Essences: Amumu

Chembaron Yamada·3/1/2018, 11:18:42 PM·3 votes·688 views

Hello summoners, I thought it is time for me to make another series of threads and I saw a great thread by Brutusness, asking for the different character fantasies which the VGU candidates should fulfill.

There was alot of information in that thread, but I want to focus this information a bit more. So let's start with the first chapter of the Essences thread series!

Since he is in my mind alot lately and he is the first VGU candidate in alphabetical order, I want to discuss the sad mummy known as Amumu first. In this thread, I want you to tell me everything you think about Amumu. What are his trademarks? What is iconic about his gameplay? What are potential designs for him? Where do you imagine comes his curse from?

The goal is to give Riot as much feedback for Amumus VGU as possible, so don't hold back with any idea that can contribute to his resurrection.

6 Comments

Whyte Lyon3/2/2018, 1:48:52 AM3 votes

The way I see it is if we shave this champion right down to the bone, to see exactly what Amu's core identity is, I think you'll find that beyond his afflicted curse of everlasting suffering there isn't much that would remain "core".

Sure things like how Amu is a mummy-inspired toilet roll is still pretty significant, but lately people seem to be pretty open to a more Yordle-like Amumu, which will underplay his mummy fantasy by quite a bit. Just goes to prove my point, that some things that seem "core" could be dropped.

Another example of not necessarily a core identity is the ambiguity of his exact nature and origins. That means his "possibly a Yordle" aspect isn't really required either. I personally like the idea that (lore-wise) everything ambiguous about Amumu is a direct effect from the dark magic afflicting him, rather than the side effects of magical glamour. Because Yordles and their Glamour doesn't really benefit Amu's identity so much as the curse itself, at least this way the it functions as the ultimate torture and everlasting suffering.

I think when Riot does decide to move forward with an Amumu VGU, their full focus should be around the exact function of his curse, and all the side effects it has which could play into an improved new kit.

For me I like the idea from a lore perspective that Amumu's curse could be inspired by the punishment of Prometheus, perhaps play into the fact that maybe Amu tried to do something good that upset some asshole god and/or powerful individual.

And as much as I'm personally apposed to the possibility of confirming Amu as a Yordle, would prefer the concept of an decaying Yordle, like hairless and withered under the bandages, much more than just a sad rabbit like the picture depicts.

Chembaron Yamada3/1/2018, 11:36:01 PM2 votes

As always, I will contribute my own thoughts as well.

Character Design

There are 2 major groups when it comes to his visuals: some people think he is a young mummy boy (so, he was a human once) and the other group says he is a Yordle. I belong in the second group, I always imagined Amumu to be a yordle and in fact, I want his design to clarify it much more.

There is a well known concept for his VGU, made by Andres Castaneda for Riots art contest. https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/7e/cl1p3ndi6yhv.png

In my opinion, it is almost perfect to go. It shows that he is a Yordle, even if it can be a bit more mysterious in lore. As a Yordle, he has glamour, meaning that the people of Shurima might still see him as a young boy. It has great details, something that current Amumu is absolutely lacking. He is just bandages and eyes, one of the most boring champion designs in the game right now.

Giving him some golden jewelry (for which Shurima is known for) and these big Yordle ears really made the concept for me. And I think that he could wear his bandages more lose, just like here. There is no need to hide his whole body behind bandages.

His depression theme is iconic, but I think it is overdone for him. He doesn't have to cry all the time, they can make him desperate and depressive in his VO. Just make it more serious. I don't think that an always crying little boy is really something alot of people enjoy when it comes to thematics.

Splashart

Something that I really want to happen for his splashart is showing him with an actual sarcophagus. I always wondered why this isn't a thing from the start, since this is something highly associated with mummies in media. Please show Amumu resting lonely in his Sarcophagus, reaching out a hand.

Maybe with some green spooky mist. ;)

Gameplay

It's hard to imagine something for Amumu when it comes to gameplay. I think the most iconic parts of his kit are his Q (Bandage Toss) and his R (Curse of the Sad Mummy). These 2 skills would need some work, of course. His ult could be bandages slowly pulling enemies towards Amumu, instead of an instant root and nuke. Also I would like to keep his magic damage enhancing theme.

The crying and tantrum never really convinced me as parts of his kit..... He might be sad, but he doesn't really have to kill his enemies by crying them to death. It is too cliche playing into his depression theme in my opinion.

Something that current Amumu is clearly lacking is a tank steroid. He just has flat damage reduction. Compared to the tank steroids other champions have, it is pretty bad. Maybe they could even build in the sarcophagus from his splashart in some way? For example, if he could have a mechanic, that let's him enter a sarcophagus and rapidly regenerate health in it.

Lore

I would like to investigate the cause of his curse in the lore a bit more. Was there a tragic event in his past that cursed him? In the video The Curse of the Sad Mummy, there are these shadows haunting him and telling him that he will be alone forever. Maybe they could build these in in some way?

Could the people who he killed with his curse haunt him as ghosts, permanently reminding him that he is a monster? Kinda reversing the loneliness, he is never alone, but these ghosts always just tell him that he shouldn't exist in the first place and always just brings harm.

Epicurus3/2/2018, 3:00:13 AM1 votes

I know his splash art is old, but I love it. The image of the little bandage figure in his palm is just so forlorn and heartbreaking, Riot has to keep that detail when he gets new art.

The thing that annoys me about Amumu's gameplay is that his W and his E are strategically identical. One's a DoT that you toggle on whenever you're in combat, and the other's an AoE active that you use whenever it's off cooldown. They both serve the same purpose of "spend mana to deal damage". I think DoT is a core part of Amumu, so I'd like the E to be reworked into a defensive ability, like a shield or tenacity. With the rest of his kit, enhancing magic damage is actually a pretty nifty niche, and is thematically appropriate. Q into R is pretty iconic, but power might need to be taken out of the combo to allow for a more interesting E. Even something as small as making Q a root instead of a stun, and giving R a longer cast time.

Or, if Riot doesn't want to preserve his simple kit, there could be some interesting gameplay around wrapping enemies in bandages. As in, Amumu throws a bandage and tethers to an enemy, and then as they both move any enemies that touch the bandage get heavily slowed. Something like old Karma's clothesline mechanic.

Lorewise, I'm perfectly fine with knowing nothing about Amumu. I'd like to see him interact with other champs and participate in stories more, but I wouldn't mind if we never find out more about him.