Riot - A lot of people have been asking for an old woman champion...

Oleandervine·7/17/2016, 2:09:22 AM·8 votes·4,115 views

And there have been nay sayers here on the boards shooting it down. But this is a huge possibility and it can work. She can have a rich, detailed story and be a powerful champion in her own right. Hell, Overwatch has beaten you guys to the punch with its first new hero, Ana Amari. http://s3wc3.goplay.com/wysiwyg/2016/07/12/Overwatch-ana-amari-skin.jpg Ana Amari, for those unaware, is a soon to be released hero for Overwatch. Rather than let her age be a hindrance or the hinge of her character (as so many of the nay sayers seem to think when people ask for types of characters), she just happens to be old. She is Pharah's mother. https://blzgdapipro-a.akamaihd.net/media/thumbnail/pharah-gameplay.jpg Ana has a rich, and very fleshed out story. She's an older woamn, in her 60s, and she cares deeply for her daughter. However, while family drives her and is sort of linked to her age, that is the extent of it. Her main story and lore are based on the fact that she has unfinished business with Widowmaker and that she is taking up arms again to better protect her country and daughter. For all of those out there who blast people when they ask for a character of a certain type (ex, an old woman, a black woman, etc), a character like Ana Amari is who they are asking for, someone who's not a trope, who's defining characteristic may be their age, but the meat and depth of their character is not at all based on that. Ana is the quintessential example of characterization that League should strive for when creating diversity in the lore of the roster.

28 Comments

Sharjo7/17/2016, 2:18:01 AM9 votes

Pretty sure Riot doesn't need convincing considering they've been going hard on the "more diverse and varied cast of characters" in recent times. It's just about having the right opportunity for it.

Ebonmaw Dragon7/17/2016, 2:21:50 AM4 votes

To be fair, she doesnt seems to be that old... She doesn't even have wrinkles on her face.

Zilean this is an old person, not that woman.

UomoAfide7/18/2016, 12:39:35 PM3 votes

Personally i'd really enjoy the idea of a grandma-like Yordle character

Wolfram Oxford7/17/2016, 2:18:52 AM3 votes

Nobody cares about an "old lady champion", who the fuck would actually care? Whats so special and unique about adding in an old lady? Like, if I asked for the flying spaghetti monster and got a hand full of other people to ask for it, that wouldn't mean its a good idea.

EmittingXs7/17/2016, 3:07:23 AM2 votes

Lissandra says hi by the way...

SylvanasWrunner7/17/2016, 4:39:09 AM1 votes

Leblanc It's day 1000000000000000000 and she's still deceiving us....

ItsOrval7/17/2016, 4:58:17 AM1 votes

I havent seen one person ask for an elderly lady to be a champion in LoL. So idk where you got that 'a lot' from. Id rather have good looking champs rather than an ugly one like Urgot. Who wants to play ugly champs? Urgot

FloRaider427/17/2016, 3:20:46 PM1 votes

Rather than let her age be a hindrance or the hinge of her character, she just happens to be old.

Pardon If I am wrong, but from most "we need an old lady champion" posts I get the feeling they want an old lady champion that is an old lady. Most of the time they ask for old shriveled hags or grandmas and whenever someone points out that Riot will probably only ever make such a champion, when they find a kit or theme where the champion can just happen to be old, they will get downvoted or ignored.

Btw Ana doesn't feel that old to me (apart from lore she has no real indicator she is very old). At least Reinhardt has problems with his back and relies on an Exo-suit, whereas Ana is very fit for her age.

Flamingo Tango7/18/2016, 3:11:35 AM1 votes

But isn't Kalista an old woman? Undead, but...

Are you talking about a middle aged cool lady?

Elite4Runner7/17/2016, 2:37:37 AM1 votes

I think the problem with making champions who is portrayed as 'old' in League of Legends is that age is more often portrayed by the model, movement, strengths, .. vs Overwatch, where age can be portrayed by more subtle features and backstory.

For example, visually the 'oldest' champion is Zilean. He has big crazy hair and long facial hair, which is intended to clearly show color. He wears large baggy clothing to portray him as a scholar. He also moves with assistance of a chair or some kind of support, which portrays physical enfeeblement.

Without these characteristics all you have is the splash art, voice overs, and the backstory (which is really not all that strong in League of Legends)

To simply attempt to portray an 'old' champion without these could be just as much as saying someone like "Nidalee is old" but you wouldn't actually be able to tell.

I used Nidalee because I like the idea of her being a "cougar" .... get it ; )