Physically disabled player has 2 character ideas

dmont76·Sep 18, 2016·320 votes·17,870 views

To whom it may concern,

I love League of Legends and play it daily. I do have more of a challenge than most players as I use a mouthpiece to play. Basically, I'm pushing buttons and controlling the mouse with a stick in my mouth since I can't use my arms and fingers. There are thousands of gamers who play that are disabled, but find it difficult to play various games. (Check able gamers for more info.) Most companies don't consider this when creating games, characters, combo's and controllers.

I've created two characters that I'd like for you to consider. Along with how they're played and a couple of ideas unique to making the characters more inclusive for disabled gamers.

If you're interested in these ideas, please contact me.

Bigfrog76

147 Comments

RiotRiot TreblMuffinSep 19, 201662 votes

You make me so happy. Seriously, I'm sitting here just getting started with my day and decide to check the boards for whats up in the world and see this right at the top. I had the pleasure to meet Declawed from the Trinity Force Podcast and he told me about Able Gamers. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2013 and it seems he's been a badass Jedi Mindset beast warrior ever since, at least from what I could tell. The folks over there are doing amazing things.

Anyway, I realize this isn't at all about your champs (I would have no idea how to accurately critique those. I'm all about sounds :)), but I just wanted to drop in and say keep refining your ideas, keep honing your skills there, and keep being a badass.

Quick Edit: I'm always interested in systems for hearing impaired players, being a sound guy. I think there's a lot of space for games to grow there, using mono or restricted field mixes for folks with spacial localization problems, trying mid and low band mixes for those with significant hearing loss, and even using low frequency "haptic" feedback. There's the potential to turn spectral diagrams into stereo haptics through wearable tech. It's just a real cool space to explore creative solutions.

TreblMuffin

kile147Sep 19, 20161 votes

I'm unfamiliar with stereo haptics, what exactly does that mean? Is the goal to have people precieve the full sound in a tactile way?

RiotRiot TreblMuffinSep 19, 201615 votes

Yeah. It's really a more literal term for what most people would probably assume a system like that would have. For instance when your controller shakes on a console, you could call that mono-haptic. If the right or left side of that same controller were to shake depending on the game, that would be stereo-haptic.

VladimirSnakeyesSep 19, 20161 votes

[deleted]

RiotRiot TreblMuffinSep 20, 20164 votes

I'm not really sure if there's anything on the consumer side to accomplish this, probably because most people don't want it. But there's been encoding/decoding hardware and software for a long time now that will accomplish this as well as getting you from surround to stereo and back. In TV or movies this is necessary so that a station can broadcast multiple mix formats to people who have all sorts of set ups at home.

One of the tools that I use is iZotope Ozone 7, which has an option to sum a mix to mono, mostly to check for technical problems.

ZerenzaSep 20, 20161 votes

I'm considered legally blind and i play league, some skillshots and several abilities on champions i can't see because they blend in to well(basically everything is blurry, i'm not completely blind yet) is there anything you guys are planning to do to fix champions who's abilities are difficult to see (i have trouble seeing Lulu's Q, Lux's Snare and E for example.)

RiotRiot TreblMuffinSep 20, 20163 votes

That is awesome! I'm curious how you find the rest of the game auditorily? Is there anything specific that you listen for when you're playing?

I'm not very in the loop regarding art stuff, sorry about that :(

ZerenzaSep 20, 20161 votes

Oh! Well seeing as how it can be very difficult to see certain abilities, i'v learned to listen to the sound they make instead so i don't have to rely on my eyesight to do it for me, so with Karthus Q i just walk in a zig zag when i start hearing the little boom sound since it's very clear and easy to hear. Same with say Ekko E but that one i think everyone does because you can hear him use it even if he's not in vision range.

Overall the sound quality is usually very high and easily audible especially when you need it to be like in my case when your Eye sight is deteriorating and unreliable. Yasuo's sounds (The sword clashing sound) can be a little rough since it's a little high pitch but it's a first world problem so oh well.

You guys did a great job!

RiotRiot TreblMuffinSep 20, 20165 votes

It's such a unique perspective to be so dialed into those sounds. For many players who play with sound on, I think it's natural not to notice how many cues there are hitting your ears, just because the human brain prioritizes visual information.

patmax17Sep 20, 20162 votes

I have no disabilities, but I noticed I rely a lot on sound to experience my surroundings, and I noticed just how much I rely upon sound (especially sound effects) when playing LoL. Also, I just fell in love with some sound effects (e.g. Taliyah's autoattack) :D

RiotRiot TreblMuffinSep 20, 20163 votes

Taliyah's autos are fantastic, but my personal favorite autos have to go to Kindred. Although true favorite sound of any in LoL has to be Baron Backing. I think sometimes there are just objectively really good sounds in games and other times there are decent sounds tied to really good feeling events in the game. Getting Baron and then backing is a combo of both...SOOOOO Satisfying.

Minetas QuirkSep 20, 20161 votes

I'd love to hear more about your job and what you actually do, I'm hearing impaired and it interests me.

RiotRiot TreblMuffinSep 20, 20164 votes

What are ya looking for specifically?

CobaltTheMadMageSep 18, 201631 votes

Riot doesn't usually respond to threads that don't get upvotes in the triple digits or so. And the only way a thread is going to get upvotes like that is for other people to see it.

But you have at least caught my interest and now I would like to see these ideas of yours in their own threads.

dmont76Sep 18, 20168 votes

How can I get people to see and upvote it? Any suggestions?

TreeofwarSep 18, 201623 votes

{quoted}

How can I get people to see and upvote it? Any suggestions?

why not just post your idea on the boards and not try and make riot contact you? riot does not contact people for ideas when they can just make their own or just find old posts.

dmont76Sep 19, 20167 votes

Because they also have the "don't accept character ideas from people." If they're interested in being more inclusive, then they'll ask someone with a disability.

Billy VoHagenSep 19, 201611 votes

I mean, maybe your ideas are good, maybe they are bad. If you post them, then the community would be more willing to upvote you.

Dr PoroSep 19, 20162 votes

Riot has done many things based on what people asked/suggested on the forums. Even if they don't make the entire character than you proposed, they might pick up a few of your concerns which can influence one of the next champions in a positive way.

GaleWinUnleashedSep 19, 20163 votes

They don't really take whole concepts and add them to the game, that's true. But I'm quite convinced that pieces of fan-made concepts have made it into official champion releases by now. One of the abilities on a relatively recent rework is shockingly similar to an ability concept I posted several months before that rework was revealed; it's possible Riot took some of that idea and ran with it to create what would become Poppy's new W, Steadfast Presence. Maybe.

oSEXYPLATYPUSoSep 18, 20164 votes

that i have no clue, however i feel for your disadvantage when it comes to this game. that is rough and i applaud you for over coming and find a way to do something you enjoy in life. i had a co worker that was born with out legs or arms and i did what i could to help him, id give him rides to and from work ect. but i tell you that guy could madden on ps2 with the best of them , he had something that looked like toes on one of his "legs" and he could control the controller with that, he was an decent poker player too , he over came alot. i admire him for not letting his disability get in way of trying to live and enjoy life. however he was a riot like one year for Halloween no joke he came to work as a shark attack victim and another year as the chucky doll from childs play. had me rolling.

dmont76Sep 19, 20166 votes

I do that stuff too. Shockingly, I'm a personal trainer and Lacross coach. Just don't look it. Must follow your passions. Btw, one character idea I have is like your friend. Only robotic arms/legs. I won't go into detail about his Q, W, E, R.

oSEXYPLATYPUSoSep 19, 20162 votes

[slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

CobaltTheMadMageSep 19, 20168 votes

{quoted}

How can I get people to see and upvote it? Any suggestions?

Really the only way to do that is to actually make a post telling people about your character's lore concept, passive, QWER, etc. Like everyone else on this forum does with their champ ideas.

OyddAWqJ5rSep 19, 201621 votes

Idk. Not to be a dick but from this reader's perspective it sounds like a regular champion concept thread except you're using your disability as a way to get noticed. This entire post sounds like a big ol' advertisement. I can barely notice that it's a concept thread.

Tbh I don't think that's cool. You're disabled, it sucks, I feel for ya. But I'm not gonna treat ya any different than any other summoner here.

I'm just that guy to whom this doesn't concern giving my 2 cents. Do whatcha want though, I'm not ur mom, free country, etc.

dmont76Sep 19, 20168 votes

I don't want my disability to get me noticed. I want characters that make it easier for people like me to play. Especially the younger kids.

And honestly, I don't want to be treated differently or pity.

ClatoVerataNictoSep 19, 20162 votes

Then why even mention it in this thread?

dmont76Sep 19, 20167 votes

What thread should I mention character creations for disabled people in?

Spaceman5pffSep 19, 20165 votes

Well it just kinda sounded like you were leveraging your concepts with the disabled factor. Almost a bit pity-partying.

I'm not trying to call you on it, just clarify the above comment.

VerdadeSep 19, 20163 votes

i agree with you. Champion concepts have nothing to do with being disabled.

EternalDadSep 19, 20161 votes

It's the kit that matters, not the Champ itself. Probably less skillshot reliant among other things to make the experience more streamlined. That's how it has to do with being disabled.

VerdadeSep 19, 20161 votes

We already have champions without skillshots. Garen, Kata, Udyr, Trundle, Teemo and many more So, whats your next excuse?

EternalDadSep 19, 20161 votes

Also, I've scrolled through all of these comments and you've commented multiple times shutting down and being rude about this person and this board. Either this board made you really mad for some earthly reason or you are okay with camping on someone's board and shutting them down over and over on almost every positive comment someone makes or agree with the other unreasonably harsh comments. Why try so hard to make sure that this person knows that you don't think he's right? It doesn't matter to you if he succeeds or not. It shouldn't at least. It matters to me though that you aren't even giving this person a shred of mercy and are continuously calling him out on something you are just assuming. You think you're being righteous and shutting down the liar but you are just being a tool. Just take a breather and go read a book or something.

VerdadeSep 19, 20162 votes

It's just that im disabled as well as im playing league with half of my body paralyzed. I chose to play league because i could sucessfully compete normal people. You'd knew better if you've been in "disabled communities", half of people there are self-pitying douches using " im disabled" card to get special treatment.

This topic would have like 2 upvotes and 3 comments if there were "i have 2 concepts for mechanically simple champions useable by newbies and disabled people" instead of "im disabled and my life sucks so here are 2 concepts i want in the game"

DarkfireAMSep 19, 20165 votes

I think the OP means champions made FOR disabled people. Making it easier for them to actually play the game.

ClatoVerataNictoSep 19, 20162 votes

To be perfectly honest your thread isn't clear. It makes it sound like you created a couple of champs, and happen to be disabled.

{quoted}

Well it just kinda sounded like you were leveraging your concepts with the disabled factor. Almost a bit pity-partying.

I'm not trying to call you on it, just clarify the above comment.

Spaceman got what I felt the thread tone was.

If you had titled or said "Champs concepts designed to be easier for disabled people to play" or something similar, I would have known exactly what you were talking about.

VerdadeSep 19, 20162 votes

Exactly this

EternalDadSep 19, 20162 votes

That's not how I read this at all and I think you are being a "dick" actually. You said this sound like an advertisement but that isn't a bad thing. Anyone who wants to get a hold of riot or anyone of status needs to have a pitch. I'm sure this guy is interested in developing a kit that better suits the needs that he has not so that he can have the glory of creating a new champ. There's obviously not a lot of advocacy for individuals with special needs in the League community as many of the people throw the word "retard", Autism, and many other disabilities around like a frisbee not caring where it lands. With this being said, and true, someone with a disability would have to go further and attempt to advocate for themselves since the people in this community rarely due. I think that if there are a couple champs that are streamlined and specific to individuals with severe physically disability that would be incredible and make League closer to being an altogether inclusive environment. It's riot's verdict on whether this guy is full of crap or not and for anyone else to shut him down just for trying is kind of not cool.

I'm just a guy to whom this doesn't concern that's just giving his two cents.

TolforSep 19, 201612 votes

I think you've started this thread off on the wrong foot. What's important is not that you're a disabled player with champion concepts; it's that you have champion concepts designed for disabled players. As long as your thread title is what it is and your post spends all of its time talking about your disability and none of its time talking about your concepts, a lot of people are going to get the impression that you're playing your disability up for pity and attention. I trust that your heart is in the right place - I'm just letting you know what it looks like.

And on that note, there is absolutely no good reason for you to be dangling the concept details as some mystery prize that we can only see if Riot personally e-mails you (which is simply not going to happen; your expectation there is extremely unrealistic). Instead, you should be discussing the concepts in your post so that we (and perhaps Riot) can judge them on their own merit.

arghilostSep 19, 20169 votes

they already have a champ for disabled gamers Riven

DavarrilSep 19, 20166 votes

uhhh

the world is your oyster if you make it.

dmont76Sep 19, 20165 votes

Working on it. For certain.

General Esdeath Sep 19, 20165 votes

Dude that's gotta be hard, I'm giving you my upvote. Good luck man!

Billy VoHagenSep 19, 20164 votes

Why not just post the ideas?

Also, how do you type without use of hands?

LatetotheRaceSep 19, 20162 votes

He has a stylus, it's quite possible that he used that.

strutSep 19, 20161 votes

I think you could really post your ideas here. Riot is not likely to contact you personally. And i would be really happy to see what you were thinking of

VerdadeSep 19, 20162 votes

Just because he's disabled? There are hundreds, if not thousands of champion concepts, why is OP different?

JackMcSnipeyzSep 19, 20162 votes

{quoted}

Just because he's disabled? There are hundreds, if not thousands of champion concepts, why is OP different?

Because his offering a niche champion design that is simple and not combo heavy, something we havent seen in this game in a while. Honestly i just wanna see what he came up with because of hid unique experience with the game (playing with a mouthpiece? What?)

TolforSep 19, 20163 votes

The problem is we don't really know what he's offering, because he won't tell us for some reason. If OP's post actually described his champion concepts, I'd be interested.

strutSep 19, 20162 votes

What interests me is how the fact that he is disabled influences his ideas of a champion's foundation. Not that hard to understand is it