What a great time to be a VGU fan

Garentheon·Jun 23, 2017·20 votes·3,894 views

"Demand for VGUs (visual and gameplay updates) has also been slowly increasing over the years. We currently have two VGU teams and three new champion teams. In the future, we will have five teams that can do either new champions or VGUs, depending on what we feel makes the most sense for that point in time."

-Reav3

"As we move forward, you should expect to see us slightly ramp up the amount of VGUs we do and slightly ramp down the amount of new champions we make. We will continue to evaluate and tweak this ratio going forward."

Reav3

http://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/2017/06/champion-roadmap-june-2017/

Yes!! I've been wanting this for a while. VGUs are my absolute favorite thing about this game so I am very excited

44 Comments

Valor BotJun 23, 20178 votes

I absolutely love all the work that's come from the VGU teams thus far (Galio has been my all-time favorite, especially on the art side). I honestly can't wait til they get around to giving Quinn her VGU, but in the meantime I'm just looking forward to any new updates they make.

As an aside, here are some other champs I'd love to see realized to their full potential:

Pantheon -- Needs less "Sparta" and more "celestial badass."

Janna -- I'd love to see Janna's kit modernized to fit her new lore. Art-wise she'd probably be one of the most beautiful champions also.

Diana -- This one's a bit more contentious, but I feel her art is pretty dated and she could be much cooler both visually and gameplay-wise (should feel like she's interacting with the moon instead of just launching light from her blade on people)

Leblanc -- Also contentious but I feel Riot could get a lot more out a full VGU for LeBlanc than just updating her bit by bit until she's healthy. I also think she has a lot of potential for amazing visuals, though other champions certainly need it more.

Kayle -- So much potential for the angel theme but it's really underserved at the moment with Kayle's bland kit.

Sexy Jack RabbitJun 24, 20173 votes

Diana's is most definitely contentious. Her Art quality is incredibly high on her base, mostly due to the work put in by IronStylus. Her base model is actually pretty incredible? She has an animation when she's slowed, a nice recall. She even has facial animation, something that even some new champions lack.

Her ability visual effects could go for some touch ups, but model-wise she's incredibly up to par.

RiotReav3Jun 24, 20177 votes

Yeah. I agree. She's high on our list for a small gameplay update but I think her visuals are pretty solid

Sexy Jack RabbitJun 24, 20171 votes

Hi! nice to hear how you think! ^ ^

IxtaliKingJun 24, 20173 votes

Is Karma high on the list for a small gameplay update? Given the incomplete nature of her rework, her confused identity and her struggling win rate...

Report EvelynnJun 24, 20171 votes

{quoted}

Yeah. I agree. She's high on our list for a small gameplay update but I think her visuals are pretty solid

Are you talking about Diana or Janna?

RiotReav3Jun 24, 20173 votes

Diana

nosafterburnJun 25, 20171 votes

when you guys do give her a VGU plz plz plz for the love of everything holy (and unholy) bring back her beautiful release opening sequence. that was such a hauntingly gorgeous piece.

ShadowParkerJun 24, 20171 votes

Does Diana actually have facial animations?

Sexy Jack RabbitJun 25, 20171 votes

She sure does! http://www.lolking.net/models?champion=131 If you check out any of her available Jokes, Taunts or her laugh you can see she has facial animation that actually syncs up. It's hella cool =D

Valor BotJun 24, 20171 votes

Yeah her art isn't bad per se -- far from the worst -- but I do think it's fallen behind a bit and could be better. Some of her animations are quite rigid -- compare the way her hair moves to other champions with long hair like Taric, for example. Her textures are strong and really sharp, but they're so grey that they blend in together which can make her look like a dull shape overall, and makes it hard to distinguish some pieces of her armor from other parts. They are mostly minor gripes (i.e. her hair piece behaves elastically in game whereas it appears to be quite solid/metallic in her splash); some of that is probably just up to taste, part of it though is just that she was released quite a few years ago so it's to be expected that she's not 2016/2017 material, so it's unfair for me to compare her to more modern champs. Still, I do think she could use a visual update once the more pressing champions are out of the way :)

GarentheonJun 24, 20171 votes

Totally agree with you on Pantheon

He is my most anticipated VGU

Warlord DienekesJun 24, 20171 votes

And my most feared.

SwarovskoJun 24, 20173 votes

You talk about potential and you forget Sona and Karma ? Wtf

Warlord DienekesJun 24, 20173 votes

You tap into why I fear VGUs. I personally despise the celestial stuff they saddled on Pantheon. I just want to play a Spartan.

La BelloJun 24, 20175 votes

Really?

Pantheon being a average sparta dude and not some over the top magical warrior like everyone else in LoL is kind of a draw for me. Im not sure if I would be happy about them having Pantheon combat people with magic like Diana or Leona and not his sheer skills as a warrior.Pantheon to me is the kind of guy who's power is to look at a person and calculate 100 different ways to kill them while also having above average endurance, reflexes and strength .

Pantheon was never about being a CELESTIAL BADASS to me. he was just sorta like an example of a really honed lethal warrior that in a world full of larger than life monstrosities and gods has managed to hold his own off his own brand of badassery. If Riot ever did do a VGU I hope they wouldnt make Pantheon himself enchanted but just maybe the weapon he uses but they should also show that he see's it as no more than a tool and his body is the real weapon.

Warlord DienekesJun 24, 20172 votes

My god. Finally someone who gets it.

Valor BotJun 24, 20175 votes

The main issue with Pantheon, I think, is that he's just a generic Spartan dude at the moment. Riot wanted to make him a more original character that feels unique to the League universe, so they rewrote him into a warrior that hosts the power of a celestial god inside of him: the Aspect of War. Pantheon's visuals, kit, and VO just need to catch up to that change in his lore.

I get the appeal behind wanting Pantheon to be a more normal/average champion, though. One without all the magical hubbub who's still fearsome and powerful. I also understand Riot wanting their characters to be truly legendary, however. Making Pantheon the god of war was a really solid and respectable way of achieving that, I feel, because it takes his current theme and pushes it to the limit.

Warlord DienekesJun 25, 20173 votes

They didn't turn him into a god of war though. They turned him into an alien space parasite.

I am always confused why Pantheon keeps getting picked out for being a generic Spartan and sometimes Olaf. But no one ever seems to mention the 4 ninjas, the Qin dynasty soldier, the kitsune, the generic WoW warriors, the angel, the demon, the Joker, Harley Quinn, and literally Wukong. They didn't even bother to rename that one. It's literally Wukong.

I want to play a generic Spartan dude. Because so far the Spartans were far more interesting, complex, and unique, then the alien thing they've turned him into. There was nothing in Pantheon that implied he was some body hoping space spirit. Rewriting him like that was just mean to those who actually were interested in playing a badass soldier.

Valor BotJun 25, 20172 votes

He's not just an alien space parasite now, though -- he's also the incarnation of war itself.

Trust me, I know it sucks to have a character that's special to you changed or taken away. I think there's still a lot of the original Pantheon in the new one though, and I'm sure it'll be the same once he gets his VGU.

Think about it this way: instead of being "just a generic Spartan," Pantheon is now Mount Targon's very own version of a Spartan, representing the same militaristic, warlike qualities of that group. I'm sure once they get around to giving other generic champions like Olaf and Tryndamere their VGUs, they'll want to do the same to set them apart also. (I agree Wukong's probably the worst case offender here though, and I have no idea if Riot's even willing to remedy him.)

Warlord DienekesJun 25, 20172 votes

He's not just an alien space parasite now, though -- he's also the incarnation of war itself.

No he's not. Or if he is, he's pathetic about it.

We know what Pantheon is, from Sol's lore. He's one of the celestial spirit things that captured Sol with a magic crown and makes them do their dirty work. So alien.

And from Pantheon's lore we know that he's a body hopper:

The Pantheon Aspect had obliterated his personality, memories and emotions. Atreus' flesh was nothing but a shell inhabited by the supernatural Aspect of War; his mortal soul had joined those of the ancestors in the celestial afterlife.

Meaning Atreus is dead and Pantheon is a space parasite.

And he's not even a good warrior really. We know that Sol is the reason that the Targonians expanded over the galaxy. So... I suppose Pantheon was twiddling his thumbs during the important fights. Which we even see in the lore. We get to watch Pantheon beat up some barbarians that have no means of hurting him now that he's superpowered (woo... fighting people that you're better than because your magic makes them not a threat. That's great. It's so fun to watch conflict with no actual stakes involved). Then when he actually has a difficult battle, he calls Sol to do everything. And gets blown up as an afterthought.

I don't want to see the other generic champions get changed. Vikings are awesome! They're way better than when Riot tries to take the concept and muck it about. I like Spartans, and knights, and vikings. Hell the reason why I started playing this game was my friend said "Hey, Dienekes, in this MOBA you can play a Spartan and kick ass, murdering monsters, mages, and particularly annoying squirrels." And I said "Sign me up!"

I want to play that. I've gotten to play that for years. Now they're going to take that away for the new vision of the game. When that new vision is just as silly and nonsensical as it has always been. Only now they're deleting the things I like and replacing them with this bitch they turned Pantheon into. Not a soldier who lived through the Agoge and represents the honor and brutality of one of the most interesting cultures in history. But some chump from outer space that gets monsters to do his dirty work.

It's a slap in the face.

La BelloJun 25, 20172 votes

this

the best way I can best explain it is that I feel like Riot wants their characters to be a recognizable brand of sorts. Like you should never confuse THEIR Samurai with just any other generic samurai and theyve decided that the best way to go about doing this is to make a lot of their designs as some people would call " OC donut steel".

Its ss if the thought process behind character creation has become "Its not enough that our knight is a regular knight he has to be a void touched knight with a talking shield and shoot lasers from his eyes with angel wings!" (although this is clearly an exaggeration)

It would be nice to have characters on the much more "obtainable" in the fantasy spectrum such as "Helmet Bro" or how Caitlyn is just a officer with a REALLY good aim and a Rifle or how Graves is just a hardened criminal with a sawed-off super shotgun.

to me the chances of seeing a champion on this spectrum is becoming more and more of a rarity so I seek to preserve the few existing champions that have such a fantasy. Darius Garen Draven Caitlyn Gangplank Vayne Jayce Jinx are all examples of champions who to me are on the obtainable side of fantasy. humans with above average abilities,skills or tech that make them formidable in combat while not relying on magic or supernatural nonsense that makes them a demigod amongst mortals.

LuminierJun 24, 20176 votes

Jax has the potential to look and feel so badass. He already is a solid champion right now, I think he'd only need like a Gangplank level update, focusing more on visuals and maybe modernizing a skill or two.

RobertsmashJun 24, 20172 votes

Honestly one of my favorite champions and my most hyped potential update. I know he's still far away, but with every VGU he gets closer...

La BelloJun 24, 20172 votes

He should gain more than one weapon imo.

A big part of his character that I think people forget is that he's the GRANDMASTER AT ARMS and he CHOOSES to use a lamppost against people to make things interesting for himself. Lorewise Jax could beat you with anything from a sword to a rubber chicken so why have him only show his skill with a lamppost?

I think if they ever rework Jax they should give him a multitude of weapons to choose from somehow (maybe like Twisted Fates pick a card but with various weapons each having a different playstyle or passive attached maybe have it alter his basic skills)

I always thought pic related would be a good basis for a Jax modernization

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/d/d7/Gilgamesh_Full.png/revision/latest?cb=20110224142654

Dragon MasterJun 23, 20173 votes

Swain update when?

WordofmaskJun 23, 20176 votes

keep your eyes on the next ChampUp blog.

KillaburnJun 23, 20174 votes

i bet the next 2 champ VGU's will be nunu and panth.. it just my instinct considering a lot of rioters talk about them in who will be the next VGU post in here or in reddit.

WordofmaskJun 23, 20172 votes

Interesting, Could you give me those links or posts.

KillaburnJun 24, 20171 votes

sorry but i can't ..considering im a very forgetful person and that threads are so random and im just an avid reader on threads but when it comes into big/small details inside a thread post(the comments of rioters) then ... i will not forget it

KrabohodJun 24, 20171 votes

It's def would be Swain, cause rioters were active in Swain's threads recently

UnvictusJun 24, 20171 votes

I have my money on irelia for one of them. A rioter said not to long ago that she was really high priority (sorry, no source).

KillaburnJun 24, 20173 votes

I cited a source lol just find it there lol

Responding to your above post since for some reason there isn't a reply on it. Galio was actually one of our best received VGUs we have ever done and also one of our most successful. This doesn't mean every champion needs to change as much as Galio though. For every VGU they main goal is to bring a champion up to modern standards. WE basically ask ourselves "What if we made this champion today?" Different Champions will have different answers to that question. Warwick already ahd a lot of cool stuff and was at one point in the past a very popular champion. Galio needed a lot of work to be brought up to modern standards. Evelynn already has a lot to like so it will be more similar to WW.

At some point we will get to Nunu who is in a similar boat to old Galio in that he will need A LOT of work. This is not something we are going to shy away from in the future.

~Reav3

http://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/2017/06/champion-roadmap-june-2017/

WordofmaskJun 24, 20172 votes

Oh I saw this post too.

Anyway, Nothing special to me because it was kind of statement Reav3 always keep saying when he refers to strong candidates.

The statements that give me strong hints of Swain are from WWAAAARGHbobo as follows

"Swain is being looked at by champup and worldbuilding. Rakan's line is a reference to OG swain. We will pull it depending on where Swain lands." https://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/66jbqk/were_the_team_that_made_xayah_and_rakan_ask_us/dgj9m5p/?context=3

and this one from Reav3. not strong hint though but it teased me. "Alenxko will be receiving skins for Cassiopeia, Viktor, Yorick, Illaoi (and more) They forgot to mention Swain :L

[–]Reav3 Hmmm..Curious" https://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/69223f/dev_state_of_skins/dh3ezxc/?context=3

RiotReav3Jun 24, 20176 votes

Hmmmm....curious

KillaburnJun 25, 20172 votes

I have a question reave3 .. so do you intend to show the next 3 VGU's after evelynn?? considering the removal of class updates or you'll stick to reveal 2 VGU's only??

if so please let it be Nunu then Pantheon then Swain then Mordekaiser (he needs to be a juggernaut tbh instead of a marksman) then Kayle / Morgana and lastly Malphite

Another question?? what are your plans on malp?? he doesn't have a bit of a connection to runatera in the new lore so what then?? I love him lols so please her out my theories...

my theories are: a. he will be a shadow isles character considering the black mist can make things a living being(maokai and fiddle if you make him a shadow isle character) make him turn into an evil mind slave of the isles . b. like my theory above but in bilgewater because its close to the shadow isles and the black mist and lastly c. combine them all lols jk but something like nautilus or ivern.

PS: please dont delay haunted maokai splash :D

WordofmaskJun 25, 20171 votes

Sadly, He said that he would likely reveal only 1 next VGUs after Urgot release since they had decided to give us Champ Blog more often.

WordofmaskJun 25, 20171 votes

Such a Curiously Curious statement.

SolideusJun 24, 20173 votes

Dude I second that! I don't even play the game as much as I used to, but VGUs are still so exciting to me.

KrabohodJun 24, 20172 votes

I just wanna freeze myself like Cartman did.

Honestly, isn't the need for full 5-team-on-vgus is right now? Cause we have too many tier 1 candidates. I'm so hype to all of them

LeyinJun 23, 20171 votes

me too, but I will miss the roster updates, I jumping 3 days on a row when I see the mid and pre-season pbe patches xD But I prefer everything that makes champion more interesting

KillaburnJun 23, 20171 votes

while there is no more class update and the slowing down of new champs can i guess that rito can have many VGU's next season hehe like they make a pattern per patch (eg. VGU, VGU, no VGU/new champs, New champ, no VGU/new champs, go back in the cycle). After that when rito finishes the VGU's they can now go back into prioritizing new champ,new features,new lore and balancing updates. And ofcourse, make a MOVIE!!!!

LeyinJun 23, 20171 votes

well they will changef from 2vs VGUs and 3vs new Champs to 5vs overall. So there will be still half a year time for a VGU and there weill still be new champs and balance is done by the llivegameplay team, the new features by dev team and the lore by the lore team. So nothing will change only that class update will disapear and more smalelr mini reworks are coming and that the roster for new champions and VGUs is now mixed up

DigielfJun 25, 20171 votes

But even with all those teams it didn't change much we still get 2 and barely 3 visual updates each year so some outdated champions will probably take a decade before they get theirs, in the past they acctualy did them faster