How was Caitlin chosen for the Lunar Wraith Skin?

DeathBurst·Jan 28, 2016·4 votes·3,948 views

Hi Riot :)

I read a post from KateyChaos (I think?) recently where she explained the 3 ways skins are created for champs (having an event and looking for a champ that fits, having a product, deciding to make a skin for a champ and exploring possible themes).

Obviously, Lunar Wraith Caitlyn was in the first case, but I wonder how it was decided to use Caitlyn. Morgana seems logical, she's already a fallen angel associated with Darkness, so Lunar Wraith was kinda obvious. But why Caitlyn more than Ahri, Cassiopeia, Eve, etc. ? What guided your choice?

As a secondary question, why a wolf and a snake? I seem to remember that wolf and moon are associated in Japanese folklore, but I don't know in Chinese, and it's usually a benevolent deity. And I have absolutely no idea why a snake?

Thanks for any answer :)

7 Comments

RiotmoonstonesJan 30, 20162 votes

Heyo!

Nice to know people remember stuff I toss around about skins. ^-^

Caitlyn was chosen for a Lunar Revel skin because we felt it was an opportunity to give her another alternative fantasy. As Voidgate mentioned below, she has a good catalog off skins, but this was something that was completely different than what she already had.

Cassiopeia has a Lunar Revel skin - Jade Fang, and we felt using a snake thematic on her wasn't the coolest idea (it'd be too obvious). Same with Ahri or Warwick - not as cool as having a champion be more of a spiritual representation of these animals.

The thematic of this year's Lunar Revel was darkness v. light, so we felt these two animals - snake and wolf - were good representations.

DeathBurstJan 30, 20162 votes

Clearly, this skin is a completely different fantasy than what she has already. From this point of view it's a great success. I guess that's what surprised me, actually.

Of course, a skin need to be different from the base champ, or there isn't really a point in making a skin to begin with, but I imagined there had to be some kind of hook, connection, between the base champ and the skin concept. And I couldn't find any hook between "proud lady upholding laws and big ideals with a rifle" and "demonic darkness snake-lady".

Thanks for the clarification, and I guess my assumption was just wrong. Keep up the good work ;)

KinjishiJan 30, 20163 votes

"And I couldn't find any hook between "proud lady upholding laws and big ideals with a rifle" and "demonic darkness snake-lady"."

Wolf theme would have fit better than snake... as she can be a lone-wolf hunting her prey. Morgana comes off much more as a snake.

LindtsJan 28, 20161 votes

Could also be the fact that some champions have too many skins, or simply because they just got a new skin added to the line. As for Ahri, I believe Academy came out a few months ago.

Furor NexisJan 28, 20161 votes

^ I'd've preferred a Kalista skin, but she got a Championship themed skin for her in the lead-up to Worlds last year.

VoidgateJan 28, 20161 votes

It could be that they just choose her because she didnt got one for a long time. The last skin for her was the Headhunter Caitlyn and that was released in September 2014.

I think its hard to find a matching theme for her. She already has :

Police theme (Officer) Wildwest (Sheriff) Future (Headhunter) Millitary (Arctic & Resistance) Hunter (Safari)

What else could fit her?

BA TetsuoJan 30, 20161 votes

I'll throw my two cents in and say this is the only skin for Cait that I actually like. I don't even like her base skin, and I don't play champions that don't have enjoyable skins. So, because of Lunar Wraith, I finally picked up cait and started playing her.