Xerath's lore changed how I feel when I play him

TBakes·May 19, 2016·14 votes·3,711 views

I had Xerath in ARAM the other day, and my girlfriend was looking at me asking "Are you making sound effects for your game?" and I had not even realized I was! I kept imagining Xerath from his lore and had these thoughts in my head that I was far superior to the enemies in the game (Xerath is pretty OP in ARAM, too, so that helped). It was the first time I have had a connection with a champ while playing from reading his lore. It was pretty epic!

Has anyone else picked up someone new from the new lore? Does anyone else feel a connection to a champ purely based on his/her/its lore? Let me know!

32 Comments

RiotRiotJaredanMay 20, 201613 votes

It's very heartening that you feel this way. Smiles, I have them. I'll pass your kind words on to the rest of the team. Thanks, TBakes.

TBakesMay 20, 20161 votes

I know art and story-telling tends to hit people different ways, especially when they already feel somewhat attached to it. But I will personally say that I have enjoyed the lore updates and color text additions. I like that they have been somewhat by faction and involve new or updated champions. Xerath's lore is the first to change my in-game experience, but hopefully there will be more. As I mentioned in another comment,I think Warwick's update has a lot of potential to deliver this sort of play style-fantasy-lore connection, so I jave a new reason to look forward to that.

Thanks for commenting, Jaredan!

Sahn UzalMay 20, 20165 votes

I might've mentioned it before on a thread, but since it's pretty relevant:

The new Renekton lore refreshed my love for playing the champion, and I'm still trying to get back to his agressive early game playstyle. (played a lot of GP, and he just kinda farms early (Other than his amazing gameplay, and awesome quotes, his lore will always make me get back to playing him))

I even decided to play as Default Renekton, even though I have Galactic and Runewars, and now I wanna keep playing as Default because it's really cool, but I don't like not-using skins when I own one.... #FirstWorldProblems To keep this ''quick comment'' ~~not too long~~ short,

Keep up the great work guys!

TBakesMay 20, 20161 votes

I don't own Renekton, so I haven't been able to feel his gameplay, but I really enjoyed his story too. I commented somewhere else on a separate board about how the Nasus-Renekton story reminded me a lot of my relationship with my brother. He is probably actually the next champ I unlock with IP

Sahn UzalMay 20, 20161 votes

I mainly play scaling champions, but I love playing Renekton because of how his kit feels, he's a really cool champion, even if I kinda suck at him :^)

kitcat300May 19, 20166 votes

The writers themselves have said that if a compelling story makes you want to play them, gameplay aside, your doing something right.

That being said, not all of Xerath's fans feel this way. Many of them feel his character/personality isn't the same. But still, good for you. [slayer-jinx-wink]

While she hasn't got any development yet, I've always sympathized with Karma's beliefs, which motivated me to play her more.

Finding a middle ground
Not letting hatered cloud your judgment
Question everything
Going outside tradition (or the mettagame XP)

TBakesMay 19, 20163 votes

Thanks for responding!

I guess I don't necessarily identify with Xerath as a character personally. I can't really relate to him and his decision-making. But, I find that I try to get into his head/personality depicted in the lore when I am playing him in-game now. For example, I kept thinking to myself how the other champions I was playing against could not handle all of the powers I had. But I don't do that when I play as other champs. Like, when I played as Kindred, I wasn't getting into Lamb and Wolf's heads. I was just playing as myself. But, for some reason, when I was playing Xerath my psychology changed. I felt more anticipation as I charged up my Q of just how powerful I was. When I ulted I felt more evil. I don't know if I am explaining this very well! haha

UomoAfideMay 19, 20162 votes

As a fellow Karma player i cannot do anything but to upvote this and the belief behind it.

Overlord ForteMay 20, 20166 votes

Voicing from the "fan of old Xerath" camp:

I can see the direction his new lore takes him in, and it's perfectly valid for the goals they want.

In context of the old Xerath, it lost a lot of who he was in the background. Certainly, the premises are the same - he was a man driven to do terrible things, for a price he ultimately didn't realize he would have to pay. The fine details, the hows and whys, however, the things that defined him are what were changed.

Rather than just a man whose pursuit of power cost him family, country, and home, his new self is one twisted by hatred and a brutal willingness to go the extra distance. Above and beyond, as it were, in a very Game of Thrones style of mannerism that his old self was never close to approaching. Rather than a man beyond magic, realizing the price he's paid and the solitude he is sentenced to, he's 'insane with power' and seeking to build an empire like the one he destroyed.

One of these story's is a human tragedy framed by ambition, the other is ambition framed by tragedy.

GreenLoreMay 20, 20164 votes

[{quoted}](name=Overlord Forte,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=yq14tsEz,comment-id=00000002,timestamp=2016-05-20T03:17:26.769+0000)

Rather than a man beyond magic, realizing the price he's paid and the solitude he is sentenced to

Uhm that never really happened. He himself quite clearly said that he has no regrets about what he has done and he was still pursuing more power regardless,he already seemed insane with power before his rework(he had already quotes like "The affairs of mortals are beneath me." and "The secrets of magic are mine alone."),it just never mattered,because no one cared that he was that way.

Der GrauMay 20, 20164 votes

one of the best feels of playing Velkoz making the laser sounds makes them stronger, i swear

TBakesMay 20, 20164 votes

Exactly! It's kind of like how you hit the tennis ball faster if you grunt while swinging? XD

AwoofMay 20, 20163 votes

To be quite honest I only keep feeling more disconnected with almost every champ that gets a lore update. (almost) [zombie-nunu-tears]

TBakesMay 20, 20161 votes

I hope a new one comes out that you can connect to. It isn't necessarily important to connect with every character, but it definitely adds some depth to certain gameplay experiences! :(

Warlord DienekesMay 19, 20162 votes

Yeah when I played Pantheon I felt like a spartan. A warrior that should slay any creature that drew near me with well honed precision. More than that a soldier who would charge in to aid his allies even if it was across the map. A man who trained his entire life to defeat any who would stand before him.

Of course then after his new lore dropped all I felt was overwhelming annoyance. But I've more or less managed to ignore that now.

TBakesMay 20, 20161 votes

If Pantheon isn't the epitome of a Spartan fantasy, then idk what is...

Warlord DienekesMay 20, 20161 votes

Now he's the fantasy of an immortal space parasite thing.

TBakesMay 20, 20161 votes

Yeah, that's true. Idk, I still think I would feel like a fearless warrior in-game. Especially during the sky drop!

BoulderoxMay 19, 20162 votes

Zac love him and am super comfortable with his kit, I always end up with a bunch of kills I had no clue I had...

Stars ShaperMay 20, 20162 votes

To me it was old Xerath and then AurelionSol .

Current Xerath is a fascinating character too but I feel like his development has been kind of strange, I will have to hold my judgement about it until the end of the "event" (That Bloodline thing sounds juicy).

TBakesMay 20, 20161 votes

Aurelion Sol' color text has a completely different tone from other lore. Seems like you enjoy the all-powerful champs! I think most would put Xerath and Aurelion Sol in the upper echelons of champion power.

I'm excited to see if there is more left for this event as well!

IEatLouisMay 20, 20162 votes

When I read Rammus's new lore the day before yesterday, I immediatley bought him and played only him since, save one or 2 games. It was similar when I read Lulu's lore( I play her support and top and she's one of my favourite champions), Kennen's lore(I played him once or twice but didn't like his gameplay), Yasuo's lore(he costs sooo much IP :( still waiting for him to hit the Free Rotation) Riven's lore and there's probably 1 or 2 more that I don't remember :D

TBakesMay 20, 20161 votes

That's awesome! So far, my only real experience like has been with Xerath. Hopefully it will happen more as they continue releasing new champs and updating old ones. I have a feeling Warwick's update has potential to really affect how my in-game experience of him is. That feeling of hunting and stalking prey could be mighty powerful.

GentzerMay 20, 20162 votes

Veigar is my absolute perfect match lore-wise. The feeling of slowly gaining strength is intoxicating, and the domination that is the Q-R oneshot is satisfying as hell.

Veigar and Twitch also get bonus points for maniacal laughter, it's so much fun blowing up people while laughing evily that sometimes I laugh with em XD

GorgantMay 20, 20162 votes

Basically every champion that i play, especially Jhin and Veigar ...i think I might be crazy, oh well ¯_(ツ)_/¯

KnightofMorriganMay 20, 20162 votes

As a Morgana main, when i first read her pre-retcon lore, my reaction was "I'm using power feared by the rest of my society to show them the error of their ways. I will destroy this tyranny and evil hidden behind the guise of good intentions. They will see the error of their ways, the only question is whether they will have to die to do it."

But when i learned that was all no longer canon, I'm just here like "HAHAH YOU CAN'T DO SHIT BITCH! It's fun to have die slowly and make you watch it, unable to do anything. You didn't expect it, and now you will never be able to expect anything again."

They're two very distinct and seperate feelings. The old Morgana felt very much like a darker, more gothic, more terrrifying version of what Illaoi does (sorta) only less focused on people having to change, and solely focused on cleaning out the corruption/making people embrace/confront their shadowselves. Not really like a magical angel batman, but you get what i mean. This no lore Morgana is just being sadistic because you wanna be. That's not a bad thing, it's just not what I felt the character was, and between the kit and the original lore, that first tone really stuck with me.

TBakesMay 20, 20162 votes

Gotta love that! Thanks for sharing! Morgana

SancreMay 20, 20161 votes

I felt a conection to Jhin the moment his story appeared, and even more when I started using him, even when I had no experience he flowed in my hands, every fourth shot a delightful moment, every trap a mindgame, his lore, about how he was caught, how he makes his art and plans on get his revenge on Zed and Shen, made me understand him even more, and gave me even greater pleasure every time I bursted Zed's lifebar with my fourth shot, whenever he tries to dive me and steps in my traps just to get caught and rooted.

He is a madman, a bloodthirsty maniatic beast, but i do sense the finesse and care that was given to him while he was being made, making sure that he would eventually reach your heart, be it by melodious words or numbered shots

TBakesMay 20, 20161 votes

I have really liked Jhin too. I like to fit him into a game here or there to try a different ADC. His theatrics definitely affect my in-game experience!

TrylobyteMay 20, 20162 votes

{quoted}

I have really liked Jhin too. I like to fit him into a game here or there to try a different ADC. His theatrics definitely affect my in-game experience!

Jhin's one of my favorites to play too. I share his perfectionism (though thankfully in a different way) and his love of theatrics, so it's natural that I almost always have a good time playing that maniac. You're right about his lore and his mannerisms having an effect on gameplay, too - I'm always a lot more obsessive about getting the details right when I play Jhin. Get every creep, land every skillshot, let no enemy champion escape, lest the performance not be perfect. All the better if I kill that champion in four shots.

TBakesMay 20, 20161 votes

I think Jhin's biggest moments for me are 1. Hitting his 4th shot and getting the speed boost to chase someone while reloading and finishing them, and 2. Hitting his 4 ult shots (especially the final one). If I whiff my Curtain Call, then I get really bent out of shape like "they ruined my performance!" lol

GlaedrMay 20, 20161 votes

Aurelion Sol's awesome lore, artwork, and character really got me into him. He was the first champion I bought on release because of how badass he seemed.