Ornn LACKLUSTER in lore and interactions

Mianta··2 votes·1,926 views

I'd like to state that this is an opinion piece and have no intentions to insult anyone involved in the creation of Ornn. He's a great, unique champion that I can't wait to play.

I don't remember the last time I've been so disappointed with the release of a new champion. From the first trailer reveal ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9FR8rWczvU ) to the many plot-holes in the lore, nothing is very satisfying. And the sad part is that Ornn was created to answer a lot of the questions we didn't know, such as where Braum's shield or the Aram bridge came from. Why there's snow in Freljord, etc.

First off, why reveal him and his abilities before he was even teased? More than half the content released about Ornn was pointless and repetitive because they didn't answer any questions nor show us anything new. He was on PBE so fast as well, people were just starting to understand how to play Kayn by the time Ornn came out. Secondly, everyone is talking about how he has such few interactions with characters involved in his story. If it's hinted in his bio (finally) that he built Braum's shield, why not have an interaction with him? Why does he say ONE thing to Anivia? Regardless if they didn't talk, if she was close enough with him to want to pull a prank on him then why don't they have any other story together? Why does he say 1 thing to Gragas and yet says NOTHING to Sejuani or Lissandra? Even the cinematic where Volibear & his army go off against Ornn shows Sejuani & Lissandra there and yet they have nothing worth mentioning to one-another? Speaking of that cinematic, why has everything released been of such poor quality? I honestly don't care that much but it's just concerning with everything else stacked up behind the disappointment of Ornn's entire reveal thus far. Both the initial trailer linked above and the cinematic have the worst quality production most of us have seen on any champ and it's just so strange. Third, why does his background seem like no effort was put into it? Three stories have been released: His biography, lore, and the short story. For some reason they all revolve around Ornn and Volibear CONSTANTLY battling near Hearth-Home. Even the cinematic was about Volibear and Ornn fighting, again. Yet the closest we get to an answer as to why they hate each other is "for reasons no mortal could comprehend". At least you tell us that Ornn doesn't like Voli meddling in mortal affairs, but it just seems like the biggest slap in the face to the players interested. Is that supposed to be another question for the player as if we'll find out in the future? Or are you just not wanting to think of something? For a demi-god who's stories spread throughout time, he really doesn't seem to have that grande of a presence in the universe. Even Aatrox has deeper lore. It's not that I'm craving more info about Ornn, it's just that the info left out makes him as a character SO lackluster. It's like everything was just rushed or created with low effort. I'd much rather get one story about his battle than 3 stories and a cinematic saying the same exact thing. Gnar got one short-story that doesn't reveal anything, and a picture that teases his origin, and it's so much more satisfying. I don't understand where his Ultimate comes from, why he summons a huge spirit-ram. There's no info on that other than the fact that he's a demi-god of forges and rams. I don't get why he suddenly wants to leave isolation because a new era of war is coming. It makes NO SENSE with the personality he's been given. His entire life (from what we've been told) has been devoted to keeping to himself and forging items. He doesn't care about anyone else, the closest being the Hearthblood. He doesn't like Volibear meddling in mortal affairs, why would he go and do the same? And what about Anivia? I realize her lore will get updated, but... if he comes out when a deity messes around with mortals, then he would HAVE to have more interactions with Anivia because she's obviously going to affect the lives within the Freljord. Yet we're told nothing. It would have been SO great if the short story "The Voice from the Hearth" was instead about the perspective of a group experiencing the interactions between Ornn and Anivia in something new we haven't learned. I honestly have no idea what's going on with the development team behind Ornn but in my opinion it fails to come close to the standards of any other champion lore. It's like it's all rushed and not thought out. I hope we get new information to fix the holes and answer the hype that was failed to deliver.

How do you feel about everything I've talked about? Do you agree/disagree with anything mentioned above? Have I missed information that would answer any questions I've asked? I'd love to create a discussion.

13 Comments

Beas7ie2 votes

I can see the few interactions. Basically he's a Ron Swanson type champ. Blunt and direct and not all that talkative. If he has to interact with people for business it's always brief and down to business then they go their separate ways. He's not here to make friends, he's here to do his job.

Though you do have a good point as to the "Why does he suddenly have to get involved in all these events now?"

Placentas1 votes

I think he mostly has become active because he senses the watchers stirring. I believe they hint at that.

Beyond Legends2 votes

Meta wise is because the story demands it, otherwise we get a story without conflict.

In lore wise, it's because watcher due to lissandra meddling is slowling waking up from their slumbler. The Howling abyss that was meant to trap the watcher is weakning. Volibear seem to be meddling with mortal affair more and more as ursine join in a union with the winter claws in three way(more of two way) war of the sisters.

Mianta1 votes

I didn't consider the Watchers coming loose. That's a great point.

RiotFauxSchizzle4 votes

{quoted}

I can see the few interactions. Basically he's a Ron Swanson type champ. Blunt and direct and not all that talkative. If he has to interact with people for business it's always brief and down to business then they go their separate ways. He's not here to make friends, he's here to do his job.

Though you do have a good point as to the "Why does he suddenly have to get involved in all these events now?"

Personally, I had a whole bunch of interactions written. Then I looked them over and thought long and hard about if Ornn the character needed a lot of lines with other champions. Ultimately, the answer was no. His other lines did a better job of illustrating his character and, as you accurately put it: Ornn isn't here to make friends. Blunt. Direct. Don't bother to learn many names.

As to why he's back now: there are many hints and many reasons. All of which are guessed in this thread and others.

Thanks for reading and responding :)

Spideraxe1 votes

Could you share your favorites of the scrapped

Beas7ie1 votes

{quoted}

Personally, I had a whole bunch of interactions written. Then I looked them over and thought long and hard about if Ornn the character needed a lot of lines with other champions. Ultimately, the answer was no. His other lines did a better job of illustrating his character and, as you accurately put it: Ornn isn't here to make friends. Blunt. Direct. Don't bother to learn many names.

As to why he's back now: there are many hints and many reasons. All of which are guessed in this thread and others.

Thanks for reading and responding :)

I like this.

Like I mentioned earlier. He's Ron Swanson. He's not here to make friends, he's got work to do and when he's finished he's moving on to the next project.

It also helps that Ron is also a highly skilled craftsman/metal worker.

Whyte Lyon2 votes

Well no, Nick Offerman is a carpenter and incorporated a lot of himself into the Ron character.

Beas7ie2 votes

[{quoted}](name=Whyte Lyon,realm=OCE,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=UwBEss5G,comment-id=0000000200010000,timestamp=2017-08-23T21:32:41.876+0000)

Well no, Nick Offerman is a carpenter and incorporated a lot of himself into the Ron character.

That's one of the things that's so great about the show. Not just Nick Offerman/Ron but most of the main characters are pretty much exaggerations of the actors.

I saw an interview where Nick was talking about how before they started filming he would be in his shop working on a project a few times and the producers would call him and he'd always be having a saw or sander or some type of tool on and they would have to wait for him to turn it off. They finally asked him what he keeps working on and he told him and he said after that they were like "We're coming over". and they traveled out to him right at that moment and when they saw his workshop they were like "Ok, we're getting this into the show"

Also in RL he's really married to Tammy Two

Ralanr1 votes

Still bothered that he doesn't have a Braum line.

Why was that taken out?

Zombie Slayer1 votes

Volibear atleast from the 5 tales lore of Ornn fights him because "For centuries, he had grown jealous of the love the Hearthblood freely gave to his brother. It enraged the war-bear". I assume that Voli sort of looked up to Ornn and how he can get followers without doing anything. He probably has to do more to get followers and that makes him jealous?

Ralanr1 votes

Apparently a line for Braum was written but never made it through.

As for why Ornn is getting involved, I think it's that he sees he is needed. It's honestly vague and that annoys me.

Escheton1 votes

My thoughts exactly. Not every champion needs to have 50 interactions with every champ just because they are new or reworked. For some being concise works better to give the feel of the character.

I fell in love when I heard him say "Even my beard is angry".

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