Boards›Story, Art, & Sound

League factions and real nations and cultures

Blood Magicks·7/10/2016, 11:56:15 PM·3 votes·2,835 views

I love theorizing about which Valoran nations correspond to which real world cultures. With the recent trend for storytelling becoming deeper and more relevant, I sometimes draw parallels and read into the social/political commentary in the champion lores (I swear Riot is trying to speak to Turkey and some Muslim cultures by releasing Taliyah, especially in her rivalry with Azir for example).

Another fun part of looking into historical influences is it may provide a more detailed picture of a given faction, especially ones I am curious about.

Finally, this also helps reveal which cultures lack representation in League. I believe Slavs have very limited representation, but also South American history/nations.

http://i.imgur.com/P9BoCHz.jpg

This is a map of Runeterra. Whether or not the locations in it are still canon we can learn when a new one is released.

The coordinates of the factions here plus some obvious references make identifying some League nations easy:

  • Ionia is Asian/East Asian cultures, especially Japan.
  • Shurima is Egypt/Middle East.
  • Frejlord is Scandinavia
  • Bilgewater sounds like the Carribean (?)

Then, there are a few more vague ones:

  • Piltover is perhaps a generic futuristic/retrofutiristic land?
  • Zaun sort of too, although I guess there are some parallels with Soviet scientists
  • Noxus and Zaun being sort of together where Russia is if we overlay the real world map makes me think they are the entire Eastern Block? Although Noxus also has some very French/Roman influences too. Generally it just feels as a darker Europe.
  • Demacia is USA + England? Something something democratic monarchy something justice and freedom
  • Bandle city is pretty ambiguous too, maybe New Zealand, but too specific?

I have a minor hypothesis the Demacia vs Noxus conflict somewhat represents the West vs East Cold War conflict (but also England vs France?). I am a fan of this hypothesis because as a (Balkan) Slav and also a Noxian by heart I really want this to be true.

Finally there are factions that have no real world analogues.

  • Targon - absolutely no idea. Space scifi land.
  • Void - Lovecraft universe
  • Shadow Isles - undead land?

I would love to discuss this more, especially if Rioters have ideas/canon they would like to share. Feel free to add and correct me.

7 Comments

Warlord Dienekes7/11/2016, 3:44:44 AM2 votes

Bilgewater has styles reminiscent of both 17-18th century Caribbean and 18-19th century American Frontier. Despite the necessary environment to make both those styling practical being, essentially, completely contradictory.

Demacia is just a fantasized conglomerate of Late Medieval/Renaissance cultures. There's a bit of Holy Roman Empire, a dash of France, some English. And strangely, some Roman Legion influence in their culture as well.

Noxus as far as I can tell is just a high fantasy culture. Nothing about it really makes sense when looked at as a cultural or technological stand point. I don't exactly see much in the way of influence. The most I can think of in terms of their cultural outlook would be the Assyrians or even the Aztec, but, since they don't have any cosmetic similarities I am inclined to think that is coincidental.

Freljord is stereotypical viking/gothic fantasy.

Shurima and Egypt seems pretty obvious.

Targon, there is some Ancient Greece in there, if you ignore all the parts of the culture that made the Hellenistic City-State systems work. Mostly it's just Stargate stuff. Interestingly, because of the cold environment, and heavy influence of tribes you could make the case that Targon is closest to Innuit cultures. Of course they couldn't support the heavy structured military we see of the Rakkor or the sun temples we see for the Solari. So yeah, it's really muddled what makes Targon work.

Yordles have got me stumped.

Zaun and Piltover are yeah, sci-fi futurist cultures. I can't really get a read on what they're drawing influence from other than another good/evil dichotomy.

Fasmodey7/11/2016, 9:10:34 AM2 votes

Shadow Isles = ISIS. They were mostly about humans once.

CrazFight 7/11/2016, 12:06:15 AM1 votes

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/skin-champion-concepts/35ufEqAG-champ-creation-shelia <-- Where would she belong :o

FlameHalbrdOkido7/11/2016, 2:23:02 AM1 votes

you forgot the Blue Flame isles, or Snake isles that Illaoi's from

GreenLore7/11/2016, 8:37:21 AM1 votes

I think Bandle city could actually be based on germany or something like that.I mean just look at their buildings(though this isn't canon anymore) http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/leagueoflegends/images/f/f2/Bandle_City.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20101207230558

Targon seems to be partially based on greek/roman culture,I mean the Rakkor are basically spartans,the aspects could be seen as the greek/roman gods(who all had celestial bodies named after them) and targon itself is basically mt.olympus.

And Piltover(and maybe Zaun?) seem kinda british to me.

Fillai7/11/2016, 9:58:01 AM1 votes

I like to think Piltover is just steam punk styled Victorian London with Zaun being the much much darker version of it :)