I made the suggestion for more Black Champs. 21 down votes in 6 hours.

Occams Raiser·4/21/2015, 1:45:54 PM·6 votes·3,140 views

What a world we live in. Maybe I asked wrong. Seems like you can't acknowledge inequality anymore. I get tired of seeing black people have to cosplay as white champs with straight hair wigs every time I go to Comic-Con. Or You get the alternative. Oh look, the tenth Lucian. I don't think people understand what this does to our social psychology. Or maybe they do and it is all deliberate. I want to give the human race more credit than that.

Down votes, apathy, and racists jokes.... Hmmm. It's still pretty bad out there.

185 Comments

Krigjer4/21/2015, 2:15:31 PM19 votes

I'm getting tired of seeing damn near every game have its forums overrun by people insisting that EVERYTHING needs representation. IN A FANTASY SETTING.

Yet I never see praise for when a game actually includes a certain element.

That said, I don't think champions should be created for the purposes of cosplay. I don't care about cosplay, or what race/gender/whatever a champion is. I want to enjoy their KIT, because GAMEPLAY matters to me more than feeling represented in a video game.

Laughing Fish4/21/2015, 1:49:46 PM12 votes

http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/facepalm.gif

Trylobyte4/21/2015, 5:53:06 PM11 votes

Well, if you want to make it an issue that there's only one black champion...

...there are no confirmed gay champions. ...there are no confirmed lesbian champions (though Vi x Caitlyn is hinted as canon). ...there are no bisexual champions we know of. ...there are no transgendered champions. ...there are only 42 female champions out of 124, a mere third. ...female champions are overwhelmingly put into the most fragile, delicate roles (support and ADC). ...female champions have overwhelmingly fanservice-laden attire. ...the only religiously-themed champions are from Christian iconography. ...the only obviously Arabic champion is evil. ...there are five child champions (Annie, Amumu, Gnar, Nunu, Kog'maw) you can inflict violence upon. ...there are only two elderly champions.

But where's all the outcry about these inequalities and injustices? There isn't any, because the game doesn't have to, and in fact shouldn't, reflect real life demographics. It's a fantasy world.

Linna Excel nails it above. Making champions black for the sake of having black champions just doesn't fly, no more than the 'scythe-wielding loli' concept did a year or two ago. If the only major element of that champions identity is 'I am black' or 'I am a loli with a scythe' not many people are going to like it because there's nothing to it. Put some meat on the bones of the concept and we might be more supportive.

That said, Riot does have a history of attempting to do this. We asked, where is our female tank? We got Leona. We asked, where is our black champion? We got Lucian. We asked, where is our monster that doesn't speak English? We got Rek'sai. But Riot just can't keep doing it all the time. Give 'em some help. Come up with a good, solid, well-thought idea and the community will support it a lot faster than if you just sit back and passively accuse Riot (and anyone who disagrees with you) of being racist.

Sirsir4/21/2015, 3:53:41 PM10 votes

I'm tired of various so called 'civil rights' groups (or persons, in this case) stirring shit that doesn't exist. No one cares that there aren't tons of black champs because no one cares about skin color. Isn't that what you want?

warpenguin5554/21/2015, 2:52:29 PM7 votes

OK. the reason why you were downvoted is because nobody like the people who pay attention to race in games. at all. At this rate we are getting a forum race war... what fun.

Also you forgot that there is only 1 Asian, Russian, and French champion each. Maybe they are offended.

There is actually a place where you can get this out, its called tumblr. Please spare us who hate the race is all that matters people and go there.

Myrddin4/21/2015, 2:34:14 PM6 votes

But you have black alistar, what more could you want

yellowbricks4/21/2015, 4:34:25 PM5 votes

People downvote because you shouldn't try to inject politics into video games. Riot made one black champ out of 120 something, it isn't some grand scheme to oppress black people, it's because in a fantasy setting, there's so much more you can do than just make boring humans all the time. But nope, here comes the social justice police, you're in violation of ordinance 50043a failure to equally represent any and all groups that exist in the universe including the ones we don't even know about.

You know the phrase "go with what you know"? Because it's a true saying, white people know themselves, so they're more inclined to make characters in their image, rather than try to capture the essence of another culture and miss lots of stuff and get a bunch of people jumping down their throats for it.

My question is, if under representation in video games upsets you so much, why aren't you making your own game with a black protagonist? It'd make a lot more of a difference than sitting on a forum whining at a company to cater to your needs. Go and learn one of the myriad game engines that exist nowadays and get cracking, or form a team with other like minded individuals.

Colgate Gator4/21/2015, 5:33:16 PM4 votes

[{quoted}](name=Occams Raiser,realm=NA,application-id=cIfEodbz,discussion-id=TeXyERLl,comment-id=00070000,timestamp=2015-04-21T17:11:25.923+0000)

No one thinks Karma is black. Not that I have ever seen when I googled "is Karma black?"

I don't really care if you think she is black, as it seems you only see black/not black, but I assure you, she isn't white, not that it matters, if I must be honest. There are many """non-white""" Champions, but people will always find a reason to complain about things.

Riot has zero obligation to cater to what you think is right. If they don't feel they have to make more "Black person archetype" kind of Champion for now, it's their own business, there are no racist implications in this, this is just how they have envisioned their own game.

There are many kinds and species of Champions in the ever-growing pool, and yet you focus on that asinine conclusion based on a Champions tone of skin, how shallow can you be?

[{quoted}](name=Occams Raiser,realm=NA,application-id=cIfEodbz,discussion-id=TeXyERLl,comment-id=000b0000,timestamp=2015-04-21T16:56:00.006+0000)

You aren't evil, you were just raised American.

I think the same thing as that "American" you just mentioned and I am Mexican. Judging by how you're answering to everyone who thinks differently from you, I'll only assume you're arguing for the sake of arguing.

Colgate Gator4/21/2015, 4:07:55 PM4 votes

What, Karma doesn't have a dark skin enough to count or what am I missing here?

BeatzBoyFTW4/22/2015, 12:42:30 PM3 votes

Pretty sure after this thread, OP's next thread would be:

**120+ Champs, ONE gay guy. Really? Taric **

Linna Excel4/21/2015, 4:28:02 PM3 votes

Maybe it's not what you are saying but how you are saying it. The other thread came off as negative and complaining.

usul12024/21/2015, 10:28:21 PM3 votes

I'm sorry, are you trying to tell me that runeterra has the exact same solar orbit as earth? Because the skin color black only exists on earth because earths tilt is a mere 23 degrees. were runterra to be tilted more, then there would be no black people on the planet. Your assumption that LoL has to work as earth does is odd, and quite frankly misplaced here. Its a fantasy game, it has no requirement to pay tribute to science.

1011001110004/21/2015, 4:51:10 PM1 votes

At some point, I feel yoi're being stupid on purpose. There are literally 1-ofs in this game of anything you can think of.

There's only 1 dragon champion. Is Riot racist to dragons?

There's only 1 bear (2 if you count tibbers). Is Riot racist to bears? Maybe Zilean, but eh.

There's only 1 starchild. Is Riot racist to starchilldren?