I guess this is not what Talon players were hoping to see

Krizalid·Apr 28, 2015·52 votes·28,146 views

He looks like a recolor of Renegade Talon. http://news.cdn.leagueoflegends.com/public/images/articles/2015/april_2015/SSW/ssw_03.jpg So, do we have to wait next 2-3 years?

94 Comments

RiotmoonstonesApr 28, 201527 votes

Have you had a chance to check out the .gifs on the announcement page? Several of the skins, including Talon, have new particles. :]

KrizalidApr 28, 201540 votes

Thank you for response, but I personally prefer a good unique design over particles.

RiotmoonstonesApr 28, 201520 votes

[{quoted}](name=Krizalid Brando,realm=EUW,application-id=A8FQeEA8,discussion-id=JBdJaA8Q,comment-id=00060000,timestamp=2015-04-28T16:52:49.078+0000)

Thank you for response, but I personally prefer a good unique design over particles.

That's fair.

As I always say, pictures don't do skins justice, and the .gifs you're seeing don't showcase the skins super well either - they're more of a preview. I'd say to take a look in game (if you've got PBE), or wait until SkinSpotlights covers them to make a final judgment. :]

KrizalidApr 28, 201528 votes

The thing is, I don't really like his tight pants, his cloak that looks the same as his standard skin and boots with jacket which remind me of Renegade Talon. So honestly, I can't make myself sure that my opinion will change about it just because I will give it a closer look. I'm a huge fan of Talon and I was really looking forward to see his new skin.

**But I must admit that I really appreciate the way you discuss the matter with us, it means a lot. **

But what is done - is done. I will just hope that we won't have to wait yet another 2-3 years till we can see something awesome like Soul Reaver Talon.

RiotmoonstonesApr 28, 201517 votes

That's totally fair, and I appreciate you being honest about it.

I can see where the pants may appear to be a bit tight, and that's feedback I'd happy to pass back to the team. As for his cloak, the back side of it is really the only gameplay read for Talon, which is why it's important we keep it in some way.

I'd absolutely be on board with something like Soul Reaver Talon! The fan art I've seen of it has a lot of potential!

Thanks for the feedback! ^-^

MysticFlameHazeApr 28, 20154 votes

arc light talon lol

FlemmanApr 28, 20151 votes

Hey Katey,

Isn't it to hard to make skin base on white color look amazing? (maybe the root of why some poeple are disapointed, they were expecting something impossible in my mind :s)

Usually you use yellow and color like that for bright skin, wasn't this "need to be mostly white" hard to work with?

RiotmoonstonesApr 28, 20155 votes

{quoted}

Hey Katey,

Isn't it to hard to make skin base on white color look amazing? (maybe the root of why some poeple are disapointed, they were expecting something impossible in my mind :s)

Usually you use yellow and color like that for bright skin, wasn't this "need to be mostly white" hard to work with?

Calling in Kindlejack on this one, since he's on the concept end of things! :]

KrizalidApr 28, 20155 votes

The only white color I can imagine for Talon is Debonair, honestly. With Michael Jackson-like hat and suit, but it just wouldn't fit the Samsung White skin line.

RiotKindlejackApr 29, 20159 votes

It was definitely a challenge for me, being new to the team I got a lot of help figuring out how to render the material with cool shadows and warm highlights and a lot of colour in there while still looking crisp and white - it's actually pretty easy to let it get muddy or grey and we definitely wanted these to be sharp and clean.

On the general feedback - we did try to make this years championship skins feel little more like an actual LoL team dressed in real-world uniforms instead of the abstract logo-inspired designs of past years. Call it an experiment but I think these are the best yet as they combine real-world clothing with some fantasised style. For Talon I was aware that players had been waiting on a new skin for a long time, also that as a 750 skin it would always disappoint players who are waiting for him to finally get a 'big' skin. I decided to make Dade's General Jacket a big part of the design due to the profound significance of him giving it to Pawn during the awards ceremony. Originally I tried some designs that changed his appearance more, particularly his cloak, but was unable to make it work with his base rig (which doesn't get changed for low scope skins). Ultimately I focused on three things: congruity in the skin line, an awesome looking jacket/cloak, pushing 750 scope with new models on his abilities. There's also a bit of Assassin's Creed and Gatchaman in there.

Naturally I can't make any promises, but his rig is so limiting that I think next time we will want to change as much as we can and deliver on that 'big' Talon skin that players have been waiting for. Also because this was a special skin for the world champions it is not necessarily 'it' for the foreseeable future of Talon (for example Thresh got a skin quite recently but Mata requested him).

TerraRisingApr 29, 20153 votes

I'm going to call "bullshit" on one part of this. Sorry, but I have to say this...

{quoted}

For Talon I was aware that players had been waiting on a new skin for a long time, also that as a 750 skin it would always disappoint players who are waiting for him to finally get a 'big' skin.

Why did this not apply to Zilean and his disappointing Blood Moon skin?

Zilean had waited a full four years for a new skin and, from what other Rioters on the QA team have told me and other people, no consideration was given to that wait at all. The team just decided to make a Zilean skin and screw making it worth the wait.

Yet, you realize that this Talon skin would be disappointing to fans not waiting nearly as long? Your team also says that Zac is a "special snowflake" and the team wants to make his next skin "worth the wait?" Why? Why should I not expect the team to release a Blue, Yellow and Red chroma pack for Zac and be done with it for the foreseeable future?

What gives?

DesideriumApr 29, 20153 votes

{quoted}

I'm going to call "bullshit" on one part of this. Sorry, but I have to say this...

Why did this not apply to Zilean and his disappointing Blood Moon skin?

Zilean had waited a full four years for a new skin and, from what other Rioters on the QA team have told me and other people, no consideration was given to that wait at all. The team just decided to make a Zilean skin and screw making it worth the wait.

Yet, you realize that this Talon skin would be disappointing to fans not waiting nearly as long? Your team also says that Zac is a "special snowflake" and the team wants to make his next skin "worth the wait?" Why? Why should I not expect the team to release a Blue, Yellow and Red chroma pack for Zac and be done with it for the foreseeable future?

What gives?

Well...I thought BM Zilean is pretty cool. At least it isn't 750. Look at the modelwork and the disc on his back. It's literally an eclipse. The sounds are all new too. It's a good skin.

TerraRisingApr 29, 20153 votes

[{quoted}](name=Thane Soren,realm=NA,application-id=A8FQeEA8,discussion-id=JBdJaA8Q,comment-id=0006000000000001000200000000,timestamp=2015-04-29T08:57:26.567+0000)

Well...I thought BM Zilean is pretty cool. At least it isn't 750. Look at the modelwork and the disc on his back. It's literally an eclipse. The sounds are all new too. It's a good skin.

Good skin? I disagree, but I have no problem at all if you do like it.

Worth a four-year wait? Not on your life.

Dies to WolvesApr 29, 20157 votes

{quoted}

(for example Thresh got a skin quite recently but Mata requested him).

why did faker get SKT Zed then, since he publicly stated he wanted an Ahri skin?

not that I really care about those skins because honestly I dislike this theme of skins, but still.

The Blue RajahApr 29, 20154 votes

I think the skins are very well made, and you successfully achieved your goals, but I think that's exactly the reason there's backlash.

They look like they're just wearing regular clothes.

Quite frankly, that's on the boring side of design. With a new skin, there's the opportunity for something new and exciting, to see how you can take a champions identity and a League team identity (usually based on their logo), and combine them. To see what sort of interesting and cool interpretation can be thought up.

And that's why I think Talon in particular is getting some flak, because he's the most average base (essentially a human dude in a cloak carrying a weapon), he comes out the plainest by being put in what's very close to everyday street clothes.

Again, I think the skins are well made, and you guys did a good job, but in the future I'd like to ask for a return to the more stylized interpretations.

P.s. I do really like the glasses on Twitch, they're a nice touch.

RiotKindlejackApr 30, 20154 votes

We don't have too many skin lines with 'real world' fashion so it is a good place to try it (and personally I prefer them to the 'super hero' costumes of previous years). Thanks for the feedback though it is duly noted!

patmax17Apr 30, 20151 votes

sorry for the stupid question, but what do you mean, "'super hero' skins"?

SukishooMay 1, 20151 votes

I personally really like the idea of "real world" fashion for these skins. The previous ones were alright for the most part (as I do own some of those) but at the same time they did feel kind of weird.

DesideriumApr 29, 20153 votes

{quoted}

Also because this was a special skin for the world champions it is not necessarily 'it' for the foreseeable future of Talon (for example Thresh got a skin quite recently but Mata requested him).

Let me just say that you guys did a great job on Talon in particular. I'm speaking to you as someone who had Talon as his first main, his first champ played, and the first champ he ever bought skins for. I have been waiting a long time yes, but I can appreciate how damn great the skin is. The new W/R shurikens look great as well.

But with that said, referring to your quoted post now: If limited edition skins aren't considered within a champion's skin release cadence and thus provide hope for a "bigger" skin, then where's Zed's "Second" skin? You don't have to answer directly - it's just that...well. Zed's the only Season 2 champion that technically only has one skin, which is a huge thing when you consider how consistently popular he has been. The reason Yorick hasn't gotten one is because he's badly designed and in need of a rework; is there a similar situation going on with Zed or is he just hated by the skins team?

RiotKindlejackApr 30, 20152 votes

This was one of my biggest questions when I started! I have since learned some things I can share with you:

The reason Yorick, Poppy, Taric, Urgot etc. haven't gotten skins recently is because yes they are in the process of being reworked - and the reworks are on a scale that if we released a skin now there would be a chance that it would have to be completely redone in the near future when the champ is updated. This is double the potential work for us but, more importantly, could really suck for players who pick up a new skin only to see it change from what they just purchased. Yes we update older skins that have been around for a while, but we think it would be far worse if you had just bought a new skin and then it was changed (possibly drastically).

Because in production we all work far ahead of the live game there are often projects in the pipeline that we can't talk about yet. The new Lux skin has been in production for quite a while but we couldn't tell players. Sometimes projects get delayed because of particular effects or features we want to implement or they would fit in with an event and so get shuffled around in the schedule.

Just remember that everyone at Riot is also a player and there are plenty of Zed and Talon players that raise the same concerns and likewise for every champion. As I said with Talon I was excited that we were doing a skin for him but also prepared for the disappointment at it being a 750. I'm really glad you like it!

InSingedWeTrustMay 1, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Yes we update older skins that have been around for a while,

Magnificent Twisted Fate? It looks like 750 RP skin but is sold for 1820.

GodSupport KatieMay 1, 20151 votes

Really nice of you to deflect his question.

B2B The CoachApr 28, 20153 votes

actually the problem is that talon need a new skin, but not a simply recolor. He need something cool. A project skin for example, an headhunter or even dragonslair, or something totally diffente. In the end: a cool skin for 975 or 1350!

Tin TarantinoApr 28, 20152 votes

He needs a hat

foristApr 28, 20152 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot KateyKhaos,realm=NA,application-id=A8FQeEA8,discussion-id=JBdJaA8Q,comment-id=0006,timestamp=2015-04-28T16:52:20.020+0000)

Have you had a chance to check out the .gifs on the announcement page? Several of the skins, including Talon, have new particles. :]

Quick question, what are the new particles/effects? When I check the gif I see the same generic ones on his w, q, and bleed.

RiotmoonstonesApr 28, 20155 votes

Rake (W) and Shadow Assault (R).

He's 750 RP, but we felt like these were quality of life particles for the SSW skin.

HellioningApr 28, 20154 votes

I literally cannot tell the difference between the rake in the .gif and his normal rake. I guess I don't pay enough attention to rake's particles?

foristApr 28, 20152 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot KateyKhaos,realm=NA,application-id=A8FQeEA8,discussion-id=JBdJaA8Q,comment-id=000600020000,timestamp=2015-04-28T18:12:39.525+0000)

Rake (W) and Shadow Assault (R).

He's 750 RP, but we felt like these were quality of life particles for the SSW skin.

Ok, cool. I just can't tell on the animation, his w is so fast I can't see the difference i guess.

Colgate GatorApr 28, 201519 votes

While Talon does look like a recolor, my god, Twitch looks miserable as hell, kill it with fire.

Stars ShaperApr 28, 201512 votes

Before seeing the skin: Assassin Creed Talon inc.

After Seeing the skin: Assassin Creed Pajama Talon inc.

GroundRuleDoubleApr 28, 20155 votes

Talon is actually the only decent looking one there. I love the Talon skin, but I do not care for the rest.

KrizalidApr 28, 20155 votes

I like Rengar, he looks like a true sportsman cat and he has a unique look compared to all other his skins.

AsdeftApr 29, 20154 votes

I really like his white/blue scheme and his new blades look really good. Not disappointed at all tbh.

Sinister SnailApr 28, 20153 votes

They all just look like the champs wearing white hoodies. I mean, if you like that, guess today's your lucky day.

foristApr 28, 20153 votes

All i have to say:

http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/its-something-meme.png

Chespin2013Apr 28, 20153 votes

i agree compared to the rest of the talon skins it just looks kinda bland to me

Dies to WolvesApr 28, 20153 votes

I don't ever expect anything good will come out of those lame team skins

dragonblade talon is awesome though so eh, I don't really care

xGvPxApr 28, 20153 votes

Talon looks like he's about to bust out some graffiti

gubigubiApr 28, 20153 votes

I really like the skin but ya I wouldn't want to wait 3 more years for another talon skin because of this one. But then again I guess that's the downside to not getting skins for a really long time on a champion. You eventually get one and its not really worth the 3 year wait.

EyrgosApr 29, 20153 votes

Oh god, this' hideous.

Are Talon players going to get a legitimate skin soon in addition to this one?

We've waited 3 years...

This' bad enough after Debonair Galio & Blood Moon Zilean.

SvddenlyApr 29, 20153 votes

Go sit in the corner with Yorick

DesideriumApr 29, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Oh god, this' hideous.

Are Talon players going to get a legitimate skin soon in addition to this one?

We've waited 3 years...

This' bad enough after Debonair Galio & Blood Moon Zilean.

Of course not lol. Look what happened with Zed and SKT Zed. It's been a year since its release and he still hasn't had an actual skin ever since his release in Season 2. And he's very consistently been one of the most popular champions in the game.

It's just so heart breaking.