How far does the lore reach into the game?

Bultz·4/27/2018, 9:00:19 PM·1 votes·2,255 views

Someone asked If Yasuo and others would be bothered to be weaker than a little girl, zoe, but how far does the lore reach into the game? Is magic resist real? Lifesteal? Like Yasuo vs Zoe, in terms of skill, Yasuo. Power? maybe Zoe. I mean we don't know how strong characters are in lore. Like can Yasuo remove the air around a person to choke them to death? If he can create windwalls all around him, would he be invincible to most? Just how far can we reach into the game for opinions on power?

4 Comments

Masala Chai4/27/2018, 11:23:03 PM3 votes

Hmm, that's actually a fairly good question.

In terms of power relative to their in-game power, that's obviously not the case since if it were, champions like Aurelion Sol (blows up the entire game... and all of Runeterra), Bard (walks through space-time to kill everyone before they existed), or Kindred (everyone just dies) would flat out kill the game. Syndra could 1v9 any human champions etc.

However, their lore sort of extends to their in-game manifestations, either by identity or by kit, some such as Yasuo, Riven, and Jhin have nearly perfectly thematically executed kits since they resonate well with their character, whereas others, such as the likes of Kindred, Kalista, and Karma don't really live up to their promised fantasy when llinked between their color stories and biographies.

Even though most of Yasuo’s wind power seems to emanate from his sword, he is specified to explicitly know a wind technique unlike Riven who has wind powers due to her runic sword. He can create mini-tornadoes, run faster using the wind, create walls of wind for protection, and use the wind to empower his strikes. His fantasy as a wind samurai is fully realised through his kit as he can essentially bend the wind around him to serve his will. His limit is reached when discussing his ability to shape the wind to large distances due to scientific principles of air resistance, as he is essentially limited to a melee range, and his frailty since he pushes his limits with the gentle wind. His weaknesses and strengths meld well together with his thematic. He's also well defined and separated from the rest of the cast, and his interesting gameplay (but the one-sided nature and hand holding mechanics don't meld well into the "skillful" aspect.)

Zero Shingetsu4/27/2018, 11:53:01 PM3 votes

As for the original point of contention, I honestly don't think Yasuo would be upset that he's "weaker" than Zoe. First of all, Zoe's not technically of the human realm, so it's not like you're comparing apples to apples when you match them up. Second, she's not really "stronger", she just has more utility. In a fist fight, Yasuo would win hands down.

Strawberry Bird4/28/2018, 4:15:38 AM1 votes

While we're on the subject, how do Yasuo's wind abilities actually work? Originally it was suggested that it was just an extension of his sword strokes -- anyone could wave a sword and displace a little air, but those who have the strength and know how to do it could throw a much stronger breeze.

Then "The Bird and the Branch" came along and the air itself seemed to be something he could control, at least subconsciously -- there's the moment toward the end where he's upset that she's leaving and the wind is rough, but he accepts it and the wind calms down. And then in "Confessions," he (and Elder Souma by suggestion) channel wind magic through the runic blade until it overloads (?) and breaks apart. And then Yas is able to manipulate the old man's breath to stop the flying shard, without much if any connection to sword work. So does he have actual wind magic and the sword helps him channel it but he doesn't strictly need it?

I have a headcannon that he's very distantly related to the vastaya.

KaynsRightNipple4/28/2018, 8:23:52 PM1 votes

I'm pretty sure the original post you're referring to was just some lolicon trying to force their crack ship onto the boards without violating the "no fanfiction" rules; so I wouldn't worry too much about it.