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Which would you prefer: Horror Volibear or the more Classic/Current Volibear design?

Forhonor321·10/25/2019, 10:11:34 PM·20 votes·14,242 views

I'm seen a bit of discussion on this lately and I figured to add my thoughts on it.

Volibear getting a rework I think it great since, to me, he's kind of bland. Right now he's just a bear that has some armor and occasionally shoots lightning from his claws. Only thing I was kind of curious on was how Riot was going to take him for his rework.

Then I'm sure we're all well aware of the story that came out with Sej, Udyr and most importantly him (or I guess what is close to him). The story essentially gave us a look at what Riot was thinking of Volibear. He was now more of this Eldritch horror; a bear with multiple eyes, black tentacles, massive, black blood. Everything about him was nerve wracking, he wasn't just a normal bear anymore. You started to understood why Ornn hated him so much as you read about the appearance of his followers and how he acts. THIS was what we were exposed to...AND IT WAS AMAZING!!!!

...it's also where I feel Riot made a huge mistake. As far as I can tell, a lot (not all) of people really like this take on Volibear. It was new, it was dark, it felt more original, it was more horror outside of the Shadow Isles and Void. But, apparently, some people didn't like this approach to Voli as it strayed too far from his original design. So, in this last Roadmap, we see Voli now in a more classical form, taking on more of the God of Lightning/Thunder aspect.

This is understandable but as I scrolled back through the comments on that and looking at the boards over the last few days, people have had mixed opinions on this choice, almost wanting Riot to go down the Eldritch root. They also I guess retconned the story to it being an avatar of Volibear than it being himself, which makes me wonder if there are more horrific avatars out there of him (I also could be wrong about the retcon).

So, now we're in a situation where some people were really looking forward to the new Eldritch Volibear and now people who are getting their wish of keeping Volibear near the same. I don't really have a super big side of joining in on, since I don't really play Voli anymore (and both sides at the very least look promising) but if I did have to choose I would of wanted Eldritch Volibear. It was just such a unique take on the character, something that I don't think I've seen before. It also would of been much more of a dynamic between Ornn and him since Ornn is about creating and just being left alone, while Voli is about Destruction and converting followers.

I know Riot has had a lot of backlash of changing champs in a certain way that people didn't like (Galio, Aatrox, Yorick...I think?) in terms of appearance but personally I don't really mind that much. Some champs that I don't play or aren't interested in are because of certain themes and looks (in addition to gameplay). I really would of loved to start picking up Voli a lot more if he went down the Eldritch route, though that's not to say I won't with his current look right now.

One thing I should note is that people have brought up that if we're going to more of a classic look, we should at least get the thousand-swords-in-back since he apparently has fought hundreds of battles. I think it would be a nice touch if we got that with his current look.

Main point of this post: which Volibear would you have wanted the most in terms of design direction? I think you all should know where I stand at this point.

29 Comments

6FlagsFunnelCake10/26/2019, 6:15:29 AM10 votes

Though I voted the Eldritch option, here's my stance on the situation:

I do understand that Volibear shouldn't stray too far from his original design, his appearance in Silence of the Damned was a little far out even though it was cool as hell, so I understand Riot's decision. However, Volibear shouldn't be a noble monk-like warrior, Volibear should, at the very least, be Scary. A terrifying, brutal and viciously primal demigod of thunder who commands Runeterra's versions of Wendigos.

Mogarl10/26/2019, 5:31:25 PM8 votes

I really like the idea of Volibear becoming more "eldritch" as he gets lower health. Volibear's passive currently has to do with regenerating from low health, and I could see adapting it to a sort of cross between Kled and Sion passive that carries the spirit of the horror bear we see in the story.

Johnny El Rojo10/25/2019, 10:24:16 PM8 votes

In "Silence for the Damned", I understood that the idea behind Volibear looking like this was because he ended up very injured after his battle with Ornn , and he decided to help Sejuani in order to gain physical presence in Runeterra and be made whole again, instead of looking like that twisted monstruosity. So really, I don't think taking the Eldricht approach was ever Riot's intention. He was just there to be an in between until his rework came out. But yeah, I like his new design showed on the roadmap more. Thought to be fair, I like designs that are kept simple instead of overdoing it like they have done with some champs lately, so I would actually prefer if they simply stayed with the original design.

Darius Strada10/25/2019, 11:50:34 PM8 votes

I really liked the horror themed Voli. I hope they at least make a skin of it

Hong Kong Annie10/26/2019, 1:16:37 AM5 votes

Thematically champ reworks should be kept close to the original. Riot catches alot of flack (and they should) for their VGUs outright deleting the old character from the game. And not just at a kit level either. A VGU should play, sound and look like the old character just modernized. Changing anything in major way will ruin what some people loved them for.

14daysuspensionk10/26/2019, 1:37:01 PM5 votes

I sorta want a mixture of both. Current design during times such as when the game just started and early laning/jg farming etc, the more he attacks, the more feral he visually becomes. Sorta like Gnar or Shyvana transformation bar thingies.

Whyte Lyon10/25/2019, 11:21:13 PM5 votes

Although, I'm not really here for the "noble" or "majesty" as loose descriptions of Voli's true form. These sound like descriptions for an African lion- like Aslan or Mufusa-type figure.

An ambivalent spirit-god like Voli, whose portfolio covers the untameable wilderness, hazardous weather and a general disinterest in civilization aren't really concepts provocative of sublime qualities. A primeval being would be a little unnerving, dishevelled and have a decent disconnect from 'human' qualities.

The closest equivalent I could equate to what I'd like to see would be Fenrir of Norse mythology. This way he's not "eldritch" in the same sense as some demon from the abyss but he is still strange, unnerving and as a primeval god he's still unfathomable but only because he's not meant to be relatable to humankind

Zombie Slayer10/26/2019, 8:14:26 AM4 votes

I feel like the Volibear concepts where there were six and the bottom B one was probably the best option.

He looked scary he was giving off that slightly demonic look while staying grounded in the god bear style. The weapons in his back conducting electricity and everything just looks amazing and gives off that thunder bear god thousand pierced bear things perfectly.

The new idea for Voli is cool, the true ice on him paired with the black arms looks super good and Im glad we got something like that but he just doesnt feel like hes savage and animalistic and though they said he would be Im hoping they make it evident in his animations with him possibly walking on all 4s out of combat idk. If it were up to me I would keep the design he currently has but give him either true ice or weapons OR even weapons frozen into his back with true ice and I would remove that long braid. Seriously it looks so out of place and I hate it the other braids are fine though

Troll Slaiyer10/26/2019, 1:24:19 AM3 votes

tentacles on a bear with armor. sounds dumb to me.

Hexs Fortune10/25/2019, 11:38:42 PM2 votes

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Worst Kench NA10/26/2019, 11:18:47 AM2 votes

I'm not a fan of deviating too far from a character's original design in lore. They did that with Gangplank years ago and turned a unique character in to a sad bag of bones. You can debate how unique Voli really is, but I'd like his original thematics intact.

ModRowanstar10/29/2019, 1:49:14 PM1 votes

Im not into horror and we have enough of that in this game. I like the idea of someone noble and strong, yet ferocious and poweful. He is a bear not a demon so keep him classic with more ferocity in his prowl and speech, armor etc.

EATARI10/26/2019, 11:58:32 PM1 votes

I really can’t not love Voli in his current state. He’s just a silly ol’ bear that is hated by a time wizard on account of his shiny suit of silver. One suggestion I’ve seen that’d be really cool is to keep him true to his current design, but create a skin on release that captures his “Eldritch Horror” version.

Arkilusal10/27/2019, 2:01:10 AM1 votes

I perfer noble Voli since...Well, frankly I'm of the opinion that darkness needs SOME sort of light to counter it- Like too much talking about the unstoppability of the Shadow Isles or the Void makes it sound like Runeterra is toast, and makes the swing back towards lighter harder and harder to do without coming across as hacky. THAT SAID...We got the Pantheon rework which rather nicely did away with awkward old lore and gave us a new hero. We got LUCIAN FREEING SENNA FROM THE LANTERN! AND SHE'S GOT A WAY TO SAVE THE BLESSED ISLES! And both of those Lores nicely swing the pendulum back towards light. Yuumi...Slightly contributes in that we probably can now get a look at the Yordles (as much of a look as Lulu will let us at least >_>) that isn't just 'wee happy sugar fairytale land!' but begins to present them with their own problems.

...As for the Great Volibear storm...I think that 'noble' Voli fits the Frelijord narrative better, actually. Like...Voli being cosmic horror versus Frostgaurd serving/sealing the Watchers...Well that just makes Ashe and Trynd straight-up shining heroes, not even 'good but not nice' like Ryze is. Noble Voli makes things interesting, since it allows a reflection of that 'Three Sisters' thing we saw previously. Three Sisters. Three factions, Three Gods. Anivia reps the Frostgaurd, because True Ice-specialists match Icy Winter reflecting the Freiljord (Blackfrost Anivia anyone?) Volibear of course goes with the Winter Claw, given the way horror-Voli plays off the Winter Claw's strengths, he turns their determination and resolve against them, and revels in the violence they create. And Orrn goes with Avarosan, thanks to the Warmth and friendship themes of his followers matching Ashe's vision of a united Freiljord.

Horror Voli pushes things to me too much in favor of 'evil vs. evil vs. good.' having some Noble underneath the Storm nicely adds character and prevents him from just being 'potential World-Ender, now in Frelijord flavor!' So I'm voting noble with swords-back.

Bârd10/27/2019, 5:48:56 AM1 votes

I just want a bear.