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Graham McNeill Joining Riot Narrative Staff (Big Deal)

Xonra·6/3/2015, 7:15:11 PM·120 votes·16,060 views

I'm surprised I haven't seen anything about this so far outside of a few small tweets, but this is potentially a huge deal.

For those of us that have been wanting more lore, for story, more narrative in any form, this story should excite you.

Graham McNeill, for those of you who aren't aware, has been very prominent in lore and writing for Warhammer (Fantasy and 40k). He is pretty well known in that circle as he has written game specific stuff in White Dwarves as well as many Novels, 11 at least that I have counted, including one for the Starcraft universe.

He is a legitimate Novelist, writer, author, whatever you want to call him, and he is being hired on with the position of "Senior Narrative Writer", and full on moving from the UK to NA full time.

I am excited, and those of you that love the lore of this game should be excited. Spread the word and spread the love, because this is something to be excited about for sure.

118 Comments

Kuro Banshee6/3/2015, 10:55:50 PM18 votes

There's only one reason I can think of to keep this quiet... because the lore that we're suppose to have turned out horribly and their hoping McNeill can save it and they can turn around and say "See we had good stuff all along".

Its been almost a year since the retcon and all they done is one small event that barely did anything and a few cinematic videos but other wise nothing but silence and excuses. Granted, as long the end results are decent I honestly don't care anymore... I just want some Lore.

Also did anyone ever figure out what special laws apply to Lore but not the rest of the Riot teams?

Sneak Dog6/3/2015, 11:02:40 PM12 votes

Riot already could write good stories. Unbound/Arisen/Reborn were great in my opinion.

My issue is with their writing philosophies. Riot retcons, not only the IoW, but also any character if it makes for a better story. Shouldn't the story fit the character instead? Shouldn't we care about these characters? I woke up one day and my favorite character got removed.

What does Riot acquiring another good writer change?

Dreamspitter6/3/2015, 10:06:44 PM11 votes

So is this the best thing to happen?

#Or is it heresy?

Trumpet6/4/2015, 12:14:05 AM8 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unNsaaCJSC4

Just going to leave this here.

Newbert Newman6/3/2015, 7:57:18 PM7 votes

I'm psyched.......feels like a dream come true.

RasCaelestis6/3/2015, 10:07:58 PM6 votes

I've got three of his books on my desk right now, and several more on my bookshelf. He's phenomenal. "A Thousand Sons" is one of my favorite books ever written and I love the Adeptus Mechanicus trilogy. I've had a very negative view towards Riot's lore team recently, but I really think Graham McNeill could help turn things around.

He's done a lot in the Warhammer universe and so has experience writing stories about pre-established characters. For example, the Ultramarines. They've always been kind of a joke (too perfect, too pious, too brave, too EVERYTHING), but McNeill's writing actually made them seem interesting and well-developed. They're still not a chapter I particularly like (though I prefer Chaos in general, so... bias) but I really enjoyed reading about them.

If Graham McNeill can do that for Warhammer, I can't wait to see what he can do for League of Legends. I know that he won't be able to undo the damage caused by the Great Ret-con, but he can at least make things better from here on out.

Xulsigae6/3/2015, 8:19:28 PM6 votes

Yippee! Now if we can get Dan Abnett, Alan Moore, Grant Morrison and Neil Gaiman we shall have a chance at reversing the damage.

Solidair36/3/2015, 8:51:51 PM6 votes

I've never read his work, but it sounds like he's pretty good?

This must be what Jaredan was talking about when he said they were hiring more writers...

Tesla Effect6/3/2015, 7:35:28 PM5 votes

Always good to have experienced writers for a franchise you love. Not sure what work he will do, just have to wait and see wont we. (He just started working there, so I dont expect much just yet).

Overlord Forte6/4/2015, 3:18:01 PM4 votes

To cross quote my thoughts from another thread:

"Hmm, on the one hand he's quite talented with a solid reputation from what I know.

On the other hand I'm concerned about 'grimdarkness' bleeding into everything. There's a certain flavor of apathy and despair that prevails in the WH40k setting that blankets almost all of its content ... not entirely what the League setting itself wants to do. Maybe it's a silly concern, we'll see.

Good authors can adapt and that's pretty much why I've giving this a wide berth to see how it goes. There are certain stylistic inclinations that don't quite go away, but those can be manageable.

There are quite a few dark settings, as you mention, that can definitely benefit from such an angle. My most immediate thoughts were Noxus, Zaun, and the Void. Lissandra and the Watchers can go either way since their total involvement in everything remains elusive (Why did the Watchers want the world in ice?).

I suppose it's more I don't want to see the 'positive' and 'light' aspects of the setting be draped in that veil of apathy WH40k has. (There's no hope, everything is on the brink of oblivion, doom and despair, etc ...)"

Earl Eulrich6/3/2015, 10:15:25 PM4 votes

Dunno, it´s somewhat too late now. Even the greatest gardener can´t grow a majestic tree on burned soil...

Howldoom6/4/2015, 3:21:53 AM4 votes

The Ultramarines novel cycle he wrote, along with his Sigmar trilogy, are pieces of work that I loved pouring over. I'd say Rito made a great decision putting him into the on-and-off lore team, but that remains to be seen.

For anyone interested in reading the Ultramarines, find the novel Storm of Iron first. It's a tale of the Chaos Legion of the Iron Warriors, and provides a necessary background for the third novel of the aforementioned cycle.

Daedalus8716/5/2015, 5:04:00 AM3 votes

Nothing against Graham McNeill, but League's Lore problem is not the lack of good writers.

League already has some decent lore writers, it's just that they aren't producing anything.

OxBaker6/3/2015, 8:21:32 PM3 votes

Wow, read some of his Warhammer 40K books and he's a decent author. This is a pretty sweet win for RIOT and does make me curious what he'll do for LoL lore.

KING OF MASKS6/4/2015, 5:37:04 PM3 votes

A seed of hope is planted.

aaronautumn6/3/2015, 7:18:12 PM2 votes

gramh mcneill is a fictional character from that sadra bullock movie

GenoXx6/4/2015, 2:34:58 AM2 votes

Dude, again, I wouldn't get my hopes up just yet. If He has to write just like how Narrative is doing today....It's not going to be that shocking or awe inspiring like you think....

Just wait and see what he has to offer before getting ur hopes up

ModKnightsKemplar6/3/2015, 10:11:06 PM2 votes

Don't know his work, but I'm a hesitant "yay" anyway.

They need a writer on this. Someone who understands how to speak to their audience, not just make up lots of stuff. It needs context.

Bijorn6/4/2015, 1:23:53 PM2 votes

OH MY GOD. His writing is absolutely incredible. My favorite writer by far. Deff pick up one of his books, even if you do not like Warhammer, get a feel for his style by reading a chapter or 50. This will take the lore to existential heights. The only issues i have:

  1. Less warhammer books :(
  2. His take on the lore and how things are written may not match up with old lore/what we have gotten used to from past Riot-lore.
Aidony6/4/2015, 4:51:45 PM2 votes

Just finished reading A thousand Suns. If he could do that too lol lore, we have a chance of saving the story and art board as well as, the league lore as a whole.

Loken Stoneheart6/4/2015, 4:13:26 PM1 votes

Hopefully he doesn't bring the warhammer lore culture into LoL.

I constantly hear horror stories about how every writer in that universe just retcons the hell out of whatever the other guy did, ectect.

Actually. This hiring makes sense.

Migrañaboy6/3/2015, 10:37:38 PM1 votes

Is he pretty good?

Are his stories legit or considered disposable expanded universe a la Star Wars?