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Kindred ultimate skin - change appearance to represent death in the culture of the marked champion

Crossx6·12/17/2019, 10:19:51 AM·41 votes·13,552 views

This isn't an original idea, but it's old. I'd like to revive it.

Disclaimer As all of this is fictional, it doesn't fall under cultural appropriation.

Here are some good ideas from user lCantPauseltMom:

{quoted}

Perhaps Lamb and Wolf take the form that relates to the origin of the one they hunt. For example, if they were hunting Warwick, they might take on a Zaun-related theme, allowing them to exact their toll as the reapers of their target's home town. Just a few suggestions:

Shurima: Lamb wrapped in sand-coloured cloth, obscuring her body and her mouth and leaving her golden eyes to stare out at people. Wolf becomes a predator of the sands; leaving behind a trail of sand as he travels to consume those who refuse to accept the desert as their tomb.

Piltover: Armed with a bow of hextech origins and covered in a cloak woven from magic-infused fibres, Lamb seeks to track her prey down while Wolf tracks them as he leaves a trail of hextech magic in his path: They are the true law of this city, a law between life and death.

Zaun: Radiating a green-toxic energy, Lamb seeks to grant a swift death, using a metal compound bow infused with toxic properites, from the endless radiation that would kill someone slowly. Wolf revels in the slow death of radiation, and emanates a dark, green aura as he hunt his prey, leaving behind a trail of smog to follow him.

Freljord: With a bow made out of the same true ice native to the region, Lamb hunts her prey dressed in a white/light blue snow outfit while wolf travels underneath the ice, waiting to crash through the ice and take an enemy to their freezing death as he leaves behind a trail of ice and snowflakes.

Some quick others:

Demacia: Light-themed, seeking justice.

Noxus: Dark/Evil-themed, seeking vengeance.

Void: Dark Purple themed, seeking to drag souls to the void as payment.

Bilgewater: Blue-Green themed, involving sea-themed ability models, seeks to drag enemies to the deep to their watery grave.

Bandle City: Could be similar to the Elderwood skin bard possesses. I have seen an Elderwood Kindred concept, and it looked amazing. Perhaps check it out if you haven't already, it can be found under the "Best" tab of Concepts and Creations.

Shadow Isles: Another dark theme but tinged with a white/blue energy by both lamb and wolf. Wolf would leave behind a trail of black smoke and white energy, while Lamb hunted enemies with arrows made out of pure spiritual energy found only on the shadow isles.

A Theme For Those Who Do Not Belong To One Region, Such as Kayle and Morgana: Dressed up in travellers garb, they appear to blend in with the others who travel the roads of Runeterra. Lamb, armed with her oak bow and "iron" arrows while hiding behind a wooden mask, seeks enemies across the continent to bring swiftly to their deaths. For those who run, Wolf will chase by any means. As a denizen of the forest, Wolf's visage could be one of a bark mask with sharp teeth, leaving behind a trail of green/brown leaves wherever he strays. The wooden mask on Lamb also fits the Kindred's theme by resembling a travelling Bard who uses masks to put on performances - found in her lore is a story about her hunt for performers such as those.

29 Comments

BajungaDustin12/17/2019, 2:51:23 PM7 votes

i would much rather see a kindred rework before an ultimate skin. Her passive just needs replaced. The hunt aspect is good flavor but not much else. Also marking her jungle hunts on the map for the enemy is just garbage and since they are more or less random you can be put in a position where if the enemy jungle is doing his job you wont get your marks appropriately. Not to mention kindred has terrible early engage against 90% of junglers which means you are probably not going to 1v1 unless you are way ahead.. which you wont be if the enemy jungler is doing what he is supposed to be doing.

Its basically a passive that says if your enemy jungler sucks you will have a good game.. if your enemy jungle is average or above your game is going to suck.

Šhαco12/17/2019, 12:21:11 PM4 votes

honestly seems like a bit too much work for a single skin, also what about regions and champions that would be introduced afterwards? would riot need to update the skin every time?

GelsominoKiller12/17/2019, 8:23:55 PM3 votes

This idea is absolutely brilliant but, alas, unfeasible: it would be way too much work, unfortunately.

The interesting idea of the spirit gods is that their form changes with the viewer's perspective.

While a lamb and a wolf well fit as a Frejilordian imagery of death, they wouldn't mean jack shit to a shuriman that has never seen both those animals. A shuriman inhabitant would probably see a Jackal (symbolizing acceptance, because the Jackal is related to wisdom in shuriman culture, as testified by Nasus) and a Xer'Sai (the most vicious desert predator you must run from).

All of the above to say that every single of this ultimate skin forms should then be complete model works. This means doings a lamb's and a wolf's models, for every region; moreover, introducing new regions would force Riot to update the skin, amounting to an extra new champion worth of model work.

Such an investment would be repaid only by big sales, and an unpopular champion like Kindred can't achieve that. The only hope is an amazing full VGU for Kindred that makes them a popular pick in both jungle and bot, so that a bigger player share might be interested.

LRayymond12/18/2019, 6:01:05 PM2 votes

The fact that you have to make a disclaimer about cultural appropriation makes me sad. People get offended way too much for the most stupid things. Like, aren't there more important things to be worrying about than "cultural appropriation"?

TheGreatNinx12/18/2019, 7:35:00 PM2 votes

To be honest. I would like to use a Re-work before an ultimate skin is given to Kindred. So that way it feels more duet then Lamb ft Wolf sometimes.

ice doll12/19/2019, 12:04:02 AM2 votes

just the thought of kindred receiving a new skin makes this a yes for me lmao. she's so neglected rito pls make kindred a new pretty skin thx❤

Blue Moon Wolf12/17/2019, 11:46:59 PM2 votes

Riot first has to bring back Ultimate skins which... surprisingly looks possible as a Rioter said that they will be increasing number of per year starting next year (more skins means they won't end up having to spend an entire patch releasing one skin that could be hit or miss). But second Kindred has to become popular enough to get an Ultimate skin. I know it seems weird that they give one to Udyr with how little he's used now, but back when they made that he was VERY popular, same for Sona. The rest are almost always popular to some degree. But in that regard who knows. Kindred could end up getting the spotlight just long enough that they make them an Ultimate skin like what happened with Udyr.

Rapterminator 0212/18/2019, 4:53:25 PM2 votes

There is actually a way for this to work lore wise. Each culture in league actually has their own canon interpretation of kindred. For example, Noxus only believes in the wolf because they believe in fighting to the death. So when hunting a Noxian, wolf would be much more emphasized

ACatIsFineToo12/17/2019, 10:50:41 PM1 votes

I don't think its quite so specific to be tied directly to the envirement of the city. Its all lore and legend. I highly doubt zaun would have a version of kindred that is modern.

But I would like more Kindred skins. There are so many cool ideas that RIOT just seems set on not touching.