Qiyana: Awesome visuals, but one big missed opportunity.

ModThe Djinn·Jun 6, 2019·95 votes·23,601 views

Based on the image below, Qiyana's pretty awesome -- her weapon and outfit and jewelry really sell her region's aesthetic, and her pose lets you know she barely has time to show you her disdain for you. The design team knocked most of this out of the park.

https://cdn.upcomer.com/esports/__sized__/content/4234-qiyana-crop-c0-5__0-5-780x312.png

...but then we get to her hair. We have what appears to be the empress of a region that seems inspired by meso-american culture to at least some extent, and given how different that is from anything else we've seen in Runeterra it feels like a great opportunity to show us that by making a character whose hair and makeup styles reflect that cultural difference. Instead, we have another female character with white, flowing, slightly curled hair and a classical western tiara-style crown.

Now, I have nothing against that, but I feel it's a missed opportunity to tell us something about this new region. Compare to Illaoi, who sells her culture through her unusual earrings, makeup, and hairstyle, causing her face to very clearly reflect her character and her origin.

If we zoom in on Qiyana, we can basically call her a somewhat generic Runeterra woman. Probably a princess or a queen, sure, but for someone who is introducing a new region and is -- further -- the leader of said region, does this really live up to that representation?

https://imgur.com/LgWG5mD

Compare that to how unique taking inspiration from, say, any of this traditional Mayan (or African, or Egyptian, we there are some elements of those in the design as well) hairstyles would be -- and there are certainly more cultures you could pull from. She obviously needs a hairstyle that's unique to her culture and not a real-world culture, but I feel there's untapped ground here to showcase who she and her people are.

https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/f80d065e-d050-421a-ad5b-e89bd87af73a/d7v1kth-1579e8d7-97a5-4aa0-8142-744d1be88307.jpg/v1/fill/w_1024,h_3982,q_75,strp/maya_women_hairstyles_of_the_classic_period_by_kamazotz_d7v1kth-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9Mzk4MiIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2Y4MGQwNjVlLWQwNTAtNDIxYS1hZDViLWU4OWJkODdhZjczYVwvZDd2MWt0aC0xNTc5ZThkNy05N2E1LTRhYTAtODE0Mi03NDRkMWJlODgzMDcuanBnIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTEwMjQifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6aW1hZ2Uub3BlcmF0aW9ucyJdfQ.tX-M51hNubSa3kfF1a8CdmwQL56cn2bTz6Cujdz9NFU

146 Comments

OleandervineJun 6, 201993 votes

I also felt like her hair really missed the mark. It's not just the style to me either, it's the platinum silver color.

Qiyana isn't selling me "jungle queen of a secret society of shamans." She's selling me "Lady Gaga in the Jungle."

CetriJun 6, 201916 votes

It looks like all of the people in her roadmap teaser have that hair color. Not to make excuses, though, but at least it seems there's an aesthetic going on.

ModThe DjinnJun 6, 201917 votes

{quoted}

It looks like all of the people in her roadmap teaser have that hair color. Not to make excuses, though, but at least it seems there's an aesthetic going on.

And that's fine. The color doesn't bother me so much as the loss of a chance to use her head -- the most expressive part of the champion -- to sell this new culture.

TerozuJun 6, 20192 votes

I didnt like it until i read that last line.

Now i love it.

The IcebornJun 6, 201911 votes

{quoted}

I also felt like her hair really missed the mark. It's not just the style to me either, it's the platinum silver color.

Qiyana isn't selling me "jungle queen of a secret society of shamans." She's selling me "Lady Gaga in the Jungle."

Lmao

BLACK REALM GODJun 6, 20195 votes

{quoted}

I also felt like her hair really missed the mark. It's not just the style to me either, it's the platinum silver color.

Qiyana isn't selling me "jungle queen of a secret society of shamans." She's selling me "Lady Gaga in the Jungle."

"lady gaga in the jungle" - I honestly hope she IS lady gaga in the jungle. imagine her doing the bad romance voice and talking like lady gaga. that would be hilarious.

OleandervineJun 7, 20193 votes

"Don't be the drag(on), just be a queen!"

BLACK REALM GODJun 7, 20192 votes

{quoted}

"Don't be the drag(on), just be a queen!"

if they reuse the nidalee voice actress or someone that can do those deeper tones i think it'd be hilarious. However, from the way she sounds in the trailers I'm imagining someone closer to a lux.

OleandervineJun 7, 20193 votes

She sounded pretty close to Neeko to me actually. A lot like Neeko.

Zeppelins circusJun 7, 20192 votes

{quoted}

I also felt like her hair really missed the mark. It's not just the style to me either, it's the platinum silver color.

Qiyana isn't selling me "jungle queen of a secret society of shamans." She's selling me "Lady Gaga in the Jungle."

This can never be more accurate. It is the same impression I got.

EleshakaiJun 7, 20192 votes

Are you sure Lady Gaga ISN'T the jungle queen of a secret society of shamans?

ChaosReynJun 7, 20192 votes

Isn't she one of the Egyptian Gods?

"No, Pharaoh."

Well, she should be...

ChaosReynJun 7, 20191 votes

Don't invoke thy name...you'll start a Bad Romance montage...

OleandervineJun 7, 20192 votes

Rah rah, rah rah rahhhh, romaaa romamaaa :)

Garen is adoptedJun 6, 201918 votes

is this a personal attack or something?

ModThe DjinnJun 6, 201918 votes

[{quoted}](name=Garen is adopted,realm=EUNE,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Woij1lcE,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2019-06-06T19:20:51.927+0000)is this a personal attack or something?

Nope. Love the design, and the artists did a great job. I simply think there was a missed opportunity to really make this character feel like she and her region have a unique place in Runeterra.

Garen is adoptedJun 6, 201916 votes

btw someone suggested some changes on surrenderat20 comm section ( https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/99f11f5f67371728ea07414e7c6e10157c69d49dd3d3fce8172ee931343f7cbc.png ) , and honestly I can say it fit her much better and looks less like she's having a wig made of dog hair. (I do not really know like what dog breed her hairstyle remind me of, but im sure there is one with exactly that white fur style covering its body)

OleandervineJun 6, 20196 votes

I think this works for her a lot better than the platinum color.

DeadUnbornJun 6, 20194 votes

I actually do like this a lot better

Tomoe GozenJun 6, 20199 votes

This isn't better in my opinion as this is more or less a Sivir skin at that point.

TwitchInMyPantsJun 6, 20196 votes

[{quoted}](name=Tomoe Gozen,realm=EUNE,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Woij1lcE,comment-id=00030004,timestamp=2019-06-06T20:40:11.338+0000)

This isn't better in my opinion as this is more or less a Sivir skin at that point.

To be fair, this champion in general looks like Sivir

If you slapped "Elementalist Sivir" on that splash art and gave it to a friend who hasn't played League recently they'd 100% believe you, she has same body syndrome and a giant fucking ring glaive

BLACK REALM GODJun 6, 20192 votes

[{quoted}](name=Garen is adopted,realm=EUNE,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Woij1lcE,comment-id=0003,timestamp=2019-06-06T19:42:15.520+0000)

btw someone suggested some changes on surrenderat20 comm section ( https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/99f11f5f67371728ea07414e7c6e10157c69d49dd3d3fce8172ee931343f7cbc.png ) , and honestly I can say it fit her much better and looks less like she's having a wig made of dog hair. (I do not really know like what dog breed her hairstyle remind me of, but im sure there is one with exactly that white fur style covering its body)

you're thinking of a pokemon. not an actual dog. Furfrou. or maybe you're thinking of a white haired poodle... who knows.

https://mummyboon.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/12_furfrou_full.png?w=545&h=553

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9Cczh_rZOKo/TX1pKjrG5hI/AAAAAAAAOis/X3comTC4FUM/s1600/white-poodle.jpg

Eternal TormentJun 6, 201914 votes

Can I speak brutally honest?

Her Hairstyle and eyes make her look like a snobby, entitled late teenager. You know, the ones who always are chewing bubblegun and have pink purses.

That said, maybe that is presicely, and intentionally, done so. We have had many regions in Runeterra so far, but even demacia is not borderline arrogant. Maybe this is a first glimpse on a Runeterran culture doing precisely that. Being Stuck up know-it-alls. The arrogant folk in the world.

It would on one end mean another grey-area populus, but on the other hand, one so distinctively and clearly defined, yet so stereotypical at the same time that it's something new again.

HommeGoujonJun 6, 201913 votes

Why can't we get a bald woman in the game? Like does every woman have to have a magnificent chevelure?

I'd root for a tribe full of baldies lol

ModThe DjinnJun 6, 20198 votes

{quoted}

Why can't we get a bald woman in the game? Like does every woman have to have a magnificent chevelure?

I'd root for a tribe full of baldies lol

Honestly, she's be pretty badass as an all or mostly bald character. -shrug-

TheMan292Jun 6, 20198 votes

does not matter to me. she has white hair so what. she is not supposed to 100 percent portray a culture

ModThe DjinnJun 6, 20196 votes

{quoted}

does not matter to me. she has white hair so what. she is not supposed to 100 percent portray a culture

Totally fine. The current design might work perfectly for you, in which case that's awesome! I'm not super concerned about the hair color myself -- the stylistic choice of the hairstyle and the crown element are what I have more reservations about.

kda akaliJun 6, 20197 votes

Kind of sad shes not older either, she looks like a teenager. I hope it's not something again like Zoe and Neeko where they are super old but act/are children.

kda akaliJun 6, 20197 votes

Don't understand why this is being downvoted. The bad ass old woman theme in other games is so interesting. Just imagine how bad ass would an old war-torn female fighter would be. There's currently none of that in league. You could kind of say Camille, but she doesn't visual stand out as that.

Literally all the recent female champions (other than Yuumi, shes just a cat) have been from like 10-20, there's really no diversity in that.

Sexy Jack RabbitJun 7, 20195 votes

As a woman of Colour I'm pretty underwhelmed lmao.

Personally I would have loved to see her have a wider nose.

OtakuBurritoJun 7, 20194 votes

[{quoted}](name=Sexy Jack Rabbit,realm=OCE,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Woij1lcE,comment-id=0023,timestamp=2019-06-07T02:45:57.383+0000)

As a woman of Colour I'm pretty underwhelmed lmao.

Personally I would have loved to see her have a wider nose.

^^^^

Wider nose, hips, lips, and not that damn wig looking like she stole Sharon Needles wig do that she could lip sync for her life.

I just can't get over that ugly ass wig!

BlåsigtJun 7, 20194 votes

[{quoted}](name=Sexy Jack Rabbit,realm=OCE,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Woij1lcE,comment-id=0023,timestamp=2019-06-07T02:45:57.383+0000)

As a woman of Colour I'm pretty underwhelmed lmao.

Personally I would have loved to see her have a wider nose.

I mean as an American Indian man, her nose and my nose are kind of similar tbh, and her body type is not far off from my sister's...

VexaeriaJun 7, 20195 votes

Compare to Illaoi, who sells her culture through her unusual earrings, makeup, and hairstyle, causing her face to very clearly reflect her character and her origin.

Personally, I feel the difference between Illaoi and Qiyana from a design standpoint is that Illaoi wasn't meant to be attractive. That isn't to say Illaoi is unattractive, but she's a tall, beefy, powerful woman that went far and away thematically from the Syndras and Jannas of Runeterra. As such, they had a bit more liberty to make her different because her selling point wasn't "she's hot".

Unfortunately, it seems, whenever the goal of a character is more leaning toward sex appeal, the less there is room for "different". Jinx is honestly still their biggest accomplishment on that front.

Illaoi still isn't all that popular despite really fun visual effects and a rich character. That being said, I don't think Riot NEEDS every character to be popular these days. A lot of people have played this game for years and are set in their mains, it's much more likely to make me budge off Lux if there is a niche character I really identify with over another wide-appealing character that has me saying not much more than "oh look, a new champion".

ModCaptainMårvelousJun 7, 20195 votes

I'm the complete opposite: I think her head is fine. From the neck down she's just this play-it-safe-generic "girl clothes" champ. There's nothing about her interesting save for her weapon and her head.

Hell, you could even go further into the sexy territory and just own up to it with some big amazonian tribal clothing or some more revealing psuedo-meso-america clothing. What we instead get is the personification of Oatmeal who looks more like a Season 2 design than a Season 9 design in a very bad way.

BLIGHTBRINGERJun 6, 20194 votes

Yeah the hair also kinda seemed a bit odd to me when you look at the rest of her design..

EbonyBladeJ88Jun 6, 20194 votes

I know she only just got revealed, but the design of her weapon looks stolen wholesale from Tira of Soulcalibur.

Here's an image for comparison.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/soulcalibur/images/0/0d/SC6_Tira.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180821102334

Then we look at Qiyana.

https://cdn.upcomer.com/esports/__sized__/content/4234-qiyana-crop-c0-5__0-5-780x312.png

It's just that since I've played all the Soulcalibur games, and seen Tira in action many times, I can't help but notice the similarity.

I'm sure as more gets revealed about Qiyana the similarities will lessen, but as it currently stands, well... yeah.

ModThe DjinnJun 6, 20197 votes

{quoted}

I know she only just got revealed, but the design of her weapon looks stolen wholesale from Tira of Soulcalibur.

Here's an image for comparison.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/soulcalibur/images/0/0d/SC6_Tira.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180821102334

Then we look at Qiyana.

https://cdn.upcomer.com/esports/__sized__/content/4234-qiyana-crop-c0-5__0-5-780x312.png

It's just that since I've played all the Soulcalibur games, and seen Tira in action many times, I can't help but notice the similarity.

I'm sure as more gets revealed about Qiyana the similarities will lessen, but as it currently stands, well... yeah.

I'm personally not too worried about that. The chakram is a popular weapon in fantasy art, and a giant one is not that unique.

TerozuJun 7, 20196 votes

Issue here being, "giant chakram" is a really old concept that probably predates Tira by many decades.

Lady SylumJun 6, 20194 votes

I look at her and her design.....and I see Princess Peach

BlåsigtJun 7, 20194 votes

I like her hair - this is a fantasy game, it does not have to be so deeply rooted in any specific source material.

RaxistaichoJun 7, 20191 votes

Thing is, Riot's trying to make League more realistic.

BlåsigtJun 7, 20192 votes

{quoted}

Thing is, Riot's trying to make League more realistic.

It is?

Frontline FuryJun 7, 20194 votes

The hair and face just ruins the whole character to me. YAAAAWN another generic Sivir .

Because Ashe League Kaisa didn’t Riven already Janna have Camille any Lissandra characters Sejuani matching Cassiopeia this Diana one Akali in Irelia personality Fiora or Kayle aesthetic.

If you want to see unique and interesting character done RIGHT, look at Camille Taliyah Illaoi Neeko .

I’m sad to be so negative but this champion has NOTHING to make you go “i relate to this and want to play it.” She’ll be rolling off her gameplay alone.

JennniiiJun 6, 20193 votes

[sg-jinx] gimme this champ now

AidenVradeenJun 7, 20193 votes

Dark skin, white hair, control of the elements: Ororo Munroe, probably. But, in the end, she's only another stripper from Las Vegas in a fantasy costume, like almost every other girl in this game.

CasterGilgameshJun 7, 20194 votes

being beautiful and showing some skin = stripper nice [slayer-jinx-unamused]

Camille FerrøsJun 6, 20192 votes

The problem is that gold is everyone in every single region. And golden jewelry with some green gemstone doesn't feel like some old hidden cilivization. And the outfit all together doesn't hit the unique culture it wants to be. And the hair is just Riot obsessing over white hair, and it's starting to ruining their products.

ModThe DjinnJun 6, 20196 votes

[{quoted}](name=Camille Ferrøs,realm=EUNE,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=Woij1lcE,comment-id=0005,timestamp=2019-06-06T19:52:08.933+0000)The problem is that gold is everyone in every single region. And golden jewelry with some green gemstone doesn't feel like some old hidden cilivization.

You can do a lot with gold and green though. You could use Egyptian, Mayan, or African crowns. You could mix it with fabric or feathers. You could substitute jade for the gems, or use settings more inspiration by non-western designs.

14daysuspensionkJun 6, 20192 votes

Is Riot going back to the days of monthly champ releases?/ one champ per couple months? Cus it feels like they're pumping out as many reworks and champs as they can.

Fckjaxsuo43v3rJun 7, 20192 votes

{quoted}

Is Riot going back to the days of monthly champ releases?/ one champ per couple months? Cus it feels like they're pumping out as many reworks and champs as they can.

Totally agree, It feels like Sylas Yuumi and Qiyana will be released with very low intervals. Although that would explain why Yuumi is still a champion concept more than a complete champion, the work could've been sped up (don't know if it's correct) in order to hop on the next champion before the job on Yuumi was even finished. Hell, she's a support but the most efficient way I've found to play her is as a crit ADC with Hail of blades