Creating A Champion: Lolligo

Designing Strong and Diverse Female Characters for Modern Gaming

Note: I do not work for Riot Games, this is a Capstone project where I study the process Riot uses in order to create champions. They own exclusive rights to the League of Legends IP.

Final Result

Illustration

Character Turnaround

Expression Sheet

Note of Appreciation

I sincerely appreciate my mentors' support and guidance during my capstone project, especially Maria Lerma and Caleb Kicklighter for sharing expertise and providing valuable feedback. They were there for me every step of the way, refining my ideas and developing my skills. I value their investment in me and am grateful for their impact on my growth. Thank you for your unwavering mentorship.

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Table of Contents:

Preface

Motivation

Introduction

Project Overview

Research

Plan

Concept Ideation

Research

Character Design

Elements

Plan

Creating a Champion

Champion Kit

Concept Ideation

Sketches

Iterations

Deliverables

Conclusion

Closing Thoughts

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Preface

Motivation

For my capstone, I set out to design a character that was a diverse, accurate, and inclusive representation of women for video games. As a fan of Riot and the game called "League of Legends", I wanted to see a champion that broke the mold. So I made one. For this, I studied a range of elements in character design and the art style of my favorite game. Ultimately, I wanted a split between what is considered masculine and feminine traits, joining in the middle to create a new kind of mad scientist. Say hello to Lolligo.

Introduction

But what is League of Legends? League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena game (MOBA) created by Riot Games. MOBA games involve two teams of players competing against each other in a virtual arena to destroy each other's base, using computer-controlled units and player-controlled heroes with unique abilities. MOBAs are known for their real-time strategy elements, team-based gameplay, and high level of player skill and strategy, with popular examples including League of Legends, Dota 2, and Smite.

League of Legends champions serve a dual purpose within the game IP: they play a role in the story and have unique gameplay mechanics. Successful game IPs, like League of Legends, can generate revenue from various sources such as game sales, licensing deals, and merchandise. By creating relatable champions, Riot can foster a better relationship with players and further expand the franchise's revenue potential through sequels and spin-offs.

Project Overview

Research

I conducted research to ensure that the character I created fit seamlessly within the League of Legends universe. This involved scouring Riot's online resources for information on their champion creation process and immersing myself in the world style of League of Legends.

Plan

By following Riot Games' process, I strategically planned the core elements that would be the focal point of my character's design.

Concept Ideation

Concept ideation is a crucial step in the character design process. It involves generating a multitude of ideas, refining them, and ultimately selecting the strongest concept. This process may involve sketching, brainstorming, researching, and collaborating with others to arrive at a unique and compelling character design.

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Research

Character Design

When conceiving my champion, my initial vision was to craft a character that embodied chaos. Drawing inspiration from League of Legends' Jinx and Everything Everywhere All At Once's Jobu Tupaki, I determined that my champion's origins should be in Zaun, a setting in Riot's intellectual property renowned for its chemtech, pollution, and edgy champion designs. To bring this vision to life, I delved into Riot's art process and extensively researched Zaun and the key elements that contribute to a compelling character design.

While conducting my research, I came across content released by Riot Games that provided insight into their creative process.

Here is what I found:

1. So You Wanna Make Games?: Youtube Series by Riot Games

Notes

2. The Riot Games Super Art Power Hour: Youtube Series by Riot Games

3. Riot Games: A Day in The Life of an Artist: Panel by Riot Games Sponsored by Lenovo and Hosted by Gnomon

Notes

4. Art Demonstration by League of Legends Artists: https://youtu.be/osnTFCm1hlc

Elements of Character Design

Theme/Moodboard

In accordance with the "So You Wanna Make Games?" series by Riot Games, it was suggested that during the art process, an artist should create a mood board. Which can be found here. I created a section for inspiration, my desired color palette, champion reference from existing characters, element studies, and most importantly a mood board for Lolligo herself.

However, my character's inspiration was too chaotic and I needed to tie it together with a theme.

With guidance from my mentors, I delved deep into my champion's essence and ultimately chose the vampire squid as the central theme for my character. Why? Well I wanted Lolligo to be mysterious, chaotic, and someone to fear. With this aspect I also had to consider her abilities with the game. Coincidentally, vampire squids not only use bioluminescence to distract predators but also turn inside out to scare them away. This finding matched perfectly with what I later planned for her abilities.

(I also hate the ocean, that place is horrifying.)

Shape Language/World Style

Studying a game world's style through shape breakdowns helps one understand and replicate its unique aesthetic. Analyzing shapes and forms in designs reveals patterns and insights into the artistic principles behind a game's visual style. This process identifies key elements and provides a foundation for creating new assets that fit seamlessly and maintain consistency throughout the game.

Shape Language Study of Champions

During my analysis of the League of Legends universe, I observed that there was a scarcity of female scientist champions, and that Renata Glasc, a popular support/enchanter champion, lacked a kit that appealed to players with a more aggressive playstyle. To address this, I conceptualized Lolligo after Renata Glasc, the Chem-Baroness who derived her power from refined chem-tech and envisioned her as a researcher or scientist within the League of Legends IP. With Lolligo's backstory in mind, I decided to place her origins in Zaun, a dark and industrialized city-state that is known for its dangerous but brilliant minds, a perfect fit for her chem-tech focus.

Renata Glasc, The Chem-Baroness and Main Point of Reference

Zaun is a dark, industrialized city-state in the world of League of Legends, located on the outskirts of Piltover. Known for its gritty, polluted streets and hazardous working conditions, Zaun is home to some of the most brilliant, but dangerous, minds in Runeterra. The city-state is fueled by innovation and experimentation, often at the cost of its own citizens. As a result, Zaun has become a hotbed for illegal activities, black markets, and mad scientists seeking to push the limits of science and technology. Despite its reputation as a seedy, lawless place, Zaun is also a center for groundbreaking medical research and is responsible for some of the most innovative technological advancements in the world of League of Legends.

References of Zaun and Its Residents

Player Readability/Silhouettes

Silhouettes are a big part of good character design, and I often found myself going back to them even later in the process. So I took reference of existing champions, via creating a mega board that consisted of existing concept art. Something to also take into account is that when players see champions it is from a certain angle, and certain details can get lost.

Physical Characteristics

I needed to avoid having the champion look too similar to the current champions. As it's often the case, they pretty much have the same face. While Riot Games has made strides in recent years to increase diversity and representation in their character designs, there is still a lack of representation. So I researched eye shapes, lip shapes, and everything in between. Taking inspiration from a Reddit thread on this issue.

Image Credit: u/ThirtyCrustaceans

Body Type

While the majority of women in games are often portrayed with the coveted hourglass figure, it's important to acknowledge that there are various body types out there. In my research, I came across a collection of photographs from Howard Schatz's book, "Athlete," which showcased women in peak physical condition, each excelling in their respective sports. One of the featured athletes was Dawn Ellerbe, a US Olympian whose specialty was hammer throwing. This detail was particularly noteworthy as it influenced the development of Lolligo's abilities. Ultimately I chose the rectangle body type for my champion.

Eye Shape

One area where League of Legends can improve its representation is in the diversity of eye shapes and eyebrows. Currently, the game features a limited range of eye shapes, with hooded and cat-shaped eyes being the most common. Additionally, thick eyebrows are a rarity in the game's character designs. For this reason, I decided that Lolligo would have round or almond-shaped eyes with thick eyebrows.

Nose Shape

Similar to the lack of diverse eye shapes and thick eyebrows in League of Legends, there is also a lack of representation when it comes to nose shapes. Most of the champions in the game have similar, narrow noses with little variation. So I made it another goal to give Lolligo a taller and wider nose.

Lip Shape

Most female champions have small, pouty lips, while male champions have thin lips or exaggeratedly large lips. So I researched differently shaped lips and concluded that close-pointed and downward-turned lips would be visually different and interesting.

Hair Type

Currently, most champions have straight or wavy hair, with only a few exceptions. Additionally, while there are some champions with coarse or curly hair, their styles often lack the same level of detail and care given to other hair types. For Lolligo, I intentionally designed her with coarse, tight curls to showcase a hair type that is underrepresented in the game.

Skin Color

Most champions have light skin tones, with only a handful of darker-skinned champions. This underrepresentation can be seen as a missed opportunity to showcase a diverse range of skin tones and ethnicities. In order to represent the average person, I chose to give Lolligo neutral medium-toned skin.

After taking everything into account, this is the mood board I created for Lolligo.

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Plan

Creating A Champion

Creating a champion like Riot Games involves researching their meticulous design process which includes defining the champion's lore, gameplay mechanics, visuals, and aesthetics. Or in the words of a Riot artist, this requires determining a champion's: Logline, Mission Statement, and 3 Pillars.

These are examples of existing champions broken down into their logline, mission statement, and 3 pillars.

Ultimately I decided to apply the following to Lolligo:

Logline: Lolligo is a powerful chem-tech researcher.

Mission Statement: Lolligo is a genius chem-tech tinkerer whose work was hindered by the limitations of Zaun's access to resources. However, after the appearance of Glasc Industries, Lolligo invited herself into their employment. Demonstrating that with the right resources, chem-tech advancements could surpass simple bodily enhancements.

3 Pillars: Modern mad scientist, chaotic prodigy, and unorthodox tactician.

Champion Kit

According to my research in order to design my champion I also must determine:

• Type of audience: target a type of audience

• Gameplay opportunity space: specific source of power

• Narrative space in the IP: how are you expanding the world

In League of Legends, there are 5 roles a player can choose from.

Additionally, each champion is categorized by a main class and can be denoted by a subclass.

For example, research from Season 10 or 2020 shows that female players' top roles and classes are support roles, with enchanter and burst mage classes.

Note: The survey was conducted from the EUW region (which represents 1/4 of the active player base) with a sample size of 3784 players.

Thus my audience is support players whose main classes are both enchanters and burst mage that wish to branch out to ADC (attack damage carry) champions. A role that is conventionally dominated by the marksman class.

This my champion's role would be ADC under the marksman class.

Each champion has a kit or set of abilities. These are typically tied to the controls Q, W, E, and R. (Also technically P.) This also applies to the gameplay opportunity! In regards to the narrative space, that was figured out during the research process.

The following is the resulting kit developed for Lolligo:

• Basic Attack: Lolligo uses her chemtech augmented blood by drawing it and reforming into various solid forms. Her basic attack has her throw hardened randomized shapes, Which alludes to her manic mind, clouded by the use of chem-tech.

• Q (Unus Fors -> One Shot): An empowered skill shot that throws a dagger with a hidden syringe that poisons enemies.

  1. Dagger projectile scales with attack damage, and will do a bonus on-hit damage and damage over time which scales on ability power.

• W (Ambitus -> Malpractice ): An AOE (area of effect) attack that throws an experimental chem-tech grenade, upon impact this attack has a radius. When an enemy is hit it will apply life steal.

  1. Attacking enemies afflicted by [ability passive] will heal based off the enemy's total armor + (percentage of selected stat I.E HP/Mana/AP/AD/AS/Crit/Lifesteal)

• E (Oculum Pro Oculo -> Eye for Eye): A shield that is created by Lolligo throwing up her cape to protect herself, the shield is covered in spines. If an enemy attacks while the champion is shielded, their damage is reflected back at them.

• R Ultimate (Atramento Integumento -> Ink Shroud): - Champion causes a chemical explosion with an AOE, this is a cloud that disables vision and all UI elements of players in radius.

  1. If enemy players attack their allies, they will do 100% of their damage. If your allies attack the enemy they will do double damage or 200% of.

  2. If enemy players attempt to leave radius, they take 1/3 of their max hp as damage, while champion gains ⅓ health. Any over healing will heal closest nearby allies.

• P: Passive (Casum -> Accident Oraccidentia -> Accidents Happen) - Lolligo gains 35% more of every stat from every source but every third (auto) attack or damaging ability has a 50% of chance to misfire. Damage inflicted to self on misfire is applied normally.

Extended tooltip: Misfire excludes the effects of activated items or summoner spells.

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Concept Ideation

Sketches

Iterations

Deliverables

To streamline the process, I searched for a model with a similar physique to my character and utilized it to generate a turnaround. Then, I positioned the model in a dramatic angle, which served as the basis for my main illustration. However, I made sure to make changes to fight my champion design. I also used other tools so I could have more image creation. For example:

• Dalle: AI art

• 3D Models

• Photobashing

I asked Dall-E 2 for iterations that I would photo bash and apply to smaller details of Lolligo's costume design.

Conclusion

Closing Thoughts

In conclusion, designing a character requires careful consideration of various elements, including their personality, background, motivations, and abilities. To create a memorable and compelling character, it is essential to focus on three key pillars that define their unique traits and characteristics. By establishing a solid foundation for a character's design, we can create a dynamic and multi-dimensional personality that resonates with the audience and draws them into the story. Whether it's a mad scientist, a tactical genius, or an unpredictable player, a well-designed character can make a significant impact on any narrative and leave a lasting impression on the audience.

I like illustration more than concept art and I would like to further focus on 3D aspects next time or in the future create a 3D sculpt of Lolligo.