Why aren't All 1350 skins made with the same standards?

CatSith·Dec 12, 2017·36 votes·2,270 views

I know that there are different teams working on different skins, but shouldn't skin get the same treatment for their price? Players are buying the skins for their favorite champions but seeing that that skin didn't get the same amount of work on as the others isn't really fair.

Example: The super galaxy line (Gnar, Nidalee, Annie and Elise) didnt receive a homeguard animation but the Star Guardians and most recent Christmas skins did. There are other small details like super galaxy Gnar and Annie received a return animation after their recall animation but Nidalee and Elise didn't.

On another personal note, Seeing that Super Galaxy Elise received a ponytail but it is glued to her back, while Dark Star Orianna and Death sworn Katarina had new animations added to their hair (Dark star Orianna's head tentacles?)

34 Comments

Ebonmaw DragonDec 12, 201714 votes

I think that the reason is simple: Because they are different champions.

For example, Elise has like... 3 models (Human Elise, Spider Elise and Spiderlings), Katarina 1 model and Oriana 1 (or 2 if you count the ball as a separate model)

Different champions have different levels of complexity.

Sraeg2013Dec 12, 20175 votes

For example, Elise has like... 3 models (Human Elise, Spider Elise and Spiderlings), Katarina 1 model and Oriana 1 (or 2 if you count the ball as a separate model)

Each and every champion also has particles, attacks and other effects for abilities.

It's not "just one model", because Katarina can't turn into a dog or has her own pet.

Different champions have different levels of complexity.

No, Riot set themselves a standard for skin tiers and nowhere it's said that just because a champion is visually more complex a skin of inferior quality is allowed to be artificially priced at the higher tier.

Ebonmaw DragonDec 12, 20173 votes

{quoted}

No, Riot set themselves a standard for skin tiers and nowhere it's said that just because a champion is visually more complex a skin of inferior quality is allowed to be artificially priced at the higher tier.

https://support.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/201752874-Guide-to-Skin-Price-Tiers

1350 RP - Epic skins

Features: new model, new texture, new splash image, new animations, new visual effects, new sounds. Sometimes includes: processed voice overs. Examples: Blackthorn Morgana, Arcade Sona.

That is the standard of Riot... the part of "New Animations" is vague, but if you consider Blackthorn Morgana and Arcade Sona as your examples, all the skins that you mentioned fit in the category.

Don't get me wrong, i think that the whole category of 1350 is stupid (Since it began just because Kha'Zix was more complex than the other champions at the time), but is there.

Sraeg2013Dec 12, 20171 votes

See, that's the problem with Riot. Those examples don't fit the description yet are still there.

TormentulaDec 12, 20174 votes

I think they didn't have ideas at the time.

I mean, besides Annie riding her mech, I can't picture any unique homeguards for the Super Galaxy Skins + if they did make them they'd have to double it given the form changes (again minus annie).

As for the others getting HGs, again they're probably easier since you can just make the star guardians float. Christmas ones iirc didn't even have a homeguard when they first hit PBE, just somebody thought they could add a cheap homeguard animation (at least for Draven I know this was the case).

As for Elise's hair, they probably didn't want her model to be too busy given she already has stuff floating on her back, and the floating hair would just be even more detracting.

FairyfleurDec 12, 20171 votes

This is pretty much it tbh. Special homeguards and some new animations aren't supposed to always come with 1350 skins; just placed where they seem fit.

Lux Is Mai WaifuDec 12, 20173 votes

[deleted]

ZeroAgainstDec 12, 20175 votes

[{quoted}](name=CSing Support,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=cYZazK9T,comment-id=0008,timestamp=2017-12-12T08:45:41.433+0000)

<Removed by Moderation>

lmao im dead. 8/10 shitpost

katsushiiDec 12, 20172 votes

I was just thinking earlier that some of the character art looks like it was drawn by 13 year olds, while most of the art looks professionally drawn/painted. Did one of their devs allow their little niece do some of the Sivir portraits?

Spacesuit SpiffDec 12, 20174 votes

More like the older stuff had to be crapped out overnight because they needed 3 per 2 weeks plus whatever skins they were releasing. Iirc they started putting more time into it around season 4, and since then the worst offenders have been replaced.

BattalionDec 12, 20172 votes

That's uncalled for.

GreenLoreDec 12, 20172 votes

They most likely do this so that they have more freedom when it comes to designing the 1350-skins.

So not every 1350-skin needs to get its own homeguard animation,since different skins can get different bonus animations.

Though of course there are skins who are objectively less complex than others of their tier and in general I feel like the 1350-tier is the most inconsistent of all the skin tiers(not counting 520 skins and below)

BattalionDec 12, 20172 votes

The skins have been getting BETTER over time. Many of the older 1350 skins were not made to a standard that's the standard today. Most 975 skins are as good as the old 1350 skins. They're not bad for what they were designed to be, however I do believe that the older 1350 skins should be either redone or dropped to 975.

As for the modern 1350 discrepancies, I'm not sure. I do not think Riot could justify making them 975 but not above the 1350 tier. So you should see the lowest of the modern 1350 as what a true 1350 is, while the best of the 1350 as discounted , higher tier skins; more bang for your buck.

XxDRAGONsAK47xXDec 12, 20172 votes

Sucks because my favorite skin line is Super Galaxy.

Super Galaxy Rumble didn't even get any updates.... Star Guardian Lux did....

Reaaaaally cool

SugataYoLoShindoDec 12, 20174 votes

Rumble's doesn't need updates. His is Legendary, has far more features than the rest and fit the line perfectly fine. Lux just had her colors adjusted and a homeguard added.

XxDRAGONsAK47xXDec 13, 20171 votes

It came out 3 years ago though...

and it's a legendary skin... So wouldn't it get special treatment?

BlåbæretDec 13, 20171 votes

{quoted}

It came out 3 years ago though...

and it's a legendary skin... So wouldn't it get special treatment?

Because Riot only cares about ADCs.

XxDRAGONsAK47xXDec 13, 20171 votes

Too true

SugataYoLoShindoDec 15, 20172 votes

It already has special treatment... It's got a new model, animations, particles, sounds, voice over. So much more than the rest.

XxDRAGONsAK47xXDec 15, 20171 votes

....................

It had new effects 3 years ago... Most epic skins that come out now look better.

SpecterVonBarenDec 12, 20171 votes

[deleted]

CetriDec 12, 20173 votes

All the ones OP mentioned came out this year, though.

ModJango MageDec 12, 20171 votes

Not to memtion that some of these skins are having special voice over lines some of them dont.

SukishooDec 12, 20174 votes

That's not really a 1350 thing, that's more or less a "recording at the time of creation". Like if you look at Taliyah's skin, Freljord Taliyah, happens to be 1350 but Mafia Jinx is only 975. Both of them have special audio lines that are different from their bases due to the fact they were recorded at the time the champions were recorded.

SukishooDec 12, 20171 votes

From what they've said when I asked about some of these things on the PBE is that they do follow their standards to a point. Most of these things being under the new animations, they tend to consider all the same even if they are different types of animations for those skins. Like when the Battle Boss skins came out, they have some new animations on some of their champions attacks, whereas Pentakill Kayle came at the same time and used the base animations; However, since she had a new recall they considered that her "new animation" feature.

invisiblecat1Dec 12, 20171 votes

It isn't just 1350 skins

Blood Lord Vladimir should be a 975 RP skin, while PROJECT: Ashe is well on the to being a 3250 skin

SukishooDec 13, 20174 votes

Project: Ashe is not worth 3250. Ultimate skins are skins that consist of multiple inner changing models. Ashe has 1 model (with a headpiece that comes and goes, as does P: Vayne).

Blood Lord Vlad still has a new voice over so that alone sets it higher than a 975.

CatSithDec 14, 20171 votes

Blood lord Vladimir is just old. I'm sure they ll update it when they visually update Vlad himself.

M00ndanc3Dec 13, 20171 votes

in my opinion it seems that those "extra effects" are just something cool they thought up for but didnt believe it justified a price increase as well as if they did they'd have to make a new price braket between 1350 and 1850 and they do it on a case by case basis rather than because they favor one over another, cause as it is:

-975: character color change (glorified chroma)

975: character model changes and minor particle effects (world breaker, vandel)

1350: recall animation, character model, particle effects and then they have a chance of including new sfx, return animation, homegaurd animation, death animation, minor voice over interactions (Highnoon Jhin) and some minor changes to emotes (skt jhins skt logo on laugh), and some specialty model changes (Death sworn kats hair)

1850: new animations, sfx, particles, character model, recall, death animation, voice over, homegaurd animation, emotes updated to fit new voice over, as well as other possible changes such as Pulsefire caitlyns recall varitations (this is also done on some 1350 skins like deep terror thresh) or project vaynes ult visor or project ashes and pulsfire Caitlyns model changes (caitlyns gun changes when leveled to 6 and ashes hood is put on when entering "enemy territory")

3250: New animations, sfx, particles, character model, recall, death animation, voice over, homegaurd, emotes, ingame interactions, iteractive splash arts, varying character model.

till next time [vlad-salute]

SukishooDec 13, 20172 votes

1820* ;)

Tesla EffectDec 13, 20171 votes

1350 RP skins have repaced the 975 RP ones and are done way more now, meaning they are the current standard price, which means Riot wants more money.

Now the quality of each 1350 will difer depending on how much Riot cares to put into it. This is basically true for all of the skins price ranges.

BlåbæretDec 13, 20171 votes

Because Rito is a garbage company investing in quanitity rather than quality; they treat some champions like garbage (80% of the rooster) while the remaining 20% all receieve 2-3 quality skins a year while the rest gets nothing.

JorenciceDec 15, 20171 votes

Wait... that would mean they dont deal in quantity.

You just said only 20% of champions get skins...

Ut FinnbarrDec 13, 20171 votes

Fair point but I think it's difficult to set a ratio of RP to quality. That and generally the tenure seems to be that skins that are associated with a promotional event, like star guardians or the PROJECT skins tend to have some extra bells and whistles. The reason this is important is because it is reflective that Riot's focus is tied to a profit motive, which is allowable and fair. I think they're genuinely committed to making a great game and fun ways of playing as different characters but, if they can save costs on development times or quality it's hard to imagine that they'd shirk that.

The reason they are not all the same standard is because they are cosmetic modifications to their character models. There is both a degree of subjectivity and no real pressing obligation beyond maintaining goodwill from their cosumer base to achieving a certain standard of quality. Long and short, it's not an important enough facet of the game to impose the highest level of conformity on quality, especially with the massive balancing act that comes from having such a large roster of champions. Though I know the dev's are most often reaching for it in good faith being free to play means you have to make concessions on paid content.