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Blood Moon Shen - Spirit Blade Correction [Blue --> Red]

StigtriX··123 votes·37,458 views

Blood Moon Shen should receive a red Spirit Blade rather than blue to be more in line with the rest of the Blood Moon skins. His Spirit Blade, which is a bludgeon or 'konbou' differs from the second blade which he carries on his back. This is really weird as no other Shen skin has a blade that changes into something else when he attacks. Maybe the designers thought it would be cool and fit with a cursed demon theme, but it simply does not look good, and results in poor clarity.

THE THREE BLADES

The model shows the basic blade, while the in-game model displays the weird, third blade along with the spirit blade and the basic blade: http://i.imgur.com/bOLHUd4.png [Click the picture for a larger size!]

Red Spirit Blade http://i.imgur.com/Q8Uxi6z.png

Original, Blue Spirit Blade http://i.imgur.com/Pb2bTSH.png

Enemy Spirit Blade http://i.imgur.com/DfsuHNe.png

Pink Spirit Blade http://i.imgur.com/FoubuzO.png With my software, and without access to the effect files, this is the cloest I come to a fully red blade without the tint becoming very yellow - and thereby ruining the fluidity of the spirit waves.

Blue Spirit Blade - Red Glow - Allied Shen http://i.imgur.com/vcGnI3N.png

Red Spirit Blade - Blue Glow - Enemy Shen http://i.imgur.com/S5XYdzL.png

Brighter Red Band + Red glowing eyes http://i.imgur.com/vrK9AIt.png If Riot insists that red is unfit as it might ruin the clarity between allied and enemy abilities, I suggest a slight red boost to the cloth band attached to the hilt, and a brighter, more visible glow for the eyes on the demon sword guard.

Dark Purple (allied) + Bright Red (enemy)

Allied Blood Moon Shen http://i.imgur.com/k3IOCdW.png

  • Darker Purple Blade to fit more with the theme
  • Brighter red eyes on the blade guard
  • Brighter red band on the blade hilt

Enemy Blood Moon Shen http://i.imgur.com/XclC9dQ.png

  • All red
  • This is just an extreme example to show the concept, so the red would of course be more muted

Interested in more model improvements for the upcoming Shen rework? Here is my post for an improved Frozen Shen :) : http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/story-art/B7uZa5RX-frozen-shen-needs-more-contrast-no-more-monochrome-like-the-old-model-also-was

Yellow Jacket Shen - post by Pyrithegethon, colour adjustment by me http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/story-art/IrAJ3Pct-are-we-able-to-make-yellow-jacket-shen-spirit-sword-yellow

Warlord Shen http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/story-art/nTHlpgc7-warlord-shen-golden-spirit-sword

42 Comments

RiotRiot Ranger XIV7 votes

Hello Stigtrix and all the other equally awesome people that posted feedback on this!

Thank you everyone for posting your comments and concerns about this skin. It really helps us put out the right product and make the right choices that our players love.

I am promising nothing! I just want to say that before we start :D

This is something I will discuss with the team and we'll see if this is something we can do and that it is in our scope. Again no promises! I will try to comment back as quickly as I can.

StigtriX1 votes

Thank you for your reply, mate! I really hope you make some minor colour adjustments at least, so he stays closer to the Blood Moon theme. Just a boost to the red eyes on the sword guard, and a bigger glow area would do a lot.

Maybe a bit late now, but the skin I am personally more interested in a small fix for is the Frozen Shen skin, which I think is too monochrome, like the old version. It is kind of hard to discern the different parts, and he lacks contrast. I have made a lot of suggestions and posted them here: http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/story-art/B7uZa5RX-frozen-shen-needs-more-contrast-no-more-monochrome-like-the-old-model-also-was

Cheers!

StigtriX1 votes

I have tested the skin now, and I must say I am quite disappointed. The irony is that by being so extremely careful with making his blade red (for allied or enemy), you have instead made them both blue/ purple, creating a problem that is worse than I could ever imagine. The only difference between the Spirit Blades is a small, red circle beneath the enemy blade, which is hardly visible at all. It gets even worse in team fights. Spirit's Refuge is also the exact same colour, or at least so close that I cannot see the difference if I am fighting against another Blood Moon Shen. My allies also get confused, and do not know where to seek shelter.

The only Spirit Blade that truly stands out is Frozen Shen's because of the brighter colour. However, this is not the case if there is an opposing Frozen Shen too. This underlines, at least to me, that a clear colour difference between ally- and enemy abilities is very important.

The visibility problem goes for the skins I have tested so far: Blood Moon Shen, Frozen Shen and Yellow Jacket Shen. The ability colours are too close to each other. I would dare say this visibility problem is so bad that you need to apply some colour adjustements to every Shen skin next patch.

Suggestions for improvements:

  • The enemy's Spirit Blade and spirit trail attached to Shen need to be red, much like how Ekko's trail differs from that of the opposing Ekko
  • The base colour of the Spirit Blade, Spirit's Refuge and Ki Barrier should be different for every skin (see the links at the end of the post), so that it is easier to immediately tie the skills to an allied Shen. Blood Moon Shen could have a brighter purple hue, with some subtle red added to the spirit waves, to be closer to the Blood Moon skin theme (red is already reserved for enemy abilities). See the notes under Regarding the colours and contrasts of the skins for more details.

It may sound harsh, but I am being as honest as I can, and not trying to be negative. I want you to truly understand the issue.

Regarding the colours and contrasts of the skins:

  • Blood Moon Shen looks good, but he could have had some brighter reds here and there, especially his gloves, and the red band and eyes on the sword guard and handle. I am still confused by his Spirit Blade and the blade on his back having very different designs. Why is this a thing?
  • Yellow Jacket Shen could use some more vivid yellows. His chest is a bit brighter, but the yellow overall is too muted and dirty. His shoulders would benefit from some colour adjustements too, so they stand out more from the rest of the armour
  • Frozen Shen is the skin that suffers the most and is almost monochrome. He really is in need of some contrast, especially for his face mask. Please take a look at my links at the end of this post. I really like the colour of his Spirit Blade though! Ice blue!

The overall designs of the skins are awesome, so this is more about visibility and colour adjustments than anything else. I really love the new models and they make Shen feel more unique.

Posts that I have created or done some work on for the respective skins, where possible adjustments are discussed:

**Blood Moon Shen **(this very post) http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/story-art/E0TgEGMR-blood-moon-shen-spirit-blade-correction-blue-red

Frozen Shen http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/story-art/B7uZa5RX-frozen-shen-needs-more-contrast-no-more-monochrome-like-the-old-model-also-was

Yellow Jacket Shen - post by Pyrithegethon, colour adjustment by me http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/story-art/IrAJ3Pct-are-we-able-to-make-yellow-jacket-shen-spirit-sword-yellow

Warlord Shen http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/story-art/nTHlpgc7-warlord-shen-golden-spirit-sword

StigtriX1 votes

New Suggestion:

Allied Blood Moon Shen http://i.imgur.com/k3IOCdW.png

  • Darker Purple Blade to fit more with the theme
  • Brighter red eyes on the blade guard
  • Brighter red band on the blade hilt

Enemy Blood Moon Shen http://i.imgur.com/XclC9dQ.png

  • All red
  • This is just an extreme example to show the concept, so the red would of course be more muted
StigtriX1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot Ranger XIV,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=E0TgEGMR,comment-id=000e,timestamp=2016-01-25T19:16:56.346+0000)

Hello Stigtrix and all the other equally awesome people that posted feedback on this!...

Now that you have released both Blood Moon Kennen and Blood Moon Yasuo with all red effects, will you consider changing Shen's effects, and take my newest feedback into consideration?** Blue ---> Purple/ Red**, please! I see no good arguments against it now that you have revealed the new additions to the skin series that further emphasise red as the theme's main colour.

insaiyanbacca4 votes

i like the frozen shen changes you posted, especially since i own the skin. but this bloodmoon edit, could it present a problem? because enemies might see a different colored sword(or even sword connection) from shen.(or if it doesn't people could still get confused easily because red spell effects are often associated with a view of an enemies spell.)

Stars Shaper1 votes

My thoughts too. Red spell effects are associated with enemy casts, for the same reason Forsaken Jayce gate keeps being blue.

StigtriX3 votes

Thank you for your kind words! Yes, I have always loved Sub-Zero from the MK series, so I just had to at least try to make Riot up their game :) Yellow Jacket Shen has so much more going on when it comes to colour, contrast and sheer detail. I know Scorpion is the most iconic figure from the Mortal Kombat universe, but come on Riot!

Regarding the Spirit Blade: You raise an interesting question. I find that this limitation ruins a lot of nice colour schemes for skins, but let me try to clarify how I think it would work in a real match:

  • The Spirit Blade for a friendly Blood Moon Shen is red. Should there be an enemy Shen, his spirit blade will be blue, but with a red outline, making it stand out

I am making a mock-up asap :)

insaiyanbacca2 votes

that would possibly work but maybe the other way around imo. also yeah sub-zero is my favorite character in MK

StigtriX2 votes

Done! Yes, it hit me as I drew: this could be the base instead, and the red for enemies, just to get at least some red in there to be more like the other Blood Moon skins :P

Slippery! http://gifdrole.com/mortal-kombat-gifs-humour/Sub_Zero_comique.gif

insaiyanbacca1 votes

yeah, some red would be better then none, wish riot would take notice of this and make some changes still crossing my fingers that they might. also haven't seen that gif before it's hilarious.

StigtriX1 votes

It would also be very easy for them to edit the base glow to red, and keep the tint blue for allies, and bright red for enemies. With only access to GIMP, and not to the different colour layers of the intricate effects produced by Riot, my result is but a mere shadow of what Riot could do.

Pyrodinium1 votes

I want to note that is not 'very easy' for them to edit the particle on Blood Moon Shen.

Sure, the actual change to the spirit blade may not take a lot of time and effort (though it might), but you need to allocate art resources for it (always a scarce commodity for the Champion Update folks), iterate on the changes and perform any relevant QA cycles.

All this requires time; time that could have been better used for other VUs.

StigtriX1 votes

I know, but in comparison to a totally new effect or a skill animation change, a small hue adjustment does not take that long :)

Ulquiorra9953 votes

I agree that it looks extremely weird when he uses his Q (made a thread but unfortunately since I'm not familiar with US time zones I put it up in time when boards were pretty much deserted). While all other Shen skins who have spirit blades different from blades on their back actually use the one on their back, Blood Moon has his sword magically transform into a bludgeon for the duration of a spell.

Either make Blood Moon Shen use his sword for attacks or change the model of the sword to bludgeon. It really looks out of place as it is.

Gapybo1 votes

I think that red is too bright and the yellow doesn't fit either.

StigtriX1 votes

Will try to tweak it further. Thank you for your reply! :)

StigtriX1 votes

Done! :) I am afraid I have to disappoint you, as GIMP won't let me correct the colours closer to red without the tint becoming very yellow. I have tried correcting it after applying the red colour, but the colours overlap too much. Sorry...

StigtriX1 votes

Added a new suggestion for a solution to the visual effects problem:

  • Blue Spirit Blade - Red Glow - Allied Shen
  • Red Spirit Blade - Blue Glow - Enemy Shen

Note that these are rough examples, as I have no way of editing the different effect layers, and have therefore chosen to draw directly on top of the pictures.

Dunkrius2g1 votes

Tell me how to do it so that i can fix Woad King Darius's 5 stack bleed indicator.

StigtriX1 votes

I use GIMP - Gnu Image Manipulation Program: http://www.gimp.org/

  • Colors --> Hue-Saturation --> "Select the Primary Color you want to adjust" --> Adjust Hue, Lightness and Saturation to your liking
  • Correct artifacts by adjusting other primary colours (pardon my British ;) )
Dunkrius2g1 votes

Tanks! How can i download the skins so that i can change it? Sorry for being so clueless.

StigtriX1 votes

I usually go to http://www.surrenderat20.net/ and look at the models they post for new skins, as they are of high quality, and it makes everything take less time. You can also use LoL King and browse the champions and skins.

If I want to look at an older skin, I just search for "Skin name surrender @ 20" to find it quickly :)

Dunkrius2g1 votes

Thanks!

macromite1 votes

i like it how it is

lxlLilybellelxl1 votes

I think it should stay blue... it's already confusing sometimes with bloodmoon thresh

Jolly Rogered1 votes

Totally agree. Matter of fact, they should do this with Warlord as well since that skin cost more than any of them. I think it's bullshit they took away a some of warlords flare.

Pyrodinium1 votes

Warlord Shen doesn't have special particles right now.

It has a slightly different autoattack animation, which is preserved in the upcoming VU.

Jolly Rogered1 votes

{quoted}

Warlord Shen doesn't have special particles right now.

It has a slightly different autoattack animation, which is preserved in the upcoming VU.

The current live Warlord Shen's E is special, since he sticks his sword out in front of him when he taunts. That was removed in the VU. It may not be a particle but it was unique to the skin.

StigtriX1 votes

Made a Golden Spirit Blade for Warlord Shen and suggested a new recall animation: http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/story-art/nTHlpgc7-warlord-shen-golden-spirit-sword

StigtriX1 votes

Added a new alternative to a red visual effect: Brighter Red Band + Red glowing eyes

Ralfazar1 votes

Wow that's sad that they can't even follow their own skin theme.

StigtriX1 votes

It might be because they are afraid of clarity issues with spells/ abilities, but they have so many ways of adding red in a meaningful and clear way that I disagree with keeping it all blue like it currently is.

Pyrodinium1 votes

It is more likely an effort concern. The Champion Update team has only so many art resources to their disposal. Putting work into a single particle of a single skin (a 750 RP skin, no less), means that they have to delay particle work on other VUs that may need it way more.

I think they are making the right call here.

CLG Factor1 votes

It's cuz 750 rp skins arent supposed to have recolored abilities (Remember when marauder ashe came out and riot didnt want to change the color of her abilities to match the skin theme?)

StigtriX1 votes

I would dare say this is different, as all the newest Blood Moon skins have red ability/ spell effects. This would be Riot's chance to update the abilities of Blood Moon Shen to stay true to the theme. Even Blood Moon Zilean had red abilities, and his model has not even received a rework, yet the details of the abilities would almost be in line with 1350 skins.

CLG Factor1 votes

The other blood moon skins cost 975 rp and many 975 rp skins have recolored abilities

StigtriX1 votes

I know, but to stay in line with a theme, they can give it a red hue at least, nothing major. Riot have made several skins that offer more than what the price would suggest, like Prime Time Draven, which is effectively a legendary at the 975 price tier. It would be weird if they suddenly made changes, and made skins that do not follow "the rules" of a skin theme, just to introduce cheaper alternatives. Riot has offered several cheaper skin lines that are within a tier, like the Wild Card theme, Warden, Marauder, and now: Beast Hunter.

Why basically ruin a skin line instead of offering something different?

Moxu Kraze1 votes

Hey! StigtriX,

I love your posts, would you be interested in writing blogs? I'm looking for people to start up a website with. Leave me a comment at https://moxugaming.wordpress.com Or send me an email at [email protected]

StigtriX1 votes

An interesting proposition... Thank you for the kind words. Let me think about it, and I will get back to you within the day's end (not a lie, like with telephone services :P )

Yllumynaty1 votes

Could u tell shen to give back trundle stick h'es been loocking for it and u should give shen a sword pls. And tengu trundle should be a nice theme.

Ultîma1 votes

This is a perfect change that will make it consistent with the particle change for other Blood Moon skins (Thresh, Kalista, Elise) - however there is still no sign of change on the PBE. Can a Rioter make a statement about this, or at least give it some consideration?

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