Boards›Story, Art, & Sound

Can Kennen and Akali not just be shens thing #1 and thing #2?

Off Meta Evan·12/24/2016, 9:53:52 PM·28 votes·2,361 views

Shen is one of my favorite champions in league of legends. I love his ult, when he's good he's my go to tank, and i like his personality as a strict no nonsense guy who's gonna cut you down before you can even notice. THAT SAID, why are and literally just copies of him? Not in terms of gameplay but in terms of personality, they're literally just copy paste shen. I main kennen and i love his playstyle but sadly his personality is sorely lacking. His lore states that he's a trickster/prankster, as well as a bit of a spazz. Well why is that not shown in his qoutes? "a silent death!" oh gee... what a funny guy... we get to see a little bit of the spazz part when he's like "YESYESYES." or shouting at the top of his lungs but thats it. Akali has it even worse, she's just grill shen but has a good joke tho. I get that WW and galio are getting reworked and new champions need to come out but rito plz, at some point look into this. Also visual updates, kennens classic skin is super outdated.

side note, it has always tilted me that akali is the Fist of shadow... but doesn't use her fists....

22 Comments

GreenLore12/24/2016, 11:13:21 PM8 votes

I think by now both are on the list for a VGU(at least Akali is on it),so I guess they might get fleshed out once Riot gets to them. But then again I don't think that they'll receive these VGUs next year(and unless riot speeds up their VGU-process,I'd say that 2018 isn't even that likely),so maybe they'll at least get a lore update before those VGUs.

And in general I feel like these 2 are among the worst champs when it comes to their thematic core. I mean Kennen is pretty much THE electro champ of the game,but thats hardly present in his design or story. And meanwhile the only thing that sets Akali apart from the other ninjas(in terms of theme) is the fact that she is a woman and the others are guys.

Ralanr12/24/2016, 11:23:33 PM4 votes

That's the hopeful intention. It seems that Akali is now Shen's apprentice rather than just his "dark deeds doing" ninja (or maybe she was always his apprentice. Idk). So hopefully we'll get some more perspective from her.

I have no idea how Kennan will relate to Shen (and the Kinkou as a whole) in the new lore since Yordles are effectively ageless. He might become the representation of the Kinkou in general.

Melledoneus12/25/2016, 6:01:56 AM4 votes

Shen himself is very lacking, too. If you don't read his lore, he sounds like a mercenary with standards.

Akali is so unexpressive she sounds almost like she's pretending to do stuff for balance.

Kennen's is like a hyperactive child who thinks he's a ninja.

Riot could do a triple VGU update, that would be awesome. (I know Shen got a VU, but I meant a VO update mostly, maybe brushing up on his spirit sword mechanic and perhaps adding something more thematic)

500000000000000012/25/2016, 1:27:49 AM2 votes

tbh I don't think Shen has much of a character of his own either.

PyroxxDigni12/25/2016, 1:39:13 PM1 votes

What about Rammus?!

Raven Redeemed12/25/2016, 4:56:00 PM1 votes

It would be cool to see their characters expanded. I hope we see a ninja or Ionia event in the future.

Blades in Exile12/26/2016, 10:30:11 PM1 votes

I'm hoping when Akali gets her rework she is Shen 's equal, right now it seems like she is more of his apprentice but I rather they are partners.

Swae712/25/2016, 4:43:20 AM1 votes

I thought they all went to the same ninja school so they should kind of act the same beause of the strict teachings

Duke of Sloths12/25/2016, 6:39:02 AM1 votes

Kennen being much older than Shen and Akali gives him a lot of room for character. If Poppy and Kled are yordles that represent Demacia and Noxus, then Kennen would be the yordle that represents Ionian culture which is very interesting to me.

Leetri12/25/2016, 12:23:42 PM1 votes

It's because they're old as dirt and were created way before we had the modern standard.