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One Reason I Despise Kindred In-Game

6FlagsFunnelCake·3/30/2018, 7:33:07 AM·7 votes·689 views

So one thing I see a lot is how much Kindred needs a rework. No major VGU style rework, but more gameplay focused on the same level of Xin Zhao and Rek'Sai.

Aside from some gameplay criticisms that some have for her kit, I feel that she is a horrific in her thematic of being 'THE' Dual Champion, as she was hyped in 2015. Even her summoner icon is uniquely made to differentiate her as being a duality.

However, in-game, it's not a THEY, it's SHE, just Lamb. It doesn't feel like Wolf doesn't play too large of a part other than her W. Meanwhile, we have a dual Champion who is actually 2 Champions (Rakan and Xayah), and a Champion who is two conflicting Champions in one (Kayn). So how come Kindred is the least thematic in 'Duality,' despite that being a major factor!

Along with that, she doesn't live up to an embraceable death entity, or a frightening hunter of fleeing souls, so it feels like to me that Kindred fails in not one, but TWO of her major thematic points. A spirit of Death, and a Duality.

So that's just a small schpeel from me, I'm just wondering if anyone else has these same feelings on Kindred as I do. It pains me to see Kindred's concept be so...mediocre in it's execution in-game, despite me REALLY liking the idea of their duality and existence as an entity of death.

9 Comments

ThePikol3/30/2018, 8:52:04 AM6 votes

Kindred has great lore and visuals, Riot just failed to portrait them as dual champion and as a death itself in game

OurLestrade3/30/2018, 8:44:12 AM3 votes

They've never been able to do a proper duo champion, doubt it'll ever work Quinn

LordHippoman4/1/2018, 3:21:35 AM2 votes

Kindred really feels like an experiment. Everything from their gameplay (objective focused ADC-Jungle Hybrid) to their lore is really out there. Hell, even Kindred's color story is surreal and creepy in a way that I don't think any other League lore is.

I would argue it works very well in the Lore department, and in their VO. The gameplay, not so much. Kayn honestly does accomplish the "duality" theme better, you're right, but I do think he's a less "ambitious" concept.

Warlord Dienekes3/30/2018, 1:40:21 PM1 votes

I always thought it would have been cool if, Kindred’s Q made the player Lamb while the W made the player Wolf. E and R could be used by either.

It’s probably a bad idea which would run havoc with how the character interacts with CC. But I think it’d be a neat mechanic if they could get it to work.

cHAncEman12924/1/2018, 9:55:36 PM1 votes

I think an important thing to remember is that Kindred is not a "dual champion". That would be Kayn who functionally is a "dual champion". Kindred's entire theme is that both Lamb and Wolf are the same entity. They are two sides of the same coin. I believe how Lamb and Wolf are unified on all that they do is quite elegant given the simplicity of their kit. It'd recommend the following:

  • Make Wolf more visceral. I'm talking about increasing the size of his model, make his attacks slower, heavier, maybe even make them possible to dodge. When Wolf is set loose, it should be something that warrants player attention.
  • Make Wolf's Frenzy field move with Wolf. Lamb will have to actually "keep up" with Wolf and have to be nearby to get the bonus for her Q. Have Wolf also chase those that are marked.

I think its a player "feel" issue. If Wolf's presence was emphasized in his movements and with his character model I think players would love it more. The problem with giving Wolf more autonomy is that Kindred would seem more like partners rather than a single entity.

dome0254/3/2018, 7:35:40 PM1 votes

Coincidentally I just made a rework concept for Kindred. Would be glad if you check it out. https://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/skin-champion-concepts/2qi9KGE1-kindred-gameplay-rework