NeoLexical

This. :D

Jax was not a VGU. VUs are very different in terms of time investment. Shyvana is still a high contender. But we will not be stopping Skarner development to start on Shyvana. Changes like that are extremely costly and will not be fair for Skarner as well.

;D

Need to finish Skarner first!

Its not that we don't care. Its more that we care alot! Delaying a champ means we are keeping people on the project longer. That usually means a more expensive project (time = money when everyone is salaried). We are willing to do that because we really want to get it right rather than ship something we don't have tons of confidence in. This usually means bigger iterations to test, playtest and run labs. It may not result in bigger changes but it means we are doing as much due diligence as we can.

Technically he still doesn't have a real weapon

Good news since the article is that we made considerable progress since the article was written :D Not sure if it would help Skarner catchup on the time he already was delayed for... but the team is feeling way more optimistic and energy is picking up! Can wait to have Skarner rushing through into the rift for y'all :D

To ensure cohesion of a champion, we generally have to evaluate as a whole package. Even if the gameplay is working, sometimes we need to figure out how this champ fits into the greater runeterra world. Once we make those changes, design usually reconsiders the current kit works well or if there are lightweight tweaks that would make the champ feel alot better as a cohesive package. We also usually use these moments to clean up the scripts to more modern standards. Thus, its not always as simple as just updating art. What goes on underneath the covers on a champ is still bulky work that someone have to set space aside to take on.

We are aware of this and have adjusted future roadmaps to balance! Sometimes if I handout too many restrictions for a champ it will become extremely limiting ont he creative space. There are times when it works well: Milio needed to be from Ixtal and need to be young boy and need to be core enchanter. Sometimes you get more of a mashup that is not great for cohesion. In those cases, somethings need to give. Also, all of the champions that end up making it to players hands are not necessarily all of the champs in development/ explored. When champs don’t work out, we don’t adjust other in dev champs to accommodate because usually it’s too late. We can only adjust further out roadmaps (champs that haven’t fully formed yet).

Botlane! Currently hatching in one regions, but who knows what their journey might entail!

Depends on the champion! Since every one of our champs is special in their own ways, the solutions are also special :)

I think my intentions is not to say that Crystal Scorpion is a bad idea or that it cannot ever be done. However, it was a story that we DID tell and a theme that we DID do in the first rework. What data did tell us is that beside a few vocal individuals that deeply loved the theme, majority of the player base cares very little for the theme.
It would be highly illogical of me to ask the team to revisit that exact combination and expect something better than the previous version because that would mean I have made the assumption that:
1) Crystal Scorpion is the best theme out there for a scorpion champion
2) The previous team, though with their longer experience, did a worse execution on the Crystal Scorpion thematic and that our newer, less experienced team can do better!

Removing the limitations of theming, story and baggage means the team can focus on how to deliver on a more cohesive character than struggle through the problems.

We actually looked into this as well! The overlap with Rek'Sai was too strong which made Skarner quite un-iconic.

It's very important!!

The real support for new players. They will cheer you on in game! Supporting the nearest adc mentally with good cheer and upbeat attitude.

Champion team and Skins team are separate teams as we have different skillsets as well as goals. Skins focus on making skins that players would want to buy so that champs and other gameplay teams don't have to worry about $ KPIs. Most of our goals are actually around engagement and player sentiments! So please fill out those surveys that pops up :P They are very helpful for us! Reddit sentiments aren't the most scientific approach haha.

Currently, my goal is to have a mixture of both. Because players and their needs are all different. We shouldn't shy away from building attractive characters (though sometimes the definition of attractiveness can vary depending on person) but we should also have champions that aren't built for just broad appeal!

I wish as well! But tbh this types of hits are very common day to day even on a good year. Thus, it usually becomes very hard to identify that "oh no, things are now falling like dominos" moment.
Ex: Vex had a pretty turbulent development, Zeri and Renata was both pushed out but during those times it was quite okay! We found ways to make it work! Udyr was also understaffed on animation before we hired, outsourced, got partners to help and trained up more animators.
These things usually goes unnoticed and don't really have huge need to make splashes in comms about (more time we spend on discussing comms less time we have discussing progress >w>). Moreover, at least on myself, whenever fires happen...I just go heads down solve problem space. When there are puzzles everywhere...well you keep head down and keep solving them till moments like this when you reflect what happened in the last year.

Usually this! Honestly, if you want to work in gaming, I can guarantee Riot is one of the best in the industry!
Personal opinion: If I didn't work at Riot, I probably won't be in gaming :)
People have lives that change too! Looking back on my time at Riot I actually moved teams a few times myself. Some because I saw opportunities to do something that's just different than what I did before, some because of family and wanting to be closer to family and some because the other opportunity just sounded soooooo coool (cough champs cough).

We will / want to continuously update old champions too!

Hello everyone! I want to answer some questions and reflect about the champion team. I’ve been with the team for around a year now, it’s been a blast working with people that are so very talented and passionate about the game and community.

When I first arrived at the team, we were suffering from lots of the downstream effects of Covid. Zeri, Renata and Udyr were all pushed further out to accommodate the various disciplines that had folks down from being sick, having to take time to work on life changes or moving away from the team. I think many of us took the time stuck home as an opportunity to re-examine our lives. Some of us found new adventures within Riot (Me included! I moved from LoR back to LoL) and others have started on new journeys elsewhere. Afterall, many folks on League have been here for quite some time.

With all of the shifts and changes, it became painfully apparent that as a team we are reacting to changes rather than planning for them. Many folk...