Ruthless Dictator isnt a title that carries many honors. So I am concerned on 1 thing.
Is Swain out for himself, or for the good of Noxus?
Because Darius supported him for being a good leader who has the same idea of Noxus of him. Is this still true? Or is Swain deceiving Darius?
I hope Swain doesnt become just a powerhungry villain and instead of a strong willed, brilliant, ruthless leader of a Nation of strength and warmongering.
Terror132 votesSure, give him some sympathetic sides, but also keep him that man Apotheosis'd ArchFiend feel and great power hunger aswell.
Meep Man2 votesI never got people who saw Swain as a potentially even morally grey guy. I mean, sure, he comes from somewhere where he might be seen as run of the mill as far as his moral standpoint, but he has done some pretty dark stuff so far in the new lore, such as:
This is all without him even getting updated lore yet. This is all stuff we've just heard about from others or seen in other updated lore! He's a raven demon! Is it not obvious this dude is not good or even morally grey!? He may seem to be making sacrifices to obtain power, but you know who else did that in another video game? Gul'Dan. And he's known as Darkness Incarnate.
Skorch1 votesIm not saying he SHOULD be morally grey per'se. BUT an important part of Swain is hes the ruler of Noxus. Noxus itself does some pretty horrible things, even before Swain.
Im not talking about making Swain a person with a moral high ground. But rather that he should be a large part of Noxian Ideals. And if he ruled with an iron fist, or was out for only his own gain, and not what he thought was good for Noxus as a whole. Sure you can say he wants to be in power because of the Black Rose, But if Swain views the Black Rose as a leading force stronger than the diplomats. Then i think that reasoning is okay in lore.
So basically Swain doesnt need to be a good guy or even in the grey. He just needs to do what he does for the good of Noxus, and not for personal gain.
Terror131 votesI never got people who saw Swain as a potentially even morally grey guy. I mean, sure, he comes from somewhere where he might be seen as run of the mill as far as his moral standpoint, but he has done some pretty dark stuff so far in the new lore, such as:
- Betray and banish Urgot to Zaun
- Ressurect Sion to serve as a blunt force tool
- Invade Ionia
- Seemingly do something bad with the Vastaya
- Seems to work with Zaun in order to unleash chemicals upon his enemies
This is all without him even getting updated lore yet. This is all stuff we've just heard about from others or seen in other updated lore! He's a raven demon! Is it not obvious this dude is not good or even morally grey!? He may seem to be making sacrifices to obtain power, but you know who else did that in another video game? Gul'Dan. And he's known as Darkness Incarnate.
Dude even in the old lore, which tbh is still prob canon as it all doesn't have to do with the summoner stuff.
He does crazy underhanded-evil stuff, I love it lol.
Like if they want to give him a bit more of a heart thats fine, as he does seem to be in genuine love with leblanc and her with him.
That's the only real humanity I saw to him, I always liked to think that leblancs dance was her imagining dancing with swain.
And perhaps he sacrificed his own love to become part demon and gain more power, which could be something they add in turn to say he did it for the greater good of noxus, THATS a sacrifice.
Grimm Howl1 votesI don't think Swain's title will be "Swain the Ruthless Dictator." Ruthless Dictator is more of a theme they're trying to play off of since they want to try and maintain his current play style and use of dark magic to be an in your face on the battlefield type of mage, which doesn't resonate with the "Master Tactician" theme they were originally gunning for.
Skorch2 votesTrue, but the wording does concern me. Hopefully Reave or someone can clarify.
RiotReav311 votesThis is correct, that won't be his title but more the thematic direction we are going for. Swain won't be just some evil guy though, he just believes that sacrifices sometimes have to be made in order to achieve something truly great.
Brutusness1 votesWill his own sacrifices play a big role in his character?
RiotReav313 votesI didn't title the Swain section "The Cost of Ambition" for nothing
:)
Brutusness1 votesI just want to say I'm happy you decided to focus on the "warlock" archetype. When you think about it, League has many mage archetype characters like elementalists, liches, death knights, priests, etc but only Swain ever really had the feel of a dark sorcerer to me. The Disney/Final Fantasy transformation into a giant monster helped too. If you've tried to retain and improve upon that vibe I'm very excited.
Malicious Metal1 votesIf he uses Health as a resource you might actually get me to change mains...
Oleandervine6 votesThen he'd be Vladimir. Vlad already occupies the space of "Noxian Tank Mage with HP as a Resource."
Over Innsmouth1 votesAnd best hair Runeterra.
Sahn Uzal2 votesI feel a strong love and hatred for your endless teasing. Goddamnit.
RiotRiotJaredan4 votesIt gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling.
Over Innsmouth1 votesI thought it was just the balance team who took pleasure in our suffering.
patmax171 votesThen you don't know Jaredan xD
RiotRiotJaredan1 votes[slayer-jinx-catface]
Dreamspitter1 votesIt gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling.
DeathBurst1 votesAre Jaredan and Reav3 one and the same?
RiotRiotJaredan1 votesNope. We just share an enjoyment in teasing.
Terror131 votesI didn't title the Swain section "The Cost of Ambition" for nothing
:)
Hey Reav3, I made a post for a Swains rework.
It's a bit lengthy and wordy, but maybe this can give you some ideas about where to take him, I think it's some really interesting ideas.
https://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/skin-champion-concepts/HwHH4UfP-swain-the-arch-fiend
Lord Jericho1 votesRiot already has his new kit down though. By the time Reav3 wrote this latest Roadmap, the new kit has been in playtesting for weeks.
Sukishoo1 votesSo that's his title?
RiotReav31 votesNope
Sukishoo1 votes
so much pain
Terror131 votesNope
The Archfiend!
Hey seen u replied again to this post, can u at least check out what i suggested for swain update, evne if u don't make the decisions u could at least point riot to this if you like it and say "this is pretty interesting" it would take you a minute to skim read it.
Camille Ferrøs1 votesIm pretty sure that he will be (in the lore) the genius person that plans all attacks,troops,gold someone like Tywin Lannnister from GoT
midnight oil241 votesI don't think he was ever working fully for Noxus' benefit in the old lore. He was working for the Noxian ideal, but his goal never seemed to be the good of Noxus.
In addition, he's still strategic, as Riot said, but for the sake of a more easily learned type of play style, they're also amping up the ruthless dictator portion of his character that was always there.
GreenLore1 votesI think he always cared for himself more than Noxus. It's just that being a good leader and weaknening the influence of the nobles(which is why darius supports him) are things that are actually beneficial for swain.
Nanuk Pihoqahiak1 votesThat's my impression as well. If we go off of his old lore, he was a guy that worked behind the scenes in the interest of The Black Rose (If that's still somehow canon.) My thoughts are that based on the old lore, he was leveraging power for his ulterior motives through becoming the grand general.
A Smol Sheep1 votesHis new title of ' Ruthless Dictator ' really makes sense if you look into it since the idea is something that a lot of people have envisioned Swain to be for years and years past---albeit the sacrifice of his actions in the old lore ( spurning his place in the Black Rose ) was not heavily brought into play. Not only do his previous actions in the old lore add up to the theme that Riot is going for now but it's a direction that honestly makes more sense when you're considering Noxus' tendencies to conquer and the rest of that warmongering mindset. Sure it's not his title necessarily but Swain has always been the kind of character to be a hands-on sort of individual that would much rather prefer to be in the battlefield itself than commanding from the safety of his tent somewhere (much like he did in the previous lore ).
Now the true question is, with the theme of sacrifice coming into play . . . does this mean that he finally gets an explanation for Beatrice? Or something that ties with the Black Rose?
cue thinking emoji
Archlord Aatrox1 votesso swain will be the league version of Danzo
TheGreatRasputin1 votesI kinda hope he's like Tywin Lannister from GoT.
Terror131 votesSwain was always the villain, not a villain, THE villain.
He was always the main character in the journal of justice.
And because of that I'm convinced hes the true main character of this game, his lore is connected to just about every champion/faction in the game.
Skorch1 votesThats a very good point. However one thing i feel like i should mention is that IMO Noxus is the true villians of league. Noxus has done awful things since before Swain, have been on a road to domination for a LONG time.
And I think what i wish for the lore ISNT for Swain to be a morally grey character. But that he should do what he does for his nation and not his own self gain. If he wants Black Rose to be the sole rulers of Noxus, it should be he sees them as fit to rule, not because "Hey guys lets rule Noxus"
RookPusher1 votesListen, President Swain Underwood is only doing what his grandfather, Lord Swain Lannister would have done: Rule Effectively for the good of the nation.
If you don't love Noxious, why don't you leave it.
BabyNaix1 votesUtterly completely, stone cold Negan!!
xelaker1 voteshe's gonna get the cartoon villain treatment that viktor did, I bet
VICKLIUS1 votesI am a swain main.
I think his updated pass should be restore 3-20% hp OR mana depending on which is lower based on dmg dealt .
his q is fine, i only suggest it cd be 10 sec at all ranks(would actually like all his abilites 10 sec cd at all ranks so they are in sync(q & w both 10cd at max rank anyway, an e already like that) an that still longer cd than most other champ abilities that do even more dmg)
his w I feel like it could be turned into his gap closer, currently you snare someone , you go in an by time your r is in range they are unsnared. i would like it to where you can reactivate it for more mana an you go where your w was. also decrease range an increase are effected
e is where the main update is needed, before they changed his q from target to aoe his e was his main source of poke an dmg, not it just bland an doesn't do much an turned him into focus minions champ. I also feel this is where it could the most make him seem like a master tactician.
change his e into aoe(so works better with pass, range 700 area 325 so all his abilities sync up an you can actually lead w/ his e ) but here is where can be added "WHILE marked if target DIES furture dmg is increased by 1-5%,& if target kills swain their future dmg to swain is reduced by 1-5%" an it gets quotes, kill: "this time was easy enough, next time will be even easier", died "you won this battle, but you will lose the war." I was even thinking adding while marked dmg to swain is reduced by 20%.
his r just add when hit send out another raven at attacker.