Champion Theme and Quality
So, I know this might have been mentioned a couple more times before but it doesn't really seem to stick as much as other overlooked topics.
I appreciate that time is taken to come up with new champion concepts altogether and rework the ones that really need a tune-up, or release temporary game modes, etc, etc.. but with all of that going on maybe the game could use a little more tuning up what it already has and a little less added content..just for a little while.
For example, I wouldn't mind seeing the following happening sooner and taking priority just for one or two patches to improve the quality of the game as a whole:
*Update ALL spell icons of champions instead of just a handful at a time. There are still Champions that have horribly old spell pictures (Amumu, Olaf, Cho, etc.) that don't look very good compared to the new and shiny ones. Everything should be polished over as the game steps into its new age (especially with the new HUD coming along).
*Re-define the theme of characters. This is the biggest one personally. What this is referring to is how a champion's spells are tied to their overall theme; how they fight, what skills they use and everything in between. It would make playing the champion a lot more enjoyable if you psychologically felt special and powerful playing said champion. Down with generic spell effects, up with better definement. Here are a few examples:
-Orianna's Ultimate could have a much cooler effect. It's practically invisible and doesn't feel as BOOM as it could feel, despite how good the mechanics are.
-Janna's shield could be a small whirlwind around an ally instead of a generic ball.
-Janna's ultimate (at least the knockback part) could have a tornado effect (3D, has the sense of towering to the sky instead of being flat) that grows outward before the green healing effect kicks in. Ultimates should feel 'powerful' or rather more thematic and cool looking, even for supports. (Also..why is it called Monsoon? Typhoon would be a better name)
-Anivia could use a good fx tune-up. Her ultimate for instance looks like a swirling blue thing flat on the ground with gentle snowflakes falling from the sky. It should look and sound more like a 3D area of effect rampaging blizzard. Anivia's Frostbite needs to actually look like a bitterly cold gust of wind and not another 'single piece of ice'. Maybe multiple icicles?
-Malphite's ultimate looks boring. Wouldn't it be cooler if the spot where he landed spawned some sort of huge earth disturbance or volcanic effect when everyone flies up to the sky?
-The color scheme of Ryze's spells didn't need to be completely changed. It's boring to have all the same color. His Q should still be red.. his cage should still be white/light and with very visible swirling rune effects.. his spell flux should 'pop' more... his ultimate needs to have that same electricity effect to its aura.. his basic attack looked cooler as zaps of magical electricity.
-Brand's ultimate definitely needs a more popping effect as well. Maybe a bigger fire explosion when it hits people in the face?
-Kennen's FX could be a little more..pronounced for electricity. Instead of lightning bolts being so straight, how about a more advanced design of arcs and forks? Especially the ultimate..the lightnining bolts should actually rain from the sky and land with a bang..not just a couple of >bzzt< glorified joy buzzers.
-Zilean's ult could have a better resurrection effect then just the one they use for Guardian Angel. I mean come on.. look at Ekko's cool time manipulation stuff.
-Fiddlesticks needs a LOT more crows in his storm. It needs to look more of a Birdz movie and less of a 'this is the AoE range indicator'.
-Veigar's ultimate could look more powerful, or at least the boom when it actually hits something be more pronounced so it looks like it actually hurt.
-Diana and Akali could use a more interesting and personalized effect when they dash to someone.
-Xerath... his ultimate definitely, definitely needs to feel and look more powerful. The 'throw three little balls of energy' thing doesn't feel like much of anything at all, especially when we are sold on how powerful Xerath really is supposed to be.
-Vladimir's spell fx could use a bit of a tune up to make them more impactful and more 'bloody'. The same goes for Aatrox; his ultimate could have a cooler effect. Why not a crazy idea like a 0.5 second 'spawning blood demon' effect around/above him when he activates it?
-Kogmaw's ultimate could even be a bit better. The lobs could be a bit larger and splashy, and the impact sounds when they hit their mark could sound more.. impactful. Like living artillery.
-Sona's ultimate needs less 'generic yellow beam thing' effects and more what it used to have, but better. I want to see those golden musical notes, waves of sound.. musical staffs.
-People like Nasus, Renekton, Azir..etc.. well.. when they have sandstorms or sand effects in general. They need to look more like..sandstorms.
-Nautilus already has a cool thematic shield, great. What about his 'water' attacks? Though they are sold as creating shockwaves and disturbances, yeah.. they still should be more prounounced, splashy messes of earth and water. Especially the ultimate..it needs a little something to make it feel much more powerful.
I could go on and on and on.. but the point is an update to the content we already have should come to the limelight just for a few weeks..get that over with, improve the quality of the game and then go back to adding to it. Not everyone is going to care or agree, but thoughts?