@Rioters Champion concepts request

Podge·Jul 14, 2015·40 votes·17,674 views

Hey Rioters, I am a young character designer. I'm constantly looking for ways to understand and breakdown the conceptual process for champions that I think work very well and are designed very well. There are only a few different "early concepts" of champions out there. And I think that a lot of people (or at least, not just me) would like to see some early designs of our favorite champions.

The ones that I would personally really want to see are:

Yasuo, the Unforgiven: Yasuo is one of those champions that got me instantly exited for him when I saw his reveal. When I first saw him, I instantly thought how beautifully designed he was. The way his color works with his overall aesthetic, as well as how it interacts with his environment. I mean, I've taken to his design so much that I even wrote a 6 page design analysis on him. Involving design theories (trying to get inside the heads of the designers) and breakdowns of everything on him. Seeing his early conceptual stages would really be helpful to me, because of how much he has influenced my own art and designs.
Kalista, the Spear of Vengeance: I think Kalista was really brilliantly designed. She is a champion that (to me) is groundbreaking in so many ways. She is a female champion that looks practical in her clothing (exception ), she also is a whole new female body type that we haven't seen in LoL before. On top of all of that, it seems natural. it doesn't really seem like it was a character you guys felt you HAD to do, but more one you really WANTED to do. So, I think that seeing her concepts from early drafts to later drafts, would be really cool of you guys. [I KNOW THERE IS SOME STUFF OUT THERE FOR KALISTA, it would just be nice to see more] Kalista final concept here: http://pre02.deviantart.net/5dfc/th/pre/i/2014/308/e/6/kalista__the_spear_of_vengeance_by_the_bravo_ray-d85a2r1.jpg
Bard, the Wandering Caretaker: For real guys, Bravo. Bard looks so nice. In my opinion, Bard is a really solid design. He seems so cohesive to me. The heavy Studio Ghibli inspiration is something that I noticed right away, and I would like to see if that was always there, and what kinds of stages he went through to become the beautiful, bearded, Bard we see today. [AGAIN, I KNOW THERE IS STUFF OUT THERE FOR BARD, again I just think it would be cool to see even more] Bard final concept here: http://41.media.tumblr.com/8f675c85919d717b0aaf1cee9c5c0888/tumblr_nnxx49YjxJ1s0k4v0o1_1280.jpg
Lucian, the Purifier: To me, Lucian is a very interesting champion. Meaning, I feel his concept process was very complicated. Almost like it took him a while to come to his full identity. I'm just really curious to see what kinds of Lucians there were before we got the slick, vengeful, ghostbuster we see today. [SAME GOES FOR LUCIAN AS IT DOES KALISTA AND BARD, I just want to see some early stuff man] Lucian final concept here: http://orig14.deviantart.net/f14b/f/2013/239/5/2/lucian___final_color_concept_by_eoinart-d6jybqu.jpg

Okay, those are my main requests. I don't mean to sound like "Oh man riot sucks they don't release concept art." And this might be A LOT to ask. But, I'm hoping you guys will be able to share the early concepts with me and the rest of the league community.

I look forward to hearing from you guys!

Thanks!

Obokuri (or, Kino)

29 Comments

RiotRiot ShadowStormJul 14, 20158 votes

Did you happen to catch the Ekko Concept Timeline we shared during his Q+A? I think it gives a pretty good look at the process to take him from "Time Assassin" to "Ekko, the Boy Who Shattered Time".

Also, the Tahm Kench Insights article has some of his concept art, as well as an art section describing the ideation process he went through.

Not the champs you called out, unfortunately (those were before my time), but hopefully some cool stuff there that helps!

PodgeJul 15, 20152 votes

Yeah! The Ekko one was really helpful! I just wish there was something like that for the characters I listed. But this is still really helpful!

NaharaJul 15, 20152 votes

I dunno why, but I find it kinda funny that one of Ekko's past iterations brought back the roller blades that were also in one of Vi's past iterations.

Is a champion who wears roller blades something Riot has been wanting to do, but just haven't been able to do yet?

RiotRiot ShadowStormJul 15, 20153 votes

{quoted}

I dunno why, but I find it kinda funny that one of Ekko's past iterations brought back the roller blades that were also in one of Vi's past iterations.

Is a champion who wears roller blades something Riot has been wanting to do, but just haven't been able to do yet?

There's certainly something interesting about rollerblades. The fluidity of motion that leads to could probably open up some interesting gameplay and art expressions. Rollerblades also have a punk-ish feel (thanks to Jet Set Radio, I'm sure!), which is probably why they showed up for Ekko and Vi specifically at different points.

For Ekko specifically, this version came at a time when we were still trying to flesh out our punk genius from Zaun. We'd been talking about him being young, fast, athletic - somebody who could survive and thrive running around Zaun. I believe we were also discussing parkour-ish tendencies. One of the artists mocked that up to see how the team felt about the direction, but we decided that other stuff felt more right.

Personally, I think Ekko is rough enough around the edges that rollerblade motion wouldn't have fit him as well. Still, it's a cool thing. I wouldn't be surprised if we do something like this eventually!

RogueWillJul 14, 20154 votes

I would like to see the concept art as well, I'm interested on the notes thou... what were theythinking when they came up with these designs

PodgeJul 14, 20153 votes

{quoted}

I would like to see the concept art as well, I'm interested on the notes thou... what were theythinking when they came up with these designs

Oh yeah for sure. That would be awesome as well. Hopefully this gets followed up c:

terkmcJul 14, 20153 votes

Rito, plz, learning opportunity for everyone and improve your standing with the player base at no cost

XeroKimoJul 14, 20152 votes

I remember Lucian's code name... The gun templar, man that name gave me the chills...... now it's the purifier....

PodgeJul 14, 20152 votes

{quoted}

I remember Lucian's code name... The gun templar, man that name gave me the chills...... now it's the purifier....

I kinda like "the purifier," I think it works well for his character. Instead of being like, a person who enforces the law or their agenda. He is a man driven by hatred to cleanse demons, because he himself was hurt by those same demons. Less order driven, and more vendetta driven. I kinda like it.

BlackInkX2Jul 14, 20151 votes

yes a judge dredd character would be cool

LowvyrJul 14, 20151 votes

I love seeing how you guys come up with the ideas for champions, and I would love to see all this.

MimaropaJul 14, 20151 votes

I don't know why people keep complaining about lore. Its pretty hard to do to make it unique and intersting (without making it a knock off of some famous identity). These concept arts show their personality and lifestyles. I would really want to see more of concept arts than lore to me. Jinx character is pretty good not like any regular crazy criminals, she gives me these unique vibe that stands out. Im proud of riot for making an effort for making new interesting champions since they began to be popular. Recent new champions do have tiny lores but they show a unique personality that defines them for what they are and not just regular stereotype. Pardon my English, not my first language

I Miss CannonJul 14, 20152 votes

please don't tell me you think Jinxs character is unique...

Troll for TrumpJul 14, 20152 votes

it's hard to come up with unique ideas Bard looks like he's some omnipotent sentient being made by studio ghibli Ekko is the punky street kid with the punk hairstyle, tattoos, and clothes is the tomboy Viktor is kinda Dr. Doom JarvanIV Garen : GOody twoshoes Garen Katarina :twilight Braum :the strong guy Elise the seducing eats humans demonmonster thingy

FowusJul 14, 20151 votes

Talon assassin's creed

TheKookieMonsterJul 14, 20151 votes

Syndra Power hungry villain. Veigar The powerful one nobody can take seriously (like Urahara Kisuke from Bleach) Yorick Zombie. Sion Zombie. DrMundo Practically a zombie. Flaming zombie. Gangplank Pirate. Karthus Undead mage( hehe, WoW reference cus that race is broken af) Mordekaiser Full Metal Alchemist (Alphonse Elric) Shen Zed #JapaNinjas Vayne That sexy one that flirts with all, dates none. MissFortune Idc, she gives me a raging boner. Jinx The lunatic. Ziggs The other lunatic.

kile147Jul 15, 20152 votes

Karthus is more of a Lich King type of thing. He doesn't fit the Lich King from WoW, but he fits the older D&D models by being a powerful sorcerer who through magical prowess has overcome death itself and in doing so has attained power that makes him seem almost godlike at times (tell me Requiem isn't basically a 5 man super smite, which is pretty freaking godlike).

TheKookieMonsterJul 21, 20151 votes

................................. Yes. C:

MasterVidallisJul 14, 20152 votes

If you want to dismiss all the unique details they put in a lot of those champions and type out a seriously oversimplified one line description sure, what you say makes sense. You can do that with anything:

Lord of the Rings - fantasy elves vs orcs fighting with some wizards Harry Potter - just wizards but they go to school in England and are teens Game of Thrones - a combination of the above above but creepier and with more rape

Don't know if it does it justice though.

PodgeJul 14, 20153 votes

When you're dealing with character design and story design on a very basic scale. You have to work with archetypes. Archetypes make it easier to get the cut of a character's gib without a lot of exposition. So maybe her personality isn't necessarily the most unique. But her silhouettes stands out from a line up, and she is unlike anything in League right now. Her visuals tell more than her personality does. And thats pretty solid character design if you ask me.

I mean, take my main man: Yasuo , Yasuo. Personality wise he is just your dishonored samurai. Your basic Ronin character. Aragorn in LoTR is a great example of that. Your once proud warrior who, either through hubris or apathy, has fallen from honor. Who, now is on a quest for redemption.

Like, you can't ever get a 100% original character. In fact, what makes good character design is taking those old archetypes and add a new, unique take on it. Sometimes it might always hit home as hard, which is Jinx's case. But, I think trying to find 100% unique characters in a game without really ANY ROOM for exposition.

And I'm not saying Riot doesn't put thought into it's characters, but rather, I'm saying that its a really big request for these characters that we can't spend a whole long story learning about. That's all.

Blue Moon WolfJul 14, 20151 votes

I remember seeing that concept art for Lucian , It was on this site for custom LoL skins and fan art. The odd thing is it was before even Thresh was released when I saw it.

DwarvenGiantJul 14, 20151 votes

Yeah it was leaked in early 2013, I'm pretty sure (Along with the leaked Azir concept art that was drawn by Gem "LoneWingy" Lin- Though it was much more blurry when it was leaked).