I still think the old Institute of War story was a lot more interesting

It was really what drew me in to reading League's lore in the first place; The last of that era was being cut out right after I joined with the Journal of Justice being retired, but I still found a lot of interest in reading the old story anyway. It gave the world a feeling of substance; of context and feeling connected to the world through the Institute holding it all together. The world just felt real. It was something that really stood out on its own, because it was a unique idea. It was fascinating, and probably the only time I ever became really invested in a game's lore was for that brief period of time where I wanted to read about what was happening here.

And that sense of realness reflected in the champions; how they interacted with each other in the little comics, how there was gossip and rumors about relationships. But what I really liked was how they interacted with you, the player; they spoke directly TO you, like you were formulating a plan together. I won't deny Riot their due credit; their character writing has become amazing and improves every year, but imagine how nice this could have been if Riot had stuck with it as their VOs became longer and higher quality. Imagine if was being smug with you as he flies across the map with a giant star to obliterate enemies with, instead of monologuing to himself. Or Jhin, describing all his little plans and devilish ideas as you help him set up traps for a performance.

The world just doesn't seem real to me now; the little short stories that we get every half-year or longer just don't make me interested in Runeterra's events. There hasn't been any connection across countries; there are still literary dead zones in between the major cities, where we know nothing about them post-retcon and barely anything before it. You get these little short stories that show the character in question doing something badass and beating up disposable characters, and then that's it. We have no clue of any future aspiration, and for a lot of characters all we get out of it is a new backstory. Viktor and Jayce is a plot that has gone unresolved since the beginning; ALL we've gotten, after years, is rewrites of it, with not one single extension or an advancement to a conclusion. Kindred has no hand in being able to influence anything on her own; she's guided by pure fate. What are you going to do with her?

I don't know. I'm a little peeved that I never got to experience the old lore as it was happening. I guess I'll stick to Gameplay.