The personality and story suggested by this splash art alone is much more interesting than any of these character's actual, official in-game lores. I want to know how this motley crew met up and formed an alliance! I want to know how this Garen runs his ship! Who built that Malphite?!
RiotKindlejack25 votesWell along with the rest of the skins team concept artists I helped come up with the idea for this rag-tag team of high-seas rogues and as always we gave it a lot of thought, so I'd be happy to answer any questions! When doing skin concepts we always try to flesh out our alternate-reality lore, whether it's a world where more champs ended up in Bildgewater or one in which they all attend school together, because it helps the designs feel cohesive and resonant.
"How this motley crew met up and formed an alliance"
I think the clue here is in the name of Garen's skin. "Rogue Admiral" suggests that at one time he was an admiral, perhaps of a Demacian fleet, and that he has since abandoned that post to pursue more selfish interests. He probably stole a ship and set sail for Bildgewater where he then decided it was a Slaughtership Captain's life for him - enough to earn some decent coin but not attract the attention of anyone who might recognise him as a deserter. From there he assembled a crew with a few star characters; a corsair with a knack for harpooning and a pet bird that serves as a lookout for sea serpents, a sea hunter familiar with the seas around Bildgewater that swims as a living lure for the monsters of the deep (like in Waterworld!) and the newest addition, a hulking automaton that can handle the serpent carcasses and defend the crew at sea and in port dealings.
"How this Garen runs his ship"
You can see from the splash that these are some bad ass operators at the top of their game. You better believe they have their own private Bidgewater wharf, secret island base and probably know of a much dingier and more dangerous tavern than the one you go to.
Garen is clearly in charge at port and on the sea, with his years of experience and rippling abs no one short-changes him and no one second-guesses him. He's in this for the money and the privacy that comes with running your own Slaughter ship (which he does better than most), but he looks out for his crew because he knows they are more valuable than just their raw talent. He probably explains to them that he's just 'protecting his investment' but I think in every alternate world Garen has a heart of gold.
Quinn is probably the closest thing to a first mate on the ship. I think Garen trusts her intelligence and they're likely seen splitting a bottle of rum and swapping stories. She keeps the crew working hard as either she or Valor always has an eye on them, and when the time comes to harpoon a serpent she is the one that both literally and figuratively pulls the trigger. Being a lookout she's also probably entrusted with recruiting any promising candidates for their operation.
Aatrox was conceived as a character similar to Queequeg from Moby-Dick; a merman native to the region who has a remarkable ability to go fin to fin with the gigantic serpents and bring them to the surface. Many ships have harpoons and captains but Aatrox is a rare prize for the ship as he can dive deep and coax out rare and exotic serpents of enormous value - a fact that he uses to his advantage to avoid mundane duties in favour of star gazing and scrimshaw. I'm sure Garen isn't happy about it, but Aatrox has proven his loyalty many times by venturing off the boat and into Bildgewater to save his comrades.
"Who built that Malphite?!"
Malphite is a welcome addition to the crew, providing the incredible raw power needed to haul larger serpents and dissuade would-be assailants. He is a magical automaton who hates swabbing decks and is suspected of keeping a pet wharf rat somewhere in his hull. I'd say Garen, seeing an empty spot in his crew, stockpiled gold for a year to commission the construction of this awesome strong-arm. As for who built him? It's true that a certain bildgerat has tinkered with similar mechanisms but considering it was Riot Earp that did the concept, and that Riot Earp also illustrates all of Zigg's game mode designs it might have been another yordle inventor?
I'm really glad you are interested in knowing more. Skins 'lore' is nothing official but for our team it's really important and we talk about it all the time. When players notice little things we put in or really feel the story elements we weave into the designs it makes our day!
Merxamers3 votesThis is really cool, thanks! I just found the splash art inspiring; there was CLEARLY a great story there to be told, maybe a bit more so than other alternate-skin lines. I have a couple more questions:
What exactly is a Slaughter Fleet (besides an awesome name for a fleet)? If they're basically whalers that seems like a downward career move for an admiral.
Does the crew have any long-term goals or aspirations, or is it a day-by-day existence for them?
This may be a pipe dream, but is there any chance for published lore/stories for alternate skins like this? I hesitate to even ask (given the state of the official lore), but I for one would be interested in more tales of the Slaughter Fleet :3
RiotKindlejack4 votesThis is really cool, thanks! I just found the splash art inspiring; there was CLEARLY a great story there to be told, maybe a bit more so than other alternate-skin lines. I have a couple more questions:
What exactly is a Slaughter Fleet (besides an awesome name for a fleet)? If they're basically whalers that seems like a downward career move for an admiral.
Does the crew have any long-term goals or aspirations, or is it a day-by-day existence for them?
This may be a pipe dream, but is there any chance for published lore/stories for alternate skins like this? I hesitate to even ask (given the state of the official lore), but I for one would be interested in more tales of the Slaughter Fleet :3
The Slaughter Fleets are groups of rival ships that hunt enormous sea serpents for the value of their carcasses. Yes this is a downward career move for an admiral for sure but he also doesn't have to obey a king. He sacrificed office and prestige for freedom! Also as you can see on the new GP (who wears the leather hide of serpents and a gilded serpent head on his shoulder) certain exotic serpent's bodies/bits are highly desirable in Bildgewater for their rarity, displaying wealth and status like diamonds and gold do for us. They are also used for medicines, materials etc. so a skillful Slaughterfleet Captain can become quite wealthy, which is for many more appealing than the respect of military command. There's a bit about Slaughterfleet's here on the event page: http://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/site/bilgewater/#act-2
We didn't think about them in that much detail, more of a snapshot of their current life. We leave it to the player's imagination >:)
I think it's definitely possible, but it would be after the core lore of Runeterra is solidified. I always look forward to player's own art and writing - one of the most exciting parts of my work is seeing how players embrace ideas we throw out and make them so much more!
SuperLuigiLXIV2 votesI think it's definitely possible, but it would be after the core lore of Runeterra is solidified. I always look forward to player's own art and writing - one of the most exciting parts of my work is seeing how players embrace ideas we throw out and make them so much more!
I will write for you guys forever if you offer me a job
Also I have to buy the Aatrox skin now. i asked u not 2 do dis 2 me :(
SuperLuigiLXIV4 votesI'm reading what you said about Aatrox and just flashing to One Piece, where Zoro sleeps or trains all day and doesn't do much else--until there's fighting to be done or there's emotional turmoil in the crew and Luffy's not handling it. And I am imagining Aatrox doing those things for Garen.
Dang you Jack I already have Mecha Aatrox STOP TEMPTING ME INTO BUYING SEAHUNTER WITH LORE
RiotKindlejack4 votesI'm reading what you said about Aatrox and just flashing to One Piece, where Zoro sleeps or trains all day and doesn't do much else--until there's fighting to be done or there's emotional turmoil in the crew and Luffy's not handling it. And I am imagining Aatrox doing those things for Garen.
Dang you Jack I already have Mecha Aatrox STOP TEMPTING ME INTO BUYING SEAHUNTER WITH LORE
I love One Piece too! Myself and the other artists all talk about One Piece a lot because they have really wonderful characters. Such skill has Eiichiro Oda and we can all learn from his character design. Garen is obviously a nod to a certain Smoke-smoke-fruit eating "White Hunter".
Merxamers1 votesThe 'Smoker' reference had occurred to me but i thought that had to be just coincidence! :D that's awesome!
Meªt1 votesDo I see ARLONG in that crew as well ;)
smoker/arlong/idkwhoquinnwouldbemaybeJewleryBonney/and The Going Malphite Merry
RiotKindlejack4 votesDo I see ARLONG in that crew as well ;)
smoker/arlong/idkwhoquinnwouldbemaybeJewleryBonney/and The Going Malphite Merry
Or Furaaaaaaankeeeeeeeeee!
Meªt1 voteskindle
pls
can you pitch a SUUUUUUPAAAAAAAAAAAAA Vi skin
it needs to be done for both of our sakes
RiotKindlejack3 voteskindle
pls
can you pitch a SUUUUUUPAAAAAAAAAAAAA Vi skin
it needs to be done for both of our sakes
<3
SpecterVonBaren1 votesSogeking Teemo.
GreenLore1 votesObvious inspiration for sea hunter aatrox xD
Ebonmaw Dragon1 votesAatrox was conceived as a character similar to Queequeg from Moby-Dick; a merman native to the region who has a remarkable ability to go fin to fin with the gigantic serpents and bring them to the surface.
I would like to ask something about this... we know that Skins are from an alternate-reality... However, even if Aatrox is not actually a Merman... There are actual "mermans" in Runeterra? (and im not talking about 
) They are a myth? or something that only exist on this alternate-reality?
SpecterVonBaren2 votesPerhaps Aatrox is what male Marai look like, or maybe he's an adult species of Fizz?
RiotKindlejack3 votes[{quoted}](name=Ebonmaw Dragon,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=W1smZWIk,comment-id=00050002,timestamp=2015-09-17T15:39:33.286+0000)
I would like to ask something about this... we know that Skins are from an alternate-reality... However, even if Aatrox is not actually a Merman... There are actual "mermans" in Runeterra? (and im not talking about
Well Nami is one of the Marai, which is a race of merfolk that I assume has males. Whether or not some of them can change their tail into legs I don't know, it's a common magic ability in stories about merfolk and in MtG some merfolk have legs instead of tails depending on the plane they inhabit.
Ebonmaw Dragon1 votesWell Nami is one of the Marai, which is a race of merfolk that I assume has males. Whether or not some of them can change their tail into legs I don't know, it's a common magic ability in stories about merfolk and in MtG some merfolk have legs instead of tails depending on the plane they inhabit.
Amazing, thanks for the answer!
RiotKindlejack3 votes[{quoted}](name=Ebonmaw Dragon,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=W1smZWIk,comment-id=0005000200010000,timestamp=2015-09-18T19:27:56.757+0000)
Amazing, thanks for the answer!
Thanks for the question! Perhaps one day we'll see a male Marai champion.
nosafterburn1 votesplz let it have the body of a humanoid and the head of a fish.
Celio Hogane HD5 votesSo basically with this we know MORE about non-canon malphite than canon-malphite, amazing.
Merxamers1 votesto be fair, what's there to know about canon Malphite? He's a giant rock.
Celio Hogane HD3 votesFrom where it is? why is alive? what is his favorite food? it has hobbies? Only likes to crush helmet bros?
Merxamers1 votes
"My previously blissful existence is now contaminated by the dull but constant terror of existential ennui. THANK A LOT CELIO HOGANE!"
but seriously, last i remember he was form an alternate dimension or something
Celio Hogane HD1 votesYes he was from another dimension, a dimension that was literally just a big mountain, and malphite just a stone piece.
RiotKindlejack17 votes[{quoted}](name=Celio Hogane HD,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=W1smZWIk,comment-id=00050003,timestamp=2015-09-18T14:53:58.284+0000)
So basically with this we know MORE about non-canon malphite than canon-malphite, amazing.
And you know more about cannon-malphite than non-cannon malphite :S
Icestar11861 votesBeat me to it, I see...
Celio Hogane HD2 votesOk you won because iwas going to make that joke but i dedided it was too much.
Old Man Riven1 votesI logged in just to upvote and commend you for this post - I hope you guys never feel shy about this kind of thing; it was a delight to read so much about these alternate versions of two of my favorite champions - Garen was actually the first one I ever unlocked permanently.
I imagined a very similar role for Sea-Hunter Aatrox too - just seemed like his bag, diving in and around the water to harry the prey.
I like it - you could absolutely expand this little post into a book, and it'd be a good one.
This kind of stuff makes the shared-splash sets that've come out many times more interesting than they would be without it.
Thanks for doing this.
RiotKindlejack2 votesI logged in just to upvote and commend you for this post - I hope you guys never feel shy about this kind of thing; it was a delight to read so much about these alternate versions of two of my favorite champions - Garen was actually the first one I ever unlocked permanently.
I imagined a very similar role for Sea-Hunter Aatrox too - just seemed like his bag, diving in and around the water to harry the prey.
I like it - you could absolutely expand this little post into a book, and it'd be a good one.
This kind of stuff makes the shared-splash sets that've come out many times more interesting than they would be without it.
Thanks for doing this.
Thanks to Merxamers for asking! As I said we love talking about this sort of stuff and theorycrafting while we are working on skins, but I appreciate players asking to know about them too.
You are right about the shared splash art; it gives us more opportunity to tell a story with the characters that helps to strengthen skins that don't get VO/Animation. I think that's a really big pro!
Merxamers1 votesAw shucks!
https://thedisneydivadotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/goofy.gif
I hope to hear more about these alternate skin lines in the future as well :)
Chromatic Eagle1 votesSo how many skin sets have you worked on? What other groups have a backstory to them? I'm curious about the playing card set.
RiotKindlejack5 votes[{quoted}](name=Chromatic Eagle,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=W1smZWIk,comment-id=0005000400000001,timestamp=2015-09-20T01:16:00.589+0000)
So how many skin sets have you worked on? What other groups have a backstory to them? I'm curious about the playing card set.
Riot Penguin worked on the 'House of Cards' set (he also pioneered Marauder/Warden) although I helped with the idea of a royal court. We were trying to figure out what, beyond card suit motifs, would give these skins appeal and character. I brought up the Knave of Hearts from the new Alice in Wonderland (played by one of my favourite actors Crispin Glover) and from there we hit upon the idea of a Medieval court where the various Game of Thrones style players are identified by the card corresponding with their level of influence/power. Their proximity to the throne in the splash art also reinforces this idea of who hold the power in this court.
I've worked on a lot of the sets this year, starting with Guardian of the Sands, then Samsung Galaxy White, Prehistoric, and most recently Academy. I also worked on Arclight Vel'koz which expanded the skin line from just Varus (and now there's Vayne too). Something I'm actively interested in is taking old skins that we've done in the past, finding the value in them and then expanding that into a skin line for a few champions while building a bigger story. So Arclight Varus was initially just a one-off version of Varus inspired by kid icarus with light magic but then I distilled some design language and thought up a loose story line about them being holy avengers uplifted by a gigantic golden-tentacled god (so in his splash Vel'koz is testing the faithful and Varus and Vayne are supernatural zealots that passed that test and ascended). Blood Moon is another example that the skins team were already doing before I started; taking some old skins and developing them into a modern skin line!
Thales2 votesI noticed that recently when looking at Arclight Vel'koz's splash art! It isn't just him disintegrating some hapless guy, there's an orderly queue of people behind him. That was a really cool and unexpected touch, so good job to you for coming up with it, and to the splash art people for representing it.
Chromatic Eagle1 votesSo what's the world of the Guardians of the Sands? I imagine it's a parallel world, but what's their story?
Have you considered adding an opposing skinline against the Arclights? Do they have any connection with the Justicar skins?
Blood Moon is a bit of a sore spot with me. It started out as a lore skin depicting an event. Then it morphed into the cultural portrayal of Shadow Isle champions, with Elise being a controversial skin. Now we have Zilean, with people begging you to do Diana. Do these skins have lore to them still, or is it about what looks cool? That last part isn't necessarily bad, but a little disappointing from me.
RiotKindlejack1 votes[{quoted}](name=Chromatic Eagle,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=W1smZWIk,comment-id=000500040000000100000001,timestamp=2015-09-20T15:03:38.141+0000)
So what's the world of the Guardians of the Sands? I imagine it's a parallel world, but what's their story?
Have you considered adding an opposing skinline against the Arclights? Do they have any connection with the Justicar skins?
Blood Moon is a bit of a sore spot with me. It started out as a lore skin depicting an event. Then it morphed into the cultural portrayal of Shadow Isle champions, with Elise being a controversial skin. Now we have Zilean, with people begging you to do Diana. Do these skins have lore to them still, or is it about what looks cool? That last part isn't necessarily bad, but a little disappointing from me.
From the Gaurdian of the Sands launch:
Deep in the sands lies an arcane temple forsaken by a ruined kingdom. Deep in that temple lies an imposing tomb burnished with mystic runes and emerald scarabs. Deep in that tomb lies an ancient being of treacherous power. These guys guard the temple next to that one.
And Risen Fiddlesticks:
The sands rise at his command. The guardians fall to his power. The scarabs flock to their master. Everyone else just runs like hell.
This copy was written at the beginning of the year without much context from the concept artists and reminds me how much we've improved this year. Now we try to ensure that the initial ideas follow right through the production to ensure the final skins feel really thematically cohesive and the overall impression is strong. When I did the concept for GotS Kha'zix I was a freelance artist working from home and I only had a Shurima style guide to work from without much communication to drive story so I focused on creating a cool design that was basically 'What if Kha'zix was like Nasus and Renekton'. From what was written at launch I see the Guardians kind of like Nasus and Renekton; standing watch over the tomb that sealed a dangerous enemy of Shurima. In this case instead of Xerath it was Fiddlesticks, in a world where he is an all-powerful mummy commanding an army of scarabs. I often referred to him as feeling even more ancient than Azir and wanted him to have a custom taunt about how Azir may have ruled Shurima, but he built Shurima. I like to imagine him as the cursed return of the first emperor of the sands! obligatory reminder that this is not canon
The Shadowfire Kindred skin would suggest that there is a balance between forces of light and darkness, so I see skins like Gatekeeper Galio and Infernal Nasus as being the opposing force to Arclight. But where Arclight are organised under the all knowing eye of the might Vel'koz the Infernal seem to be more chaotic, serving themselves and bringing destruction without purpose. I guess Infernal are the disease and Arclight is the cure? Justicar comes from a time when skin names carried less weight; Justicar Syndra could have been Arclight perhaps and there really isn't anything that ties Syndra to Aatrox which makes it very difficult to even understand what the theme of Justicar is. We talk about it a lot internally because, while it's funny to joke about it (Arclight if the name starts with 'V' otherwise call it Justicar), it does point out the importance of a name and also to put thought into colour/shape/materials when fleshing out a skin line to ensure we meet player's expectations.
The original Bloodmoon skins were from 2011. I'm not sure any concept artist on the skins team now worked on the skins team then, which means it does happen that very old notes can get overlooked. From the launch of BM Thresh/Elise:
A sanguine moon stains a canvas of stars as two figures utter an ancient oath, swearing allegiance. They murmur the final words. Bloody light surges from their bodies. Power courses through transformed veins as masks materialize in their hands. Thresh and Elise embrace the Blood Moon. Join the ranks of an ancient sect with Blood Moon Elise and Blood Moon Thresh...
Yes the new skins aren't lore, but there's still this idea of performance and the Blood Moon night. Only instead of being part of the performance in the Serene Gardens, they are being initiated into an evil Ionian cult. They still however retain some theatrical elements as the cult has as much ritual and performance as the other events happening throughout Ionia on that evening:
We the animators decided it'd be cool if their recalls were related to traditional Japanese culture in some form or another. It just so happened that Kabuki was a strong influence on Kalista (which I also animated) and Thresh. For Elise I wanted to do something else that played off the more beautiful and calm appearance of her human form as well as the lore of the "Jorōgumo". -Riot Whist
As Riot Ant in Oz has said, BM Kalista is very much how she would be portrayed if one year at the Festival of Fire they told her story. Finally BM Zilean is considered to be linked to Thresh and Elise and is the Grand Master of the secret Blood Moon sect. His splash depicts him descending upon a crowd and absorbing their blood magic into his 'moons'. But is it his loyal followers or a hapless audience during the festivities?
So these skins all share some themes; Japanese folklore and Kabuki theatre, performances in Ionia on the night of the Blood Moon. However you are right they are loose ties that allow us to design a skin that best plays up the chosen champion. For example if we made BM Diana would she be a member of the cult, herself dressed as a hero from Ionian lore, or an Ionian representation of the Lunari from ancient times? That flexibility is very desirable in design.
SuperLuigiLXIV1 votes{quoted} Arclight if the name starts with 'V' otherwise call it Justicar
Arclght Volibear confirmed? 
frigginmurlocs1 votesArclight Vi confirmed?
SuperLuigiLXIV1 votesArclight Veigar confirmed!
GreenLore1 votesArclight Viktor confirmed!?
SuperLuigiLXIV1 votesArclight.
Vladimir.
Confirmed.
:^)
patmax171 votesSomething I'm actively interested in is taking old skins that we've done in the past, finding the value in them and then expanding that into a skin line for a few champions while building a bigger story.
Thanks for doing this. I really appreciate when, instead of (just) building something new, you build upon what's already there. League has developed a lot of interesting characters and situation in the years, a lot of potential stories that are just loose ends at the moment. Every time a new champion comes out that connects to something already there (think yasuo or jinx), or you create new skin lines based on existing single skins (project being the most obvious recent example here) you give us a feeling of cohesion, you tell us that LoL isn't just a bunch of cool ideas put together, but that there's a living world behind it, ad that you are making us expore it bit after bit. The bilgewater event has been a beautiful example of this, but even skin lines can play their part :)
RiotKindlejack1 votesThanks for doing this. I really appreciate when, instead of (just) building something new, you build upon what's already there. League has developed a lot of interesting characters and situation in the years, a lot of potential stories that are just loose ends at the moment. Every time a new champion comes out that connects to something already there (think yasuo or jinx), or you create new skin lines based on existing single skins (project being the most obvious recent example here) you give us a feeling of cohesion, you tell us that LoL isn't just a bunch of cool ideas put together, but that there's a living world behind it, ad that you are making us expore it bit after bit. The bilgewater event has been a beautiful example of this, but even skin lines can play their part :)
I really glad to hear you say that. Obviously the writers on the foundation team have the hardest job consolidating and building the core IP, but I agree that even with something like skins we have an opportunity to enrich the experience. It's not easy on a huge team with so many cool things in constant production but we all love and respect the game we are building and do our best to ensure that the products we deliver are hitting the right notes (just ask SpaceW0mbat about PROJECT). We will do our best to deliver more of this in the future!
GreenLore12 votesWhat I find really funny about this,is that there was someone who theorized about which champion was in the background of this splash art and everyone was like "dude thats just a ship". Turns out it was a ship AND a champion xD
RiotBioluminescence14 votesWhat I find really funny about this,is that there was someone who theorized about which champion was in the background of this splash art and everyone was like "dude thats just a ship". Turns out it was a ship AND a champion xD
It was all I could do not to comment on that player's thread - all I could do was upvote it and keep my mouth shut! They had it dead to rights.
Photos of Ghosts3 votesThere was the "why not both" pic available :^)
ModAcademy Kayn4 votesI'm so embarrassed since I'm one of those people who said it was "Just a ship".
Ebonmaw Dragon11 votesWho built that Malphite?!
i dont know
Ironclad Dragon5 votes The Ironside must always have a captain.
Ralanr4 votesWhy not make it a different dimension story?
Pirate Garen seems way too relaxed compared to our Garen.
