A Shadow on the Horizon

Fasmodey··21 votes·3,399 views

http://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/LOL_CMS_98_Article_06.jpg

We have a bunch of new champions in various stages of development. I’m not going to go over all of the champions in production (spoilers), just the one that has been infesting my mind lately — a new carry champion that we think will perform well in the jungle. After Ivern, we wanted to try our hand at a more aggressive, damage-focused champion that should feel at home in the jungle. They will also be our first transformation champion since Gnar, but this take on transformation will be unlike any champion we have ever made. I don’t want to say much more than that for now, but keep an eye out for more info soon.

New champion is a ''they''. Whch means we will have a duo characterized champion like Kindred again.

72 Comments

HalfTangible30 votes

'They' can also be a gender neutral singular pronoun, so... make of that what you will.

Meep Man5 votes

Well, on a very technical and correct standpoint, it can't. You should say 'He or she' when talking about someone with a gender neutral pronoun. They is not actually correct by standard English language. However, many have begun to use 'They' as such, so it may be officially made to become a gender neutral singular pronoun. And when I say official, I mean college professors and such will agree with such use of the word.

DrCyanide10 votes

However, many have begun to use 'They' as such, so it may be officially made to become a gender neutral singular pronoun.

How recently did that happen, because I'm pretty sure I've grown up with "they" being usable for both groups or as a gender neutral pronoun, which would mean that started taking place almost 30 years ago.

Meep Man3 votes

I'm talking super technical. My college teacher taught me that and I haven't forgotten it. But, as in recently, I'm talking relative. How long ago was American English invented?

DrCyanide3 votes

Relative to the age of the earth, a blink of an eye. Relative to the digital age, eons ago.

The history of languages is one of those things that can and will drive you nuts if you look too much into it, there's too much changing and flipping around. At this point I'd just settle for "literally" maintaining it's meaning as oppose to becoming a synonym for "figuratively".

Sanctimonious1 votes

Recently in college. I believe the actual correct term in english historically would be "He." In a modern context, "They" is being used because scholars apparently dislike "sexist" language. Unaware of specifics, this is just what i was taught.

KuroCaliber11 votes

I believe it's they as a gender neutral pronoun actually.

Fasmodey2 votes

Ah, okay. Did not know that. Though I'm happier because I feel like a singular champion means a more defined, explored character.

Wolf of Kindred was a failure IMO.

SpecterVonBaren2 votes

That wasn't due to them being two entities though, Riot just gave them a boring kit that's too reliant on numbers instead of actual gameplay.

GreenLore9 votes

Honestly I have to say my first thought when I saw that picture was "Darkin". When I read the description I thought "Darkin weapon that hasn't overtaken its host".

I mean that eye looks like it is part of something metallic to me and that guy from the Vastaya lore did call the darkin living weapons,so maybe there is something to that theory after all.

Thorgram4 votes

+1.

This or Void champ. The other clue we have is "Shadow over the Horizon". So this is definitely some kind of "bad champion".

"Infesting the mind" can refer to Varus bow or Malhazar visions...But i really hope it's a Darkin :D

Krabohod1 votes

Why not Baccal. I think those were mentioned for a reason.

Also, cause Baccal are abominations of Ascension ritual they are in some abomination-animal form. And eye have this feeling to it.

GreenLore1 votes

Mostly because the eye looks like it is part of something inorganic. I dunno if its just me,but it looks like it is surrounded by metal or something like that. And while the Baccai are abominations,they should still be rather organic.

But who knows? I'm just saying that I first thought about Darkins when I saw that picture,not that it can't be something else.

Sukishoo7 votes

No, pretty sure the THEY is used here to hide the gender of said champion until the official reveal.

Leyin1 votes

why not it? or just "the champion"?

Sukishoo5 votes

Cause it's just what they chose to use for this instance?

"It" would make the champion sound more like some kind of creature anyway, which it could very well be since this is going to be another kind of transformation shapeshifter. Saying "the champion" all the time is a lot to type and looks weird in most context.

Plus, They sounds better when using a gender neutral singular pronoun.

The Trent1 votes

{quoted}

No, pretty sure the THEY is used here to hide the gender of said champion until the official reveal.

Pretty sure that it's a void champ, pretty sure void champs don't really have genders. The only one with a gender is Rek'sai, and they only call her a she, she's probably not actually a she.

KoKoboto4 votes

No I think she is actually a female because she is Queen of the Xer'Sai...

The Trent1 votes

{quoted}

No I think she is actually a female because she is Queen of the Xer'Sai...

pretty sure thats what we call reksai tho. In the Void they don't call Reksai a she.

Illâoi Evê Siôn4 votes

"They" probably just means "he or she".

Valor Bot4 votes

Posted this on /r/LeagueofLegends but I thought I'd take a shot at it here too:

The first transformation champion to ever be released was Nidalee back in 2009. It's been a little over seven years since then, and in that time Riot's released five other transformation champions to date (Shyvana, Jayce, Elise, Quinn, Gnar), with one of them sadly even losing their transformation within the same period of time (#bringbackValor).

Getting to the point, I'd love to read an article written by DanielZKlein or Reav3 discussing the lessons they've learned from each transformation champion, and how they're applying those lessons to the next new champion in League. It's a really interesting and unique mechanic that's known to bring a lot of balance headaches, so a bit of insight as to what the goals were with each transformation champion along with what what worked and what didn't would be a really awesome and insightful read.

Ralanr3 votes

And aggressive transformation champion that is home in the jungle.

Probably won't be that female assassin yordle I hope for.

Chembaron Yamada7 votes

I expect it to be an assassin. We didn't have one for quite some time. Female yordle seems a bit unlikely, though.

Too bad, we really need more Yordle girls.

Placentas2 votes

RIP Meglings

TeCoolMage1 votes

AP tristana

and katarina :^)

Skins Project1 votes

YOU!

TeCoolMage1 votes

ME?

Skins Project1 votes

YOU!

Forbidden Siren3 votes

Hmm... I'm hoping it's a Watcher. There was a concept art of the Watcher that was released in an artbook awhile back.

https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/leagueoflegends/images/1/18/Watchers_concept.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160101182534

TeCoolMage1 votes

looks like lissandra's grandmother

Meep Man1 votes

That would be a nice surprise instead of just, you know, ANOTHER random ass Void creature. Especially since Lissandra is a little short in power in the Freljord war. All she has is Trundle.

CHASE the ENDER1 votes

YAAAAASSSSSSSSS

those could be the stages of watcher evolution. the "Transformation" could be be that you grow from one form to a stronger one ( Right to left)

Voidzilla3 votes

Let the speculation commence:

Maybe because I'm heavily biased towards this faction, but I like to think that it's something Void related. The eye reminds me of Velkoz as well item 3513, acquired from killing the Void-warped Rift Herald. Riot has done fairly well with diction when they tease new content, especially Champions, and the specific word "infesting" pops out. The Void has shown an ability to "infest" others, whether that be the aforementioned Rift Herald, Malzahar 's mind, and AurelionSol's story where he described the land around a Void portal becoming distorted and malformed. On top of that, an archetype that hasn't yet made its way into this game that a fair amount of people have been wanting is a "Parasite Champion". Since parasites are mostly associated with insects and the like, the Void's aesthetics and effects make it the most suitable to lending itself to a parasitic character. The teaser also said this new Champ will introduce a brand new transformation mechanic - maybe it's not simply shapeshifting like Nidalee or Gnar, but taking over a host body (perhaps a jungle monster or even another Champion). Or perhaps it becomes an amalgamation of different bodies, where it collects biomass and turns into something based on the biomass collected. Then there's the title "A Shadow on the Horizon". There are several things in Runeterra that can be associated with darkness and shadows, the Void included. But with "horizon", that implies something not only in the distance, but something that'll bring a new dawn/dusk. If considering dawn/dusk in a more metaphorical sense, particularly a new age, then the Void can fit that bill. Every faction wants to change the world, sure, but the Void is the most drastic, as from what we can guess it wants to cause the extinction of this dimension by consuming it, turning it into an extension of the Void (as well as the Void itself being the most "distant" of anything we have, coming from an entirely different plane and whatnot). Thus, a new age for Runeterra, a "Void Age" if you will. With the word horizon I'm also just reminded of "event horizon", which is the edge of a blackhole and with blackholes theorized to be gateways to other dimensions/universes. A little far-fetched, admittedly, but as said, Riot's choice of words when doing teasers has been pretty clever, so why not try to dissect what they're implying.

I could be wrong of course, and this is just the ramblings of a crazy Void-fanatic. Still, it's fun to speculate, and that whole article was interesting. I always look forward to new champ-content, whether that be entirely new characters or gameplay updates.

Łast ßreath2 votes

Theory about this new champion:

This champion could be a manaless champion, or a new form of stamina. Since it is (to me) 99% impossible that its transformation could be like a champion that already exists, like Gnar with his Rage, Renekton or Tryndamere ;

This champion could transform by buying an item with some exclusive currency to the champion, like Gangplank and his Silver Serpents (to buy item 3903 or other things like that) Or it could transform by killing minions, jungle camps, drakes, nashor etc, red-buff, blue-buff and so on.. (May be a little weird tho :D)

According to

"This champion could transform by buying an item with some exclusive currency"

I believe the champion could win this currency by killing champions, getting assists, killing jungle camps, killing minions using a certain spell...

EDIT: Got an other idea, if this champion could transform into some form of "spirit" and go into the bodies of other champions in the game to control them (Yes it would be completely broken if it is not well balanced)

Well, that's all for my theories, can't go further since I am tired, sorry if my grammar is crap. Feel free to answer to this comment to give me better theories, to correct me and giving ideas...

ModCaptainMårvelous2 votes

Pretty sure it's gonna be Lifestealer or similar to lifestealer.

69469238DEL11 votes

Why is your name yellow?

TeCoolMage1 votes

cus he a speshul boi

Leyin1 votes

but with a tranformation like gnat , maybe something like a "normal person" that get after ulting , getting kills ,or sometinhg else swap the body with a demon like the typical angel/demon combo ?

Fasmodey2 votes

If you ask my opinion, I would say next champion(s) is/are either a voidborn or a kumungu monster, based on Reav4's say of ''infesting''. Because, infesting is something that Void does, and the eye looks like it belongs to a lizard like champion, which goes to Kumungu IMO. And we did not have a Kumungu champion since Zyra.

CHASE the ENDER1 votes

#ZergOvermind

Fasmodey1 votes

I feel like a Frozen Watcher would be mage.

Arakadia2 votes

You'd think Katarina would be AD. And Thresh would be damage or tank, but not helping allies. And Illaoi would be AP based off visuals, or a mage based off lore. Malphite Seems like he would be AD.

I understand you, and I would agree if not for the possibility we have a watcher next, but it's not impossible.

Fasmodey2 votes

That's right.

And I would give it even more chance since Riot Facebook has changed its cover picture to Howling Abyss art recently.

CHASE the ENDER1 votes

Also a while back there was concept art for the watchers and some looked pretty burly, like they could backhand a jungle creep no problem

O Fallen Scholar1 votes

Please don't be another alien man. We have so many already. And for the love of god no more birds. But by the looks of it we get another "alienish" champion. FeelsBadMan.

GreenLore1 votes

And what do you want instead? A normal human or what?Its not like we don't have a lot of these already Akali Annie Ashe Caitlyn Darius Jayce Garen Katarina Jinx Lucian MissFortune Riven Quinn Olaf Tryndamere TwistedFate Yasuo Zed

Shadowkirby142 votes

Don't forget Draven Ekko Ezreal Fiora Gangplank Gragas Graves Illaoi Irelia JarvanIV Jhin Karma Leblanc LeeSin Lux MasterYi Sejuani Shen Singed Sivir Sona Syndra Swain Taliyah Talon Vayne Vi XinZhao

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