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[Champion Concept] Baku, The Magister of Dreams

cHAncEman1292·9/26/2014, 8:07:28 PM·40 votes·5,240 views

#Baku, the Magister of Dreams ######(Refresh The Page If Media Does Not Load! It is Worth It :D ) Theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6BCj1Yesvc

Magister of Dreams Teaser

The telepathic sentinel controls the pace of battle from atop his swift mount. The Magister of Dreams corrodes the very minds of his foes , paving the way for victory!

http://thedurrrrian.deviantart.com/art/Allow-me-to-enjoy-how-evil-i-look-in-this-pose-481458217

#Grand Duchess, I have seen our enemy in the dream. They will come with poisons, blades and a conviction of likes this Ionia has never seen. The Elders believe that diplomacy is an option – but I have heard the muddled sounds of gurgled blood, *the bodies limp and pale across our beautiful lands. *

Enlightenment.

  • The belief that suffering is a spiritual metamorphosis. * *That man may rouse its sleeping soul and claim unity with the heavens. *

*An innate darkness grips at the minds of man; a primal urge to inflict pain, indulge in lust. * *Even history is fragmented with questions of whether or not the soul is a work of fiction, * *Or merely something too late to save. *

*And I have seen it in their thoughts. * *Feel it hunched over, coiled in their eyes. * *The human spirit is unruly. *

*My gift has shown me a truth: * *the serpent that creeps on friendly smiles, * *the rage that demands spite, * *the murderers in the houses of saints, * *the perversion of scholars. * *In this dark world, with those that say it is the Ionians whom found the light. * *Who is to say that tradition has latched on to something else? *

*Ionia’s soul may still yet be awaked. *

*Dreams of future fight for my attention, * *should I commune? * *Should I watch wicked minds flourish in the agony they might wreak? * *Should I stand to see a people, aimless and without purpose, * *shepherd along like leaves in the rolling winds? * *Should I watch a nation buckle against the necessity of change? *

*If blood is greatest challenge we have faced in generations, * *we have yet begun to know true suffering. *

*As Ionia dreams of its future. * *I only dream of fire. *

#Magister of The Southern Province

**LORE **

Ever since he was young Baku’s greatest gift has been an eternal curse. His endless curiosity compelled him to explore the darker recesses of the mind. Baku, constantly attune to the thoughts and dreams of those around them, became grossly aware of the shortcomings and the darkness that lurked in his companions. Baku came to the conclusion that the only way to purge Ionia of this weakness was to illuminate it. Baku’s words fell on deaf ears. Who was he to expose the inner voice that one could only hide in thought?

Baku foresaw the Noxian invasion and failed to warn his superiors. Baku believed that old Ionia had to first be demolished before it could be rebuilt. The Noxians have since repelled but none forgot the treachery of Baku, him betraying his country to the enemy. In spite of his transgressions was mysteriously pardoned by the Ionian Elders; a move that shocked the masses. Curious tales have been circulating in the Southern Provinces. Stories speak of that magister has found the means to not only change Ionian but the will of its people.

PERSONALITY Taciturn, pragmatic, calculating, modest, stern, remorseless, passionate but measured

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Baku sets atop his glynnstrider, Xianko, stoic and proud. He has watery gray eyes, but the majority of his body and his facial features are hidden beneath ceremonial gowns. He wears a headdress that gives him the visage of an arcane sentinel. The manner of his dress is elaborate and decorative but with muted colors and sharp patterns. Rich fabrics entwined with eldritch metals, Baku exudes an aura of stillness around him. Suppressing emotion, Baku’s movements are concise, energy efficient and unhurried. His magic crackles with wicked malice as he prepares to cast his spells, fingers become rigid while channeling.

Xianko, his glynnstrider mount, is a dinosaur-like creature with beautiful plumage. Mounts are so suppose to reflect their rider and to this end Xianko is jittery, avian, vigilant and agile. Xianko has more personality than Baku creating an interesting juxtaposition between this powerful sorcerer devoid of expression and his spirited beast.

|- - - - - - - - Baku, the Magister of Dreams - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - His glynnstrider mount, "Xianko" - - - - - - - -| |- | http://oakks.deviantart.com/art/Prophet-339353169 | http://pythosblaze.deviantart.com/art/Arrowtongue-322442544|

Role: Mage/Tank | Attack: 2 | Defense: 7 | Spells: 7 | Difficulty: 5 Health: **412 (+79) ** Health Regen: **6.75 (+0.65) ** Mana: **260 (+68) ** Mana Regen: ** 4.1 (+0.4) ** Attack Damage: **50 (+3.22) ** Attack Speed: **0.625 (+2.4%) ** Armor: **16 (+4) ** Magic Resistance: **30 (+0) ** Range: **525 ** Move Speed: **340 **

**Allies: Irelia, Karma ** **Rivals: Lee Sin, Karma, Kitsungi **

FACTION: Ionia | RESIDENCE: The Southern Province of Ionia | ALLEGIANCE: n/a

#CHAMPION INSIGHTS : Thematic Identity Vs. Play Pattern

Baku was a champion a long time in the making. I feel like his development made me realize just how difficult it is to...

  1. Create an unique character theme
  2. Construct an ability kit that embodies that theme.

What I found was endlessly frustrating but rather illuminating. Character theme and kit idealization in League of Legends is a divorced concept. In other words to sale players on a particular theme one must use components that go beyond the ability kit – voice over and lore.

Looking at champions like Azir, Velkoz and Karthus prove the perfect example of this. When one says “sand mage” what image comes to mind? Obviously pictures of a champion manipulating sand to bring down their enemies. But how did that result in Azir’s minionmancer play style? The fact of it is what constitutes as a “sand mage” shouldn't pigeon hole kit design. Azir’s minionmancer playstyle could have just as easily been re-particled into a Demacian City Guardsmen or a Shadow Isle Necromancer, but its in Azir’s lore and VO that the fantasy of “sand mage” comes to life. Players should focus more on creating kits that bring something new to rift rather than delivering on a theme.

Baku was hard to piece together because I could not find a theme. Why steal energy? What would he use it for? What did his abilities imply about his character? I started with a life drain type skill. From there I started to try any think of why he would want to drain energy. This eventually lead to a mana manipulation playstyle that thrived on repurposing enemy resources and controlling the flow of battle. The theme of this dream knight only occurred to me when I started trying to write out voice over lines of what he might say has he reduced you to a prune. The voice was harsh, knowledgeable and regal. There was an inevitability to this skill and somehow I struck gold with “telepath”. From there it was a quick write up to develop the Magister of Dreams that I have come to love.

PLAYSTYLE *Baku is a new type of mage that focuses on preventing retaliation by attacking the resources of his opponents. Baku can easily destroy entire mana pools whilst using the stolen mana to fuel his own powerful nukes. Baku's abilities offer him a great deal of utility in the way of vision, silences as well as damage reduction, so long as he manages his mana properly. Baku forces his opponents to move in response to his attacks, the result is an incredibility potent and domineering mage, the likes of which the rift has never seen. *

|- - - - - - - - PROS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CONS - - - - - - - -| |- |Grants Vision |Vulnerable to Interrupts | |Strong Late Game| Highly Mana Dependant| |Potent AoE Silence | No Crowd Control | | | Skillshot Dependent|

http://elbardo.deviantart.com/art/Dreamlord-198560621

#ABILITY KIT

  • Lost in Nightmares: enemies within Baku’s vicinity that are silenced suffer additional penalties

  • Q - Dream Eater : Baku tethers then siphons mana from enemy champions within a targeted area

  • W - Fluorescent Dreams: Baku hurls a glob of energy that deals damage in an area based on his maximum mana

  • E - Spotless Mind: Baku hexes the opponent, causing a silence should they attempt to cast a spell

  • R - Astral Form: Baku enters the astral plane, causing incoming damage to affect his mana pool instead.

#(PASSIVE) Lost in Nightmares : Increases the crowd control duration and damage to silenced targets by 25%.

Q – Dream Eater

Active: Baku casts a spell upon target 150-radius area causing all enemy champions struck to become tethered to Baku. Tethered enemies lose mana equal to a percentage of Baku’s maximum mana. Baku restores a percentage of his maximum mana each second as long as he remains in range of his target(s).

If an enemy champion has no mana at any point during the channel, the enemy is inflicted with Grievous Wounds and has their attack speed halved.

  • The siphon begins weak but grows in strength over time
  • Baku can still move and use his other abilities while channeling
  • Movement speed is slowed by 5% for each enemy champion tethered to him

**Channel Duration: **10 seconds **Maximum Mana Drained per Second : **2.5%/2.75%/3.25%/3.75%/4.5% of Baku’s maximum mana **Total Main Restored Equal To: **20.8%/22.6%/26.2%/29.8%/35.2% of Baku’s maximum mana Maximum Mana Restored (5 Tethered Enemies): 104%/113%/131%/149%/176% of Maximum Mana RANGE: 750 | COOLDOWN: 18 | COST: n/a

W – Fluorescent Dreams

**Active: **Baku consumes a portion of his current mana to hurl a glob of energy upon the targeted location, damaging units within a 220-unit radius upon arrival. **Fluorescent Dreams homes in on targets infected with Spotless Mind **and will chase targets for 3 seconds after arriving at cast location. If Fluorescent Dreams strikes an infected unit, it spreads Spotless Mind to all enemy champs damaged .

  • Fluorescent Dreams can be intercepted by other enemy champions
  • *The projectile gains projectile speed based on its proximity to infected champions. *

Magic Damage: 20/40/60/80/100 (+10% Maximum Mana) (+70% AP) **Base Missile Speed: **325 RANGE: 925 | COOLDOWN: 13/11.5/10/8.5/7 | COST: 17% Maximum Mana

E – Spotless Mind

**Active: ** Baku hexes target enemy champ granting true vision of them for 5 seconds. If the enemy champ casts a spell, they are silenced and the debuff is removed. If the debuff lasts for the entire duration Baku is restored a percentage of his maximum mana.

Silence Duration: 1.5/1.5/2/2/2.5 Mana Restored: 5% of Maximum Mana RANGE: 700 | COOLDOWN: 10 | COST: 8% Maximum Mana

#R – Astral Form **Toggle: **Baku escapes to the astral plane becoming immune to crowd control and ignoring unit collision. During the duration, Baku takes reduced damage which lowers Baku’s mana instead of health. If Baku’s mana falls below 0 due to an attack, Baku exits Astral Form and is slowed dramatically.

Form Duration: 4/5/7 seconds **Reduced Damage: **0%/10%/25% RANGE: n/a | COOLDOWN: 30 | COST: n/a

**SKILL NOTES **

  • The Lost in Nightmares passive is extremely potent when used in combination with allied champions that have access to crowd control, silences or the means to follow up on the his skill combos.

  • Baku can cripple whole teams in this manner. Spotless Mind (E) can shut down most casters and assassins. **Fluorescent Dreams (W) **will track down effected target(s) and spread the debuff to surrounding enemy champions upon successful detonation.

  • **Astral Form (R) ** gives Baku many options. If he is channeling **Dream Eater (Q) **and fears that he might get interrupted or his target may escape he can shift into **Astral Form (R) ** to negate crowd control and the movement speed slow from **Dream Eater (Q) **.

  • Dream Eater (Q) is Baku’s most critical skill to maintain presence, he can very rapidly lose mana if he spams his skills or combos incorrectly.

  • Baku scales well with flat mana. Items such as Tear of The Goddess, Rod of Ages , Frozen heart vastly increases the damage of Fluorescent Dreams (W) and the efficiency of Dream Eater (Q).

#VOICE OVER **Baku has a spidery soft voice. His voice echos with an ethereal reverb, commanding, haunting and sharp. **

**Xianko coos and caws playfully. Shrills and shrieks as Baku guides him throughout the battle **

Selection

  • “One vision. One dream.” *

Attacking

  • “By force, not by will.” *
  • “I believe we both know how this ends.” *
  • “You will be the example.” *
  • “Awake from the ignorance of self.” *
  • “Such empty minds…”*
  • “The burden of thought…”*
  • “I know your spirit. I know your dreams.” *
  • “I’m listening.” *
  • “You have my attention.” *
  • “No need to explain.” *
  • “Nothing to hide.” *
  • “What is the distance between the eyes and the soul?” *
  • “I leash the wandering mind.” *
  • “For the greater good.” *
  • “Lead astray by skewed beliefs.” *
  • “Are your eyes truly opened?” *
  • “Strip them of their convictions.” *

Moving

  • “A unified consciousness.” *
  • “They dare not raise their heads above mine.” *
  • “Today’s blessing; a generation’s dream.” *
  • “The mind is the final sanctuary of the deprived.” *
  • “Echoes of the past drive them on their present course.” *
  • “There is no balance without order.” *
  • “They can hide nothing from me.” *
  • “Apathy is a pestilence of an enlightened mind.” *
  • “Guide the rivers of consciousness, sow the crops of fate.” *
  • “I am an architect of thought.” *
  • “Prejudice muddles their thoughts.” *
  • “Reform them.” *
  • “Reshape their mind.” *
  • “They lack perspective.” *
  • “They are only what they pretend to be.” *
  • “With a glimpse, I foresee destiny.” *
  • “What is the mind but a ledger of dreams?” *
  • “I know what lurks in the corridors of the mind.” *
  • “The machinations of will, within my grasp.” *
  • “Character is but a fabrication of virtues.” *
  • “You cannot fight the truth.” *
  • “I listen.” *
  • “My reach is long.” *
  • “Indeed.” *
  • “As counseled.” *
  • “Pull that from which darkness hides.” *
  • “A dream is a fire wicked by perversion.” *

Joke Counts Bristles (Sejuani’s boar) (Falls asleep) ( Xianko wakes him up) “Ionia! Your dr….ea…m” **(Falls asleep) ( Xianko wakes him up) **

Laugh – * Xianko, Baku’s mount, laughs Baku silences him after a couple moments. *

  • “Xianko. Enough.” *
  • “That will do.” * “Silence.”

Taunt

  • “You shall become another vessel for my dream.” *
  • “Your mind, my will.” *

Taunting Enemy Kitsungi

  • "Martyrs dream of the glory they will find in death."*
  • "You cannot salvage hope with sacrifice." *
  • "Your efforts are in vain Kitsungi." *
  • "You have skewed my efforts for too long Kitsungi." *

**Casting Dream Eater **

  • “Fall…”*
  • “At the precipice of sanity…”*
  • “Want not, waste not.” *
  • “Val’duum!” * (a dialect of Ancient Ionian)
  • “Odi’Vuuuuhhhhhhhk!” * (a dialect of Ancient Ionian)
  • “Gaen fah suuooooonnnn!” * (a dialect of Ancient Ionian)

**Casting Spotless Mind **

  • “Just another word…”*
  • “Enough.” *
  • “I see through you.” *
  • “As predicted.” *
  • “Having second thoughts?” *
  • “The hypocrisy of indecision.” *

Casting Astral Form “Beyond your reach.” “My will is intangible.” “Dream within a dream.”

Upon buying Rod of Ages

  • “Time is the final teacher.” *
  • “Time. Time is but a dream yet awaken.” *
  • “Patience can never be taught.” *

Upon buying Glacial Shroud

  • “My countenance chills the very air.” *

Upon buying Frozen Heart

  • “Feel nothing.” *
  • “Heart of ice. Mind of steel.” *

Upon buying Void Staff

  • “My assault knows no obstacle.” *
  • “Of body and mind my will shall shatter.” *
  • “Cast their minds into oblivion.” *

Upon buying Tear of the Goddess

  • “Tears are better than blood.” *

**Upon buying Rylai’s Crystal Scepter **

  • “My dream is inevitable…” *
  • “Freeze their bones, numb their mind.” *

Upon buying Liandry’s Torment

  • “A twist them unto the brink of madness.” *
  • “I will rob them of their **tormented souls. **” *

Upon placing a stealth or vision ward

  • “I watch.” *
  • “I feel their presence. * “I’ll face them on my terms.”

Upon casting Recall ”I go.” ”A different matter has caught my attention.”

http://ashirox.deviantart.com/art/Dark-Priest-373789595 Thank you so much for reading! Hope you enjoyed the concept! Please let me if you have any questions regarding Baku's lore, concept or kit! -cHAncEman1292 ######art retrieved from deviantart users “thedurrrrian” , “oakks” , “pythosblaze” , “ashirox” and “elbardo” Check out my other concepts!

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30 Comments

MeBuffULongTime9/27/2014, 7:43:47 AM4 votes

Wow, this obviously took a tremendous amount of work. I definitely want to see this guy in game. You've made we want to go back and give a champion concept I had another try. Very well put together, and the VO is amazing. I hope to see Baku in game someday! Cheers!

Flintfall9/26/2014, 11:57:18 PM3 votes

Wow, a lot of effort went this post, and I can't say I find it lacking in many areas. One thing that did confuse me was you gave his mount a title, so I thought there were two concepts in here and that dismayed me.

Also want to point out you are the master of quotes, I've never been so fascinated with quotes before!

Saturday Morning9/27/2014, 8:06:14 AM3 votes

This is one of the most well developed and designed champions I've read on the forums in a very long time. His kit is unique and fits perfectly with his theme (the idea of mana theft makes him so original in comparison to the other mages). The quotes and lore were also very well composed; I've seen very few lores that actually tie into the larger story of Runeterra and yours has a legitimate place in the matters of Ionia. You've even gone as far as to describe how his voice would sound (which a regal voiceover is an entirely new concept to League with Gentleman Cho'Gath aside) and a suggestion of theme music. The concept artwork was fantastic and clearly demonstrates Baku's personality and role as a mind mage (psychomage, neuromage or some other word that describes his craft within magic?), emphasizing the character as a sort of grim soothsayer.

Overall an incredible idea that looks and sounds months in the making. This definitely deserves a great deal of attention from the community. I would love to see this in game in the future. You have my up vote, sir.

dialMARK4acti0n9/27/2014, 4:04:31 PM2 votes

Is the art yours? o.o

DMC750019/27/2014, 12:10:08 AM2 votes

The. LORE. ASTOUNDS. ME.

O.M.G. Great, I was creating an Ionian-themed Champion, and I don't think it can match this.

The lore is so stellar, I almost felt it was in the League's history! Seriously, it was that good! It had me hooked! And, the quotes, oh, don't get me started! Tremendous vote of praise!

Upvote. No argument there.

Demonsolder219/28/2014, 3:03:47 AM1 votes

i'm already in love with this champ upvote

hold the dοοr9/29/2014, 9:46:29 PM1 votes

Hiho!

I must admit, I admire ur work ~cHAncEman1292, it's well designed, balanced and generally well done. But I fear bout silence mechanic, Riot is slowly gettin rid off it from the game, remember Kassadin's silence on his Q, or Talon's E? Not good, not good... Anyway, I enjoyed readin the whole concept just after I have read CHAMPION INSIGHTS, I care so much bout themes and lores that ability kit falls lil bit behind, but it is not meant to be ignored nor forgotten, it just pleased me, as I forged Her, it took some time to bring unique playstyle, as u've mentioned for some sand mage, controls sands, nothin particular, but callin ur fallen, yet loyal soldiers to aid u, or I would rather say, do the whole work for u :p Pardon for such digression we are talkin bout Baku, not Annabel, my glorious creation ;) Anyway, besides of that silence-fear, this concept is like a masterpiece, I would gladly play as Baku, not to mention his fellow mount, Xianko, there's potential for animations and voice acting ;) Nice touch with the Ancient Ionian, I really like those kind of easter eggs. It seems I'll write another few lines to this wall text, pardon for this, Im just in the mood to judge :D His look is amazing and I would say, temptin to fall asleep :) ..zZ..zzZZ..zzzZZZ

Oh, Xianko, why did u even...

Haha, I just went crazy along with this concept, lore, theme, characters... It seems u ~cHAncEman1292 have achieved what everybody who suggest want to achieve ;) U just got +1 follower, yet the one who can counter Baku with Lucid Dreamin :D Thanks man! Oh, and I would forgot, great choice of music to strengthen the concept itself.

Cheers!

~Xs3roN

Le Lightside10/20/2014, 7:34:34 PM1 votes

man my champion could be a counter to him from passive i like this idea artwork looks great just looks like he is from the rift or shadow isles http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/skin-champion-concepts/H1XRLFww-deadus-terror-of-the-deep

Talon Gerrard11/28/2014, 1:22:18 PM1 votes

Seems pretty balanced. But, I have one question about his Q. If he were to get tethered to someone like Lee Sin or Rengar (champs that don't use mana)? Their mana can't hit zero because they don't have any to begin with.

Rito Jericho11/29/2014, 12:34:15 AM1 votes

I feel like I'm missing something. Who is Kitsungi?

JackYAqua9/26/2014, 9:22:41 PM1 votes

°Д°

Gray Fanchon11/29/2014, 11:00:58 PM1 votes

Impressive amount of work! Would hate to see him in game though, attacking your mana pool sounds like not much fun to actually play around. Just at a quick glance-over, I'm not really seeing how draining enemy resources meshes with being a master over dreams, though.

Hm. Actually, lemme restate; I'd hate to see his kit in-game. The guy himself is pretty cool. :D Kinda feels like a DOTA character, actually.

Electro5229/27/2014, 5:40:00 AM1 votes

Damn. This guy looks and feels like he deserves a game of his own, or, at least belongs somewhere else then League.

Don't get me wrong, this guy would be awesome to have, but, I have always felt that League has had a certain comical feel to it, regardless of how deep or dark the champions can be. Baku, however, is so eloquently fleshed out, he just feels like he shouldn't belong in League.

Still, very impressive though.

soylent shipment9/27/2014, 4:58:49 PM1 votes

This is the best champion concept I have seen so far. Absolutely great reading his lore and the poem at the beginning with the music in the background really allowed me to get into the feel of this champ. This is great work but you might wanna trim those silences because it completely stops the enemy from doing anything to stop you or fight back most of the time.

SecretLore9/28/2014, 1:39:38 AM1 votes

Whoa I am really impressed here. Love his character and theme and his playstyle seems rather cool too.

Some things that I'd consider though: 1.His passive may not fit with the current direction riot is taking,it causes silenced targets to get extra damage and cc,but silence becomes much rarer these times and usually only lasts for a very short time.Not saying it is a bad passive,but it may be rather hard to make use of it.

2.Mana burn is something that riot seems to avoid on purpose,I mean it can be rather useless on some champions and really dangerous on others.However I like how it is done in your kit and riot tries more and more stuff out,so maybe that could be a meaningful way to do it. However I would say that champs without mana could get a different kind of penality,otherwise a champ like katarina will laugh about this,as she is manaless and doesn't care that much for the reduced attack speed. This skill however could easily end up op during laning phase,where mana has still a bigger role,so it could be really difficult to balance.

3.Have you considered a stacking-mechanic on him?as in "he can gather stacks in some way to increase his mana"?Because I'd say with a champ being so fixated on mana,it'd actually make sense to give him something like this(I mean sion can also more or less gain infinite health with his Ws passive)

4.This is more about his concept,but I looked at the pictures first then at the lore and I was surprised to see that Xianko is his mount.I actually thought it was some small kind of dream-creature following him around.It would actually be cool if Xianko was involved in one of his skills,so that it doesn't seem to be just here for show.Also I wonder what happens to it during the ult?Does it also enter this state?Also what was the reason that made you decide to give him a mount?

Damaged Knives9/28/2014, 2:49:44 AM1 votes

Wow Riot should add this as a champion