@Riot A curiosity in regards to champion design

MrWasjig·Feb 17, 2016·3 votes·345 views

Just a curiosity I got thinking about after reading some comments on a video related to Ao Shin (not it's no about Ao).

But somebody made the claim the Riot doesn't like making non-humanoid champions anymore.

Is this true? Or was it just misinformation? The guy couldn't provide any references so it could be false as far as I know. Though looking over recent releases I can see where this comment might have stemmed from, as Rek'Sai is about the only non-humaoid we've had for a while.

Could a Red shed some light on this matter as it's really got me curious :D Does Riot prefer humanoid champions over non-humanoid? Or not? [slayer-pantheon-popcorn] I await your reply

7 Comments

FloRaider42Feb 17, 20161 votes

Don't have a source, but I think it was along the lines of non-humanoid champions becoming uninteresting when they started designing abilities for them. (Omen anyone ?) They definetly prefer humanoid champions as you have a wider variety of tools to make them visually appealing and connect a fluid gameplay to said characters.

ModThe DjinnFeb 17, 20162 votes

{quoted}

Don't have a source, but I think it was along the lines of non-humanoid champions becoming uninteresting when they started designing abilities for them. (Omen anyone ?) They definitely prefer humanoid champions as you have a wider variety of tools to make them visually appealing and connect a fluid gameplay to said characters.

I'm not sure it's that non-humanoids are uninteresting -- Omen had a host of problems, but none of them were DIRECTLY tied to him being non-humanoid (although his SPECIFIC design was causing issues).

I would guess that it has more to do with non-humanoid characters being less relatable. Some draw our attention through common tropes (Cho'Gath will always be popular because the Kaiju concept is incredibly popular), but things like Kha'Zix, Anivia, Skarner, Rek'Sai, Vel'Koz, and even Galio and current Urgot (to an extent) are so weirdly inhuman that it's hard to relate to their philosophies, personalities, or motivations.

This is fairly apparent to me because, when those champions are at average to below-average power, their play rate drops spectacularly. Now, this IS shared by other, more-human characters (Corki being a good example), but I think in general it's indicative of an emotional connection to a champion's appearance / lore / personality being hugely important.

It would be really easy to port existing kits onto inhuman characters -- I just don't think the champions would see as much play, even with an identical kit.

So really I think it's less that Riot is opposed to inhuman characters, and more that they have to make sure they can REALLY deliver on an inhuman character. They need to make the next Cho'Gath...not the next Vel'Koz.

MrWasjigFeb 17, 20161 votes

Hm, interesting.

But if you ask me there's more you can do with unusual creatures visually because...well they're unusual.

They did a pretty good job of achieving that connection between visual and gameplay with Rek'Sai and while that's one case it's a damn good one.

qetzelFeb 17, 20161 votes

Let's have a look at a list of champions. Those that aren't humanoid: Anivia Chogath Elise Spider form KogMaw RekSai Shyvana Dragon form Skarner Velkoz

The rest are all upright humanoids. Some have fish tails, some have caterpillar tracks instead of feet, a few have claws but the rest...

Having only one new non-humanoid champion recently doesn't mean much given how few there are.

MrWasjigFeb 17, 20161 votes

So what's the point you're making exactly? Because all I'm reading is the basis of a point but not one itself xD

qetzelFeb 18, 20161 votes

Because there are so few non-humanoid champions then not seeing a new one for a while does not suggest that Riot are slowing down.

8/123 or about 1 in every 15 champions is non humanoid. Assuming Riot isn't slowing down their non-humanoid release rate, we should expect t see one for about every 15 new champions.

IN fact in the last 15 we see two non humanoids, so it is probable that Riot aren't slowing down the release of non-humanoid champions when compared to humanoid champions.

You are right, I didn't word the post well. I started writing it without much time. Sorry.

MrWasjigFeb 18, 20161 votes

Okay I kinda what get what you're saying. You're saying Riot isn't outright against non-humanoid champions, but just doesn't make them all the time.

Right?