For a veteran of the MOBA genre, narrative may hold little sway over performance in a regular game of League of Legends. For newer players however, narrative can work to make the game easier to understand. It sounds strange, as the multiplayer focus of many MOBAs may lead players to believe that the influence of narrative over gameplay is almost non-existent in a typical game of League of Legends. In reality, the influence of narrative can be felt across the majority of Summoner’s Rift.

Reading the Rift

Summoner’s Rift, the map on which typical games of League of Legends are played, was renovated way back between seasons 4 and 5. It was a huge change, one that not only improved many hidden design flaws (such as the awkward layout of the navigation mesh, which prevents champions from walking through walls or clipping out of the game’s boundaries) but also improved the visual design of the map so that players would have an easier time identifying their in-game location at a glance. This was accomplished through the creation and commitment to a narrative, the story of Baron Nashor’s corruptive influence.

Baron Nashor, or Baron, is the strongest AI creature in the game. This monstrosity is depicted as an enormous, uncomfortably sleek worm with far too many heads, each containing far too many teeth. In the centre of Baron’s pit bright violet light spills out from between the cracked fangs of an ugly crater. The implication here, from what I can tell, is that Baron is a creature of the void — a very purple place full of corruptive energy and hungry monsters that want to eat you. The team that developed the modern Summoner’s Rift decided to use this pit as a focal point of the map, from which corruption from Baron and the void tears through the ground and disturbs the surrounding terrain. This allows for thematic customisation of different portions of the map.

For example, in the northern quadrant of the map, closest to Baron’s pit, the wooded area is devastated. Fallen trunks and hollow stumps form walls and alcoves. The few rock formations in this quadrant are jagged and split, with large rents in the ground glowing a ghostly blue colour. It is obvious that Baron’s influence has caused severe damage to this area, a visual trait unique to this quadrant. Because no other area on Summoner’s Rift shares this specific aesthetic, players need only glance at their surroundings to determine where on the map they must be.

Clean Up Your Room

The update to Summoner’s Rift also worked to more accurately contextualise the pits, dens and nests in which the many creatures of the Rift live. Just as narrative influenced visuals were created to help with location orientation, the addition and removal of small details in each creature’s home creates miniature narratives that passively convey the strengths and weaknesses of that creature. For example, the den of the Murk Wolves resembles an open maw lined with large, jagged teeth. From it emanates an eerie, pale fog that appears similar to the fog that can be seen in the cracks and crevices splitting out from Baron’s pit. Incidentally, the Greater Murkwolf has two heads, implying to me that their den has been influenced by Baron’s corruption to the point that the wolves themselves have mutated, and suggesting that they fight with an offensive focus.

Similarly, the nests of the Raptors are inhabited by an assortment of bones and rusty pieces of armour. The idea that the Raptors are capable predators is implied through the narrative told by these props. As a result, players who pass through may then be inclined to treat the Raptors with caution. It’s worth noting, however, that the armour decorating these nests is actually rather small, again working to imply that, while successful predators, perhaps the Raptors aren’t as dangerous as they first appear. This clever use of miniature narratives helps players unfamiliar with these creatures gain a sense of their strength just by examining their surroundings.

Meeting New Faces

Narrative even dictates the personalities of the majority of creatures on the Rift. Brambleback reflects his torn up home in the way he challenges any who approach him with a roar, emphasising his power by stomping his two, excessively clawed front feet. His design features the prominent use of angles and points to further drive home his high damage output while also hinting at the nature of the buff he drops. The fact that he can drop a buff is conveyed via the angry red orb clutched in the gnarled vine on his back. While perhaps not an in-depth tale, these small details tell enough of a story about the Brambleback for the player to conclude that he’s not to be tangled with lightly.

Meeting… Newer Faces?

Player controlled champions also convey much of their in-game characteristics through narrative based animations, audio and appearance. The champion Sett, for example, lives his life as the boss of an underground criminal fighting pit, cementing his rule through brute force. In-game this is expressed through his large, well-muscled character model, his shiny knuckle duster and big, expressive attacks, each accompanied by heavy sound effects. Even for players unfamiliar with Sett’s backstory, these characteristics express enough of his narrative that they should get a general understanding of who Sett is and how he plays.

Closing the Book

So there you have it. While not obvious, narrative permeates through every game of League of Legends. A guiding hand for new players and even a useful tool for older ones, especially in those first few games against the newest champion who you didn’t read up on beforehand.

Sources:

‘The History of League of Legends’ Jungle and why Baron won’t become a “Dark Souls boss’ by Ali Jones: https://www.pcgamesn.com/league-of-legends/league-of-legends-how-to-jungle

‘Summoner’s Rift Preview / Gameplay’ by League of Legends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiSNHAJHu-c&feature=youtu.be

‘Creative Collaberation: Making League of Legends Champions’ by Riot Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-k3TbFwMgI&feature=youtu.be

‘Sett: The Boss’ by League of Legends: https://universe.leagueoflegends.com/en_AU/story/champion/sett/

Extremely High Resolution Summoner’s Rift Image$ by Redback93: https://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/3dx2dn/extremely_high_resolution_summoners_rift_image/

League of Legends: https://oce.leagueoflegends.com/en-au/