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You know what, this board is for discussion so I'm gonna be brutally honest

Malicious Metal·7/18/2018, 4:31:58 AM·8 votes·2,744 views

I'm very disappointed with Akali's character, or at least what is displayed in her Voiceover.

I was expecting a breath of fresh air with her being no longer affiliated, or at least officially, with the Kinkou Order. Having her do her own thing was a very interesting approach to it, giving us a middle ground between the very traditional ways of Shen/Kinkou and the more pragmatic and frankly, ruthless ways of Zed and his own Order.

This was the opportunity of providing some great shades of gray to humanize both sides and allowing us to see the merits to both philosophies through the eyes of someone who had seen both, and taken those teachings they deemed important. Somewhat of a pick and choose approach to a Ninja code.

Instead we get what I dreaded; Yet another rebellious youth character that's all about "Screw Masters! I'm doing this MY way!" It's boring, we've seen it a million times.

And it just feels like reaching for the low hanging fruit.

We could have gotten a more nuanced view of the inner workings of the Ninja orders and how Ionia's recovering from so much turmoil; the Noxian Invasion, the culling of the Kinkou, Jhin and the unease truce between Shen and Zed. But what we got is some Ninja dudette who just murders folk in dark alleys and does't seem to have a code of her own.

Just you know, the whole "I gotta kill all those who oppose me" attitude that's so overused in modern media.

I'm sad, not because I think the rework is a failure, but because it's a wasted opportunity for greater narrative and new, refreshing character archetypes.

9 Comments

Pale Mask7/18/2018, 4:36:47 AM3 votes

I'm neither surprised nor disappointed. Akali's VO is wasted potential, yes, but it was fairly predictable that this would be the route they'll go with the rework. Recent champion updates have been similar in terms of character.

What I'm disappointed with is that Kegan won't be a champion. Brand's updated lore and upcoming event have completely overshadowed Akali for me. Kalan and Syndra are also more interesting than she is.

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOO7/18/2018, 5:18:10 AM3 votes

I think her color story might reveal some stuff but who know. My reading of Akali’s bio makes me think of a character stripping the method from the tradition. Alkali represents an Ionian who has had their faith broken in magic. Her new moveset indicates that she prefers the tools of the trade to the mystic or shadow arts.

The criticism that Akali will “kill all that oppose her” is inaccurate. After all, Akali is an assassin, she will kill whom she believes she has to kill. She may be targeting some of the unsavory types looking to profit from the chaos.

All in all however, the archetype of the frustrated youth sticks because it’s real. Also, I cannot convince you to change your mind on one character. I’m just asking you to not let opinions (of what you believe could have been) color your discussion.

Ebonmaw Dragon7/18/2018, 4:51:05 AM1 votes

We havent heard the full VO, the same happened with Aatrox, Riot already said that there are more Voice Lines. Lets wait for the whole thing.

Ben O Nights7/18/2018, 8:09:44 AM1 votes

i allways thought the kinkou and zed's orginisation as a somewhat equivalent of the jedi and sith. The jedi preach order and balance the sith chaos. I allways hoped they go for a disillusioned character who found out that the balance shen preaches isn't actual balance since that requires chaos and order. I thught the sentence "Symetry an ALL things." was such a nice answer to shens stiff teachings.

I hope the bio will elaborate on that.