Lore: The Retcon that started the Zombie Apocalypse
I kinda wanted to make my own thread to voice my concerns against the current retconning of League of Legend's lore. I'm a huge Hemingway fan, as those of you who might talk to me privately enough should understand... the guy is a legend in my eyes. I idolize him, in a sense... share a lot of his beliefs... and definitely share his love for alcohol and self destruction. I'm a fool for admitting so publicly, but I think this should put some perspective on what I'm going to write about... and that is Riot's motivation moving from an artistic stance... to a more... efficient/money grabbing stance by creating a more simplified base for Runeterra and how the world works.
"When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature."
- Hemingway
The points being discussed are: Why is the reason to fight important? The effects of removing the Institute of War and Summoners The effects on the community.
Now, for the first point... this is more directed @Riot Opeli and her question of...
Quote: There has to be a reason? We can't explore these champions in a cool, fun way that's just the game League of Legends? Yes, there has to be a reason why someone is participating. Some of the reasons why this is an issue will be covered when I discuss the effects of losing summoners and the Institute of War, but the big one I want to cover here is what was addressed in the quote above. You are creating and developing people. People NEED reasons to do things, they don't just go about their day and say... "Man, I feel like teaming up with the people I hate the most and do combat against my own allies in a five versus five match up on some arena called Summoner's Rift." Hell, that would go against a lot of the personalities created by Riot. There is just as heavy of an importance on why as there is how, where, who, and when. I mean, as a writer... you should be pumped to further expand around the idea of why someone did something. It should give you shivers as you explore each facet of this individual as you write them... It shouldn't be something you question the importance of. Lore isn't where ignorance of the reasoning behind the actions of a person should be applied. Perspective is a huge part of understanding. You ask why we can't just simplify them all and just explore them in the game itself, and I will answer with a question... When have you not been able to enjoy these champions of Runeterra? How does removing the WHY create a better understanding of the individuals present? To be frank, you sound lazy. Hemingway would be rolling in his grave if he saw this lack of care in this current generation of writers.
What do we lose when we destroy the Institute and completely write over the past? I could simply bring up points already discussed, such as the lore behind several characters... but I would rather continue on immersion, and how it effects you as a player as you traverse across the various bits and pieces of lore that you come across during your adventures. The Institute was established to stop Runeterra from being overcome and destroyed due to conflict. It became a means to keep the people of Runeterra safe. Without the Institute, without summoners... you lose stability within Runeterra. If we wanted war? If we wanted these massive, epic battles? We would be playing World of Warcraft. So, with that... the first thing you really lose is a huge part of what the Institute grants, and that is safety. It isn't just the UN of Runeterra, it almost acts like its final stand of protection, housing beings such as Nocturne and Fiddlesticks whom, if left unchecked could possibly destroy Runeterra. Not only do you lose the protection the Institute grants, but from a writing perspective... you lose a great way to help expand on the champions themselves.
"But wait, all I see is a giant wall preventing us from exploring them as individuals!"
No, you're wrong. The institute gives a logical reason to bring these champions together. It gives an actual REASON Darius is on the same side as Garen, albeit slightly forced... but it doesn't take away from the champions. Take for example, Riven. She left Noxus in a quest for self redemption. She found solace in Ionia, but found hope in the Institute of War... giving herself to the summoners to help better the realm.. even if it meant fighting alongside Noxians while fighting against her new people. These champions all have a reason to sacrifice themselves for the good of Runeterra, some are a bit selfish... but it is part of who they are, even if it isn't included in the Bio. These champions gather in hopes to bring Runeterra peace, to protect it from the chaos prior to the creation of the Institute. This never stopped conflict from happening. Last I checked, conflict still stirred within the factions themselves... the fight for Freljord constantly taking a toll on the people in the northern mountains... Swain defeating Darkwill in order to take charge of Noxus... Just a few examples of huge turning points in Runeterra's history that happened WHILE the Institute has been in place.
It was stated by Riot Opeli that the intention is to create a SSB environment... which is ironic because they also stated that the Institute was created out of convenience... I'll include screenshots for context.
If anything was done for convenience, it is removing a huge part of the original... ESTABLISHED lore in order to fit what you feel is right, which wouldn't have been able to co-exist with the IoW or summoners. The IoW is in a sense... a system of checks and balances, somewhat like the Tribunal... It keeps the people of Runeterra safe, just as the Tribunal once kept us safe. It isn't about what you feel would be cool, but what would work for a Runeterra that has already been through hell and back with conflict. We don't need Cho running around unchecked. That's just lazy writing. You know, writing out the Institute through some sort of coup... a group of insurgents being created and fighting against the Institute, creating a new faction of those who want to thrust Runeterra into a new dark age, or even a group trying to summon the powers of the void or something even darker would be a lot more understandable than just trash canning it all. I mean come on, you guys should know better...
Now... where would this decision leave us with Riot? Well, I can't speak for the community, but seeing as I'm not the only one who feels this is the wrong direction to take lore... this might alienate a huge portion of the community and create huge trust issues in what Riot says and what we believe they will do... which seems to be the trend in what Riot does as a company and how it involves the community. We already are pretty much ignored at every turn. This might be the last stand for a group of us, and if this actually takes place... I know I won't be continuing my adventures through Runeterra. I've struggled enough as it is while trying to make the changes that should have been done by rallying up the community and such. In some ways, I'm starting to feel like the players have more passion for the game they play than those who are developing it. We want to see the game back to its roots, where it was fun and exciting, but instead things become more simplified... following the trends of most popular games... If it works? Make it so simple that anyone off the street can get involved.. and make it so those who stuck around to this point can't even recognize what they loved in the first place and slowly die off.
I want to hear the reasoning from a writer... on how something so important as the Institute of War can actually hinder story telling. Is it truly because you are struggling? Or is it because you are too lazy to work around the rules and respect what those before you have worked on? I wonder what those in the past would say about your thoughts behind this matter, because I doubt it would be anything pleasant. I used to have a bit of respect, but that was thrown out the window when you put yourselves on the same platform as Stephenie Meyer in terms of creating a world that fits what you want to do, instead of respecting what was previously established and developing from there... That is a sign of true creativity.
"Desperation is the raw material of drastic change."
- William S. Burroughs
Side note: No TL;DR
Original thread: http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=4844027
