squishy support that doesn't have a some sort of hard cc that can hit multiple opponents. Yea, Sona's power budget is largely invested in her aoe stun, but without that stun, her whole kit would be shit and WAY too dependent on stacking up numbers. Besides...what on Earth would one replace it with? Don't say a Karma-esque ult, because Karma herself suffers from her kit being the way it is now. And just now rereading the thread a bit...trading her aoe stun for a single-target 80% slow completely destroys Sona's ability to synergize with team-fighting comps, which is technically is supposed to be her favorite type of comp.

You keep going on about her power budget in her ult, but her ult is actually necessary to her value as a whole, so why bother pointing it out?

Pika310Dec 1, 20153 votes

{quoted}

Except, without some sort of aoe hard cc, this champ would be garbage...so...

Implying that she isn't already, even in spite of that.

Aeolian MelodiesDec 1, 20153 votes

[{quoted}](name=A Vitriolic Cat,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=le43rE6k,comment-id=000b00000001,timestamp=2015-11-30T19:49:37.292+0000)

However, an aura support having an AoE 1.5 second stun is a pretty big disconnect, and so her kit as to suck balls because otherwise it's oppressive to play against.

Yeah how dare a poke/sustain support have hard CC in her kit

Nami Lulu Janna Bard

I mean, the fucking nerves, right?

Pika310Nov 30, 201511 votes

Woah now. You know as well as I that Sona has an unbroken history of never receiving a single true buff since the very start of this game's existence. Rito's "balance" team aren't interested in breaking this tradition, especially their current employees who are more invested in making certain she's removed from the game, more than ever.

Based on some hints Fearless has been leaving on social media, that'll probably be happening early next season.

AnidanNov 30, 20154 votes

I really hope her inevitable rework is a good one.

Actually xPekeNov 30, 20151 votes

V5.5:

Power Chord No longer consumed on hitting blue trinket ward or Kalista's Sentinel.

Crescendo Cost reduced to 100 at all ranks from 100 / 150 / 200.

Not big, but she did get a minor buff

1000angrybeesNov 30, 20154 votes

I don't even count crescendo being reduced to 100 at all ranks a buff. That was being reduced to the average cost like almost every other mana user.

Pika310Nov 30, 20154 votes

Son, do you really believe you're the first to make that claim? Sorry boy, but you aren't even the 2nd or 3rd:

http://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/news/game-updates/patch/patch-313-notes#patch-Mana-Cost-Reductions-on-Ultimates

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/gameplay-balance/3dRQ6g4P-its-now-been-1-year-4-months-and-2-days

That was not a buff to Sona. It was a universal buff to a large group of champions. Worse yet, Sona was excluded from that group for 1 year, 4 months and 2 weeks after it was first implemented. Which further proves Rito's hatred of Sona.

Actually xPekeNov 30, 20151 votes

An universal buff is still a buff, just like how an indirect buff is a buff.

Pika310Nov 30, 20153 votes

No, a universal buff to multiple champions is equality to each individually. Fact of the matter remains true, Sona's never received a buff, pointing out equalities doesn't change that. Then what about the point that RITO NEGLECTED HER FOR MORE THAN A FULL YEAR, EVEN DESPITE REPEATED PLAYER REQUESTS? That means she was blatantly being discriminated against by Rito's "balance" employees for that entire length of time.

Pika310Nov 30, 201510 votes

Sona doesn't use auras anymore. The correct classification of her current "spells" are activated effects. This needed to be said.

AWildAPKalistaNov 30, 20159 votes

I'm actually quite amused. Rito said their main goal in patch 4.13 was improved visual clarity for Sona. Now here we have a thread with 114 positive rating at the time of this post that says her visuals still aren't up to par. How much more proof is it going to take for Rito to accept the fact the entire project was a complete failure? ...and when will they finally make the leader of that project take responsibility?

RedCycloneNov 30, 20153 votes

They did virtually nothing they actually planned on doing with that rework, they even had a massive megathread discussing what Sona players wanted out of it

very little clarity was sorted out with her abilities what just go unnoticed, temp auras are still basically invisible power, w powerchord never gets noticed and looks like the enemy is healing still

that being said, Im glad she is a lot better now, but she still has these invisible power problems

HowPlayGAEMNov 30, 20155 votes

They did virtually nothing they actually planned on doing with that rework

This is probably what bothers me the most. The reason for doing the rework was removing invisible power, WHICH SHE STILL HAS. Nobody knows if Sona is contributing, nobody knows if Sona is overpowered or underpowered, nobody knows what makes her overpowered or underpowered, nobody knows the solution.

Currently the only way to play Sona is poke lane itemizing into burst AP damage, which is the only visible part of her kit besides her ult.

Garbage rework. Not as bad as Cass, but still fucking garbage.

RedCycloneNov 30, 20153 votes

I still do the exact same thing too, I play Sona literally as a burst damage mage, be it support or mid I'm glad that there is some significance in her more supportive way of playing now thanks to the mastery changes

Who knows maybe she will get a little attention when the mages rework hits in 2016

Lestara BuvelleNov 30, 20156 votes

As Sona's adoptive mother I would love this!

dunkeroniNov 29, 20153 votes

No:

Sona's Aurae have an immediate effect on contact with ally player models. Having the aura on the ground gives a much better visual understanding of exactly where the boundary is, allowing her to more precisely give buffs to her teammates at the right times (very important for using her shield during teamfights) and make sure she actually does touch her ally instead of a near miss when everyone is moving around.

It Hertz When IPNov 29, 20156 votes

I see the downvote drones have moved through here.

TeCoolMageNov 30, 20157 votes

Bandwagon voting strikes again

TeCoolMageDec 1, 20152 votes

Dammnnnnn the bandwagon gods have been defied for the first time in forever

It Hertz When IPNov 29, 20151 votes

No.

Reason why is that the aforementioned examples of rising auras are all stationary effects on the battlefield. Sona's auras follow her around. I personally would not find this change helpful at all, whether facing Sona, as her ally, or even playing her.