Boards›Story, Art, & Sound

Totemic Maokai VU complaint/suggestion.

Grouchy Poro·11/14/2014, 7:15:18 PM·19 votes·5,276 views

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/api/embedly/1/image/resize?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Lxmx_uAEkX0%2FVGE7IyZ5ZeI%2FAAAAAAAAdBY%2Fa-KL8Xx67b0%2Fs1600%2Ftotem1.jpg&key=a45e967db0914c7fb472fd4381e6c85b&width=425

First, I'm sorry if this is the wrong forum to post this on but I think Champion skins are art and the new Totemic Maokai is misrepresented. In British Columbia, Canada, totem poles are a part of the culture here and while the old skin fit the bill this new one is a little offensive in my eyes. Totemic Maokai is now Tiki Maokai the way I see it and I believe something should be done to either change the name or work on the model and colors. There is a vast difference in the cultural designs and it's disappointing to see 'totemic' chalked up as carved, exaggerated faces on wood. The only thing still representing an actual totem pole is the sapling now, still representing a thunder bird (a common figure on totem poles). I'd like something to be done as I just feel it's offensive in a way, and I don't mean to be the cultural kill joy but the subject bothers me. Maybe my own knowledge on the difference between the two isn't as deep as some of Riot's designers and if this is the case please inform me where the inspiration came from but otherwise it's upsetting to see such a difference glazed over.

Skin Spotlight video link

If anyone knows a way to let Riot know this directly I'd appreciate it. I feel it's something that should be brought to their attention.

EDIT: I guess I can see the whole totem mash up they might have been going for now that I can see a few more angles of things. Ya, the old one was more representative of a totem pole as evident by the ones in the splash art and I liked it but this new one makes enough sense. It's got a whole bunch of totems, not just a totem pole, and while I would love some work on the color palette to better match the original I guess the model is okay. The face still seems kinda big and a touch goofy though.

TLDR: I think the colors would look better if they matched the original better, and the face looks a little to big and goofy but I suppose the change is alright. Just very different from the original concept.

17 Comments

Split Push Salvi11/14/2014, 7:46:43 PM6 votes

Hey Rooster. I have a feeling that the skin change is partly due to the popularity of the game in Asian cultures and the ownership by Tencent. I personally love the skin and spent some time researching the origin of the totem pole. From what I found they actually do originate in Asia, with bright colors and exaggerated features being present. I could be completely wrong on this and my findings are misleading, but that is what I have been able to dig up. When I get to my computer I'll find the stuff in my history.

On a second note, Maokai would never ever let an indian tribe carve him into a traditional totem pole and in the skins new form it looks more like he grew into the shape of one rather than being "carved". In the end, the new skin keeps more to the identity of the champion instead of to the tradition: while still paying homage to the inspiration through the thunderbird sapling.

Do you want to see twisted? Maokai

Mujo11/14/2014, 7:52:09 PM6 votes

Totem; (N): A natural object or animal believed by a particular society to have spiritual significance and adopted by it as an emblem. And as such, totemic is anything resembling the characteristics of a totem or based on Totemism. So, Totemic Maokai is solely supposed to be a representation of a totem. A Totem =/= Totem pole, which is closer to what you're thinking of. The skin is called Totemic Maokai, not Totem Pole Maokai... Totemic Maokai is still representative of a totem, as it should. I've also read complaints that the update gives the skin too much of an "East Asian" vibe, however totems are also found in East Asian culture (see Korean Jangseung). Therefore, the skin update is still relevant to the totem theme that the name suggests. Yes, it's a new direction, but technically, it still fulfills the overall thematics. Just saying...

Conncept11/14/2014, 8:54:34 PM5 votes

THANK-YOU

I made this same complaint a few days ago AND NO ONE LISTENED. I'm from alaska and the original totemic maokai is clearly based more on the native tribes of northern Canada and Alaska, which I absolutely love. But they have completely changed the aesthetic in this new one to a mix of the totemic style of the eastern US and pacific islander (tiki) totems. This is awful for several reasons.

That's completely bait and switch, this isn't upgrading a skin, this is replacing it with one fulfilling a completely different aesthetic. If this goes through, this better be eligible for a zero cost refund that does not count against your three lifetime refunds, though I would greatly prefer they not make this change at all, as if they did an alaskan/canadian style totem CORRECTLY it would look much better and more unique among the games other skins than this weird hodgepodge.
Even if the change in style was a conscious decision, they didn't even do a good job on the changes. Like I said, rather than just picking a style they chose to mix two and try to retain some trace elements of the original skin, creating a 'totemic' skin that isn't even clearly totemic. My first thought upon seeing it was that he was wearing harlequin makeup, I didn't even consider that it was totemic until it was pointed out to me in the post.

Grouchy Poro11/14/2014, 7:33:57 PM4 votes

I'm thinking I should re-explain myself just a touch. I know the changes aren't too significant but it feels like the skin is misrepresenting itself. The only one looked like a tribe had carved Maokai to look like a totem pole but the new one reminds me of a tiki elemental from something like crash bandicoot. It just needs some work is all I'm trying to say, since it seems to currently be having a bit of an identity crisis. Opinions and comments are appreciated.

Pyrrasu11/15/2014, 6:34:18 AM4 votes

I'm really not a fan of them completely redesigning this skin, and I agree that the new face is too goofy.

HitsFromTheBomb11/17/2014, 2:06:07 PM2 votes

this is like the 100th thread on the mao changes youd think theyd get the hint they messed this one up ... but then again its rito ...

anyways this thing looks like a tacky tiki thing in some wanna be hawaiain place in vegas cheap and tacky

and yes they are rly trying to apeal to the asian market now , its the big one and the location of the biggest share holder so ....

AbodyHUN66611/14/2014, 9:28:34 PM2 votes

I just think the old one looked a lot more badass, especially his arm with it's painted eyes. Overall I like the new maokai, but this and his Charred skin are a downgrade. Maybe his Q could use more ground-shattering particles too.

Flawless Fetus11/15/2014, 7:11:45 AM2 votes

He needs to remain black. The only reason I own this skin, and I doubt I'm the only one, was bc of it's dark appearance. Now mao's model is fine, but the color scheme is way off imo.

kyler943712/12/2014, 5:14:29 AM1 votes

The way I see it is they have three choices. Refund the people who like the old one. Re name the skin to better fit its look. Or keep this one and re name it and bring back the old one. I personally did not like the old one and would never have bought it if it didn't get an update, I really like the new version of it and his head is my favorite part.

Grouchy Poro11/14/2014, 9:45:01 PM1 votes

I guess I can see the whole totem mash up they might have been going for now that I can see a few more angles of things. Ya, the old one was more representative of a totem pole as evident by the ones in the splash art and I liked it but this new one makes enough sense. It's got a whole bunch of totems, not just a totem pole, and while I would love some work on the color palette to better match the original I guess the model is okay. The face still seems kinda big and a touch goofy though.

BabattKhan11/14/2014, 11:59:22 PM1 votes

I just think that the combination of brighter colors and cartoonier faces on his "shield" arm and self make the reworked skin look silly. I just prefer the skin's old look.

Samflash311/15/2014, 1:18:08 AM1 votes

The top of old Totemic Maokai looked gross.And not many skins make my stomach turn. New Maokai looks so festive and goofy that it is actually quite cool.

TL:DR - New Maokai is awesome.

rising son11/17/2014, 9:46:34 AM1 votes

i always thought totemic maokai was meant to be 'tiki'. this was actually the first skin i ever purchased. i loved his 'cute' weirdness stomping around the rift, throwing pikmin, and looking quite cuddly ( he would make a great plushie). but the new model makes him more tall lean and hunchback, which i guess more resembles a real tree, but its ugly lol. and, the new totemic skin face does wrap around a bit too much imo, and he looks almost demonic with horns, which i don't get. i think the intention was and support that the skin is tiki and not native american, but updated totemic doesn't look quite right still imo.