[Champion Concept] Langston, the Venture Capitalist

Money, money, money!

I made Langston a long time ago (back in Season 2!), but now that I've gotten back into the game a bit, I wanted to brush the dust off this fellow again. Plus, I haven't seen any mechanics like his in my time lurking here. Without further ado, here he is:

The Overview

Support (Secondary: Mage) Attack Power: 2 Defense Power: 4 Magic Power: 8 Difficulty: 7

Representation: Zaun, Langstar

Appearance: A thin, wiry man in a tailored navy blue suit, white shirt, and cranberry tie. Swirls of brown hair are combed precisely into a professional-looking part on the right. His left hand always clasps his gilded briefcase, which he draws gold through to auto-attack.

The Stats

HEALTH: 372 (+79) HP REGEN: 4.4 (+.57) MANA: N/A ATK DMG: 45 (+2.5) ATK SPEED: 0.612 (+2.6%) ATK RANGE: 475 ARMOR: 16 (+3.5) MAGIC RES: 28 (+0) MOVEMENT: 330

The Moves

Passive: Red Letter Day -- Langston's on official business, so his corporate expense account is the first resource he uses for his spells.

Details: Instead of a mana bar, Langston has a gold bar that starts with 125 gold (+5/level). The expense account replenishes at half the rate of his passive gold income plus half of any items' triggers. Langston can only spend this gold to cast spells, and Expense Account gold is spent before any personal gold. Spending personal gold on a basic spell empowers it as detailed below. The Expense Account regenerates rapidly at the fountain.

Q: Market Surge/Market Crash -- Langston's Auramancy bolsters or burdens his target. Range 725. Cost: 20/25/30/35/40 Gold. Cooldown: 9/8.5/8/7.5/7 seconds.

Details: On ally cast, Langston's gold protects and emboldens his target, granting them a four-second shield to absorb 75/110/145/180/215 (+60% AP) damage and increasing their movement speed by 12/16/20/24/28% for the same duration. On enemy cast, Langston's gold taints and encumbers the target, dealing 50/85/120/155/190 (+45% AP) magic damage and slowing their movement speed by 20/25/30/35/40% for 2.5 seconds.

Red Letter Day: If Langston spends personal gold on this spell, he may cast the other version of it for free within three seconds.

W: High-Yield Investment -- Langston empowers his partner and receives dividends. Range 800. Cost: 20/27/34/42/50 Gold. Cooldown: 17/16/15/14/13 seconds.

Details: Langston lends his partner the power of Langstar sponsorship! The target gains 12/18/24/30/36 (+10% AP) Attack Damage and reduces incoming crowd control by 15/20/25/30/35%. Whenever the target kills a unit, Langston receives a dividend of 3/3/4/4/5 gold for a minion, 5 gold for a monster, or 30/35/40/45/50 gold for a champion. Lasts 8 seconds.

Red Letter Day: If Langston spends personal gold on this spell, the target also gains 15/25/35/45/55 (+10% AP) HP regen during its duration.

Note: Langston cannot invest in himself. Conflict of interest and all that.

E: Firesale -- Langston's gold corrupts an area, dealing magic damage each second and amplifying pain on affected enemies. Range 800. Radius 400. Cost: 30/35/40/45/50 Gold. Cooldown: 17 seconds.

Details: Langston enchants a piece of gold before throwing it, causing it to radiate corruption for 3/4/5/6/7 seconds. Enemies in the area take 20/32/44/56/68 (+20% AP) damage each second and take an additional 4/6/8/10/12% damage for three seconds after leaving. This amplification increases by 0.2% for every 75 gold Langston is carrying (max 8%).

Red Letter Day: If Langston spends personal gold on this spell, increase the duration of the spell and its debuff by 2 seconds.

R: Supply Chain Management -- Langston heals allies within a chain and grants them a portion of the spell's gold cost. He may repeat this process twice more within five seconds. Range 700, 525 for each successive link. Cost: 70/80/90 Gold. Cooldown: 120/110/100 seconds.

Details: Langston rapidly resupplies his work force, healing each friendly champion in a chain for 80/160/240 (+40% AP) and granting each target (except himself) 15/25/35 Gold. He may cast this up to three times within five seconds before going on cooldown.

The Lore

Nobody is entirely certain how a slight, meek man like Langston Douglas rose from obscurity to control the savage markets of Zaun. Reclusive and aloof, he guards his past from media and laypersons alike; some say he has something to hide, while others suspect he simply hates distractions. Even the extent of his wealth is unknown, though Furb's, the revered Zaun financial publication, claims Langston can "afford what he wants, when he wants it."

What has always been certain is Langston’s belief in self-interest and ruthless pursuit of profit. Langstar Incorporated, his self-made flagship corporation, started as a humble producer of industrial and household cleaners – products in high demand within filth-ridden Zaun. Before the oligarchs realized it, Langstar, Inc. had expanded fiftyfold to a massive conglomerate, building monopolies in goods from farm fertilizers to hextechnology insurance. The Langstar corporate structure remains remarkably loyal to its CEO, even down to the line-workers of its factories. Competitors crushed beneath its heel hold opinions distinctly less positive.

When the Institute of War assembled and created the League of Legends, a panic spread through Zaun's markets. Arms industries relied on supplying the conflicts between Noxus and Demacia, and they started to crumble under speculation. But just as the domino effect started, Langston himself marched onto the market floor, away from his office or estate for the first time in years. He seemed to conjure genuine gold from his hands as he poured his personal fortunes into the market, buying company after company. His swift action single-handedly halted the panic. After the bizarrely selfless save, Langston again retreated to seclusion, but rumors swirled about "firsthand market research" in Langstar's new-found industries and a novel magical school based on his beloved gold: "Auramancy."

To the surprise of all of Valoran, Langston soon submitted his personal application to the League of Legends.

"Every day is a red letter day with Langstar!" --Langstar Incorporated's famous marketing tagline

The Tips

Tips for Langston: -Managing your money is important for Langston's playstyle. Try not to spend beyond your expense account unless the Red Letter Day will change the fight. -Be careful when buying items -- your on-hand gold influences the power of Firesale. -Supply Chain Management can redistribute gold to teammates who have fallen behind.

Tips against Langston: -Langston is a manager, not a worker. He can't invest in himself, so catching him alone can score you an easy kill. -If Langston seems behind on items, he might be saving up for a devastating Firesale. -Try to punish Langston's investment partner when they go for minion kills in lane. This will hurt Langston's own gold income and thus his spell base.

The Quotes

On Champion Selection: "Just sign on the dotted line, Summoner."

Movement: "Shrewd. I like it." "Always read the fine print." "Time is money, Summoner." "In the pursuit of profit!" "Have you considered a career with Langstar Incorporated?" "That seems expedient." "I'm not used to this much exercise!" "Transportation is vital to any business." "Hear that? Money's calling." "This will be mutually beneficial. ...For us, anyway."

Attacking: "An excellent opportunity." "Now, to crush the competition." "I don't merge. I acquire." "All that glitters... well, you know." "Their cost of living just shot up." "They should've joined me when they could." "Huh. This is fun, isn't it?" "All debts come due."

Jokes: Langston grandly raises his arms -- then scratches his chin, pondering. "Yes, I do like golden showers. ...With coins. What were you thinking?" "They say I have the golden touch! ...I wonder if I can make that literal." "How to win friends and influence people... I guess make a bunch of money."

Taunts: Langston reaches into his gold-lined briefcase and reads from a piece of paper inside. "Every day is a red letter day with -- oh. I guess not for you." "This savage beating is proudly brought to you by Langstar Incorporated." "Langstar Incorporated is not responsible for any injury, illness, or death resulting from your lack of skill." "Huh. According to this model, you're deep in the red."

Dance: Langston reaches into his briefcase and "makes it rain" golden coins, then waves his hand to siphon them back into the briefcase.

Laugh: Calculated, subdued, and slightly nerdy.

On casting Market Surge: "Buy, buy, buy!" "Because you're worth it." "Product placement!"

On casting Market Crash: "Feeling heavy?" "Sell, sell, sell!" "Go ahead. Panic."

On casting High-Yield Investment: "Time for a joint venture!" "Scratch my back..." "Promotion time!" "Give 'em hell, kid."

On casting Firesale: "Everything! Must! Go!" "Money is power." "Pick it up. I dare you." (near teammate) "Okay, they're all yours." "All sales are final."

On casting Supply Chain Management (first; second; third casts) "Here's your salary; dividend; and a little bonus from me." "Keep it moving!; Clock is ticking!; Don't punch out yet!" "Overtime!; Overtime!; Overtime!"

On death: "Guess this project... went south." "Too late to buy immortality?" "Demand... exceeded... supply."

On purchase: "Be glad I didn't buy the whole shop." "Why can't I bring my own gold?" "This is an exclusive contract, right?"

Thank you for reading. Please leave your comments below!

EDIT 1: Skin idea: "Dapper Langston," making him look like the Monopoly man. Obvious, but still fun.