The Obsession With Possession

DonatellaVersace·Apr 3, 2018·11 votes·848 views

With Karma's new lore released, and having been heavily disappointed by it, I realized something about some of our most recent champions as well as ones who have received updates.

What do all of these champions have in common? Well it is quite simple. They all have some external force acting as their internal conscience or weapon

Swain has his demon-spirit, Varus is a darkin inhabiting two lovers, Zoe is inhabited by the Aspect of Twilight, Karma is now the Last Ai- an Avatar carrying the past incarnations of some priest, Kai'Sa has a voidling attached to her acting as a adaptive suit, and Kayn has Rhaast haunting his existence.

While these champions all have some pretty well-built stories (save Karma), it seems that as of recent, some of our most beloved champions need to be inhabited or possessed by some greater force in order to be great themselves. This trend started with Kayn, and has continued for a bit too long in my opinion. Not to mention that Irelia credits 'the spirit' with allowing her to manipulate her blades.

My question to Riot's lore team, is why have you allowed for so many champions, both new and old, to now have to rely on external forces in order to be powerful? Why has this trend been going on for so long? And why can't we have a new champion that's great for the sake of experience or challenge?

9 Comments

Quiet DudeApr 3, 20183 votes

Many stories and myths in human culture have elements of external supernatural forces being representations of the strength inside us. They all have their purpose and allow humans to understand themselves and the world around him. There are plenty of champions that rely on their own strengths in comparison to those who wield the strength of others, but at some point the line blurs between what is ours and what isn't, or if it's all a reflection of human nature that have manifested into something tangible. At what point can we truly say it wasn't our strength to begin with?

Warlord DienekesApr 3, 20183 votes

Well, when it was granted to you by an outside force deciding to give it to you. That’s a pretty clear cut example of the strength not being yours to begin with.

TattersallApr 3, 20183 votes

I mean, this hasn't just been a recent thing. Udyr, Diana, Leona, Taric, and Illaoi use magical forces that inhabit them as weapons, and Pantheon is straight up a flesh-suit for an external force. Oh, and saying Swain's power comes from an external force is like saying Caitlyn's power comes from an external force, it's just that Swain subdued a demon and Caitlyn trained with a rifle. Actually, this can be said with a lot of champions.

DonatellaVersaceApr 3, 20182 votes

{quoted}

I mean, this hasn't just been a recent thing. Udyr, Diana, Leona, Taric, and Illaoi use magical forces that inhabit them as weapons, and Pantheon is straight up a flesh-suit for an external force. Oh, and saying Swain's power comes from an external force is like saying Caitlyn's power comes from an external force, it's just that Swain subdued a demon and Caitlyn trained with a rifle. Actually, this can be said with a lot of champions.

Yes, the same can be said. However such themes were stretched over long periods of time. The problem I am pointing out, is that some of our most recent champion releases and updates have all been of the same nature. Some external force inhabits/inhabited them and they now have abilities because of it. The only one of these I have a personal issue with would be Karma. I have no problem with the champions I listed and their stories because they were well done. (IMO, Karma's is a straight copy of ATL) I do have a problem with how many times this theme has been used so recently. It seems as though Riot's story-building/lore team can't seem to figure out how to write a character without forcing some entity permanently inside/attached to them.

TattersallApr 3, 20182 votes

I mean, Varus, Zoe, and Kayn get a hard pass. We already knew about Darkin and Targonian Aspects. And yeah, Swain was written really well.
Anyway, Karma's old lore actually said "She is the soul of Ionia made manifest," which could mean that her power source hasn't changed at all.

I'm switching topics now. My thoughts are really disjointed.

I would think that the reason Riot writes stories about humans gaining magical power through external means is simply because that's the nature of Runeterra. I can name 6 champions who were just magical to begin with: Taliyah, Lux, Syndra, Annie, Irelia and Xerath pre-ascension, I think. All the rest gained most if not all of their power through external forces. Runeterra is a world, and it's a natural world, but it's set upon on all sides by magical forces. The spirit world, other dimensions, space, it's simply a place where the supernatural bleeds and has bled into the natural, tainting it with its power. It's no wonder people are affected by all of it.

DonatellaVersaceApr 3, 20181 votes

{quoted}

I mean, Varus, Zoe, and Kayn get a hard pass. We already knew about Darkin and Targonian Aspects. And yeah, Swain was written really well.
Anyway, Karma's old lore actually said "She is the soul of Ionia made manifest," which could mean that her power source hasn't changed at all.

I'm switching topics now. My thoughts are really disjointed.

I would think that the reason Riot writes stories about humans gaining magical power through external means is simply because that's the nature of Runeterra. I can name 6 champions who were just magical to begin with: Taliyah, Lux, Syndra, Annie, Irelia and Xerath pre-ascension, I think. All the rest gained most if not all of their power through external forces. Runeterra is a world, and it's a natural world, but it's set upon on all sides by magical forces. The spirit world, other dimensions, space, it's simply a place where the supernatural bleeds and has bled into the natural, tainting it with its power. It's no wonder people are affected by all of it.

And I totally understand your point, that of which I agree with. To make myself clear, I don't have a problem with any of these champions stories, or any of those champions you've mentioned. In fact, I love most of the stories of the champions we've mentioned. I just find it strange that as of recent, Riot has geared towards champions with the same theme being 'X force affects X being giving it X amount of powers/abilities'.

Once again, nothing wrong with that theme itself, only strange how with so many recent champions has this theme been used.

GreenLoreApr 3, 20182 votes

Honestly its not really something new for a champion to get their special powers from an outside source. Ashe Sejuani Braum Irelia Trundle Riven all get their powers from their weapon

Azir Nasus Renekton Cassiopeia Xerath Hecarim Elise Lissandra Nautilus Sion Thresh Karthus Yorick all got their powers through another source of magic(granted Xerath&Yorick had powers before their transformation)

And in general Riot simply likes to play with different fantasy archetypes and there are simply a lot of different ones about gaining power through some other being.

Swain is essentially a warlock,a mage who made a pact with a demon(or other supernatural force).

Varus was always focused around corruption and in his original lore,he was slowly getting consumed himself

Zoe and the aspects in general are essentially avatars of gods/godlike beings.

Karma is someone who reincarnates over and over again(kinda like the avatar from the last airbender/legend of korra)

Kayn represents demonic posession

Kai'Sa is all about symbiotism/parasitism.

Rico NastyApr 4, 20182 votes

{quoted}

Karma is someone who reincarnates over and over again(kinda like the avatar from the last airbender/legend of korra)

But this is my problem, that's not who Karma is. This does not make sense with her playstyle, kit, VO, or appearance, they made her into this kumbaya pacifist who basically follows what other people have already done for her. That simply makes no sense. She is supposed to be a strong, successful woman who balances tradition and new thought while also supporting those around her and doing what she feels is just. She is supposed to be revolutionary and original, not a boring reincarnation.

GreenLoreApr 4, 20182 votes

Honestly Karma could need a big gameplayrework anyway,her current kit is rather lackluster and with Aatroxs big gameplay update having evolved into a smaller VGU,I'd say it wouldn't be out of question for karma to get a small VGU like this herself.

Anyway,while I do like the theme of reincarnation and do think it is fitting for her(she is the enlightened one after all),I do agree that the change in her character is kinda jarring and it is rather confusing to even say who Karma is in her own bio(is karma the first person from that reincarnation cycle?The combination of all her lives?Or is Darha the whole time in control and merely gets advice from her previous lives?)