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[CCOS] February Results are Here!

ModEchoing··19 votes·1,852 views

https://68.media.tumblr.com/18be1e27e3139ec087339c2d310de958/tumblr_nhf5cwE3oH1rmpgwbo1_500.gif

Congratulations to everyone who participated! The February CCOS is at an end, and it's time to announce the winners!

But first, your judges!

Echoing. Just kinda fill in your own comment here. Fugertech. Showing that even when you're without a concept, you can still contribute to the CCOS!

Honorable mention to FloRaider42, who had to drop out of judging due to work being overbearing. Thank you for your willingness to volunteer!

With that said, the winner of the February CCOS is...

http://bestanimations.com/Music/Instruments/Percussion/Drums/drums-animated-gif-8.gif

Soz'Rath, the Shadow Lich, by THE RlVER KlNG, with a score of 182/220! Death is just a mild inconvenience, after all.

In second place, Zezaleya, the Winter Wyvern, by RocketRelm, with a score of 175/220! Revenge is a dish best served cold.

In third place, Mosco, the Mad Hatter, by iKratosKlayton, with a score of 162/220! A very happy unbirthday to you too!

Tied for fourth place, we have Karin, the Savant Supernal, by Skylarke, and Keizel, the Thunder Amidst the Fog, by Bobo113, with a score of 161/220! The spirits are strong with these ones!

In fifth place, Disruptor, the Hextech Titan, by SociopathFriend, with a score of 160/220! Wait, hold on, it's just a score for a silly con-

Okay now that I've respawned...

Honorable mention to Ulysses, Vanguard of the Crazed, by Billcurme, with a score of 158/220, but without any Good Neighbor Bonus.

You can access my scoresheet here, and Fugertech's scoresheet here. We should be around to answer questions over the next few days.

For the next CCOS, I don't intend on accepting one-paragraph lores any more. They are uniformly low-scoring due to providing no detail, and I'd rather just not allow them than let them through and watch them flounder. I'll have the next CCOS up by Sunday, but until then, hit me up at "[email protected]" if you're interested in judging. More views = better.

Remember not to take low scores personally! We're trying to help you improve and come back next month with an even better concept. We don't have anything against you and probably have better things to do than screw you for no reason in a contest on the internet.

I hope to see you again next month!

-Echoing

38 Comments

THE RlVER KlNG4 votes

Oh, and I am in full support of a more stringent lore requirement. I understand everyone isn't a writer and writing a story can be scary, but a kit is only half a champion - you need a strong thematic and background to prop them up. That's why Kled and Tahm and Jhin and Aurelion Sol are so amazing - because the craft put into their character and lines and music and theme is top-notch, whatever flaws their kit may have.

Skylarke3 votes

What can I say, you either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

See y'all in March.

THE RlVER KlNG3 votes

Wow, thrilled to finally score a 1st place! This win hits home with me (I'm actually a tad emotional) a lot more because Soz'rath was the first champion I ever published on the boards and the first one for which I invested serious time into - I remember staying up late on a coffee high writing his gargantuan quotes list. I'm equal parts honored and excited. Congratulations to everyone who placed as well as those who entered, especially first-timers, which I think we had a lot more of this contest.

I probably should have put somewhere that the incident with Salati wasn't necessarily in the present day (and thus I personally feel the 20 is more applicable) - Mkuu is pretty ancient, and spent a lot of time in the realm of darkness before returning to Runeterra. Otherwise, the regular gameplay nitpicks were expected - E is probably a little too strong, the ult a bit overloaded, the phylactery needing greater clarification, yada yada yada. I think Soz'rath's shadow theme sets him apart from Karthus a lot more than one might think (especially considering that despite the two both being liches there is virtually no gameplay overlap whatsoever), although I expected to be graded down there. (And yes, Echoing, fuck Murky!)

Fun fact for anyone interested - Mshindi, the language the Nzuri people speak/spoke in Soz'rath's lore, is a language my roommate and I are developing for our second semester project this year. Its vocabulary is a chimaera of Japanese, Swahili, with hints of Altaic and Isi (South African) dialects, as well as elements of Tolkien's Silvan Elvish. It utilizes agglutinative morphemes and topic-narrative particles as the main basis of structure, more greatly resembling Japanese and Elvish here. I couldn't resist showing off our work.

Good luck to everyone else next month, thank you to our judges, and I hope to return with an even stronger concept!

TyrekGoldenspear1 votes

[zombie-brand-clap] Nice job dude. I had no idea you made champ concepts.

I saw your entry, and after reading this I have to admire the amount of effort that went into this.

Well done good sir, well done.

THE RlVER KlNG1 votes

[slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

fugertech2 votes

Well here we are. Another month, another CCOS come and gone by. Somewhere along the line I realized that I was just really starved for good champion inspiration, but I certainly didn't want to leave the CCOS without a word for the whole month. So I decided "Why not become a judge? I like giving critique and my two cents, and we've got really good and aspiring conceptionists in the contest."

Let me just say for the record: You guys are absolutely amazing. I loved reviewing the vast majority of the concepts I looked at, especially considering that this was my first time and I was in a deep funk when I started. The pure creativity of the majority of them (hence why many of my novelty scores were high) really got me going in many departments, writing and concept creating included. For that, I suppose I owe you all a hearty thanks. I won't apologize for some of my scores; personal preference and how I interpret things play a large role in how I critique and what points I was willing to award for specific things. I will apologize to HMSLegends though; something on my end went wrong and I never saw the link you posted for your review.

Congrats to the top 5, especially River King with his 1st place score! I enjoyed judging you all, and I hope that some people enjoyed reading my comments. I tried to be funny whilst retaining the useful critique I knew I was there for. I'm looking forward to seeing you all in next month's competition; I might judge or I might enter a concept myself. Who knows? Best of luck to you all in your life endeavors, and, as always:

Stay Frosty.

[slayer-jinx-catface]

midnight oil241 votes

Hey, if I may ask, what's the stance on concepts like this: http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/skin-champion-concepts/zHpEA7LU-champ-concept-alfred-exiv-the-king-of-knights ? I asked down there, but I felt a judge might be good at answering. I'd work on lores, but seeing as I put the time in to make the kit, shouldn't it be fair game for submitting?

fugertech1 votes

I can leave a full length review on the concept if you'd like, but for now I'll address your concern.

The lore is alright in terms of size and, from what I was able to garner, at least gives us backstory and a bit of purpose for the character. However, making references to things that are obscure or unexplained (For example: I have no clue what Star-Vaders are, what the Link Joker is, who Blaster Blade is...). If your reader, who in this case was me, is lost simply because of the references you make then you've done something wrong. If you're going to invent a new, alternate area for your character to have originated from in Runeterran Lore, then ensure you take the time to explain all of the different things.

What are Star-Vaders? What is/ Who are Link Joker? Who's Blaster Blade and why is he infamous? Where is this United Sanctuary, and why haven't we heard of it before? I'm all for having head-canon, but at least try to let people understand that head-canon before you throw them into the midst of it.

midnight oil242 votes

I'll put explanations in future ones, now. The original plan was introduce the concepts as they appear character-wise, like having Star-vader, chaosbreaker dragon (or here, Chaosbreaker Dragon, the Corrupting Clown), but it'll make more sense if I introduce them explanation-wise in the future. Thank you!

I'll take a review, thanks! ^^ I wasn't actually expecting that.

But yeah, like, with the CCOS, am I allowed to enter these vanguard units? I put the work in, does that qualify them for entry?

fugertech1 votes

I do believe that Alfred has the necessary, if somewhat bare minimum, requirements for being eligible for the CCOS. As long as they have a Lore (and do try to make them somewhat detailed; it can be frustratingly hard to gauge deserved points if the lore is painfully small) and a kit with a few numbers for reference, Echoing and whoever happens to be judging will most certainly be able to critique it. Now, I will go to your page and do the Fugertech-critique-special. Stay tuned!

midnight oil242 votes

Thanks for the clarification! I'm gonna work on actually making things more detailed for future ones, I was just a bit confused if, even if I made the kit myself, a character from another game that I put the work in on could be used. Thanks for clearing it up! ^^

ModEchoing1 votes

As an FYI, I'd dumpster that lore if you tried to enter it.

Besides the fact that I wouldn't accept it by virtue of being a one paragraph lore, a good lore explores the world of Runeterra in a way no other champion has done before, both interacting with the old and adding something new in the process - a new point of view, a different faction, so on.

Your current lore as of this post doesn't do any of that, being wholly self-contained and unrelated to League of Legends as a whole. If you want to make a character in the League of Legends universe, they need to actually be from that universe.

I don't mean this as a "STOP WRITING FOREVER" kind of way, it's just the reality of the situation. I'm not saying this to put you down, I'm saying this so you have a direction to improve.

midnight oil241 votes

Dang it. I'm good at coming up with kits for preexisting characters, but I have a hard time making it work with original guys. It's hard and discouraging because no one reads your post if you don't have a pic, and then no one gives you feedback and the only guy I have the closest image I can get for what he woudl look like would be a pic of Ah Puch from smite and then people would accuse me of ripping off smite...

How do you manage to do all this? Also, Alfred isn't from Runeterra. In addition, his lore, while not perfect (though I did fix it up a bit) is way more than one paragraph.

ModEchoing1 votes

I'm 25. I've been writing on and off for around 12 years. You pick up a few things over that time. If you haven't reached that point, then so long as you keep at it, you will. All there is to it - so long as you've got that creative, imaginative spark, that and a willingness to improve is all you need. No other special qualities required there.

The process of making a character is pretty different for all of us. For me, I like to think of what I'm trying to do with this character - and since I like to challenge myself, what I haven't already done with a character before. I'm a flashy kind of guy, so I'll try and think up of a powerset before anything else. Once I've got that - like, say, some sort of grenade-launcher-based ADC if I was making a concept for the CCOS - I'll try and figure out how to make that make sense in the context of League of Legends (grenade launchers are pretty tech-y, but the actual weapon itself feels kinda Noxian in its function), then spiral out from that point (Zaun tech, perhaps - so how do we get this into the hands of a Noxian? What do they need it for? What then?) until I've got a decent character.

Kit design is forever tricky until you figure out you need to consider the player experience on both sides. The best way to practice that is to try your hand at making games and getting other people to play them. You'll find out fast if it passes muster or not, especially if it's competitive.

For grenade-launcher ADC there, I COULD make their AAs splash all the time. It'd make sense. It'd also be a pain in the ass - I can't freeze the lane if I wanted to, while the enemy can't stop me pushing the lane if I wanted to, to say nothing of any interesting interactions with Hurricane. Shifting it to an on-hit ability puts a limit on that pushing capability while also allowing a more powerful blast and presenting an opportunity for opponents once the cooldown is used.

In any case, it takes a lot of practice, but you've got to be willing to work within the boundaries of the universe as presented to you.

midnight oil241 votes

I'm gonna try making the champ. If I do, can I show it to you to get your opinion on it? I want to actually do well in the next one of these.

midnight oil242 votes

Hey, seeing as you're an expert, would it be possible if you could take a look at this guy? http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/skin-champion-concepts/Ojrt70O7-champ-concept-maut-the-rotted-one

He ties into Runeterra, don't worry. I just want some feedback on him cause he took a lot of work

THE RlVER KlNG1 votes

I would really appreciate a review of Narian Koh.

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/skin-champion-concepts/8TNUzIRZ-champion-concept-narian-koh-the-facewalker

THE RlVER KlNG1 votes

I would really appreciate a review on this champion, I feel as if he had the carpet pulled from under him unfairly and was downvoted unnecessarily.

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/skin-champion-concepts/8TNUzIRZ-champion-concept-narian-koh-the-facewalker

RocketRelm2 votes

I did not expect second place, but I polished Zezaleya up and felt pretty good about her, so I'm proud to get the score. I feel a little bad I didn't have the time this month to give her the VO lines I wanted to, and I hope to get enough time to charge up an entry for the next month. Great job everyone, I'll get to reading my scoring in just an hour or so.

edit: Okay screw that, reading the feedback now. Thanks for the advice, it's certainly helpful. I made her missing a couple things because I wanted it to be slightly under instead of slightly over, and now I'm debating between tweaking her a little more in response to the advice, or simply making march or april's champion.

Bobo1131 votes

About your lore critique, Echoing, you missed a lot of the story hidden within the VO lines. The phantom he spoke to is more like a "priest" or a "monk/cenobite" of death. In the lore itself, he is even referred to as being in "death's employ." Don't worry - I didn't forget about Kindred.

I am still bewildered that I got as high of a score as I did! I thought Keizel was a piece of shit.

ModEchoing1 votes

Well shit, my bad.

I'm not too sold on Keizel's kit, but everything else about him was good, and Fugertech had nothing but glowing praise for you.

Skins Project1 votes

O_o This exists? How do you submit!

(and I published something today but if I keep making updates is that k?)

BowieTheNifty1 votes

Not even in the top five, well shoot. Oh well I got some good feed back. Hopefully next month will turn out better for me.

SociopathFriend1 votes

I confess to being slightly curious how I received a 19 for 'Flow/Fun' from you. Alongside the lackluster lore (I would argue a simple lore is sometimes all that's needed but others may digress)- that was the category I had thought I would have the lowest value in- not the highest.

Still, being in the top 5 isn't bad for my... 3rd or 4th try. I made the leaderboard- time to shoot for the top.

Electro5221 votes

Wait, wait, wait........how long has this champion concept competition been running for? I would absolutely love to be a part of the next one, for I have dabbled in the concept creation a bit in the past, and been itching to do another.

Ýones2 votes

[{quoted}](name=Paleo Electro,realm=NA,application-id=A8FQeEA8,discussion-id=0pxxyuYL,comment-id=0005,timestamp=2017-02-28T06:50:27.630+0000)

Wait, wait, wait........how long has this champion concept competition been running for? I would absolutely love to be a part of the next one, for I have dabbled in the concept creation a bit in the past, and been itching to do another.

The first contest was done around 3 years ago.

Electro5221 votes

And its been going on monthly?

How am I just now finding out about this?

BowieTheNifty1 votes

It just happens that way. Either way feel free to submit for next month. You will get some pretty helpful feed back.

fugertech1 votes

Big comment about the competition should be coming from me sometime later today. As I'm currently in school, I can't tell you exactly when, but I can tell you that it will be coming.

THE RlVER KlNG1 votes

We'd love to hear anything else you had to say.

midnight oil241 votes

Question: something I do as a creative exercise is making champ concepts based off of units from the game Cardfight Vanguard. Are those allowed? Or is that considered not creative? I put a lot of work in, but no one bothers to read them, so I don't know if I should even bother putting my work up.

Ýones1 votes

[{quoted}](name=midnight oil24,realm=NA,application-id=A8FQeEA8,discussion-id=0pxxyuYL,comment-id=0007,timestamp=2017-02-28T15:19:11.627+0000)

Question: something I do as a creative exercise is making champ concepts based off of units from the game Cardfight Vanguard. Are those allowed? Or is that considered not creative? I put a lot of work in, but no one bothers to read them, so I don't know if I should even bother putting my work up.

I am not sure, but if your kit is just inspired by it then I think it's ok. But the concept must be yours, not something a guy has done for another game and you tried to throw into league.

midnight oil241 votes

Hmmm...

See, I think that that's not great. I'm not making these because I want them in league, I'm just making them because it's fun. I don't see why I should have to take all my work and basically do a glorified repost just to participate in the contest. Don't you agree?

50000000000000001 votes

I'm interested in participating in the next one, but I have a question. Do you accept team projects? I like the gameplay portion of the kit design, but not so much the lore. Or would you just prefer to see just an ok lore coming from the same person?

THE RlVER KlNG1 votes

As far as I know, if you mean a champion made by more than one person, that champion would not be eligible. Individual submissions are required. It must be you to create the kit, just as much as it must be you to write the lore.

50000000000000001 votes

Ah, I see. Thank you for letting me know.

THE RlVER KlNG1 votes

Will the March contest be going up today?

ModEchoing1 votes

Apologies for the delay. I was having a bit of a mood recently.

It'll be going up today.

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