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A Discussion on Shen's Thematic

BalanceRestored·4/23/2019, 4:03:51 AM·9 votes·8,813 views

I would like to have a discussion with others that love Shen as a champion about his design and how it is/isn't effective. Personally I feel like his design leaves much to be desired and squanders the potential of his lore. Now this is mostly about his design in relation to his lore/character, his actual design standalone looks cool.

#What is Shen? Shen is not just a Ninja he is The Eye of Twilight. This is a legendary title that carries with it an amazing, almost mythical presence to those who are in Ionia. Shen's father Kusho was someone that had an illustrious career accomplishing many feats and even had the title of Lord. (This is important) What is often overlooked about Shen is that he is pretty much a royal leader but his current appearance doesn't really reflect this. I mean if you were to show this image to someone who had never played the game, I doubt they would come to the conclusion that Shen is the leader of that group. Now I do have an idea for a theme/champion fantasy that is unrepresented in League and something I'm sure players would be interested in actually playing as well.

#Shen Could be League's Spirit Shogun Now I'm sure many Players are going to say that Shen already has a skin like that called Warlord Shen, this is true because that skin gave me the idea in the first place. Shen could be much more than just a ninja with a fancy spirit sword who sometimes teleports around. Shen could be what he was always meant to be, a powerful and mysterious leader of an ancient mystical order. This fantasy would be much more distinct in my opinion and would even allow you to play up a Ninja vs Samurai theme between him and Zed.

But that is all I really have to say for just this post, I'd like to see what direction others would like to take his character as well.

14 Comments

Erusaurus4/23/2019, 8:41:54 AM4 votes

Thank you for making this topic! Shen is probably my favourite champion in this game (second being Akali, I just have a thing for ninja I guess).

I think Shen is in a good spot lorewise, but I do have some questions :

__What does the Eye of Twilight do exactly ? __

Yes he maintains the balance between the spirit realm and Runeterra, but I want more. What was Kusho/is Shen position in Ionia ? Are they important ?

Will we get one day some Shen content that doesnt involve Zed in some ways ?

I just want Shen to exist without Zed. Zed has conflicts, many conflicts where Shen isnt always involved (the Vastayas, Noxus, his battle with the shadows, etc.). Meanwhile, Shen's story is all about how Zed destroyed his life and Jhin, with one (1) story that shows how he works alone. I want developpment. I dont want my favourite champion to be dependant of another champion forever.

Whyte Lyon4/23/2019, 4:58:14 AM1 votes

Honestly. I not sure the title of "Eye of Twilight" nor the Kinkou Order means so much to the rest of Ionia like we think it does. Just my speculation, but considering that Zed defiled and essentially banished the Kinkou from their own monastary/sacred grounds. That on the whole, most people of Ionia havent seemed to cared and are pretty complacent with the Order of Shadow's hostile take over. Like it's not that the Kinkou Order is under Zed's new management, it's an entirely different Order and all the Kinkou were straight up exiled.

If Kinkou actually had any significant sway in Ionian society or even culture how is that Zed has maintained a foothold in such a 'inportant' monastery, like wheres the resistance? Or at least the story of how Zed pulled off the takeover needs elaborating upon as that should have a very interesting explanation.

Jerry SeinfeId4/23/2019, 7:04:59 AM1 votes

yeah let's turn him in a samurai so he not only doesn't play like shen but also doesn't look like shen.

Vlada Cut4/23/2019, 10:02:31 AM1 votes

It's not what is Shen. It's whl is Shen. A lerson. Not an object for peeli ~ oh wait, my bad

CobwebLTW4/23/2019, 11:37:30 AM1 votes

Being a shen 1trick on my main account..... They just reworked shen a couple years ago.... They're not going to change him or his lore anytime soon. The best you'll see are stat changes to his current form ingame

mrmeddyman4/24/2019, 5:28:54 AM1 votes

Shen is a leader yes but a leader of a group that values BALANCE which usually eschews things like STATUS. Shen is the only leader in the game who should be looking plain

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