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Shadowfire Kindred Design Flaw

Wicked Degree·9/25/2015, 4:56:52 PM·2 votes·1,340 views

Riot has stated in the past that they use skins (especially release skins) to help further the identity of a champion. I understand that that doesn't mean skins need to fit lore.

On that note - I think there are two fundamental flaws with the design in the release skin for Kindred. First, they aren't wearing masks. All the lore released to this point has put a lot fo stock into the fact that they are wearing masks. EVERYTHING that has to do with Kindred involves the masks. Their icon, even, is two opposing halves of their masks. Why, then, should masks be left out of a skin? Especially their release skin? Second, they aren't wearing EACH OTHER'S mask. Or face. Or whatever has to happen there. There is no "Yin and Yang" theme to them at all. The fact that they DO wear each other's masks is what Riot used to define their personalities. Wolf is the playful one BECAUSE he wears the mask of Lamb. On the other hand, Lamb is stoic and proud.

My whole point here is that this skin is not aligning itself with the core identity that is Kindred. Don't misunderstand me, I think it's a very cool skin. It looks awesome! It just forgot some very important features that make Kindred who they are. Thanks for taking the time to read all this!

3 Comments

StarlitX9/25/2015, 10:06:46 PM1 votes

They've already addressed that skins are like alternate realities for champions. So it doesn't have to be cohesive with the lore. I don't really get why this post is necessary. The masks are iconic for the Kindred of our Lore, this Kindred is a demon and an angel. It belongs to a parallel lore. Supposedly.

Wicked Degree9/25/2015, 10:26:20 PM1 votes

But the whole identity of Kindred is "Never one without the other". They are two parts of one whole. Yin and Yang. I was just under the impression that the entire concept of Kindred is centered on them being juxtaposed. To make a skin where that's not the case would be similar to a Vi skin, where she doesn't have gloves of any sort. Or a Rammus that doesn't have a shell, or a Tahm Kench that's skinny, or a Jax showing his face, Or a living Orianna, etc. etc. These are things they'd never do - because it betrays the identity of the champion. My post is making the claim that not juxtaposing Lamb and Wolfe is as much of a betrayal of identity as any of the rest of those.

GreenLore9/25/2015, 11:41:15 PM1 votes

While release skins should represent the character well,they don't have to depict him perfectly in every aspect(that is rarely possible). Shadowfire kindred doesn't have the yin-yang theme,but it does turn lamb into an angel and wolf into a demon,thus they still represent 2 opposite forces that are still connected to each other. Even better,both angels and demons are associated with the afterlife,thus fitting the "death"-theme as well,its just not about accepting/escaping death,but about going to heaven or hell.Being judged by an angel or hunted by a demon.

Also Bards mask was used as a symbol for bard several times prior to his release,yet his skin doesn't have a mask,so I wouldn't say that the mask is really that important.(sure it is important for standard kindred,but it doesn't have to apply to all the skins)