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Skin/Champion Request to Honor a Friend

Vivid Silence·9/4/2019, 7:25:37 AM·31 votes·11,614 views

Hello! I initially contacted support because I wasn't sure where this would go, but Ilias Alhazred redirected me here (he was really nice and understanding though). So, here's the second attempt. Hopefully this is the correct avenue for this now.

I used to work at a restaurant in Montana. My coworkers there were the ones who got me into league. I had learned to play from an ex previously, but he was horrible to play with and I'm pretty sure he was a toxic player--every game I played with him made me more and more sure of this. I heard my coworkers talking about league once and told them that I thought I would enjoy it, but the person who taught me sucked any possibility of enjoyment out of it. Soon thereafter, I had joined The Flavor Liberators, and we would play frequently after work. They taught me how to play and it became really fun for me. When I wanted to play league, I'd send out a text for it saying "Do you want to liberate some flavors?" and I even have a Siri shortcut that triggers this when I say, "Summon the Flavor Liberators!" The group was myself, Jacob, Bob, James, and Greg. Jacob was about my skill level, while Bob, James, and Greg took on the task of teaching us how to play.

Greg had recently turned 18. He had worked at that restaurant for over 2 years as a dishwasher and had dropped out of high school around the time he started. I don't know his full story, but I know that it was just him and his dad. He would put up this wall of being sarcastic and emotionless, but if you were falling behind, he would clean the grill for you, or start frying chips, or get more 1/4 pans out when you weren't looking. He would never take credit for it, and half the time you thought you were so delirious from the long shift that you forgot that you did it yourself. He was everyone's adopted little brother, basically. In the summer, we would take him out fishing and I hosted campfires with s'mores and hotdogs in my backyard since I was close to the restaurant.

One day I was giving Greg and James a ride home (they were like 3 blocks from each other and neither had a car), and we were going to meet on league after. I dropped Greg off, then James, and returned home to walk my dog before logging on. When I got back to the apartment, I picked up my phone from the counter to see 6 or 7 missed texts from James--panicked and saying he needed a favor, then devolving into "Don't get on Discord... Will explain later, just don't get on tonight." I thought he was having a family emergency or something. I figured I would talk to him the next day. One hour before the end of my next shift he came in looking awful. He had obviously been crying. James was 22 at the time and he was one of the most thick-skinned people I had ever met. I thought it had to be worse than I had thought if it made him cry this much. He pulled me into the office along with my GM and that's when he told me that Greg committed suicide. When I was walking Atticus, he had logged onto Discord and was in the voice chat with Greg waiting for me to get online, when Greg started saying worrisome things. Greg had a past history of depression. I had talked to him maybe a month prior about how he could always talk to me if he needed, or--if he didn't want to talk to me--he could talk to James because you could just tell he looked up to James like an older brother and absolutely idolized him. Anyway, James wanted to text me so I could call the police and basically he wanted to convince Greg to walk to a pizza shop and get some food, but have me call police so there would be officers waiting how could take him to the hospital to be put on suicide watch. He didn't want to make the call himself, because there was really no way to do this without alerting Greg to the fact that he was trying to get professional help. However, Greg was in a really dark place in those moments and James heard a gunshot. Then Greg wasn't responding to him. He ran to his house, found the door unlocked, and discovered that Greg had shot himself in the head with his fathers gun. His dad worked nights so he wasn't home at the time. That's when he told me not to get on Discord, since the computer was part of a crime scene and couldn't be turned off until the body was moved. So if I were to log on I would have heard the sound of policemen at the scene.

It has been just over a year since the incident. Most of us left the restaurant in the months following because it was just really hard without Greg there. But we have got to the point where we can share happy memories instead of just crying when someone mentions his name.

So, why am I telling you this? Well, every time I log onto league, I see his username--always grayed out and offline. As weird as it may seem, I am terrified for when that inevitably expires. I don't know how long it takes for an account to be purged due to inactivity, but I imagine he must be getting close. I want a way to preserve his memory somehow here since some of my happiest memories were when he was teaching me league along with Bob and James... Usually as the jungler so he could swoop in and save the day when my lane started falling behind because I was standing in a minion wave or way too close to the enemy team because I didn't have a gauge for these things yet. I was wondering if you could make a champion that has some characteristics of him--maybe his passive grants teammates within range just a little more vision because Greg always brightened everyones day. Or just making a skin for one of his favorite champions, like Warwick. Kind of like Pizza Delivery Sivir, he could be a dishwasher, grill cook, or burrito roller at some capacity. I know Dark Star Cho'Gath donated some money to charity or something for the first week or so of release. I thought maybe this skin could have a similar arrangement with funds going to suicide prevention.

I know this is probably an odd request, but I had to give it a shot. It took me a long time to play League after Greg's death, but since I've started again, I find some comfort in his profile still being there. But I know that can't last forever and I just wanted to try to do something to honor him on a game where we have spent so many nights... It won't bring him back, but maybe somewhere he'll be smiling.

Thank you for your time!

9 Comments

4 Step Cadence9/4/2019, 8:40:08 AM7 votes

Well, first off all, take a screenshot of his name/profile if you haven't already so you don't lose it when his account gets purged.

Second of all, that skin is totally possible to make for the Culinary Masters skin line, but its mostly up to Riot whether or not they want to do it. I think the skins that have personal touches, like Dark Star Cho'Gath and I think Jaximus, were made for/in collaboration with cancer patients through Make-A-Wish, so I'm not sure if they'd do something like that for a victim of suicide.

But, you never know. There are plenty of nice Rioters who visit the boards frequently, some more chatty than others, but I'm sure someone on the skins team might see this and bring it up for next year's skins(this years skins have already been scheduled/planned out, sadly). With luck, we might see this skin next year.

The champion though, unfortunately, I'm not sure if they could or would do, since champions are much more complicated in their creation than skins are. They can take up to a year to make, and next year's champions are already being developed as we speak(as confirmed by Reav3), so we likely wouldn't see the Greg champion for a long time. Also, if you want them to donate the profits to charity/suicide prevention, a champion is the wrong way to go since most people buy them with BE, so there wouldn't be any actual profits to donate.

So, yeah, the skin is far more likely, as its easier to make and would allow them to actually make donations to charity with the profits from it.

Hopefully this happens in some way, though. Even if it doesn't though, maybe Riot will place some form of protection on your friend's account so that it never goes away so that you'll at least still have that.

But fuck, man. Wasn't expecting to cry tonight.

Alecto Dirae9/4/2019, 2:04:33 PM2 votes

Hey, I read your post and it’s a really nice idea. Not only a skin for your friend but for everyone struggling with issues relating to suicide. Though it sounds like you have a lot of friends already, I’d be happy to play league together if you will have me. Or someone to just talk to. Just let me know.

Jesi Oni9/4/2019, 2:22:47 PM2 votes

Doubt they will do that. Its not first and not last board about dead player and I remember them doing skin only once (correct me if there was more).

Gladiator Jax for some cancer sick gamer.

Not to mention that this is not a uplifting story with someone that enjoyed life and fought for it. Its a guy that killed himself... hardly a good marketing subject and like people on boards like to speak - its not charity company ( now less than ever ).

You can try tho~ Better than doing nothing 😅

Sir Gusi9/4/2019, 8:22:29 PM2 votes

Hey not a bad idea to make a champ who struggles with depression in their lore but still has a heart of gold just... Wow that story made me cry depression is a big issue that plagues the modern world and suicide is really bad and effects all the people that cared so much for that person I have attempted suicide about 8 months ago took a ton of sleeping pills painkillers etc. Didn't know what to take too kill myself and I woke up covered in blood and vomit with my grandmother crying over me and I then realized the pain that it can cause to people that care about you. I believe he's in a better place smiling down on you for still remembering him and trying to honour him like this it's beautiful to see someone care so much... But I'm sorry I don't think Riot gives a damb what happens to people the only care about making money but I hope they listen. Take care of your heart not many people are so selfless people like you give me hope.

Weeb Guardian9/4/2019, 9:11:52 PM1 votes

I feel very sorry for you and your friends, especially the one you lost to suicide...

And i don't think making a skin specifically for Greg is a good idea, as stuff like this happens everyday, HOWEVER, i think that it would be a great idea for riot to make a skin for which the income specifically goes to suicide prevention, as it is really something that needs more funding.

And although it would probably not be tinted towards him, it would be a great thing to remember, that they finally did something like this for people like Greg.

Flashes9/4/2019, 9:24:59 PM1 votes

That's so sad! Greg seemed like such a nice guy. I really hope a Rioter sees this and decides to make your request come true!

I personally struggled with suicidal thoughts and depression (still on meds), so I feel that this was a terrible tragedy.

For all of you still struggling with depression, or know someone struggling with depression, here are the most important numbers to help in a crisis

EMERGENCY: ALWAYS CALL 911. 911 has many trained professionals who may be able to save the life of someone who attempted suicide. Remember, just because someone is unresponsive does NOT mean that it is too late, and the faster you call 911, the higher the chance that someone is still alive. If you yourself ever try to commit suicide and suddenly panic last minute, if possible, dial 911 to send paramedics to your location. It might save your life.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-8255. It should be open 24/7, and is always there for you if you need someone to listen to you, talk to you, or help you get out of a suicidal slump. This is also a good number to call if you're concerned about a friend, family member, or someone else you suspect may be in danger of taking their own life.

Other things you can do are to talk to your local health centers about longer term therapy and treatment for depressive symptoms and thoughts, or to enroll yourself to a psychiatrist for an evaluation.

Common stereotypes like "Men don't need ask for help" or "Soldiers don't need therapy" aren't true. If you feel pressured by stereotypes of any kind, know that people are willing to help you regardless of your gender, and needing help doesn't make you weak. Soldiers, if you need help and call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline above, there is a line dedicated specifically for soldiers. Just press 1 when you hear the prompts.

Please please please stay safe. I know League Boards, League the game itself, and reality can be toxic and cruel. Take steps to help prevent that negativity from overwhelming you please!

CyanSolution2479/5/2019, 12:37:21 AM1 votes

This post made me tear up, I hope riot notices and does something to honor your late friend.

General Esdeath 9/5/2019, 5:25:41 AM1 votes

I'm sorry for your loss, if it makes you feel any better, accounts aren't purged for inactivity (as far as I know), names can be taken but as long as nobody touches his name it'll be there forever.