Caitlyn as a "Prim and Proper" sheriff.

Zypheit·Apr 28, 2017·18 votes·2,001 views

Ask Riot: The "Sexy" Factor - Nexus - League of Legends

So in the latest Ask Riot, subtitled The "Sexy" Factor, an opinion of the design team was repeated that Caitlyn's visuals do not match up with her identity as the sheriff of Piltover. >The way Caitlyn looks makes no sense for a prim and proper sheriff. The same thing's been said in plenty of other discussions with the team. The thing is though, I don't really agree with this idea 100%.

Caitlyn was the first ADC I unlocked for my account way back when I first started playing. The reason she first appealed to me was because I saw lots of people talking about how she was a bad ADC because you needed to use her skills rather than just auto attack. (It was a different time, super early 2011.) I came to really like her as a character. She's plucky and sarcastic("Want another shot? I wouldn't want to leave things up in the air."), flirty ("Sorry boys, I keep the fuzzy cuffs at home."), sophisticated (It's the accent), and even a little bit ruthless and dark with some of her attack / channel ultimate VO lines. Honestly, the only line in the game that suggests an elitist, upper class attitude comes from Vi's special taunts directed at her, and of course Vi would think she's a rich snob. She's Vi. Vi herself is another big indicator to me that Caitlyn isn't to concerned with what is "proper." Why? Because Caitlyn recruited Vi to be her partner. That one's definitely not by the books.

So who is Caitlyn to me? She's a rebel herself, though constrained within the world she knew growing up. While laughable to someone like Vi, I feel like Caitlyn is just as much likely to buck the system. Don't forget that the entire reason she was even recognized as an asset for Piltover's law enforcement was from her work as a vigilante prior. So I don't think Caitlyn's sheriff because she's "prim and proper." I think she's sheriff because Piltover asked themselves, "Do you want a sheriff that wears a skirt past her knees or do you want a sheriff that gets things done?"

16 Comments

BerserknurpleApr 28, 201717 votes

You do have to admit that her visuals are ridiculous as they are now. Whether or not you think she should be prim and proper, she needs to either embrace that or the side of her you see. Her clothing is just impractical for a sheriff that is supposedly concerned with efficacy.

Chembaron YamadaApr 28, 20174 votes

I don't think so. If her method of working would be like Vi, chasing and fighting criminals directly, then you would be right. But Caitlyn works with her intelligence and is a sniper. If she is taking out her target with a single headshot from the top of a clock tower (you really gotta love her splash art, it is genius), it doesn't really matter if she is wearing a skirt and stuff like that.

BerserknurpleApr 29, 20171 votes

How many IRL SWAT team snipers do you see wearing pajamas or skirts or onesies? Snipers still need to be able to maneuver quickly and effectively to get into and out of position. Especially since Caitlyn isn't just a sniper, she is a sheriff who has to bring people in alive (most of the time). That means she needs to be chasing people, or fighting people if they get the drop on her.

AmpulicidaeMay 1, 20171 votes

They are ridiculously awesome. You're trying to force a fantasy setting with a fantasy hero who bucks the system into a weak drab stereotype. You are making the world a worse place.

red panda zApr 28, 20176 votes

The one big problem I have with her design is that her skirt ends at where her legs meet. Her vagina is literally a light breeze away from being revealed to all of bot lane.

MelledoneusApr 28, 201713 votes

Janna confirmed counter.

Sexy Jack RabbitApr 28, 20175 votes

I kinda knew the moment they mentioned Caitlyn as being the "Prim and Proper" sheriff, there'd be a post like this.

I don't think they were so much talking about Caitlyn's way of doing things. Being Prim and Proper =/= how much clothing you wear, but rather the condition of the clothing.

If you look at Caitlyn's appearance right now, it's pretty wacky, but it's all relatively high fashion-esque in the same sense.

Not a single thread or piece of clothing is torn. It's all in perfect upkept condition. Caitlyn is by no means a 100% by the books character, she's no push over and she's a pretty fucked up chick tbh. (Not as much as Vayne tho). But because of that it doesn't mean she can't look dashing and keep her clothes in prim condition.

Unlike Vi, who couldn't care how dirty or daggy she might look, Caitlyn keeps her clothing clean and well taken care of.

On top of all of that, come Caitlyn's inevitable re-design or rework or whatever, I have serious doubts they'll change her clothing in a way that is purely sensical. If only to keep in with the quotes that refer to her clothing being less then... sensical.

Xayah _ "Wow, Who did your wardrobe? Fire them. Fire them now."_

5000000000000000Apr 28, 20173 votes

Well reasoned! I'd like to add that her gameplay doesn't suggest her to be a proper, by-the-books sheriff either. They wouldn't leave bear traps with cupcakes around. And most definitely not call them "Yordle Snap Traps."

Skins ProjectApr 28, 20171 votes

Hunting.

Valor BotApr 28, 20171 votes

Caitlyn's identity as a woodsy hunter comes second to her 'sniper sheriff' theme though. Not only is the sniper sheriff theme unique to her, but there are already tons of woodsy hunter characters in League who fulfill that niche gameplay-wise (Quinn, Nidalee, Rengar). So long as Caitlyn's core identity/thematic remains what it is today, a bear trap does not belong on her kit. I am sure no criminal in Piltover is stupid enough to step into a large, completely obvious bear trap. I am also sure Caitlyn knows this and would rather catch the bad guys using something a bit more useful.

Linna ExcelApr 28, 20173 votes

I hate riot right now.

Caitlyn looks fine and here riot is trying to screw her up. Sure it may not be a "sheriff" look, but that's who cait is and she's looked like that forever. I hope they just leave her overall looks alone.

RobertsmashApr 28, 20172 votes

Although I'd prefer pants, I'd be fine if they just sharpened her up a little and toned down the ridiculousness from 11

Something like this, maybe have the skirt go down to mid-thigh though

http://pre00.deviantart.net/269d/th/pre/i/2014/324/a/e/riot_contest_caitlyn_by_dmitrygrebenkov-d8717vb.jpg

Valaran NaraApr 28, 20174 votes

{quoted}

Although I'd prefer pants, I'd be fine if they just sharpened her up a little and toned down the ridiculousness from 11

Something like this, maybe have the skirt go down to mid-thigh though

http://pre00.deviantart.net/269d/th/pre/i/2014/324/a/e/riot_contest_caitlyn_by_dmitrygrebenkov-d8717vb.jpg

Thanks for putting that there. It makes sense that they say she doesn't look right. I mean, non of it makes sense. It's legit sexy to be sexy. If she wears a skirt, okay, cool. But it's a skir attached to a corset that shows ample cleavage. People are talking as if her look makes sense for her job as a sheriff. Hell, I'd be fine with the lgs and skirt if the top actually covered up the breast. I'd be slightly fine with the corset if they covered up her legs. But them showing off both is "sexy cause we can"

Chembaron YamadaApr 28, 20171 votes

If you read the story about Caitlyn from the Piltover event, it shows a picture of her that isn't the proper sheriff.

SPOILER ALERT, DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW THE STORY She caught a spy from Noxus and she had the opportunity (and actually the duty) to execute her. But she didn't. She was sending her back home to send a message. In my opinion, Caitlyn is just like you described. She is a rebel, she may have the title of a sheriff, but she will get stuff done the way she wants. I think she will break rules if she thinks it is the right thing to do.

SickAntoApr 28, 20171 votes

Nobody who talks about how Ashe's current dress does not make her look like a leader and above all a freljordian </3

Mira Arya EntheApr 29, 20171 votes

I hope they do keep the skirt. I am fine with them making her look professional but I love the skirt. After all, scottish police and military once wore kilts.