Mordekaiser Visual Update - 2017 Riot Art Contest

Grimm Howl·2/1/2018, 5:03:03 PM·36 votes·14,646 views

2017 Riot Art Contest Entry - Mordekaiser Visual Update, Dylan Hall

Hello everyone, last night was the end of the 2017 Riot Art Contest, and I wanted to share my project with all of you. Malicious Metal got a little antsy and shared it far to early in one of his "Potential VGU" posts about a week or so back. I'll share some of the images here, but do feel free to check out my ArtStation post and the Polycount thread if you're interested in my development process.

https://i.imgur.com/I6EAdhZ.jpg

https://skfb.ly/6vVSM

69 Comments

Thefrostyviking2/1/2018, 7:24:25 PM4 votes

Oh this looks quite amazing O_O

For a in game model that look definitely suits him i think,although the cloak looks a tad bit clean for something an undead warlord has been using for who knows how long.

But if we were to just throw the model over as a splash art it would be missing some details, he´d look quite like a prim dark knight rather than the ancient undead mace swinging villain he is.

Why do i think like this? It's because his armor, cape and weapon all appear in "pristine" condition so to write, clean, not missing any parts, no dents or scratches and cape isn't even a bit frayed despite the fact that he has been wearing it into battle.

Well, those are all just details if wanting to convert the model into a splash, but the model is absolutely great enough to use right away already^^

"Edit"

Nevermind me, i was blinder than lee sin, if scrolling closely then the armor and the mace are indeed properly worn and scratched.

It's just the cloak looking like it's fresh from the royal wardrobe which is a tab bit odd for a ancient undead but it still fits somehow...

Whyte Lyon2/1/2018, 8:50:01 PM3 votes

Looks like the same thing as the old... it feels like a boring rehash in that sense. Some missed opportunities to put some flair into it. But at the end of the day it's just a fan-made project that had a lot of effort put into it, so no big deal.

ModCaptainMårvelous2/2/2018, 9:06:42 AM3 votes

Awesome work!

However, my main criticism is...well...it's not different enough.

In terms of VGUs, compare old vs. new to champions like Galio Poppy Taric Urgot Evelynn etc etc etc. All of them, when working on something, provide a character that's got a similar core theme but little resembling the original idea.

IMO, your design seems like something that plays super safe and just gives ol' Morde a new coat of paint. If you were to revisit this, I'd say take more risks. Do as Riot does: Narrow down the SINGULAR thing you want to reinforce with Morde and absolutely hammer that home. Hell, maybe even do something wild like have Morde ride a ghost dragon. Go absolutely nuts.

All that said, this is an absolutely amazing concept and fingers crossed your model places. Best of luck to you!!!

ThePikol2/1/2018, 9:38:46 PM2 votes

Sorry, but I don't like it. Whole character in 2 shades of the same color (dark and lighter purple) is not a good idea in my opinion. It just blends into a big purple thingy. The model is just old model with some extra tris and more spikes. Nothing new added from you, nothing to distinguish it from other Morde VU nor from his current model

Hella Kaiser2/1/2018, 9:49:32 PM2 votes

this is perfect.

the only thing i personally don't like are the red spheres on the shoulders.

but everything else is perfect

Jaghatai2/1/2018, 9:53:46 PM2 votes

Overall - very skillfully done!

As a version of Morde though: Things I like:

Theme is on point
Still looks like Mordekaiser

Things I don't like:

I really dislike the shape of the mace - it looks like a spiky gray balloon. Maces aren't generally tear-drop shaped.
Too monochrome
Too spiky
Shoulder pads are too big vertically and I don't like the plate in the middle of his back - although it does theme with Yorick, but I don't like it on Yorick either.
He feels a bit stout rather than big - kinda short in the torso and heavy in the legs

Agent Corgi2/1/2018, 11:32:27 PM2 votes

Nicely done! Hopefully they take this & use it as a template for Morde's eventual VGU. If memory serves, Reav3 mentioned that Mordekaiser is one of the High-Priority Champions being tossed around among the Champion Update teams.

rtbf2256182412/2/2018, 12:26:48 AM2 votes

I mean...could Riot just 'borrow' this model to speed up the VGU process a bit?

Just saying...this is on-par with the standard they've set. :D

TonyTonyMordecai2/2/2018, 1:05:24 AM2 votes

I like ^_^

AgeOfTheMage2/2/2018, 2:15:50 PM2 votes

great job! I would try that but I can't art :I

1M Gold Udyr XD2/3/2018, 5:54:07 PM2 votes

Very well done.

Mordekaiser always reminds me of Vhailor, the Mercykiller Undead Armor.

Dreadgrave2/3/2018, 8:00:04 PM2 votes

I think this works as a Lord Morde skin concept but otherwise I think his visual design theoretically perfect. Riot just needs to give that design a modern touch up and gameplay that works. So far it just feels like no one at Riot like Mordekaiser so they don't have the passion to fix him properly.

Remus Wins2/3/2018, 8:03:22 PM2 votes

A true overlord! =)

EvilGrinNol2/4/2018, 9:40:45 PM2 votes

Bad Ass!

ModThe Djinn2/1/2018, 6:26:54 PM2 votes

This is really well done. I'll admit I'm not a huge fan of the direction you took (I think this Mordekaiser looks a little more like just a guy in armor and a little less like a giant malevolent revenent), but the quality on this is incredible and the design is cool and well-realized.

Maple Crusader2/21/2018, 3:50:19 AM2 votes

I would love to play as this version of Morde.

Malicious Metal2/1/2018, 8:33:42 PM2 votes

It was truly a joy watching the entire progress. From a simple concept art to the finished, polished Masterpiece.

FlameHalbrdOkido2/1/2018, 9:00:41 PM2 votes

good work