@Ironstylus - Evenlynn, Thematic Relaunch - What does this entail?

Mirage Night·Mar 1, 2014·5 votes·4,796 views

Many people have asked about the state of Evelynn's Visual Update. But as things have progressed, a statement was made that Evelynn will not be just getting a Visual Update, but a Thematic Relaunch. I am curious what is really the difference.

EDIT

Here is a community Experiment I have been working on. It has started up pretty nicely. I have an exact copy on the beta forums as well.

http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=4262449&highlight=evelynn

21 Comments

RiotIronStylusMar 2, 201410 votes

The question is.. what the hell is she?

Right now she's a dominatrix, I guess. She's also this sorta wraith/assassin/seductress. Whatever she is, it's not clear. I think we can dig into her a bit and see what tidbits are there that can really make a compelling character. I think there's potential, but right now the whole thing about her back-story is "mystery". To me that's actual fertile ground. Oh, she's from the Shadow Isles? Cool, we can use that. Maybe she's the product of some curse given to her parents. Maybe she's half human, half a product of the Shadow Isles. Plenty of possibilities. We'd like to explore those and get an idea then execute from there. Whichever creative direction we take, it'll explain the way she looks. My hunch is that whatever we do she's probably going to need a traditional skin. I don't see us being able to rationalize how she currently looks now.

Mirage NightMar 2, 20143 votes

I always felt she could really be some sort of True Demon. We have Kayle and Morgana, but what about the other side of the spectrum? Could she be a Succubus? Full fledged, drawn into this world by the shadow king.

daft inquisitorMar 2, 20142 votes

My problem with her was, when I first started playing the game, I got her confused with Elise a lot. I mean, they're both ladies from the shadow isles, they're both spider-related in a way (Her title is the Widowmaker, which just makes me think of Black Widows)... they're kind of confusing.

But, one thing I have to comment on, is that mark on her forehead in her splash art. It actually REALLY reminds me of that mark on Diana's head, the lunar crest or whatever it is. I'm actually hoping there's room for possibilities there. Like, maybe she was a Lunari (one of the originals? Shadow Isle immortality?) that was somehow corrupted by the Shadow Isles? It would be good timing for it, considering how much people have been asking for a Mount Targon update...

ValeazarMar 2, 20143 votes

I think one of the most important "themes" of Evelynn is how ambiguous she is. There's a lot of contrast, in her character. Even if her current model is in shambles, it's not hard to figure she's supposed to be alluring, not in a "gorgeous" kind of way, but rather in the "seductress" genre. Yes, she's breathtaking, and would appeal to a lot males (and females), playing on their fantasies, if only she wasn't always invisible. She's a beauty no one gets to see (except on battle, but I'll come back to that later). The other thing that strikes me is how "precious" she appears: she obviously likes to take care of herself (I mean, the Heels), and, much like Cassiopeia and LeBlanc, uses her charms when dealing with other people. The contrast here, is how savage she is in battle: this precious lady is full of hate, feeds on the pain of her opponnents, doesn't use blades or axes or whatever to strike and ennemies, but rather uses her bare claws, and relentlessly pursues her target.

If her dominatrix theme were to go (and I would personally wouldn't be against it), I hope this contrast will stay. She's one of the most mysterious champions in the League, and there are many options available: is she, as someone else's said, a demon (Succubus?), an hybrid, or even a Daarkin? Was she a poor woman, left by her lover, who then went to the Shadow Isles to seek vengeance, only to become cursed? Maybe now she's relentlessly pursuing all unfaithful men, punishing them for what she sees as the ultimate crime (hence the "Widowmaker" title). Maybe the opposite, and she's just a kind of twisted creature from the Isles, looking to feed on all dark feelings in a "human" heart.

So many possibilites... I'm really looking forward to what you'll do with her :)

RiotIronStylusMar 3, 20144 votes

Mysterious is great, but we tended to use that a lot back in the day. I feel it's sort of an easy way out of explaining how she does or doesn't fit into the world.

Either way, yes, I agree, there are a lot of opportunities. I'm sure she'll stay on the sadistic side of things. I do like the Daarkin/half-Daarkin/whatever idea, I also like her being of some sort of relation to the Shadow Isles. Either way, I think her core themes will remain in tact, it's more about how we express and support those when we do an overhaul.

DecathectWomanMar 3, 20143 votes

My opinion may not be entirely relevant, however, I feel like Evelynn could be used to expand more on Shadow Isles lore, because it also has the same mysterious theme. You'd be able to kill two birds with one stone if you were to include her in the Shadow Isles' story. I don't know much about Darkin, but it seems like it would be easier to add more Darkin champions instead of reworking the themes of pre-existing champions to become something of the sort. Even if she carries the vibe of one, I'd like to see more depth to the Shadow Isles idea. Sadism isn't uncommon with the denizens there. That's one of Thresh's key traits, as well as Mordekaiser.

Mirage NightMar 3, 20142 votes

It would be cool. I just would like to see her turn more to a demon yet keep the sexy aspect her her. It is one of her draws. Against using a Succubus as inspiration.

http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=4262449&highlight=evelynn

MysnomerMar 3, 20143 votes

What a hack. Talks about how cheap playing the "mysterious origins" card is, but then provides nothing but trite cliches as substitute. Here's a twist, how about you flesh everybody else out, then her mysterious origins will actually be compelling and unique. A world where everything makes sense and we have perfect information is boring, especially since as we understand more characters and their deeper motivations, the more the lore falls apart. Why are horrors still in the League if they aren't bound by the Institute? Why are mass murdering psychopaths offered asylum? Why are characters who blatantly want to harm Runeterra allowed to profit from the League? What about people who want to destroy the Lea- oh right that would be interesting so you retcon'ed it.

You have a game for which conflict resolution is antithetical, and yet you build up epic blood-feuds and nationalistic conflicts and philosophical quandaries on which hang the fate of a world. None of that is realized in the game, and you fail to capitalize on them outside the game. League needs less "epic" stories and more slice-of-life. Just short stories of characters interacting and living their lives. More talk about what conflict is motivating League games, more characterization of summoners. Yeah, sure, give your heroes some cool backstories, but make them snippets that don't necessarily fit into some greater narrative arc, b/c then it won't be so jarring when that arc never finishes. You talk a lot about fulfilling the fantasy of characters. What about the fantasy of a world that isn't tearing itself apart at the seams with cognitive dissonance?

AbiwonKenabiMar 4, 20142 votes

I'm lazily quoting myself from another thread...again:

Here is an idea I was tinkering with in another thread:

She was once an innocent young normal woman who only wanted love

She had a horrible fiance who only wanted her for her money

Finance dumped her on a beach on their honeymoon, murdered her

The beach happens to be the beach of the Shadow Isles

She returns, transformed by the magics of the Isles to claim revenge on the fiance

She lives on, finally finding the one thing she loves: killing

The idea needs work, but that would help her be more cohesive with the Shadow Isles, but still make her seem aloof, like her current lore implies (more motivated by personal whims than other Shadow Isles champs, who seem to be a part of some huge conflict we don't know much about). Also, I'm picturing some super creepy but awesome stealth in the revenge process :D

As for her looks...I'm kind of attached to the heels, the cape things and the voice. I think one could work with that to attach it to her theme--she was once very docile, she's attracted to things that make her feel on top, less trampled. Heels could plausibly be one such style choice. And her voice compliments her theme of power and lust for blood (more lines ofc). The cape thingies...they just look cool? Using my story they could be some sort of wedding train or what's left of it...Ooo maybe she was starting to rot before the magic worked...That could be cool.

Mirage NightMar 3, 20141 votes

http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=4262449&highlight=evelynn

Something we have been taking in account in this thread.

SpinyLumpSuckerMar 2, 20141 votes

I think you should make her a succubus :)!

exec3Mar 2, 20143 votes

Do you know if she'll get a rework with her VU? Changing her E to physical damage really hurt her and Riot usually only does such nerfs to perceived toxic champs they don't want played until a rework is ready.

Also you mention mystery in her story, do you guys know that mystery yourselves or is that something being worked on? I ask because previously it was said she has no Twisted Treeline Altar VO's because you guys weren't ready to reveal her story but now it sounds like you guys never knew her story in the first place.

PaladinNephMar 2, 20144 votes

just a bit of a request: when you do update her? make her hate spike a toggle. mashing q every 1.5 seconds while trying to outmaneuver people is annoying.

Hexs FortuneMar 2, 20143 votes

I always thought re-writing her as lucians fallen wife could be cool

SkylarSansMar 1, 20141 votes

It means she will look quite different. To the point you would have hard time telling that it's actually Evelynn if someone showed you the new version without telling you it's her.

Mirage NightMar 2, 20142 votes

I wonder if they are going to do any game play changes as a result to match the new theme. :(

daft inquisitorMar 2, 20143 votes

If it's a "thematic overhaul", yeah, they've been known to adjust abilities in the past over that. We'll just have to see what they do with her in the end.

NoMieuMar 2, 20141 votes

When I first started playing LoL in 2010 I thought Eve made me think of Mateus from Final Fantasy. I understand it's weird but the way I saw Eve pre-nerf of June 2011 was as a vengeful female that must have had a history of being abused and confined against her will slowly perverting her. Using her stun to trap her enemies for a short period of time where she would unleash all her hurt and past experiences on that enemy by kicking them while they were down and hateful feelings and getting a rise off it.

After her nerf she seemed more like a stalker that wanted to chase down her quarries instead of chaining them down but with the same intent of letting them experience what had happened to her.

Then with the July 2012 rework I felt she became a bit desperate in her chasing that her blood lust revealed her to her enemies to notice her if she came too close. She would then chase after them and give up all semblance of control to release all her experiences at once with her new ult Agony's Embrace in a larger vicinity rather than a controlled one like her hate spike.

I feel that she probably was a normal person once but maybe she had been married once to a messed up individual that abused her breaking her into a new person. Maybe she married a pirate or a sailor tried to escape by boat and ended up on the Shadow Isles. Or maybe her village was pillaged by pirates and she was taken as a slave where she ended up becoming a concubine for one of her captors (which made me think of Aversa from Fire Emblem for some reason). In desperation she attempted to escape off the ship to a place she knew he wouldn't go to since seafarers were known to avoid The Shadow Isles. Once there the tainted land slowly perverted all her pent up emotions and made an outlet for hatred and twisted her personality. Eventually changing her to the point where she desired control and had a deep desire to destroy men, mentally/physically. With the ideas about her being part Darkin though, I thought maybe she may have encountered one of them. What if the 5 remaining Darkins are similar to the 7 sins in that they embody a certain vice or lust? Aatrox is the embodiment of bloodlust and wrath in a way through constant conflict. Evelynn could have encountered the Darkin that dealt with powerlust(as in control) or desire who took an interest in her and changed her similarly to how Aatrox decided to grant Tryndamere power. Rather than just giving her power though the Darkin went further and changed her into something more than human.

I think she's fine being purple or neon pink. The symbol on her forehead though could use some explaining though. I feel that with the pirate slave background I put out it could be a brand they gave her to signal which ship she was a slave to and maybe it changed on The Shadow Isles. She could have received it from her time in The Shadow Isles and uses it as a way to focus her abilities. I feel her hair could be given a bit more form rather than looking like a troll doll, maybe one of her skins could give her a beehive hairstyle or a different up-do. Her clothes should be tight fitting, but there's no reason why they should have to be revealing. She'd look good either way but if you made a traditional skin for her you could always just have that skin be the one that reveals a lot of skin.

GarentheonMar 2, 20141 votes

A while back an idea was mentioned by IronStylus I believe as maybe being a Darkin. It was only an idea but I like it. Thinkin about Aatrox's design and some of that flavor on Evelyn soinds really cool to me. I think of Aatrox's legs and how cool if that style was on Evelyn. She'd be a rocking Darkin. Btw, never played her, completely unbiased

EnterthehydraMar 8, 20141 votes

From a flavor point of view, I think a big thing to keep in mind is that the dominatrix persona that so many people want to keep with her really has 2 parts: the sadism, and the s3x factor. I think the s3x is only really present in her clothes and her VO, but isn't particularly central to her theme. The sadism on the other hand is very important. It's supported in all aspects of her kit, including mechanics (her ult gives her a shield when she hurts people, e gives her attack speed to go into a clawing frenzy on someone, her w makes her faster and more elusive whenever she kills, and her q is spikes of hatred that she shoots at people). I think that focusing on this aspect of a sadistic psychic vampire is the way to go with her. In that vein, even though her stealth is her most iconic ability, I think it's the least thematic. I think that going in, murdering someone, and fleeing back into stealth doesn't fit with what her character is. That fits more of a hunter ('kha'zix and Rengar do this well with their mechanics) so something different should be approached. I would love to see more of a katarina or yi (mostly old ap yi) approach, where they run in and if they kill someone then they grow much more powerful. I want to see evelyn literally hate someone to death and then be overcome with bloodlust and run to slaughter the next enemy in her line of sight and ends up bathing in the enemy's blood. I'm thinking a darker version of jinx, who has completely given herself over to psychotic murderous glee

ThatRussianLadNov 5, 20141 votes

After much thought to what theme could tie her skills, passive, and appearance together. I suggest that her powers be drawn from shadows. She was originally a Summoner who discovered a forgotten ritual only possible to complete in the shadow isles. This ritual bonded her body and soul to her shadow. She gains power by ripping souls from their shadows piece by piece. Her invisibility can be explained by hiding in the "shadow" of war. Her abilities are either manipulating her shadow in the case of hate spike and agony's embrace or ripping in the shadow in the case of her e.