Qiyana is a Deliciously Villainous Protagonist and I am HERE for it

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOO·Jun 25, 2019·25 votes·14,893 views

Having just read the newest batch of material on the Universe site I have a few thoughts. I’ll get the minor ones out of the way first.

Zilean’s situation absolutely opens him up for narrative opportunity with plenty of intersection availability with other champions.

Malphite is a big doofus and I love him.

A Taliyah/Skarner journey story would be awesome, out of the many champions Skarner could interact with, Taliyah is most likely to understand him.

Anyway, on to Qiyana,who joins the roster of LoL villains with one of the pettiest moves possible. One thing I find that compels me to be interested in a character is, more than anything, motivation. You don’t need to be sympathetic to your villains if you’re also really eager to see what they’ll do next. There’s no doubt about it that Qiyana is motivated. She’s ruthless, ambitious, cunning, and confident. She’s the major player in Ixtal and I cannot wait to see how she deals with the threats to the empire, both within and without.

21 Comments

TheMan292Jun 25, 20199 votes

I have much the same views as you regarding qiyana. I was hesitant to see an obvious character development to maturity, and this Caligula/Azula characterization fits way better (hell, even DRAVEN would agree she has too much of an ego).

as for Malphite, I like they kept him being a shard of a greater whole. while I did enjoy his character, I do think it could be better with an updated bio (which we get tomorrow I believe?)

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOJun 25, 20193 votes

Yeah the short bio was informative but I too would like more on Malphite. Where did all the other shards go for starters.

Lintu PuckJun 25, 20191 votes

{quoted}

I have much the same views as you regarding qiyana. I was hesitant to see an obvious character development to maturity, and this Caligula/Azula characterization fits way better (hell, even DRAVEN would agree she has too much of an ego).

as for Malphite, I like they kept him being a shard of a greater whole. while I did enjoy his character, I do think it could be better with an updated bio (which we get tomorrow I believe?)

I hope for a model update one day. Hopefully when they get to his VGU (whenever that is) they don't change it to much.

TheMan292Jun 25, 20193 votes

[{quoted}](name=Lintu Puck,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=MEoJzqOl,comment-id=00000001,timestamp=2019-06-25T21:58:39.905+0000)

I hope for a model update one day. Hopefully when they get to his VGU (whenever that is) they don't change it to much.

me too, he really needs it

EdgeLadyJun 25, 20191 votes

{quoted}

me too, he really needs it

I think he's supposed to be getting one sometime. His kit is outdated big time, but it's not horrifically outdated like Pantheon's or even Udyr's kit. Riot said a few months ago that they want to put focus to champions who need gameplay reworks most first, and Malphite's will probably come when they get to champions like Kennen and Cho'Gath who, like Malphite, have pretty outdated kits and very old visuals and voice lines (Cho'Gath even still calls the player "summoner"), but they still function well enough for champions like Pantheon to come first.

EATARIJun 26, 20191 votes

To be fair, Sona calls the player summoner at champ select too.

EdgeLadyJun 27, 20191 votes

{quoted}

To be fair, Sona calls the player summoner at champ select too.

Yeah, anyone who still does needs a voice rework at the very least. Cho is very outdated visually too though, and his kit could probably use some tweaks (probably ranging from Kayle-level to Ezreal-level).

EdgeLadyJun 25, 20194 votes

Qiyana did give off the impression of disregarding life, but I wasn't sure Riot would go this far with her. They're definitely trying to give her a backstory akin to Prince Hans; hopefully she'll end up as a more fleshed out character that he was (at least in his first appearance).

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOJun 25, 20194 votes

Well she fits the power hungry ruler bill in that regard. A few lives probably don’t concern her especially when they’re people who scorned her.

Lintu PuckJun 25, 20194 votes

still a bitch. still hate her.

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOJun 25, 20193 votes

Okay thanks for the titillating (mildly sexist?) discourse friendo.

Lintu PuckJun 29, 20191 votes

it is not sexist to call a person a bitch.

and she is a bitch. she cares for no one but herself and will use others however she wishes, and that is why I call her a bitch. She is a character with zero redeeming qualities.

NotaRobot1006Jun 25, 20193 votes

She's a wretched menace and I greatly appreciate that.

Unusual midlanerJun 26, 20192 votes

She’s literally a bitch with a fat ass

SpecterVonBarenJun 26, 20191 votes

Some of my favorite villains come from the Redwall book series. You spend almost as much time seeing them and their power squables and backstabbing as you see of the heroes being merry or heroic.

And despite almost all of the antagonists being unequivocally evil, they're so enjoyable to watch. I love seeing things like a villain go mad but be the only survivor of a battle because he hid in a hole under a basket or a previously loyal 2nd in command just comepletely nope out of the story when things look bad.

I agree, there is certainly a place for characters like Q.

mrmeddymanJun 26, 20191 votes

Zilean has Aatrox listed as a related champion

The possibilities.....

Dead Anime DadJun 26, 20191 votes

Imagine talking down to the embodiment of fire, or a dragon that creates stars and just as easily destroys them. It's a real case of twice the pride, double the fall.

TheMan292Jun 26, 20194 votes

[{quoted}](name=Bone Dad,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=MEoJzqOl,comment-id=0006,timestamp=2019-06-26T07:29:59.381+0000)

Imagine talking down to the embodiment of fire, or a dragon that creates stars and just as easily destroys them. It's a real case of twice the pride, double the fall.

Qiyana: pfft, you only control one element?

Brand: That's all I need (turns qiyana to ash)

Camille FerrøsJun 26, 20191 votes

Big agree.

MakarakarnJun 27, 20191 votes

Most people just don't like the type of person she is irl, so they instantly think the character is instantly the most evil thing to exist and needs to be hated.

PermaJinxedJun 29, 20191 votes

Qiyana, to me fits in with many others in league lore: I would absolutely HATE her in person, but as a character, I find her compelling.... Or at least interesting to watch. Others that follow this; Leblanc Jinx Camille Draven Zoe Lulu Elise Evelynn Mordekaiser Karthus just to name a few...