Discuss the new Taliyah & Rammus stories!

RiotA Small Man·May 17, 2016·22 votes·21,011 views

Hey folks,

Stickying this thread as an easy central place for discussion that the Narrative and Foundations folks can hopefully also jump into. What's your take on the new story goodness?

126 Comments

DecritMay 17, 201623 votes

many will lament that Rammus is "yet another misterious figure", but you know what? It's perfect on him. It' s ok.

Tails Thee FoxMay 17, 201613 votes

Yeah! I didn't really care for Amumu being branded a "mysterious figure of legend", but that's because it's up in the air if he even exists! But Rammus actually does exist, and actually does stuff! His lore is really spot on to just his character and just how everyone sorta sees him, I wouldn't want this kind of lore on Fiddlesticks or Shaco, but for Rammus it's really great!

ModCaptainMårvelousMay 17, 201618 votes

So, I want to make a point about some of these stories. They're very enjoyable, but Riot's somewhat on a slippery slope when it comes to these stories.

Amumu and Rammus are two champions who occupy the "We don't really know what they are" brand of story and really ask the reader/player/etc to just make a guess. Now, in short order, these aren't bad. A little bit of mystery is always cool in a character or story, especially if they're one of the few that have this.

What I fear is that Riot will push this to a far harder degree and make way too many characters the "Who could this be or what could this be!?" sort of story. It's cool for a few characters but when it comes to the overarching game, I hope that Riot only gives this trope to a handful of characters at best. After all, if you're making everyone a "Take your best guess" character, might as well just let fan fiction make the lore. (An exaggeration but you get my point, hehe.)

IGotScuttleCrabsMay 17, 20164 votes

Agreed. Everyone can't be an amnesia character. Just like how the old lore suffered from "why did [champion] feel the need to join the league.

GingembreMay 17, 201620 votes

Hello. I like this "new" Rammus lore. I understand where you're coming from, but some champions in this game are better portrayed as "We don't really know what they are" Rammus, Amumu are such legends. And I hope that Jax will be one too. The guy is the embodiment of "Who's that guy? He's way too strong! Is he a god? A Troll? An Ascended? One of those Aspect guy? A Darkin?" Those kind of question are best left unanswered. And can make for great stories. And quite frankly, I'm not sure we really wants answers, because the mystery around those characters is part of their identity. Remove the questions around them and they might fall apart.

The real challenge here is to make compelling stories with such characters. Can Riot make a good story/character developement with Rammus/Amumu/Jax? I really want to know where this is going.

Sorry for my bad ~~englishorino~~ englirooni ** Edit @ dapositiveviking :** wasn't sure about the correct word. I edited it. Thanks for the input, friend! :^)

Chromatic EagleMay 17, 20164 votes

Rammus is great as a mystery because no one treats him seriously. It's hilarious seeing characters who do. Jax can work because he's been like that in the old lore. Amumu is what I'm worried about. A story like his should be resolved imo.

dapositivevikingMay 17, 20161 votes

you were going perfectly until englishorino :( what has twitch chat done to you

Chromatic EagleMay 17, 20165 votes

Twitch chat taints us all

ModCaptainMårvelousMay 17, 20165 votes

Oh no I like the Rammus lore too. For Amumu I don't like it as much but that's fine.

The point I want to make is that if one out of every ten characters has lore like this, the mystery warps around and turns more into laziness than "Oh how mysterious". This isn't an instant concern, sure, but I don't want Riot to fall into a habit of writing off several characters as "Oooohoooooooo WHO KNOOOOOOOWS!?".

So, not an instant "OMG sound the alarm" but something I hope doesn't become a huge trend.

PyrodiniumMay 17, 20165 votes

I think they made the right choice on Amumu and Rammus.

Other mysterious champions al least have a definite identity. Jax is a peerless fighter, Shaco a killer, Aatrox an apostle of bloodshed, LeBlanc a schemer and manipulator, Nocturne a supernatural predator.

Despite not having a detailed origin, I belive Riot can tell stories about most enigmatic champions since they actually do things, meanwhile Rammus and Amumu have no identity other than 'mysterious' (well, Amumu has his curse).

I do hope that they find a discrete identity for the other absolute mysteries in Runeterra: Fiddlesticks and Evelynn.

RiotAnt in OzMay 18, 20162 votes

Hey there CaptainMarvelous,

I agree it's definitely not something we'd want to overuse - and yeah, we're definitely conscious of that. For these two champs, however, we felt that it works and is appropriate. Does that mean we'll be doing that loads more in the future? Nope!

Cheers! Ant

ModCaptainMårvelousMay 18, 20162 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ant in Oz,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=mzBAT8dL,comment-id=00020004,timestamp=2016-05-18T16:55:16.201+0000)

Hey there CaptainMarvelous,

I agree it's definitely not something we'd want to overuse - and yeah, we're definitely conscious of that. For these two champs, however, we felt that it works and is appropriate. Does that mean we'll be doing that loads more in the future? Nope!

Cheers! Ant

Awesome! That's all I was worried about. I also agree that, for these two characters, it's perfectly fine to do this. Glad you're all aware and making sure it doesn't become a trope though.

RiotRiotJaredanMay 20, 20162 votes

I've never been a big fan of the slippery slope argument. We look at each Champion individually and decide on what's best in each case. I agree, we shouldn't be overdoing this, but that's the case for death by Noxian assassin too. Having a few Champs with this kind of expression doesn't necessitate more of them, it's down to what is the best introduction and arc for each Champ.

Tails Thee FoxMay 17, 201617 votes

Rammus's Story was more than

'ok' Rammus

Just great job! :O

RiotRammusMay 17, 201638 votes

Ok.

DemosthentineMay 17, 20167 votes

ok. Rammus

IGotScuttleCrabsMay 17, 20163 votes

DragonSheaMay 17, 201612 votes

{quoted}

Ok.

Hmm. Eats a Kmiros leg and rolls off like a badass.

rtbf225618241May 18, 201610 votes

Wait. What the f...

Are you telling me all Summoners with champion names are Riot users? Holy hell..i knew they were reserved but..didn't know you guys can use them. :P

IEatLouisMay 18, 20162 votes

Did you choose your name because of the champion or was the champion named after you? :o

RiotRiotJaredanMay 20, 20161 votes

That's no Rioter, that's an Armadillo.

Hyrum GraffMay 21, 20163 votes

{quoted}

That's no Rioter, that's an Armadillo.

*Armordillo

CrackersMay 18, 201616 votes

All makes sense now....

"Knowing Rammus’s guidance can pave an enlightened path, devout believers perform elaborate rituals designed to attract the favor of their deity. Disciples of the cult devoted to Rammus demonstrate their unwavering faith in a yearly ceremony by imitating his famous roll and somersaulting through the city in droves."

http://i.makeagif.com/media/10-31-2015/v76qao.gif

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPxRyvRN1ss

http://www.pcgamesn.com/sites/default/files/league%20of%20legends%20winners.jpg

Rammus

IEatLouisMay 18, 20165 votes

Give this man a medal! Rammus

I also have a theory though. Maybe Faker secretly really loves Rammus, but can't play him a lot because he's the midlaner and so instead Faker payed tribute to his favourite champion, Rammus, by imitating his signature move on the biggest stage he could get his feet on.

RiotAnt in OzMay 20, 20162 votes

Great post, Crackers. Ha! The truth is out!

Lord CaelistisMay 17, 201610 votes

If Rammus is one to appear in times of need, shall he eventually roll over to Nashramae and destroy some ancient traitor? Alternatively, would he try to eat Rek'Sai if she crossed her path?

Also, Nagakabouros must really love him. He isn't in movement. He isn't the movement. He weaponized the movement.

TheRealBazMay 17, 201610 votes

i have one thing to say about rammus lore...

can i join the church of holy rammus, our lord and ok savior?

Riot Tiger LilyMay 17, 201618 votes

Haha! I love the term "ok savior."

TheRealBazMay 17, 20167 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot Tiger Lily,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=mzBAT8dL,comment-id=00120000,timestamp=2016-05-17T20:49:38.168+0000)

Haha! I love the term "ok savior."

is this ok? https://www.reddit.com/r/TheReligionOfRammus/ i just made it Rammus Praise ~~I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO ME~~

RiotRammusMay 17, 20169 votes

IGotScuttleCrabsMay 17, 20169 votes

Everything was OK in the end.

RiotRammusMay 17, 201620 votes

Yeh.

IGotScuttleCrabsMay 17, 20166 votes

That's the most OK Riot name I've ever seen Who are you and what do you do?

DecritMay 17, 20168 votes

Dude it's obvious It' s Rammus.

TauntyArmordilloMay 17, 20165 votes

Right.

RiotRammusMay 17, 201618 votes

Right.

DecritMay 17, 20168 votes

I am done for today. rolls away

ZackeryssMay 17, 20168 votes

His name is Rammus and he rolls around and stuff. that's all you need to know buddy

matsalen37May 17, 20163 votes

So did Rammus hate being worshipped, since he destroyed the kid's statue of him?

Taliyah saw the same vision as Azir (but in another way). How would Taliyah confront Azir about this? And how will Azir answer? I really hope we'll see a confrontation between them.

Were the Great Weaver worshipped during ancient Shurima?

How long were Taliyah with Noxus since she was able to rise through their ranks and sent out to war?

Love the "Hawk-Father" title for Azir btw

kitcat300May 17, 20163 votes

Rammus seems to be a bit of an oddball. I honestly think that he thought it might have been food and tried to eat it. XP

matsalen37May 17, 20162 votes

I don't think so, since Rammus ate the bugs he knew that they were food. And even after he bit the statue in half he went back to get more of the bugs.

oddball

Heh

RiotRammusMay 17, 201611 votes

oddball

Yeah.

HoodwinkMay 18, 20162 votes

Yeh.

FTFY

Chromatic EagleMay 17, 20161 votes

I think he was just hungry in general. If the statue wasn't edible, why not go back to the bugs?

matsalen37May 17, 20164 votes

But he searched through the debris for it. He could've just as easily eaten some of the cart.

Another theory I just thought of. What if the statues are a sort of currency, the boy made the statue then prayed to it and Rammus came. Then after the wish came through he snapped it in half to show that it's been used.

But hey, this is just a theory A LORE THEORY!

EsbjörnMay 18, 20163 votes

Oh my god I didn't realise how bad i needed a "The lore theorist" channel untill now D: MattPatt plz?

DragonSheaMay 17, 20168 votes

Heh that is pretty awesome that Rammus is not someone that wants people to worship him like a god. That kind of humbleness is epic.

RiotRammusMay 17, 20165 votes

epic

hmm

TauntyArmordilloMay 17, 20162 votes

So how does Rammus taunt people?

What constitutes an Armordillo's typical diet?

Does Rammus have a tail?

RiotJellbugMay 17, 201612 votes

Hey TauntyArmordillo! nice name :D

I'd say that simply the act of Rammus approaching could be seen as a taunt.

Rammus is a fan of fine foods of all kinds. Of course, a "fine food" to an Armordillo is not what you and I might call a delicacy. He especially loves bugs!

If Rammus said more than ok/alright/yeah, regarding whether he has a tail I think he'd say... none of your business! :)

<3 <3 <3