Champion Concept: Runaan, the Storm Archer
##Inspiration I like the idea of the items named for characters. A while ago, I wrote up a concept for Liandry (as in Liandry's Torment), and although the lore could have used a rewrite (or several), I'm pretty proud of the kit. Recently, I came up with an idea for Runaan, and I decided to write up a kit for them as well.
##Overview Runaan is an ADC who uses the Flow mechanic instead of Mana. He focuses on teamfights and can output massive amounts of AOE damage with his ultimate, while kiting and dancing around the edge of the fight with his other abilities. Runaan's strengths are in his mobility and damage output, while his weaknesses are in his reliance on items and his need to always be in combat to keep his Flow up.
##Design Philosophy The item, Runaan's Hurricane, gave me a few starting points: He would be an ADC, and would focus on attack Speed, synergy with on-hit effects, and a wind/storm theme. The wind theme led me to give him the Flow mechanic - which I also thought was interesting given that we have no manaless ADCs in the game (unless you count Kennen). I also wanted to make him a semi-viable jungler to open the possibility of buying Bloodrazor, but I don't know how well it would actually work. I drew inspiration from Yasuo, as well as ADCs like Kindred, Vayne, and Lucian.
##Abilities All numbers are guidelines. I'm not on the Balance team for a reason.
Passive - Wind's Fury: Runaan does not use mana. Instead, moving and attacking build Flow, up to a cap of 100. Movement builds Flow somewhat slower than Yasuo, but hitting an enemy with an attack provides 5 Flow and critical strikes provide 7 Flow (this is an on-hit effect). Runaan's abilities cost Flow and provide a shield equal to 1/2/3/4 (at level 1/6/11/16) times the amount of Flow consumed. Explanation: Like Yasuo, Runaan gains a shield from Flow. However, Runaan's use of Flow is somewhat different, as it works more like an actual resource than a charged buff.
Q - Thunder Arrow: Runaan shoots an arrow in a target direction doing 70/80/90/100/110 + 1.00 Bonus AD physical damage to the target hit and half that damage in an area around the target. This ability applies on-hit effects to the primary target. Cost: 35 Flow. Cooldown: 12/11.5/11/10.5/10 seconds. Explanation: Not much here, just a decent poke ability. It does, however, apply on-hit effects.
W - Lightning Arc: Runaan does 10/20/30/40/50 + 0.1/0.15/0.2/0.25/0.3 AD + 0.1/0.15/0.2/0.25/0.3 AP physical damage to enemies near his target on every 5th autoattack. While Hurricane is active, this occurs on every other autoattack instead. The damage from this ability is an on-hit effect, but the charging is not. Explanation: This ability gives Runaan some AOE damage and makes him dangerous to grouped enemies - especially during his ultimate. The AP ratio makes Guinsoo's Rageblade a bit more useful, should he choose to build it.
E - Stormrunner: Runaan dashes a short distance in a target direction. After dashing, his next attack does an additional 15/30/45/60/75 + 0.2 AD + 0.2 AP physical damage and slows the target by 20% for 1 second. The attack also fires bolts at two nearby enemies, also doing 15/30/45/60/75 + 0.2 AD + 0.2 AP physical damage and applying the slow. The bolts prioritize targeting champions, can critically strike, and apply on-hit effects. Cost: 30 Flow. Cooldown: 10/9/8/7/6 seconds. Explanation: This ability gives Runaan mobility and kiting potential, as well as a multi-hit attack. Again, the AP ratio ensures that the AP on Guinsoo's Rageblade does not go entirely to waste if Runaan chooses to build it.
R - Hurricane: Runaan gains 50/60/70% attack speed for 6 seconds. For the duration, his attacks launch bolts at all other targets in a cone in front of him, doing 50 + 0.25 AD physical damage. These bolts can critically strike and apply on-hit effects. Cost: 60 Flow. Cooldown: 80/70/60 seconds. Explanation: This ability gives Runaan terrifying damage output in teamfights, letting him potentially hit an entire team with his attacks. It emphasizes his strength with on-hit items as well.
##Lore
All Ionian nobles are expected to learn the sword. Runaan was sent by his parents to a prestigious Ionian academy - the home of the legendary wind technique. However, the sword was not for Runaan - try as he might, he never mastered it. He was one of the worst students his teacher had ever seen, and he knew it. His only solace from his dishonor, he found in archery - the one thing he was skilled at. After more than a year of trying and failing to learn the sword, he simply left. He retreated to a monastery in the mountains where he would not be expected to fight, and could meditate and practice archery in peace. That came to an end, however, with the Noxian invasion. Many of his friends were killed, and the monastery was wiped out. After the attack, Runaan knew he had to fight. He joined the Ionian army, and his skill with the bow did not go unnoticed. He even wove elements of the wind technique into his fighting style - remnants of his attempts to learn the sword. Eventually, he was entrusted with a bow imbued with the power of the wind itself - the legendary Hurricane. With his new weapon, Runaan redoubled his efforts to drive Noxus out of Ionia, leading his own elite force of covert operatives in a series of attacks on Noxian outposts. No matter how hard his enemies fight, Runaan will stop at nothing to see his homeland free again.
##Explanation The Flow mechanic would fit with knowledge of the wind technique, making Runaan fit best as an Ionian. With Taliyah's release, it became apparent that in the new League of Legends lore, the Ionia-Noxus war is still ongoing. Because of this, I felt that it made sense to place Runaan within that conflict as well, and to explain the item as a legendary weapon now associated with Runaan's exploits as a war hero.
##Quotes
Selection: "None can stand against the fury of the storm." Movement (examples):
- "Swift as the wind."
- "Ionia will be free." Attacking (examples):
- "Strike them down."
- "The wind guides my arrows." Joke (shoots at an archery target, knocking it down with a lightning arrow):
- "Force of a great typhoon, huh?"
- "I know - my skill is breathtaking."
- "I'm shockingly good at this." Taunt (punctuated by firing a lightning arrow into the ground):
- "A word of warning - lightning doesn't miss!"
- "A 'storm of arrows...' is a bit of an understatement." Interactions: Taunting Noxians: "Leave Ionia in peace - or die!" Taunting Swain: "Ionia will not bow before you, tyrant!" Taunting Varus: "You... actually make that look work. Impressive." Taunting Master Yi, Karma, or Irelia: "Master... it is truly an honor to meet you." Taunting Yasuo: "You have no honor!" Taunting Taliyah: "You remind me of someone..." Buying Runaan's Hurricane: "Paying for my own weapon." Buying Blade of the Ruined King: "Ruined king, ruined blade - at least if I try to use it..." Buying Frozen Mallet: "Blizzards count as storms, don't they?" Buying Infinity Edge: "Swords aren't my thing - but this one's not bad." Buying Guinsoo's Rageblade: "Rage is weakness - but there are exceptions." Buying Statikk Shiv: "It's nice to have a theme."
I'm interested to see what people think of this champion concept. Feedback is appreciated.
