This is so overblown with a demand for political correctness that it's ridiculous.

I dislike that IronStylus is legitimizing this brand of exaggerated sensationalism by spurring it onward. There's plenty of guys with rippling muscles, broad chests and shoulders, or guys that have no shirts on and nobody's complaining. If Urgot had been a fat hideous monstrosity with a slightly modified chest, a female voice actor and a bra on, would it suddenly be more "okay" because Riot put out a fat ugly -female- monstrosity?

The game is more male-dominated because videogames are more male-dominated. The level of sexiness visible on LoL is incredibly low and very tame compared to almost everywhere else you look - not just in videogames, but in pop culture. You take away some of the sexiness and you'll only be biting the ankles of your own target audience; males AND females. What's being suggested here - to remove elements of sexuality, specifically from females - isn't just in opposition to gamers' wants, but to society's ideals.

When we head into a fantasy setting, we want big buff athletic heroic masculine dudes with their chests out and their biceps unreasonably thick. Male gamers don't get uppity about it either.

In the same breath, we - yes, females too - want fit, attractive females in the same vein. The only dissenting parties are those entrenched in sensationalist feminism and their problem isn't with LoL or Riot's concept artists. Their problem is with society.

Trynd isn't from Freljord.

Also, there's a difference between going shirtless and wearing a pushup bra. It's a costume clearly designed to show off cleavage.

If you don't have a problem with society, I have a problem with you.

He lives in the Freljord as Ashe's husband...note the snowy backgrounds.

Also, don't try to pass Trynd off as not being intentionally sexy. Look at those abs, man. Or are you too distracted by the big glowing belt buckle which conveniently draws attention?

@Iron Stylus, Do you think a Metal Theme could work really well as an avenue for a tough-style Female champ. i say metal theme in a similar way to which zyra is plant themed. So she would be absolutely covered in metal, perhaps an a boxy /crystalline style(different metals for different skins?) Or something like brand who is some kind of Flame Thing in a human form, She could be some sort of Metallic Spirit? From a meterorite? who joins in the league in return for assistance on returning her back ( i imagine bandle city could help with this.)

So yeah, any thoughts on Metal as a Theme?

You're killing me with the numbers.. I'm an artist for god's sake..

So I won't be defensive, I'll be appropriately combative.. Just out of curiosity, do you have any idea how involved I've been in this conversation? A while. What have I done when I hear this feedback? I make a champion that incorporates all that feedback and I make it A REALLY BIG DEAL. Search "Embrace the Heresy" on google and see that hullabaloo. What do I do when I feel we've gone a bit astray? I talk to my producers, our art director, and my fellow concept artists. I take action. Not in a way that is imposing, rude, or invasive, but in a way that I hope challenges us to think a bit different and encourage our artists to keep crushing, to keep making amazing artwork.

Do I feel we are experiencing the same systemic issues with female champion representation as we have in the past? Absolutely. I find it problematic in that I always feel we can be more clever. We have not worked out all the kinks. We have champions and skins in the pipeline that still apply to particular pre-established trends. I'd like to change that and I'm actively working internally to seek balance where I can. What more would you like from me? What response would satiate you? Want me to do a seminar on this? Gladly.

Never have I EVER heard at Riot that we are motivated by *** to sell content. Do I think we on occasion reduce the solution to our challenges via the easy route of stripping down a character? Yes. As I said, I want us to be more clever. We can always remove, we can't always add.

True story: There's a champion in the pipeline which I saw a prime example to make into a strong, non-sexualized, and heroic female because it was fertile ground. It was initially supposed to be a guy. So what did I do? I made it. When are you going to see it? Probably not until next year. In the meantime you will indeed see some "sexy" here and there. That's that whole variety thing, and maybe some cases (which might irk players who want a bit more skin coverage) are situations that I couldn't come in on my grand steed of prudence to say, "hey! cover up that boob window!", because I HATE undermining an artists' confidence in their ability or creativity. I am not the lone voice on what is appealing. I should never dictate my views unless I take substantial issue with the content being created.

There are a thousand ways to solve a visual problem, it's a shame we get to choose only one. The artists deserve credit for the execution of their craft and honestly deserve better than to have someone like me harassing them every time someone shows a bit of skin in their design. We're going to make some champions who show skin. Not because of profit, not because of demand, not because we're all 14-year old boys who managed to get a hold of a video game company, but because in the right context it works. In the instances where it doesn't, my view is that holistically the champion is falling short. The solution is more lead time on development to really take advantage of how best we can make that champion and not have to resort to what's easy, which in my opinion is less clothing.

That said, there will always be Miss Fortunes and they will always be in your face with their giant.. ideas.. There will also always be Dianas who if you looked at even a portion of thier exposed neck they'd cut you down. As I've said, diversity and variety are key. We need more of it. Period.

This was a joke intended for someone else. They have responded so this "discussion" is closed.

Since we're on the diversity subject anyhow, how about some blonds? Not counting surfer Singed or other skins, there's still only 3.

Edit: Shen'd I posted as to why it makes sense.

Someone proposed the argument that Sejuani is used to the cold (as it states she proved her mettle in the cold without much clothing to warm her), but the argument doesn't make sense in terms of her riding into battle. She is very lithe, so her musculature would do next to nothing to stop an axe or sword. She is literally wearing a leather bikini (and a helmet). On the other hand, Trynd is at least armored for about three fourths of his body and has enormously humongous, abnormally large, inhuman muscles that would probably go a long way in preventing a wound for doing serious harm to him.

In addition to this, someone made the excellent point of him being more of an ADC and Sej obviously being a tank, so she should be wearing more armor than him anyways.

Ok I have another point to make, since our modern day concept of fantasy is so vastly different from how we thought even 20 years ago, a big step in changing female champions in league is make female champions with archetypes that are traditionally male. Not to say league hasn't done this in small ways. I can't believe I'm saying this but League needs a Saber. I'm not saying Fate/Stay night was able to pull this off incredibly well, but well it worked at least, for the most part.

Also and this is a little off topic, I'm a little sad at the lack of Irish archetypes in league, we really need a Cúchulainn in this game.

Because in my opinion Sejuani looks genuinely out of place. If I can so easily go into her splash art and change a) the color of her horn, hair, pig, and flail b) put her in a desert and she can be right at home, we've fallen short.

Also, I'm actually completely with you in that I think it's silly that Tryn is from the frozen wastes and he's sans shirt. I think even that Ashe is wearing thigh-highs is a bit silly. But, I am in no way going to go back and nuke what has become iconic and cool.

Regardless of that practicality, they're iconic. I think Sejuani is what I spoke about before. An easy solution which could have been more clever.