I have a concern regarding Camille's title, the Steel Shadow

Ironclad Dragon·11/21/2016, 10:23:33 PM·11 votes·2,221 views

Riot really seems to love the word "shadow".

Akali: The Fist of Shadow Hecarim: The Shadow of War Talon: The Blade's Shadow Zed: The Master of Shadows

And now we have Camille, the Steel Shadow. I don't think any other word is shared across so many champions. Granted, these are only five titles out of a +100 champions, but as soon as I read Camille's title, I was a bit... IDK, disappointed? Because those titles immediately came to mind and made me realize how often the word is used. Shadow just seems too easy to reach for, especially when you've already used it four times before. If you use the same imagery too many times, it loses its impact.

This probably seems like a minor complaint, but I do like Camille and care for champion identity; that's why I'm bringing this up. If you recall back to Mordekaiser's Juggernaut rework, it was fan complaint that changed the dry "Lord of Death" to the striking "Iron Revenant". By using such a banal word for the fifth time, Camille's title doesn't feel unique among League of Legends. Like Camille herself says in her VO, "The right word cuts more deeply than a knife." Not to mention, it's a bit too close for comfort with Talon's title...

Maybe to reflect Camille's upper-class background, we can use a less-banal substitute for shadow. Something more refined and precise, like Camille herself, something that calls a distinct image to one's mind. Something that a nobleman or woman might know in order to display their education and class, but would make a lowborn scratch their head and ask to simplify. I don't have a particular word in mind, but I know there are words out there that'd certainly fit better.

30 Comments

Ask the Herald11/22/2016, 1:54:35 AM2 votes

Hecarim, The Shadow of War?

turkeyBACON11/23/2016, 5:02:34 AM2 votes

How about Camille, the Bleeding Edge. it's a bit puny but it also describes her literally as both being lethal and hextech-ly advanced.

10110011100011/23/2016, 5:39:16 AM2 votes

I was personally expecting something cheesy like "The Cutting Edge"

bad arcade kitty11/22/2016, 3:37:08 AM2 votes

shadows are cool and rito isn't very inventive

i recall they originally named ahri's passive literally with the name of one of nasus' abilities

LordGeovanni11/22/2016, 7:07:06 AM2 votes

Shadows are awesome and mysterious

Hryna11/22/2016, 7:16:15 AM2 votes

I really like your post and the way you've broke it down. I wonder if Riot's design team thinks more deeply about the feel and the design of champion - like you mentioned, the internal logic of her character combined with her background. (everything about them tells me that they do, or so I like to believe), but if it's the case that they're just using catchy words then I'm kind of disappointed. I mean they do have younger audience but even so creating quality content should be a priority.

FloRaider4211/21/2016, 10:43:54 PM2 votes

All of the mentioned Shadow Characters are Assassins, which also fits Camilles occupation (although ingame she is more of a brawler). Whereas the Steel part should be pretty obvious. Using a complicated word would just alienate players (and wouldn't make much sense), so we need something simple, yet stylish and noble that pays homage to her work as an assassin and precise fighter.

Clockwork assassin/blade would have been a good title, if Orianna wouldn't be so similiar.

Btw Void is the most used word in titles, but nobody is bothered ?

Final Spark Lux11/25/2016, 7:57:13 PM1 votes

I would have liked it if you ordered them as

Hecarim Akali Talon Zed

cause then you spelled hatz shrugs I like hats

Valor Bot11/22/2016, 8:44:50 AM1 votes

Camille, the Steel Justicar?

Or perhaps Camille, the Steel Operative?

Sherogarth11/22/2016, 4:58:00 PM1 votes

And then there is "blade"

Talon : The Blade's Shadow Katarina : The Sinister Blade MasterYi : The Wuju Bladesman Irelia : The Will of the Blades Aatrox : The Darkin Blade Garen : The Beyblade... oh wait.

the weeaboo11/23/2016, 5:45:29 AM1 votes

I would've liked something along the lines of the "The Poised Vandetta"

Ralanr11/21/2016, 10:29:45 PM1 votes

After a while its starts to get hard to make titles not sound similar.