Proposed changes to some champion titles

Laurgon·Mar 23, 2015·2 votes·1,396 views

I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this, so if it needs to go somewhere else, let me know and I'll put it there.

TL;DR: Simplify champ titles and bring some older ones up to modern standards.

Now I realize that the "quality" of a champion's title is pretty subjective, and also a pretty minor detail in the grand scheme of things. But I think it's still one worth considering. A title's supposed to be a general first impression of a character, and ideally (at least to me) it flows with the character's name. If the character's badass, it should sound badass (of course, if they're not, you have a little more room to play). I think there's a decent amount of room for at least some of the titles to be simplified.

Take Diana. Her current title is "Scorn of the Moon." What does that really mean (somewhat of a rhetorical question, since I do get the point of her character)? Considering the key element of her backstory - repeatedly defying the explicit orders of Mt. Targon's heliocentric theocracy - I'd prefer to replace that with a simple "the Heretic." To me, that's much clearer, and much smoother.

Take Jarvan and Xin Zhao - "The Exemplar of Demacia" and "The Seneschal of Demacia," respectively. You can argue they make a set with Garen, "The Might of Demacia" (similar to Azir, Nasus, and Renekton, who all have the "The [blank] of the Sands" title template). But "exemplar" and "seneschal" don't really tell me much about who they are (especially "seneschal," which I'd never actually heard before finding it here. Not that learning new words is a bad thing at all, just that this doesn't necessarily seem like the right time or place for it). If you want to stick with the "The [blank] of Demacia" template, I'd have to put a little more thought into this, but just off the top of my head, a much better title for Jarvan would be "the Zealot." Jarvan really, really loves his country. He's basically the embodiment of Demacia's patriotic spirit (outdated visual design notwithstanding). He's kind of a fanatic. So, to me, "the Zealot" would tell me more about his personality (even if it doesn't tell me very much about his position as the crown prince - again, just off the top of my head, by no means definitely the best solution). Xin Zhao doesn't have much personality to me, so I don't have anything in mind for his title now; just throwing it out there as one that seems like it could be improved a lot.

Compare those titles with Lucian's: "The Purifier." Simple, elegant, and guaranteed to strike terror into the hearts of your enemies. What does he do? He purifies. Specifically, your face, if you get in his way.

Again, as far as aspects of the game that probably want updating go, this one is pretty minor. But I think it'd still take a decent amount of thought, which is why I'm not pushing for it to be done anytime soon. I just wanted to put the idea out there for general consideration.

25 Comments

PeriditionMar 23, 20153 votes

I disagree with some of your choices, but ultimately agree that some champion titles could be much better.

I think that Diana's title is perfect. Her religion (the Lunari) were persecuted and condemned. It is heavily implied they she is the living avatar of the Moon itself. Hence she is the embodiment of its vengeance, its retribution, and its Scorn.

In my opinion, the champions that could use some updating are:

Aatrox Ashe Galio Mordekaiser Morgana Shaco Taric

Ebonmaw DragonMar 23, 20157 votes

{quoted} In my opinion, the champions that could use some updating are:

Do not dare to change the title of the MASTER of METAL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0deA1JUUZFQ

Solidair3Mar 23, 20153 votes

I wonder if Taric will be receiving a new title with his incoming update... And Poppy as well, now that I think about it

Tesla EffectMar 24, 20152 votes

{quoted}

I wonder if Taric will be receiving a new title with his incoming update... And Poppy as well, now that I think about it

If its a full Relaunch, possibly.

LaurgonMar 24, 20151 votes

I honestly have no idea. Did Sion get a new title on his relaunch? I don't think he did. "The Gem Knight" and "the Iron Ambassador" aren't necessarily bad titles ("iron ambassador" sounds kind of cool, actually), but there's no reason they can't be improved.

LaurgonMar 24, 20151 votes

Fair enough, I see your point. Just throwing some opinions out, haha.

As for your choices, I think Aatrox would be fine if we only had more darkin to distinguish him (i.e. the Darkin Bow, the Darkin Spear, whatever). As it is, he just kind of awkwardly stands out. Ashe's is okay, but I guess it could probably be a bit more interesting (no ideas atm though). Galio, yes. Morde... Master of Metal is a little silly, but considering all his abilities are named after metal songs, I guess that could work. Morgana... it depends where they go with her lore, if they make her something more than just a fallen angel I'd support it, but I don't think it's bad. Taric, same, don't think it's bad but no reason it couldn't be improved.

I skipped Shaco there because he's pretty much the one champion, to me, who just plain doesn't fit in the League world. Most other champions, even the sort of awkward older ones, I can see belonging to the world, even if they might need a little polish to get them all the way there. But I honestly don't feel like there's any place for an evil clown/demon jester/whatever you want to call him. To be fair, his lore is just "mysterious origins and motives, how spooky," which doesn't say basically anything at all about who he is, so maybe they could rework him to actually kind of make sense. I'm not sure I'm explaining this well at all, but his fundamental existence as it stands right now just feel wrong and out of place to me (also his kit's a bunch of BS). I wouldn't mind them doing a full relaunch of Shaco like they did with Sion or Karma.

I know a lot of people like and play Shaco but I am not one of them, so that's just my opinion.

KING OF MASKSMar 25, 20153 votes

Honestly I would be a little ticked off if they changed any of the Demacian titles. They're fine as they are.

LaurgonMar 26, 20152 votes

Fair enough!

Nameless HeroMar 23, 20152 votes

{quoted}

"seneschal" don't really tell me much about who they are

Seneschal is the old word for Chief of staff. It means that this foreigner rose through the ranks to become the King's right hand man and is one the highest title you can get without being a noble. I agree that it's a mouthful though. Can we propose new titles? I'd call him the Spear of demacia, or maybe the Hound of Demacia

ExHentaiMar 23, 20151 votes

What about The Tip of Demacia?

LaurgonMar 24, 20151 votes

Man, when a Xin Zhao gets in and wrecks your entire team, that's way more than just the tip.

LaurgonMar 24, 20151 votes

Spear would be cool. Hound, too, but I think Spear would be my personal preference there. Maybe.

I didn't know seneschal was reserved for foreigners. I thought it was just kind of a sheriff/chief of staff office, which kind of worked for him since he essentially came from Noxus and became the king's bodyguard. So that's kind of a neat extra layer, huh.

Like I said, it's definitely not a bad thing to learn new words! Just that... this might not be the best place.

Tesla EffectMar 24, 20152 votes

He did, the Undead Juggernaut wasnt the one he had before.

LaurgonMar 25, 20151 votes

Ah, gotcha. Thanks!

Maple CrusaderMar 24, 20152 votes

I have a few serious ideas for title changes. : The Inferno Incarnate Galio : The Gargoyle/Bulwark of Demacia Annie : The Pyromancer

LaurgonMar 24, 20151 votes

"The Bulwark of Demacia" would be cool. Ship it! (Riot really likes the word "bulwark," now I think about it.)

I don't think Annie's current title is bad, but "The Pyromancer" certainly works for her as well.

I left Brand for last because I'm a bit on the fence about his proposed title. "The Burning Vengeance" could probably use improvement (I can't remember, off the top of my head, what he's trying to avenge), but "The Inferno Incarnate" feels like a bit of a mouthful to me. That said, it certainly describes him well, and is kind of badass when you think about it. I could see it going either way.

Thanks for throwing your ideas into the mix!

Maple CrusaderMar 24, 20152 votes

{quoted}

"The Inferno Incarnate" feels like a bit of a mouthful to me. That said, it certainly describes him well, and is kind of badass when you think about it. I could see it going either way.

With Brand, I do not think vengeance really describes his motivation. He is a chaotic, force of nature who nondiscriminatory torches everyone and everything. As Brand would pick it in his own words, "like wildfire." As for his desire for revenge? That would be nice.

LaurgonMar 25, 20151 votes

{quoted}

As for his desire for revenge? That would be nice.

I see what you did there.

But yeah, that makes sense. I can definitely see replacing his title for something along those lines, since, to be brutally honest, I still can't shake the impression of "the Inferno Incarnate" being some sort of circus attraction. But I do see your point and think it's a good one.

NewMkMar 23, 20151 votes

lol i read tities xD

ActuallyArrowMar 23, 20151 votes

Some title ideas:

Urgot - Your god

Teemo - Satan's Little Helper

Soraka - The Banana Unicorn

Ahri - You probably aren't even reading this

Amumu - The depressing champ

Braum - Mustache Man

Draven - Too damn perfect

Nautilus - Obviously a big daddy

Rengar - The Kitty-cat

Garen - DAMACIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gnar - That time of the month

LeeSin - Lee sin, but no see

Rammus - Ok

Heimerdinger - The Donger of Dongs

SchaakaKonMar 24, 20151 votes

Brand being the "Burning Vengance" doesnt make sense with the retcon of the IoW. In the old lore, unrestricted wars between nations using rune magic created a 'nuclear fallout' which created Brand and Maokai (original lore). The careless nature of summoners that created Brand sent him on a path of vengance towards them and everything else.

Current lore.. Riot see's Brand just as that fire elemental, his epithet makes little sense but him as a character has little identity.

Alistar "The Minotaur" is awful because it prevents future minotaurs from entering the game.

Nameless HeroMar 25, 20152 votes

Alistar is not a minotaur.

Alistar is a MANOTAUR.

LaurgonMar 25, 20151 votes

True enough, true enough. I see your point!

Interesting that you mention the possibility of other minotaurs in the game, though. It's honestly something I've never really thought about, but since they obviously exist, I suppose there's no reason for them not to be able to make another minotaur character at some point in the future.

SchaakaKonMar 25, 20152 votes

I was always a fan of the Heroes of Might & Magic series and in them minotaurs always played a large role in those games. In HoMM3 half the heroes for Dungeon were minotaurs and in M&M8 minotaurs were a playable race. So, ive always had a soft spot for them.

Alistar being 'the minotaur' is pointlessly restricting imo. Ive always wanted to see another minotaur in the league, a badass axe weilding bruiser, that is perhaps Alistars relative or cheifton that is cold hearted and reguards Alistar lowly because he was captured.

Also, his epitaph is pretty crappy. Its practically the same as 'Talon - the Human'. Thats not interesting..

LaurgonMar 26, 20151 votes

I've never played any of the HOMM games, but I see where you're coming from. I really like how they've been making a lot of non-human champions lately. I'd be down for them to make more minotaurs! (But then yes, his title probably would need to change.)

I think it's not quite the same as "Talon - the Human" because being a minotaur is what sets him apart from everyone else, not the fact that he was captured by Noxus or is a good fighter or anything. But now I want to see your minotaur idea happen.