It's actually amazing how Riot backed themselves into a corner with their poor handling of Varus

Tendrian·Dec 5, 2017·12 votes·976 views

The new lore has pretty much been rejected by the parts of the community that actually cares about the lore and Varus as a character
They spent tons of $$$ on this giant retcon by comissioning 2 comics and a video without ever testing if the community would even enjoy their new story, leaving them unable to substantially change it without spending even more $$$.
They also decided to make the character gay out of the blue - if they ever go back on that, there will be a huge outcry from people that don't play League.

It's actually really interesting what they are going to do, because they maneuvered themselves into a position where every possible action they could take, including inaction, is gonna suck both for them and the community.

28 Comments

SharjoDec 5, 201712 votes

It's actually really interesting what they are going to do, because they maneuvered themselves into a position where every possible action they could take, including inaction, is gonna suck both for them and the community.

Well I mean the logical progression for Riot at this point is keep going with the chosen direction since even though the boards are on fire, there's been people who've enjoyed and really resonated with the new take on Varus. Plus the supplementary material has been popular so they'll probably wanna do more.

TendrianDec 5, 20175 votes

there's been people who've enjoyed and really resonated with the new take on Varus

Not all approval is equal. From what I've seen on Reddit/Boards/Discord the past days the community this stuff is aimed at rejected it fairly unanimously. Likes on Youtube and Twitter are fairly worthless, the people there propably aren't even playing the game.

RalanrDec 5, 20176 votes

Reddit and the boards however are small sample size.

Tesla EffectDec 5, 20175 votes

{quoted}

Reddit and the boards however are small sample size.

A lot of people outside of the boards had positive reactions to Varuses new lore. So indeed the boards negative minority is a minority.

TendrianDec 5, 20176 votes

I would argue that, for people involved enough in this game to care about the lore, it's actually a fairly decent representation.

SharjoDec 5, 20174 votes

I wouldn't say so considering this board is an english focused board and is unlikely to count for much of the community beyond the US and europe.

MysterQDec 5, 20175 votes

Who may dislike it even more, if not outright banned it.

SharjoDec 5, 20172 votes

Or liked it even more in places where it isn't banned that are also included in the "not europe and the US" parts of the world.

MysterQDec 5, 20173 votes

I have heard Kr has had a negative response. https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ko&sp=nmt4&u=http://www.inven.co.kr/board/powerbbs.php%3Fcome_idx%3D2999&usg=ALkJrhhKo5vNXM8gaHWZzKSy7ZOd09x0Pg I tried to do my own search, but it is tough. But the majority of those topics are complaints about inserting PC into the game. Granted, negative complaints may tend to be more common on discussion boards.

If we had actually foreigners that would be great to hear from. But I wouldn't just assume the rest of the world is so "progressive" n their thinking.

IDarkIFireDec 5, 20173 votes

I am a foreigner people, i have been posting against the new lore. English is my 5th language how much more foreign do u need :D I can't speak for Asia but east Europe are a no-go when it comes to the new lore (talking about the Balkan penninsular). None of my friends that play league liked the "new and improved lore" even tho they are not Varus mains.

Sona PingDec 5, 20171 votes

I remember Dynamic Queue too.

KuroCaliberDec 5, 20178 votes

I liked the new lore, I'm just not gonna post about it because old lore loves will quickly down vote it to Oblivion. I'm waiting for this feverish hate to die down before making my point.

Nik NikersonDec 5, 20176 votes

People complaining about a change are almost always much more vocal than the people that like a change, particularly on the internet.

TerraRisingDec 5, 20174 votes

{quoted}

Well I mean the logical progression for Riot at this point is keep going with the chosen direction since even though the boards are on fire, there's been people who've enjoyed and really resonated with the new take on Varus. Plus the supplementary material has been popular so they'll probably wanna do more.

As you know, this happened twice before. Freljord and the Great Retcon. (I've been going back into the old forums recently and saw some familiar names!)

Riot won't back off from the change. They spent way too much time and and money in the hype and gained way too many political points with non-League people. Also, it's too personal for at least one Rioter to even consider a revert. (Riot History has shown that the entire "story potential" excuse is pure BS. I'm still waiting on that standalone Trundle story and the aftermath of the Freljord event after 4+ years!)

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOODec 5, 201711 votes

Way to shit on all the people that enjoyed the Varus lore

redniwediSDec 5, 20177 votes

They are not going to go back. The safest course for them would be to add in the good elements from the old Varus lore into the story of Darkin Varus. The fall of the Darkin could directly parallel Varus's old lore with the choosing duty over family and all that jazz.

Riot never goes back on a purposeful change, whether they should or not, but they can still make the most of their current situation.

TendrianDec 5, 20173 votes

Going by past experiences, this is propably what they are going to do. Slap a minor bandaid on it that makes it a compromise between old and new that no camp is really happy with, never mention Varus again and call it a day. What a mess.

MysterQDec 5, 20173 votes

Yes, ignore him for 6 years until RIot changes it.

Tesla EffectDec 5, 20174 votes

They said they wont go back on this decision. People ether have to deal with it or deal with it.

Camille FerrøsDec 5, 20174 votes

Hmmm so what riot should instantly change the whole lore they crafted that spent much time and thought in because of few that dislike his new lore....

QuephaDec 5, 20174 votes

They made the mistake about a year ago. Riot's mistake was deciding to completely rewrite a backstory that people liked.

ReySolomonDec 5, 20173 votes

Why varus anyway? lol.

TerraRisingDec 5, 20174 votes

{quoted}

Why varus anyway? lol.

Varus was the prettiest male champion. Taric is a bit too... "rugged" beyond the Bloodstone skin, lol.

333lomDec 5, 20173 votes

Bullseye.

I got Heartseeker Varus a day before the new lore hit, in a chest and upgraded it, thrilled. Here comes next day, surprise bitch! He gay!

Now I don't know what to do with the skin. Instead of having half of the players liking Varus's lore and half not caring, now they'll have part of them hating it, part liking it, and part not caring.

Sett a trapDec 5, 20173 votes

OP you’re funny if you think riot is backed into a corner. The whole thing blew off already

AsamasDec 5, 20172 votes

For the last time! NOT VARUS IS THE GAY! And what is this homofobia, too? Yes I don't like gays but I have my own reasons and they don't include "he is a gay so I hate him because of that". The lore is nice how this two are trying to fight Varus' rage with their love. And I think that if they were a man and a woman it wouldn't be that strong. Plus that Val and Kai are not like the gays we see on TV. Yes they have their moments but most of the time they do what brothers will do for each other. They are fersome fighters but when you hear that they are gays that doesn't even mather. Did they kissed or huged once? No? Ok... And the god damn song is in my top 10.

TendrianDec 5, 20172 votes

For the last time! NOT VARUS IS THE GAY!

Varus is what the character is called, so that's the name I will use when talking about him.

"he is a gay so I hate him because of that"

You may want to read my post again. I didn't even mention it as something good or bad, just something they cannot go back on without a huge shitstorm since the topic attracts manchildren like nothing else. As you have just proven.

MysterQDec 11, 20171 votes

And with that, and only 2 weeks, Riot has successfully ignored the Varus complaints away.