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@KateyKhaos: I think we need to discuss a way to make skins for champions like Xin more interesting

5G8Nri0B54·2/24/2015, 11:24:06 PM·2 votes·2,383 views

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-pFBOoUEAAA_ez.jpg

Not just Xin. Wukong, Yi, Vayne,and even Pantheon.

Their skins can look nice at times, but for the most part, they almost always come off as lack luster compared to skins for champions with more interesting kits.

I mean, if you look at Wukong's "best" skin recently released, it's nothing more than a glowy Green Wukong with a new recall animation and probably sound effects. There's only so much you can do for a champion who begins and ends with "hitting enemy with a stick".

Now I see Secret Agent Xin Zhao, and...while he theoretically does fit the criteria for "975"-tier. However, he's also clearly inferior to the "520"-tier Veigar skin who, while doesn't have any new recall animation or anything else, is able to express his changes with his ability particles. Plus a neat little clover wand.

What I'm asking is...is this really the extent these champions can offer in terms of skins? New voice-overs have never been the most interesting unless it's something like Primetime Draven's case which makes him Legendary. So all that's left are particles, but with Xin, Wukong, Pantheon, and Yi, they leave little to no room to work with.

What kind of ideas have floated around during the brainstorming for these such champions? Is it theoretically possible to change these champion's weapons into something wacky? Like Xin Zhao walking around jabbing people with a rocket like it's a spear (when he uses his dash, it's just him clinging onto a firing rocket). Or Vayne...umm...no idea.

PS - so why Secret Agent Xin Zhao?

4 Comments

Riotmoonstones2/25/2015, 1:41:16 AM2 votes

Hey Ginga,

This is something that comes up with particle light champions. For some champions, usually mages, it's easy to see the changes in a new skin because all of their skills are particle heavy.

Particle light champions, such as the ones you've mentioned are a bit harder to tackle in terms of making them really stand out from the base or other skins. That's not to say that it can't be done, it's more that the changes may not look as significant.

To your point of Underworld Wukong, he's got a bit of work put into him, but since he's melee, it's a bit harder to tell.

From his PBE post:

  • New model with dark armor and a new beard
  • New spectral VO processing
  • New spectral particles
  • New recall animation

If these were on a particle heavy champion, I bet they'd be a bit more noticeable.

Voice overs are sometimes an option, if it really fits with the thematic of the skin, but like you've said, that bumps the skin up to 1350 RP / 1820 RP, depending on the other bells and whistles that are added.

So, yes, we're left with particles for a 975 RP skin, and some sound effects if we're talking more in the 1350 RP range. I think making the particles stand out as much as possible would definitely help - like choosing a theme where it works well if the particles are more bright/bold.

Changing weapons has been done in the past, take Pool Party Ziggs for example. (I know, I know, it's a mage example.) It's something that could be done, however, it'd have to be done in such a way that it wouldn't affect the silhouette of the champion, if that makes sense. For example, we'd have to be careful for someone like Caitlyn, where her gun is not only iconic, but also a heavy gameplay read for knowing that there's a Caitlyn in lane.

Why Xin Zhao? Because he's Zhao, Xin Zhao. Seriously though, it's been two years since his last skin, and we thought it was time to give this guy some love (Yes, Zac and Lux are still on the list for new skins, too!)