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Can we just acknowledge that new Galio's just as somber and melancholic than the old one?

Malicious Metal·3/8/2017, 5:16:14 PM·77 votes·5,544 views

Now, before you get your pitchforks and call me insane, let's take a good look at Galio's new character.

He's basically the protector of Demacia that awakens every time there's a source of magic in his vicinity, staying awake only as long as that source persists. Once he finishes the job he was designed for and destroys the magic source that threatens demacia he goes back to sleep.

He only exists to fight and protect. Think about it, he can't make friends, he can't form any lasting relationship, he only exists for ONE task and if he succeeds in doing what he was created for he shuts down.

He's just a weapon, he's designed to just do his job like an obedient little soldier. People he might meet when he's awake are going to be gone the next time he's lucid, unable to see the world, or form bonds with mortals. He's alone, because he's forced to destroy the thing that keeps him awake.

It's actually really depressing. He even laments this, going as far as suggesting Lux to accompany him so that he can see the world. Which would be a great plot element, seeing that both Lux and Galio are prisoners to Demacia's rules.

They're forced to obey, forced to salute even though they seek more than just being Demacia's soldiers.

98 Comments

Ralanr3/8/2017, 5:29:22 PM44 votes

"I like you little blue thing, you never change."

Oh the feels. In the end, Poppy and Galio are still friends, always being that familiar face in a sea of changing times.

Sir Fuzzi3/9/2017, 6:46:42 AM12 votes

Zac's personality and theme on a mana-based version of Shen's kit. I'm surprised to see you of all people defending the personality.

Somber? Melancholic? Guy, his reveal opened with a guitar. I know you're trying to find silver linings, but please... don't give us that. Just as serious a character, maybe, but this new Galio almost has Zac beat for chipper attitude.

It's not Galio. Sure, Sion was goofy Arnie zombie, but the lore (and relatively the theme of his kit) was terrifying zombie butcher. And, boy, those might be about the only three words new Sion can be called by.

But Galio was the somber, dutiful protector. This Galio feels like the opposite-- a vivacious, loose-cannon destroyer. It's not that it itself is bad-- it's that this almost feels like an idea for a Zac skin that went a little too far into Galio's yard. The lines are great, the voice is great, the attitude is great, and none of it is even remotely Galio. About the greatest similarity is that they're AP-scaling guys made of rocks. And, frankly, Malphite would like a word if that's where we're going.

Honestly, this could be made into a Zac skin very easily and I doubt Zac players would argue with a skin taking a unique approach to his model.

Axle the Beast3/9/2017, 7:05:02 AM11 votes

What you're doing though is reading into a single line. Yeah the lore does mention that little thing about it being bittersweet that he is only awoken by the thing he must destroy, but that is pretty inadequate when you consider the other issues that differ between the two versions:

  • "It's bittersweet (their actual word choice) that I must always go back to sleep when not fighting" is NOTHING compared to "MY MASTER IS DEAD I CAN NEVER REDEEM MYSELF" (his champion quote literally used to be: "There is no such thing as redemption. Only penance." There is no comparison in terms of how sombre these manage to be.
  • Galio was literally the "Sentinel's Sorrow"; if a character is defined BY TITLE and all their lore by an emotion, and that emotion isn't at the forefront of the re-done version of the character, then no, you have not succeeded in translating them. It doesn't matter if he has sombre elements, because he's very clearly overall pretty jolly about things.
  • None of his old lines are happy; tons of his new ones are. I don't need to tell you this; listen to the new voice-over. He isn't too broken up over anything.
  • The voice-ACTING of the lines is completely different too; the old one is, well, sombre; the new one is basically a jolly superhero.
  • Using rock-and-roll to advertise the new Galio honestly speaks volumes and I don't understand how that point is getting glossed over.

You really can't take a single detail like the last third of his new lore, and then try to stretch it and say it applies to the entire character's tone. A character's tone is defined by a lot of things.

This all comes as very strange too in the midst of Riot's current trend of trying to diversify their cast. A cocky proud warrior? Yeah, we've got different versions of that in Garen, Darius, Draven, among others. But old Galio was basically an oddly masterful depiction of DEPRESSION. He was a character basically broken in terms of motivation who -- through Poppy and his involvement in the story -- was only starting to come out of it. The old Galio actually was a more distinct entry to the cast; the new one basically doesn't add anything, or at least adds very little.

Keyshe3/8/2017, 9:32:00 PM10 votes

No. The developer said themselves he is "cheery." His look, tone and voice lines are not somber. If 'some' of the reality of what he is has room for his back-lore to match with the old tone, k. But the new Galio is not somber. He is a cheesy super hero, who comes off as a meat-head with perky cheer.

Potential=/= reality. Just because you can stop and take apart of the reality of WHAT he is and what he goes through and YOU or I can see it in a 'somber' light will not change the real tone and style of the champion.

--Can we just acknowledge there is 'room' for Galio to be somber-toned in fanfiction or the reality of his situation in lore/backstory-- is a better title. New Gailo is not somber as a champion. Sorry he is not. the old one was. Not JUST in his 'predicament' and backstory but also tone and attitude. He was a medieval gargoyle...

Take a good look at Lux and Yorick. Is Lux somber, or a peppy perky girl? Doesn't matter if the lore has dark moments, Lux is not serious or dark. Now, Yorick, both lore, his situation, and his look and attitude ALL have a somber tone. Just like Lux, Teemo is also NOT somber, lore wise there is darkness but him, nope.

Big Lincoln3/8/2017, 5:22:27 PM10 votes

they should make an immortal friend for him

i wonder who would work Amumu

Recuro3/8/2017, 10:44:55 PM6 votes

I won't deny that he's not sad anymore, but that doesn't make him like old Galio. There are plenty of sad champions, they aren't Galio either. His old personality was very solemn, he was a quiet protector. New Galio is still sad, but he's also really boastful and dramatic. He went from being sad and quiet to being sad and loud. Being sad wasn't the only aspect of his personality.

Ebonmaw Dragon3/8/2017, 5:39:25 PM4 votes

I see a huge problem in the whole part about being awoke by magic users... is Lux the ONLY mage in Demacia? The only mage in CENTURIES? Does this mean that Demacia do not actually have talented and powerfull magic users? Arent the guns of Lucian magical? Isnt Poppy a Magical being with a magical hammer that has been in Demacia since the begining, why cant she awake him? Or the magical users that "give" energy to Galio need to die?

Seriously, If Demacia cant or doesnt have magical users, I can see why Noxus is free to invade Shurima, Ionia, Freljord and Piltover without the interference of Demacia.