Thematically justify overlooked game-mechanics that only makes sense in the game!

5G8Nri0B54··5 votes·2,379 views

You know. Why Brand takes damage from other Brand's fire and Ignite. How Cho'gath can hide in the bush. etc. Are all necessary game mechanics that are purposefully overlooked so as to not break the game. Draven able to throw more axes than he is shown carrying, etc.

So here are the rules.

a. Thematically justify one mechanic of the game.

and

b. After you are done, offer up an ability or some other game mechanic and try justifying it in the context of the game's story.

Since I'm starting, I'll address Gragas's Q being detonated by the player's command.

Explanation: Gragas may look like a stupid fat lard, but in reality, he is a mathematical genius along with being a fat pig. Gragas is able to shake his barrel with the precise amount of force(like it's a can of pop) that he can accurately predict the exact second the barrel will explode upon rolling it out. When the player controlling Gragas presses Q to detonate the barrel, in the world of LoL, the Summoner had zero say in when the barrel explodes, it was Gragas correctly shaking his barrel with precisely enough force that it just also happens to explode the moment the player pressed Q again.

Alright, that was my example. The next person will have to explain...

Why do all champions always have the exact same death animation regardless of their method of death or how many times they die? Why does dying from an Ignite spell produce the exact same death-reaction as being crushed by Malphite's Unstoppable Force?

53 Comments

Rainbow Wasp6 votes

The brittle spikes contain dopamine and a chemical that creates an explosion when it comes on contact with oxygen. The spikes are infused with the chemicals and sealed to ensure they don't explode upon release. When the spike explodes, the volatile chemical turns the liquid dopamine into fumes, allowing the body to absorb it more easily. When Kha'Zix is within range, the absorbed dopamine will increase his motvation (in this case, motivation = health), thus allowing him to keep up longer.

Why does Yasuo's Wind Wall block all projectiles?

Sharjo1 votes

The wall created by Yasuo's wind wall flows incredibly quickly, throwing off any projectiles fired in to it. Magical energy fizzles as its magical matrix destabliizes from the conflicting currents in the wall, while projectile weapons are thrown off by the sudden change in air conditions, altering their trajectory and causing them to miss entirely to fall to the ground.

How does Kog'Maw's bio arcane barrage work?

5G8Nri0B541 votes

Kog'maw's stomach produces a large assortment of different enzymes, his Q, his E, and his R are actually different enzymes with different properties. His Q erodes metal and rockey surfaces to make them softer. His E is sticky. His W(Bio Arcane Barrage) on the other hand is also a special enzyme different from his auto-attack. This is an enzyme that is only produced when Kog'maw is producing an abnormal amount of adrenaline (hence why he is able to expel his projectile at a longer range). This enzyme produced under this specific condition have a special property that instantly melts away chunks of a target hence the % damage.

. . . .

Why does Brand make a far better support than he does an AP mid despite himself being a "I WILL SET THE WORLD ON FIRE"-type kinda goes against being a Support?

Sachabot1 votes

He really just wants to make it toasty for Jinx, whom he has a crush on after seeing her blow up turrets with maniacal zeal.

I know, but it's cute and it kinda works.

Why doesn't Teemo take damage when people step on him while stealthed?

5G8Nri0B542 votes

Being the Yordle that he is, Teemo has grown accustomed to being stepped on to the point where it no longer phases him at all, let alone deal damage.

Why does Nautilus inflict so little damage despite his weapon being such a massive and heavy anchor?

Rainbow Wasp1 votes

{quoted}

Being the Yordle that he is, Teemo has grown accustomed to being stepped on to the point where it no longer phases him at all, let alone deal damage.

Why does Nautilus inflict so little damage despite his weapon being such a massive and heavy anchor?

Due to his size limitations in the League of Legends, he and his anchor had their sizes reduced through a method of magical shrinking. This way Nautilus lost part of his strength in addition to his anchor losing mass. Hits are mainly made using the anchor's arms and crown, resulting in seriously aching bruises if not a broken bone, but not fatal damage.

How can Garen spin (to win) that long and not get dizzy after that?

Sachabot1 votes

He's mastered the dancer's art of focusing on a single point while twirling.

How does Talon keep his knives floating in the air during his ultimate?

5G8Nri0B542 votes

He's a telepath and he doesn't realize it. How else do you think he can make his blades come back to him with his Rake ability?

Why do the skillshots of some champions not increase in size as well when Lulu uses her R on them? (for instance, why doesn't Darius' Apprehend pull in more things with it's larger axe)

the Anarchit3cht1 votes

{quoted}

He's a telepath and he doesn't realize it. How else do you think he can make his blades come back to him with his Rake ability?

Why do the skillshots of some champions not increase in size as well when Lulu uses her R on them? (for instance, why doesn't Darius' Apprehend pull in more things with it's larger axe)

Because their increased size is merely a visual hallucination in combination with a potent displacement spell that causes the knockback.

How does Valor give Quinn an advantage when everyone sees from a birds eye view?

5G8Nri0B541 votes

Every SUMMONER sees in a birds eye view. The champions simply carry out the commands Summoners relay. Valor gives Quinn a point of view no other champions have.

Why is Azir so full of gameplay bugs?

WDTOD1 votes

He has bean dead for thousands of years. Plus he has just become Ascended and is getting used to his new form.

How does Rammus know where he is going while rolling.

5G8Nri0B541 votes

Just as I explained before with Quinn. Rammus may not see where he is going, but the Summoner controlling him does and he relays that message.

Why are the processes of metamorphosis that Kha'zix undergoes referred to as "evolution"?

Onegarion1 votes

Rammus releases waves of energy into the ground and feels them in a sort of Eco location through the ground. This allows him to "see" where he is going.

How does Rek'sai stay burrowed when being knocked up?

5G8Nri0B541 votes

The entire section of the ground is knocked into the air along with him, hence he's still technically "burrowed"

Why did Rengar's bola strike go from being a point and click ability to a skillshot?

Pikmints1 votes

Rengar has recently become a more aggressive hunter. He figures it would be better for him if his stable supply of bolas fly further and deal more damage, relying less on his accuracy and chance of hitting than damage and the distance it can travel.

Why do Vladamir's clothes, hair, etc, turn into a blood pool along with him as well as perfectly reform when he returns to normal?

5G8Nri0B541 votes

Much like Bayonetta and her hair, Vlad too is completely naked at all times. His clothes? Are just his blood that he fasioned into cothes.

** Why does physical attack deal damage to Zac?**

Captain Aishi1 votes

so by reading his blades' thoughts he understands what needs to be done and they are left hanging as they haven't had time to finish explaining their plan?

Jamaree3 votes

Surfer Singed not being affected by Nami's wave

Surfer Singed gets +1 speed while in Nami's wave.

5G8Nri0B541 votes

You were supposed to first justify a mechanic brought up by a previous posted (as in me, the TC)

Also, I thought Singed IS affected by Nami's wave regardless of skin...

But I think what you meant is "why is Surfer Singed affected by Nami's wave?". I'll bite,

Being thrown up by a gigantic tidal wave is the entire point of surfing to begin with, not being affected kinda defeats the purpose of surfing. Why other non-surfer champions or skins are affected by the wave as well then...well it's a gigantic wave. That's kind of the point.

Why do all champions always have the exact same death animation regardless of their method of death or how many times they die?

Maximum Zilean1 votes

{quoted}

Why do all champions always have the exact same death animation regardless of their method of death or how many times they die?

Because when they are supposed to die, the summoners teleport the real champion to a time out zone for the time being. They just replace the champion that died with a hologram of them dieing.

How can Graves fire 3 bullets in one shot from a shotgun with only 2 barrels?

5G8Nri0B541 votes

Quite simply, only a single barrel of Grave's so-called shotgun actually works. Those 3 bullets from his buckshot are actually split off from a single bullet fired from his right barrel.

How does Kha'zix's Void Spikes heal him?

Sharjo1 votes

The spikes flay the flesh of those they hit, and up close the blood and sinew sprays on to Kha'Zix. His carapace then absorbs it, repairing small tissue damage as it does so.

That probably sounds like a lot of bollocks but whatever, I explained it!

How do Vayne's Silver Bolts work?! (As in why does it take three shots to deal true damage?)

Sachabot3 votes

She's really poor, so there's not a lot of silver on each one.

Where does the excess mass of Mega Gnar go when he transforms back to Mini Gnar? And where does it come from when Mini goes Mega?

5G8Nri0B541 votes

A very similar mechanic to how Bruce becomes the Hulk. Simply put, his cells multiple at a ludicrous rate and he begins growing to Mega Gnar. Upon reverting to regular Gnar, his mass probably burns off like steam and he is out of energy, unable to transform until her is well rested...or whatever the duration is supposed to be.

Why does Warwick the werewolf do far more magic damage than he does physical?

Xtremey3 votes

he fucking spits out of his fucking mouth

Astral Zephyroro2 votes

That would depend the personal definition of projectiles, it doesnt block light (Lux Ult), but as for physical projectiles, that would be because the currents of air inside the shield are swirling downwards (like a tornado) and the extreme g-forces of the air inside the wall funnels the projectile into the earth the windshield stands on.

How does Riven bring back her rune sword when she activates the ult?

5G8Nri0B542 votes

She never brought her old sword back. Quite frankly, she is so mentally scarred by the incident that caused her initial self-imposed exile that she became a little unhinged, and all those chemicals exposed to her while fighting in a land as full of magic as Ionia resulted in her mental scars being warped into uncontrollable psychic power. Among her power, beyond the ability to make her wind green for some reason, is also the ability to create specific matter out of thin air whenever she wants it hard enough. For Riven using her R, she simply recreated the rest of her sword because at the points when the player activates her R, she just really misses her old sword.

Why do many of the older champions look so much crappier than newer ones? Not in character design, but in texture and overall 3D model (pizza feet, solid plastic hair, etc.).

Onegarion1 votes

Easy. As time goes by those that have been around for a long time have been exposed to massive amounts of magic and poisoning them degrading their appearance. Newer champs don't have the poison and therefore look better.

Why do only some minions have souls, but others don't? (Thresh Passive)

Sachabot1 votes

All minions have souls, some are simply smart enough to know when to flee back to the Nexus. The ones that don't flee are usually caught by Thresh, but will return after a period of time.

Where does Mundo keep the extra cleavers he throws? He never picks them back up.

Revlak Javik1 votes

He's a scientist. He developed a device that produces cleavers in his back pocket, however the device uses a portion of his bone matter, explaining loss of HP. He regains HP because, upon contact with enemies, the cleaver relays small nanobots that use the bone matter of the target as material for the next cleaver.

But how does Sion conduct his Blood Furnace to produce a Shield, without using HP?

Sachabot1 votes

He's dead, so it doesn't hurt him to project his blood/mana shield around him like that. But it does take power from the furnace in his torso, hence the mana cost.

5G8Nri0B541 votes

They all have a soul. Simply put some just have a stronger soul than others, those with a strong soul are capable of lingering...only to be taken by Thresh.

One is Hecarim so slow without his E activated?

Astral Zephyroro1 votes

They are of an older generation and refuse to let go of the traditions and styles that they originally rose to fame during. Ex: During singed's rise to fame, Noxian Pizza was an up and coming business and in an order to promote their business, singed concoted a mind control serum to put in the sauce and gave away free pizzas, then he convinced everyone to get the new pizza shoes style which he refuses to let die.

Why is Cho Gath's rupture a knock up when your clearly getting impaled?

5G8Nri0B541 votes

Because the spikes are just a front to make the ability look more intimidating. In reality his rupture are just really soft tendrils completely incapable of impaling anything, BUT they have enough power to punch someone from the ground and send them flying.

What is the deal with Twitch and Darius' Passive leaving those giant icons spinning around their opponent when their passive is just supposed to be them inflicting poison and causing them to bleed respectively?

Sachabot1 votes

Twitch and Darius both have vision issues. In Twitch's case, the positions of his eyes make it hard to see, so the floating green icons allow him to differentiate targets. For Darius, he's actually legally blind, and the bright red tells him who to dunk.

Why does Fishbones use mana?

Revlak Javik1 votes

Believe it or not, Jinx is secretly a witch, and she hid her magicks in Fishbones and her other guns (but she doesn't trust Pow-Pow). When she fires the rockets, she is actually launching magic missiles (which is why they follow people and explode) at the cost of mana.

USG Morta1 votes

He's not full of bugs, summoners just have a hard time managing his ascended power (which judging from the video when he rebuilds that city in like 5 seconds, is quite a bit more powerful then the other ascended).

Who decided it was ok for a small child to fight to the death in the fields of justice? Annie

kokopelli21 votes

{quoted}

He's not full of bugs, summoners just have a hard time managing his ascended power (which judging from the video when he rebuilds that city in like 5 seconds, is quite a bit more powerful then the other ascended).

Who decided it was ok for a small child to fight to the death in the fields of justice? Annie

The judges pissed themselves when they saw tibbers and let her in accidentally.

How does Mordekaiser (Brazil) (Huehuehuehuehue) make maces come out of the ground with his E. Mordekaiser

5G8Nri0B541 votes

Mordekaiser is the master of metal, he controls and manipulates metal around him. For his E, he takes the metallic mineral in the environment and shapes them into maces to smack his opponent silly.

Why does Rek'sai going underground also cause the Summoner (you) to have your vision go dark as well?

kokopelli21 votes

You have the vision radius of the champion you control so when you go underground as Rek you can only see what he and your other summoners can see.

How does corki use boots?

Balisan1 votes

Items are not full-sized arms and armor; every item is a small magical charm. This is why champions can benefit from items that they would not otherwise use.

Rainbow Wasp1 votes

{quoted}

Twitch and Darius both have vision issues. In Twitch's case, the positions of his eyes make it hard to see, so the floating green icons allow him to differentiate targets. For Darius, he's actually legally blind, and the bright red tells him who to dunk.

Why does Fishbones use mana?

Fishbones is a shoulder-launched weapon. Its design is unconventional and doesn't have a proper exhaust pipe, causing recoil for each fired rocket. It wears Jinx out, because her thin frame doesn't allow continuous firing. ** Where does all that water of Nami's ult come from?**

USG Morta1 votes

Where does all that water of Nami's ult come from?

she actually condenses the moisture from the air.

where does quinn go when she ults?

kokopelli21 votes

{quoted}

she actually condenses the moisture from the air.

where does quinn go when she ults?

Quinn is actually valor. When she uses "Valor" as an ability, its a projection of her bird self so when she uses her ult she is calling her bird form and turning into Valor. (Think of her as an animagus from harry potter)

How does Rengar's empowered roar heal him?

kirbyzama1 votes

I actually have an on going joke with a friend of mine that she uses her cape to fly while valor is on the rift and her execute reactivation is her getting tired of flapping and falling to the ground with her arrows falling out of the quiver.

Ironclad Dragon1 votes

Why can Azir's Sand Soldiers, generated from memory and or sand, actually hurt people other than stinging their wounds?

Sachabot1 votes

They're compressed.

How does Mordekaiser know how many times you click?

Maximum Zilean1 votes

Because Zac isn't a true physical being, he is made of goo and was designed to absorb damage through the chemicals he was born from. (Stuff like arrows, instead of sticking on him and piercing through, they just get stuck and don't really do anything)

How does Gangplank's ship hit summoners rift with his ult, when there is no sea in sight for his ship to be in?

Wofye1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Aziriously OP,realm=NA,application-id=Ir7ZrJjF,discussion-id=0xfX8E9O,comment-id=0009,timestamp=2015-01-02T20:28:28.651+0000)

Because Zac isn't a true physical being, he is made of goo and was designed to absorb damage through the chemicals he was born from. (Stuff like arrows, instead of sticking on him and piercing through, they just get stuck and don't really do anything)

How does Gangplank's ship hit summoners rift with his ult, when there is no sea in sight for his ship to be in?

There is a lake somewhere near out of sight where a ship of gangplank has clear view of SR (Possibly higher up the mountain).

Where does all of Nami's water come from?

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