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Skarner Think Tank

TakaDama·7/14/2019, 5:00:47 PM·3 votes·1,734 views

So Im pretty sure this is like my fourth or fifth thread about Skarner since the Juggernaut Update back in Season 4 or 5, so I wont be surprised if this gets downvoted into oblivion just based on subject and author alone.

However, as opposed to focusing exclusively on modernizing his mechanical kit and putting bells and whistles on it, like usual, I'm going to start with something far more important as Skarner has always been a mechanically interesting champion simply because of his ult: Skarner's Lore.

To give a scope of how much a lack of lore support has affected Skarner, one only needs to look at his history in terms of both mechanical buffs and nerfs and also skins. Skarner actually had a Legendary Skin, as well as three other Epic or lower skins, but the last to be released was the Sand Scourge one a few years ago. And his buff/nerf history has been pretty barren as well, with occasional power spikes here and there. I believe this can be contributed to how barren his lore is and how little of presence he has with other champions, especially those from Shurima. Even Rammus, a champion that is similar to Skarner in a lot of ways, even has the occasional nod to him.

One solution would be to incorporate the Bandits mentioned in Skarner's current lore a bit more; after all, Sivir was/is one herself, which could open up more interactione with the other Ascended and Xerath. Another could be to incorporate Void/Darkin/etc elements as well; I dont have an exact idea of how old Skarner is himself, but Shurima has interacted with several other factions over the current timeline from Icatha, the creation of the Darkin, and even Noxus when Cassiopoeia and Sivir freed Xerath and Renekton and revived Azir. In fact, a void or darkin presence would actually make for a better explanation for being so hostile upon waking up than, 'he was young when he went to hibernate'.

Though that doesn't provide anything new for him mechanically, it does allow him a better chance of getting more attention over the game's lifespan as well as provide a better basis for a visual update; Skarner could very well be tainted by Ascended/Darkin blood, or the years sleeping beneath the sands of Ithaca have completely warped his mind and appearance.

Now, as for mechanics, and anyone who even remembers Skarner will know what I will say here: the current passive is a complete balancing nightmare. However, I think it has some merit, as the buffs the spires provide are actually crucial for Skarner as jungler.

My proposal is as such: remove the spires themselves, but give each Brambleback, each Sentinel, each Scuttler, each elemental Dragon, Herald, Baron, and Elder Dragon one stack of crystal loot. When any champion takes down a neutral monster or an opposing champion with these stacks, the victor takes them for themself.

Starting out, the stacks would only provide AS and MP/5 to Skarner himself, but after the second or third clear or even after the first clear and a successful kill on the enemy jungler, Skarner will get more utility buffs like MS, extended vision, and even true sight at high enough stacks.

But what would non Skarner champions get? Well, I would actually suggest they get the MP/5 buff themselves at the very least, but at high enough stacks Skarner will have true sight of them at all times (due to his affinity to the crystals themselves).

Granted, I don't really know how to balance anything I suggested here, but that is why I prefaced this with a call for a lore update; Skarner has potential mechanically as is, but without some sort of story to bolster his popularity enough to be noticed outside of the game itself, he will be put on the backburner a lot.

TL;DR: Update/Rework Skarner Lore, Visuals, and Passive.

4 Comments

FlameHalbrdOkido7/22/2019, 4:08:18 AM1 votes

Interesting that u decided to tackle the lore 1st, really gets me thinking about how much lore impacts popularity, but ur right the better a character is integrated into the lore the more they write about them, the more publicity they, the more people get interested in them.

One thing to tackle is how to make Skarner a more compelling character as well, but I also appreciate you trying to connect him to other characters and factions. Sivir particularly would be a compelling addition to his story as it adds more facets to her As this sort of sellsword tomb raider who's been selling out her regions treasures and how she has to grow from that and possibly confront her darker conflicting past as she is met with issues more important and force her to think about change. Namely the duty forced upon her by Azir to take on the responsibility of her lineage and now protect her region.

Now I kno I've been talking about Sivir 4 a min I'll get to Skarner

While she seems reluctant to take on this new role I could see Skarner being at this center of confrontation of her past with her current self that is now in transition. He would be the catalyst to force her to see the error of her ways, the devastating effects she's caused by her careless actions of greed in the past.

This is where we can get some real interaction between Skarner and someone else that while it may start in conflict it doesn't have to end like that. The best conflict are those centered around a battle of perspective, conviction and will. We kno that Skarner is wise and caring, that he seeks to restore his species crystals, hed prefer to achieve this peacefully but is resolved to resort to violence if pushed that far, his conviction is strong. to We kno that Sivir is at a turning point, thanks to her story with Nasus, Taliyah, Azir, and Xerath. I could see skarner eventually tracking Sivir down and whether a physical or vocal battle ensues Skarner will win forcing Sivir to question her past motives and future even more. I would also like to see Skarner grow from this more, that we see his character develop more so that he's less of a Mary sue, maybe he gives into his rage too much when pushed and goes 2 far or makes rash decisions and mistakes, maybe he's like Kurapika from Hunter x Hunter. Maybe interaction with Sivir can help him understand humans better.

There's also the possibility of him forming a strong connection with Taliyah. Maybe her passage through the desert was what woke him and eventually leads him to Sivir. Maybe he can teach her how to use her powers better.

One thing that I keep coming back to is how he fits into the grand narrative that's what's really missing from his lore. Once he has that the character development and character interactions will flow easily. And the one thing that makes the most sense is how the crystals interact with each other and magic. The biggest issue in Shurima is currently Xerath actually, not the Void or Darkin. Xerath is also the type of problem that Skarner is the most well equipped to deal with.

The monsters of today will become the heroes of tomorrow.

Skarner is made of the same crystals that Piltover uses to power thier machinery. The crystals can charge, build up, discharge and store magic energy for use. Xerath can't be defeated by normal means bc he's pure magic energy. Nasus, Azir, and Taliyah can't really do anything but slow him down, Sivir has the Chalitar which was used to seal previous rougue Ascended, but she doesn't know how to use it like that currently. But Skarner might stand a chance, the only issues being whether or not his crystals can absorb Xeraths particular energy, and how much. Even if he could absorb Xeraths energy there's a limit, if only he had more crystals and knew where to go to get them...

Wait a sec his whole goal is recollecting them, and Sivir would at least kno who she sold some of them to. So we could get more stories of Sivir and Skarner traveling to Piltover and Sivir trying to sneak a big crystal scorpion into the city. This is where the interactions between crystals are important. When they are near each other they sing out to the other. And Camille has one built into her as a HEART. This could provide another character interaction, where Camille hears something singing from within calling her to move even if she can't understand it. When she eventually finds the source is from Skarner and her heart, Skarner would again be a confrontation to the will of another character.

Camille's conviction is strong so I'd either see skarner losing or more likely there being a draw. Win, lose or Draw Skarner will get his point across and thus eventually win the mental battle as camille would have to confront the fact of knowing her life runs on the literal SOULS of another species. She's basically using a clean version of the Philosopher stone (from Full Metal Alchemist). She says everything has a role to play and yet she's yanked a cog out of Skarners machine. After the confrontation it is likely she'd be shaken to her very core. But she'd have the resolve to continue using it accepting what ever consequences to come. And now that the voices have been reawakened they may never be quiet. This will either haunt her forever or she will accept that they are apart of her and she is now a part of them, like a visitor into thier ancient ceremony she is simply the next one like an Android Avatar (from the Last Airbender)(or the Blue People, u chose) Skarner would know this, and would warn her, bc of her unique connection to the crystal that she's been treading the fine line of resonance with the crystal and now the channel is open if she doesn't find a way to become in tune with it that there will be dire consequences. He wouldn't force her to separate with it, hed solemnly let her determine if she'd be the willing being next in line to accept the souls and wisdom or let their cries and get conscience tear her mind apart. This is where camilles turning point comes. Camille likes keeping the other houses of Piltover and Zaun in check, this means if someone has a crystal and is getting 2 big for thier britches bc of it, the mutally benefitual course of action is for Camille and Skarner to team up an take the crystal: Skarner gets to recollect the crystals, camille keeps control of the cities and can make some mysterious monster a scapegoat. This opens a whole host of interactions. At the end of it all Skarner leaves with a cache of crystals he's achieved his goal to a large degree but at the moment they should have enough to be able to contain enough siphoned energy from Xerath to substantially weaken him so others can actually hurt him and drive him away.

That's what Skarner could do just question people's convictions, challenge people's hypocrisies, ask why they change or do things that are in conflict with what they say they are, ask how far they willing to go, how deep are they willing to delve to attain thier goals, or maintain the status quo. Bc his will has been tested many times by others, himself and his circumstances. He's had everything taken from him, the world turned against him bc it doesn't understand him, when all he wants is peace and what was stolen return. The world sees or doesn't see that tries to crush him under foot like a bug and yet he still stands. And does more than stand, he stands up for others. And rather respond in kind the way he is attaining his goal is by perseverance, changing people's minds with words and being MORE human than anyone else.

Shahamut8/1/2019, 7:16:59 PM1 votes

Now, as for mechanics, and anyone who even remembers Skarner will know what I will say here: the current passive is a complete balancing nightmare. However, I think it has some merit, as the buffs the spires provide are actually crucial for Skarner as jungler.

The spires are not "crucial" for anything that Skarner does. As someone who has posted a great deal on the spires passive, I can only reiterate that they are not a "balancing" nightmare, but a gameplay nightmare.

What the spires do is irrelevant. The problem lies in that he has no personal agency over them that is greater than anyone else on the map. Ergo, if your team is winning, you will control the spires. What they do is still irrelevant, because your team is ahead and will probably carry you. If your team is losing, you will NOT control the spires and therefore never gain the bonuses, no matter what they are.

The spires locations also keep his power locked into the jungle, which prevents them from being a part of winning the game (taking/defending towers and nexus)

More about lore when I return. Gotta grab some groceries XD

EDIT: AND IM BACK

Lore: Personally, I love Skarner's lore. I think it is beautifully written, and gives Skarner a great motivation for being out and about in the world. I DEFINITELY agree though, that it could be more integrated with other aspects of the league universe. The only lore based interaction that I can get is that Jayce is in trouble if Skarner ever finds him (I believe Jayce's weapon is powered by one of the stolen life crystals). That being said, he is (now anyway) in the shuriman dessert, and has no interactions or acknowledgments from any of the other shuriman characters. Did Azir/Nasus/Renekton know of the Brackern? What do the Brackern know of them? Was Sivir's group of bandits the group that awoke Skarner? There are so many ways to deal with it. Has Skarner met with any of the Xer-Sai in the desserts as he searches?

Overall, lore good, but needs improvement