Vladimir Update? (Visual and/or slight mechanical rework)

Riot has been doing a splendid job on the visual ends, and some mechanical, of its reworks such as Swain. Sure bits of old swain are missed, but the new one feels consistent. The vibe from his stories and art are transitioned well into his in game model / abilities. Recently Riot has actually updated Vladimir's bio and added a short story, to help emphasis some of the events he's seen through his life. I enjoyed them, but in game and his art almost depict a different character. Let me elaborate :

Model and Effects : Vladimir, in his in game mode and effects, just feels odd and almost clownish. What I mean is.. look his base skin has white and red stripped pants, as if he was a 70's vampire with flannels or something like that. His effects also seem very bare, as if they lack the impact they should. Vladimir, as a whole, feels as if he would have a larger impact with his magic to imply how powerful he really is. What I mean is compare him and most mages, their effects. Wouldn't Swain and Veigar feel a lot more powerful, based on their abilities' looks, than Vladimir? From a lore stance, it feels like it would be the opposite since the blood magic is extremely powerful and rare, it even has the effect to morph flesh like it has done with Vladimir's fingers. I mean, the magic essentially made him immortal (from old age) after all. Another thing to point out is his orb of blood, it just feels odd to ALWAYS have it. I get that it is needed for when he uses his E, aoe dmg, but not all the time... especially if he is constantly healing, pulling it into himself, and using his own health / blood to deal damage. Granted it does have one benefit which is it makes his auto attacks make sense, but overall it just feels like it is in the way. It feels like he could be simply more effective absorbing the blood in himself and sending it out when he attacks.

P.S. Why.. Why give him a full red coat, if his effects are blood.. all red. It just feels like a red mess. I aspire to be a character designer, but this feels like a contrast of what Riot would want. They want to make models clear to see and their abilities visible... which Vlad fits none of those.

**Mechanics : **For the sense of the game, they work well for their purpose. He is a tanky, ranged, mage who can use his own hp to deal damage while taking health for enemies. His kit allows him to enter a fight and provide a massive amount of aoe dmg; however, this doesn't really compare well with his character. For the basis of who he is, I'm going to resort to his most recent short story where he is more.. maleficent, powerful, egotistical, and mysterious. In some ways it feels like he wouldn't reveal his true strength, what he can do, unless it would be like an ultimate. It seems like most of his abilities would be flaunting how easily he can control his magic, with ease. For example, his pool feels like it shouldn't just drop in a circular puddle... almost like something similar to Reaper (from Overwatch) where he effortlessly transitions from physical state of matter to that of the black mist. Maybe replace Vladimir's passive, make his current one part of Q, where he can over-heal? So he gets a larger portion of his current health to stockpile it, to enhance his next AOE dmg (the overheal for X amount of hp would have an X value for extra damage). His E, AOE, if is to remain as it is.. maybe have his channel also steal health for those around slightly? So X amount of enemies may reduce the amount of health he used on it and increase the damage of it. I would highly suggest replacing his ult though, it just feels... there.. What I mean is, it mimics his Q and just is a delay that damages champions that were in an area. Maybe replace it with something where he absorbs blood into himself in an AOE area, healing and slowing enemies..? Granted that sounds a lot like Swain. So maybe place a curse on an enemy so they deal damage to those near theme? Their own blood damages their allies. Another possibility is make it a blood seal in a AOE area. Vladimir has been around for decades, sure he learned other magic and other potential uses for his blood magic. He could make a seal, in a circular form, from blood that causes enemies either to be trapped (like a barrier around) which helps vladimir be more effective since his enemies would be trapped nearby. The last resort could be, take his E and make it better, then put it as his ultimate. Then maybe make his E some kind of slash of blood, hardens into a blade as it crosses an area?

Granted this readjust of his kit would still make him feel boastful, untamed magic. But, after all this time, wouldn't vladimir have a better grasp on his powers? More honed and trained, so better for single target combat instead of just overall burst in all directions, depends on how Riot intends to develop him as a character.

Splash art(s) : Recently, some of Vladimir's splasharts have been adjusted and help paint different versions of him. What has me most interested his Count Vladimir, which almost feels like the true version of him based on the short story. The way he would move and act in a sense. While his main splashart depicts a boastful vladimir, almost like when he was younger and trying to show his father how powerful he is. Flaunting his newly gained blood magic. Count spashart also helps drive the point home that he is this mysterious figure of the different eras, while his base art fails in that retrospect.

**Lore/Stories : **In his Bio, we learn that Vladimir is basically centuries old, likes to go into hiding at various times and reappear when major world changing events happen, etc. It transitions of showing Vladimir as being boastful and arrogant, stealing his master's power and having his own cult, but as time goes on... he becomes more refined. Such as ruling a kingdom from the shadows, instead of stealing the spotlight, and becoming a mysterious figure that no one knows. His short story helps drive the point home that he has become wiser and, for the longest time, was more reserved in his behavior. He avoided being notice and existing, yet he locked that boastful part of his behavior away in the house where he collects various things through the ages. Now... for who he will unveil himself as.. to the world may be his boastful side or him being more reserved, hard to say based on the situation. What doesn't help is that we don't know his intentions.. we know he is tired of hiding.. so what? Is he intending to take back Noxus, take over the world? Face or join other Darkin (since he sees himself as being higher than other humans)? If I could make any guess on what his next move will be, I assume he would find those who remain of the black rose and rebuild his cult, so he can have a force to oppose Swain; however... would vladimir be that arrogant to believe him, with some aid, could take out all of the Noxus leadership? Vladimir would be at a disadvantage against Swain, Darius, and the mysterious leader. I bet he will seek out a specific character, maybe a Darkin he knows is sealed or someone who can master blood magic similar to him, in hopes to defeat those who lead Noxus. Granted, Riot could boost up Vladimir to make his power seem overbearing even for the three leaders of Noxus to handle, but considering his in game actions and what we know (besides his past of being in some of harshest events and living) I doubt he currently posses the strength. Vladimir would also be quiet aware that Swain is a tactician, he will strongly benefit in working in a group. So ultimately, Vladimir needs someone(s) to handle Darius and the other leader of Noxus, so he can have a one on one against Swain (which would be an epic comic, seeing that much magic power clash in the fate of Noxus). This could be a chance for Riot to design a student for Vladimir, who has learned different implementations of the blood magic such as hardening it to form structures or weapons.

Honestly... Overall, the lore of Vladimir makes me imagine Ardyn Izunia from Final Fantasy 15.. besides the whole split personality thing... What I mean, he was hiding from view for centuries and toys with everyone from the shadows. Everyone being in his game and he shows off his power like it is effortless. Song that fits Vladimir

[vlad-salute]

Hoped you enjoy and have a wonderful day!