Thoughts on the Lastest Roadmap (April 2018)

I found out while on the metra back from Chicago for a project and I figured I should share my thoughts on what's happening right now. So without further delay (because I have a shit ton of work and scheduling to figure out, along with a test), here are my thoughts:

https://i.imgur.com/iDmJxEM.png

Old and New Champions

Basically, this is talking about how they're slightly slowing down production on new champions in favor of slightly increasing production of reworking champions. I, for one, cannot be happier with this news! As much as it can be exciting to see a new champion (before actually playing as/against them and seeing how they're incredibly broken/no fun to play against), there are a lot of champions in League now. Because of that, coming out with brand new champions feels more and more of a challenge, to make sure they bring something new in playstyle to the game. The thing is though, as a general sense, there will be a point where Riot will just hit the wall: the point where they may not be able to make anymore champions because they've done everything already. Now, this may not happen for some time (at least if League is still alive at that point), but nevertheless it is something that is bound to happen and that's to about any creative game adding new characters to a game, not just League.

But like I said, I'm happy that they're switching a bit more focus on VGU's and reworks. There are just a ton of champions at this point that are in desperate need of a rework (excluding Ryze because he's basically a meme). Champions like are generally viewed as needing full reworks and visual updates, as they only have a handfull of voice lines, visuals are outdated (especially pizza feet Mord) and overall they have large gameplay problems. On top of these champs, others may be suggested that are more of personal preferrence of people, like me wanting because I FUCKING HATE PLAYING AGAINST THEM!!!!

Point I'm trying to say is I'm happy with the shift of updating more champs.

https://i.imgur.com/nQ7Jpev.png

Never Turn Your Back On the Sea

This got my mind turning a bit. So for the next new champ, they're from Bilgewater/around Bilgewater. OK. They're a support. OK. They're more of a aggressive support, darker themed and...drown people. O...k?

So, yeah, I'm kind of curious to see who this next champ is, mainly because the idea of a drowning mechanic sounds rather unique in a MOBA so far, at least to my knowledge and from what it's sounding like. Without a doubt though, after Riot asking about what people feel about Nautilus' lore, this champ has to be related to him somehow, maybe even the one who drowned him.

https://i.imgur.com/wlY4Ml3.png

Death Is Only The Beginning

OK! AATROX TIME! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS! ANNNNNDDDD....not that much. I mean OK, these posts aren't suppose to spoil anything but I kind of was expecting more.

Most of this Reav3 revealed back in his BTR guest talk. From that he basically said the exact same thing here. Aatrox was getting a gameplay update, but we went and redid his visuals as well, similar to Fiora. The only new info I'm getting from this is Aatrox getting a new VO, his sword/base form, and from what I remember of a comment a new login theme.

The one thing that I'm not too sure of is the theme of him being a "greatsword duelist that relentlessly pursues his foes." I always played and imagined Aatrox as a warmongering-like god, getting into the fight, spilling blood and cutting everyone down left and right. As well as the title of this, I'm wondering if his revive mechanic is going to stay in and if it's going to be similar to old or try to be better.

https://i.imgur.com/IEQajeV.png

Tools of the Trade

Akali. One of my most personal hated champs to play against and as. Alright, what do we know? For starters, from the last Roadmap, Akali is keeping her Shroud, similar to Irelia keeping Blade Dance. They want to keep the hit, disappear, hit from the shadows again feel of her. Alright. They now also want to keep her as more of a hybrid scaling champ. OK, I can see that. It's not like we have a lot of those lying around in League anymore.

Thematic and storywise, however, did catch me a bit as Reav says "extending her lore" and how she'll show the world of her ninja skills. That to me is interesting as this would be a rework that doesn't just try to rewrite a champion's lore but rather keeps it and reworks it to them farther down in the storyline. At least, that's what I'm getting.

https://i.imgur.com/Ezczrbw.png

The True Power of Friendship

Right, we all kind of knew this was going to happen in the last Roadmap. Nunu is finally getting reworked and I'll be honest, with how Reav is describing them I'm looking forward to it. I'm interesting to see just based on the gif how they're redesigning these two champs to be more whimsical, which considering the Freljord doesn't have that kind of character.

I am curious though to how this is going to work out, as it always feels like Willump is doing most of the work as they are right now and Nunu... just throws snowballs. I'm rather looking forward to seeing more of the "Yeti Rider"/duo aspect of this champ when we get around to it.

https://i.imgur.com/KtPdNXk.png

And those are my thoughts on the matter. It didn't get me more excited for Aatrox as I hoped but it at the very lest gave me some insight on what to expect later on. What are your thoughts on the Roadmap?