Between Two Turrets - Come chat with Jaredan! [COMPLETE]

RiotA Small Man·2/16/2016, 9:07:46 PM·16 votes·47,660 views


Welcome to the latest installment of Between Two Turrets, a Q&A series through which we connect you with various Rioters to chat about League, life, and anything in between. You can expect an installment every two weeks or so, with Rioters from all over jumping in to spend some time with you on the Boards.

This week, we’ve got Narrative Lead Scott “Jaredan” Hawkes!


Ahoy!

I'm Scott Hawkes, known on the boards (and by the unfortunate ADCs who play alongside my support) as Jaredan. I'm the Narrative Lead for League of Legends, which means I'm responsible for strategy, recruiting and overall quality for the Narrative Discipline on League. The Narrative discipline on League works on teams such as Champion, Champion Update, Voice Over and beyond with an eclectic bunch of talented folks form other disciplines to make new stuff for players.

Since joining Riot two and a half years ago I've worked on a bunch of things including a variety of Champs, Events, the Foundations team and some stuff you will hopefully see very soon. I can also be an awful tease.

Before Riot, I was an Editor-in-Chief at a couple of gaming-focused publishing networks, a teacher of English Language and Literature for nearly 10 years, and a freelance editor at the same time. I feel very old.

Outside the bonkers-in-just-the-right-way halls of Riot, I spend my time proving how patient my wife is while we raise our two joy-grenade kids.

My passion is for character and story and getting both into the hands of players.

So with that in mind, what would you like to know? Who is your favorite Champ? Why? Is this how it works? I don't know!

381 Comments

Hellioning2/16/2016, 9:08:45 PM22 votes

Are you prepared for the angry lore fans?

Serith Vastyne2/16/2016, 9:26:00 PM9 votes

Can we expect a massive Targon event soon(TM)? :P Leona Diana Pantheon have some awesome short lore on the PBE and I'm so ready for more.

ModCaptainMårvelous2/16/2016, 9:12:34 PM9 votes

No, Jared, no stop. WE ask the questions. (Vi is my fave though)

So, for you, how difficult do you find it to be to oversee 130+ characters? Is it no big deal? Makes your hair turn grey? Maybe some champs are easy but others make you sweat nervously?

Fasmodey2/16/2016, 9:21:20 PM7 votes

Which champions are homosexuals? Probably not going to be answered but at least I tried my chance.

And, will we see the deep description of Ascension Ritual?

jdizzle3672/16/2016, 9:34:55 PM4 votes

I know Galio is basically forgotten by the community right now. He is so forgotten that he doesn't even get the forgotten champion joke exposure Yorick and Swain get. So he is probably low on riot's priority list but with the new Poppy lore Galio doesn't even have a real backstory now. Is he going to get a new reason to end his vigil over the bones of his master or is he stuck in some sort of limbo indefinitely until he gets a rework in the very distant future? I really feel like Galio had this great protector theme and personality but he was usurped by Braum as the archetypal gentle giant. I think that Galio currently has no place in the league and riot is just pretending he never happened beyond some sympathy buffs (and one really random nerf) every now and again.

Kei1432/16/2016, 9:16:15 PM3 votes

Did you ahve any say in the promo-teasers such as Jhin's teasers?

If so, did it have to be those 4 champs (zed, sona, garen, vi) that got killed? Did it have to be in that order?

Ever thought of providing that extra information that we get on the Boards through champ Q&As, back to the lore fans who have missed a champs Q&A due to: 1) don't visit the boards 2) New to the game 3) missed the Q&A because of timing related things and can never find it ever again?

Do you decide in your meetings before a champs Q&A what you can reveal to the players, what needs to be kept a secret, and what "we can respond to that" when the question comes up?

During Champ Q&As, who decides which questions get answered and who gets to answer them?

Ekko Will Rekko 2/16/2016, 9:16:49 PM3 votes

I would like to get straight to the point.

Are there any plans for Wukong & Master Yi?

Solanar2/16/2016, 9:36:41 PM3 votes

Hi Jaredan. Evelynn Evelynn has always been my favorite champion. The deadly stealth assassin femme fatal, but her lore has always been non-existent. Has the team already delved into her past and just waiting for the right time (ie Visual Update) or what direction would you personally take her. Also, what is your favorite lore you've written for League?

BruhWhoYouThink2/16/2016, 11:18:37 PM2 votes

Jaredan,

Hallo! Which existing champion lore will be updated next and which champion/event/feature are you most proud of in league that you worked on?

Thanks!!

Merxamers2/16/2016, 9:11:04 PM2 votes

Hello! My favorite champion is Morde, and i loved his new lore.

It seems like there's been a holdup on getting new lore released that's not tied to events or champion releases. What are those stones in the gears? What's the expected cadence for new and updated lore to be released this year?

JustCasual2/16/2016, 9:33:30 PM1 votes

As Riot is quickly growing and battling the balance of priorities and resources, where do you see Riot's focus and direction in tackling the Lore specifically? For example is Riot focused on developing immersive stories for new champions, writing a quick lore for all champions, strong focus on linking all the stories of all champions, etc.

How is the balance for working at Riot for a father and husband? Do you know if it's similar/different from those working in the eSports side of things? One of my biggest worries about a possibility of a future with Riot is the work/life balance. I understand people love their jobs and Riot's atmosphere so working there is great, but for those that aren't single that have responsibilities outside of Riot, I prematurely assume that it takes a certain spouse or family to have a family member working at Riot (I hope I'm wrong).