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@Riot, I Don't Think Divorcing Gamplay From Lore Works For League Of Legends.

Impetual·1/11/2015, 10:00:56 AM·15 votes·835 views

Let's start by talking about the often mentioned example for gameplay divorced from lore, Super Smash Bros.

This is a game in which each character within it has their own story in which its own lore is fully developed, and usually really darn well.

That's part of the reason why this game works so well! If it were a bunch of nobodies fighting each other, rather than legendary Nintendo characters, there's no way that this game would be as successful as it is.

That is why League of Legends can't follow the same model that Super Smash Bros. does.

Most characters of Runeterra don't have their own complex stories, they just have quick lore summaries. They don't have any system in which players directly experience a given champions lore.

Riot used to get around this kinda of thing with the Journal of Justice. By telling stories from the perspective of a newspaper, Riot didn't need to tell us the whole story, they just needed to give us confirmation that it was there through champion interactions, even if most of it remained a mystery.

By telling the story of Runeterra through a newspaper, not only did Riot make Runeterra seem bigger than it was, but they also made champions seem much more mysterious....if we didn't know to much about a champion, it wasn't because they were too simple, it was because we hadn't uncovered their history completely.

Playing LoL actually felt like you were working with a champion, as a summoner, to prevent some kind of conflict that you knew little about. It was kinda cool and unique. It definitely made the gameplay experience feel pretty cool.

Riot, here's some things to think about for your narrative department:

When's the last time players heard anything about daily life in Runeterra for the average champion?

When's the last time players heard about the daily life of any random citizen of Runeterra?

When is the last time that Riot taken the time to develop Runeterra, in a way that wasn't tied to a particular champion/group of champions?

Seriously, we keep hearing about these huge events, but ever since the JoJ ended, we haven't heard anything about the funny random stuff that the champions used to do in their off-time. It's kinda disappointing.

I want more stories about stuff like Jax and Gragas wrecking up a bar again!

How is Blitzcrank's compatibility service going?

Is Leblanc impersonating Jarvan IV? If so, to what end?

That kinda stuff was great!

4 Comments

NorthernDruid1/11/2015, 11:51:14 PM9 votes

The saddest part about Riot breaking the lore is that it was such a complete example of well-thought out Gameplay/story integration. The only thing that would have improved on the integration would've been an official game mode like Factions (the fan-made one).

In a time where video games are becoming a big medium on par with movies, tv series comics and books. And needs to set themselves apart and prove that as a storytelling medium it's capable of something unique, Riot had a perfect setup for a great example of how games can provide unique storytelling... and decided it was "too constricting" to work with.

And decided to chuck it all out (along with all the established story) and put nothing in to replace it.

They could've been a pioneer, and instead decided to step backwards.

I keep hoping that if I wish hard enough they'll do a full 180 and make their own official factions/RP mode. But in my heart I know they won't, because reverting decisions is percieved as a sign of weakness, at least by oneself, and this goes double for groups.

JevelFaithful1/15/2015, 2:18:42 PM2 votes

{quoted}

That is why League of Legends can't follow the same model that Super Smash Bros. does.

Most characters of Runeterra don't have their own complex stories, they just have quick lore summaries. They don't have any system in which players directly experience a given champions lore.

I agree with your stance on their separation. I just want to point out that their new model is not just based on SSB. Actually, pretty much every fighting game ever has the same. With an ongoing story arc (that generally only directly involve 3-4 characters) evolving over the releases and personal lore on each character. Most fighting games also don't have any mecanics in which you can directly live the lore of the characters, it feels like most of the time it's barely in the game.

These games still work because the gameplay is solid. So, while it was a step backward, it's not an automatic death sentence.