Female League of Legends Champion Dons a New Wardrobe

[StewShearerOld]

Female League of Legends Champion Dons a New Wardrobe

Riot Games has overhauled champion Sejuani's appearance to help her look more like a warrior.

Generally speaking, if you're a female character in a videogame there's a fair chance you'll be sexualized at some point in the experience. This isn't always the case, of course, but there never seems to be a shortage of developers happy to fashion women with a seeming inability to dress appropriately for the environment, circumstances, or war they're dealing with. If you're a man in a fantasy game you can count on entering battle with nothing short of the thickest, finest plate armor. Women, on the other hand, are given bikinis, thongs and other bits of flesh exposing armor clearly not intended for protection.

Apparently recognizing the stupidity behind this, Riot Games is taking the rare step of giving a female character more clothes. The developer has revealed that Sejuani, a champion character in League of Legends, will soon be sporting a new outfit designed to more accurately represent her role as a warrior.

"Sejuani's lightly-armored, skin-flaunting, fleshy apparel didn't mesh with the idea of a dominating, ice warrior," said League of Legends in a blog post. "Now heavily armored atop Bristle, this visual rework clearly conveys the core of our concept for the champion. She's powerful, capable of conquering the Freljord and leading the Winter's Claw to victory."

This isn't the first example in recent years of game companies trying to decrease the rampant sexualization of female characters. The recent Tomb Raider reboot <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105937-New-Tomb-Raider-Raider-Reboot-Details-Emerge>famously reduced Lara Croft's bust size to something human, as well as giving her clothes that were a bit more practical for adventuring than the tight shirts and hot pants that had been one of the character's trademarks. In Sejuani's case, she'll trade a scant outfit for heavy armor that certainly makes a bit more sense for a winter warrior.

Source: <a href=http://na.leagueoflegends.com/news/champion-rework-sejuani-winters-wrath>League of Legends


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[kajinking]

I watch a bit of LOL on twitch but never see anyone pick her, is she that underused in pub games?

 

[Fappy]

Now it just looks like she's wearing heavy Stalhrim armor [http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130213013839/elderscrolls/images/7/7d/Stalhrim_Armor_-_Both.png] XD

This is actually really quite silly considering which developer we're talking about here. Over half of the females in the game have far more hilariously, oversexualized outfits. If you're going to make this kind of change why don't you start with someone like Eve or Tristana?

EDIT: Meant Katarina not Tristana.

 

[TheProfessor234]

Since I hardly ever watch League, I did a search to see the old armor. Other than some interesting porn, I can say that this is quite the change.

To me, she looks a lot different. Just way more formidable, looking like an actual warrior with plate rather than some leather straps and a metal skirt.


Now, again I don't know a lot, but a big thing in League is skins, right? I wonder if they're just changing the default skin and will allow players to keep using the old one if they wish. Considering some of the for mentioned porn, some people liked the old look.

 

[itsthesheppy]

Changed for the better, if you ask me. Her old outfit made her look like some kind of booth babe. This new incarnation actually looks ready to kick some ass which, to be, is way sexier. Hats off to Riot.

 

[garbage8]

Now it just looks like she's wearing heavy Stalhrim armor [http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130213013839/elderscrolls/images/7/7d/Stalhrim_Armor_-_Both.png] XD

This is actually really quite silly considering which developer we're talking about here. Over half of the females in the game have far more hilariously, oversexualized outfits. If you're going to make this kind of change why don't you start with someone like Eve or Tristana?

Uhh I don't know what version of Tristana you play but sexual outfits is not her thing, in any of her skins.

OT, I really like the new Sejuani model. Never thought bikini warrior was a good fit for someone coming from a wintery place, even if it was her lore. Also if anyone is wondering her original skin will be still available to use but with some slight changes to match her new model.

 

[Jumplion]

I watch a bit of LOL on twitch but never see anyone pick her, is she that underused in pub games?

She's not used much mainly because she's not strong enough in game. Her new kit has more CC n' whatnot, so it might be interesting to see her place in the meta now.

Now, again I don't know a lot, but a big thing in League is skins, right? I wonder if they're just changing the default skin and will allow players to keep using the old one if they wish. Considering some of the for mentioned porn, some people liked the old look.

They're reworking all of the skins as well as offering a "traditional" skin for people who had her as a champion before (you have to buy champions with in-game currency or real life cash, usually fairly cheap though).

I'm fairly happy with Riot for their current trend towards more "modest" female champions. The past couple of champions have been distinctly sexy-but-not kind of characters that are attractive but not to the point of just "sexy for sexy's sake", which is a nice change of pace in what we usually get, both from Riot and the games industry in general.

 

[Mouse_Crouse]

I watch a bit of LOL on twitch but never see anyone pick her, is she that underused in pub games?

In a word. Yes.
Sejuani is considered by most to be outclassed in every category by other tanky junglers. She can certainly hold her own, but in the highly competitive championships there's just so many choices that fill that role better in most team comps. She's also getting a slight kite rework which very well may put her right back in the competitive scene.

 

[VladG]

This is actually really quite silly considering which developer we're talking about here. Over half of the females in the game have far more hilariously, oversexualized outfits. If you're going to make this kind of change why don't you start with someone like Eve or Tristana?

Ehm... Tristana? Full-armour-can-only-see-the-head, Tristana?


Also Evelynn's character is pretty much supposed to be hyper-sexualized. It's part of her whole thing.



Besides, there are plenty of reasonable female characters in League. Not to mention that gals like playing attractive female characters as well, just like guys like hyper-masculine characters.

There's a distinction between clearly pandering over-sexualization and idealized wish-fulfilment.

 

[therandombear]

I watch a bit of LOL on twitch but never see anyone pick her, is she that underused in pub games?

In a word. Yes.
Sejuani is considered by most to be outclassed in every category by other tanky junglers. She can certainly hold her own, but in the highly competitive championships there's just so many choices that fill that role better in most team comps. She's also getting a slight kite rework which very well may put her right back in the competitive scene.

Friend of mine plays Sejuani top instead of jungling, he hasn't lost yet or met a counter. She's pretty good top laner.

OT: Ye, this new skin is "tad" better then living in the frosty north in a bikini.

 

[Fappy]

Now it just looks like she's wearing heavy Stalhrim armor [http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130213013839/elderscrolls/images/7/7d/Stalhrim_Armor_-_Both.png] XD

This is actually really quite silly considering which developer we're talking about here. Over half of the females in the game have far more hilariously, oversexualized outfits. If you're going to make this kind of change why don't you start with someone like Eve or Tristana?

Uhh I don't know what version of Tristana you play but sexual outfits is not her thing, in any of her skins.

OT, I really like the new Sejuani model. Never thought bikini warrior was a good fit for someone coming from a wintery place, even if it was her lore. Also if anyone is wondering her original skin will be still available to use but with some slight changes to match her new model.

This is actually really quite silly considering which developer we're talking about here. Over half of the females in the game have far more hilariously, oversexualized outfits. If you're going to make this kind of change why don't you start with someone like Eve or Tristana?

Ehm... Tristana? Full-armour-can-only-see-the-head, Tristana?


Also Evelynn's character is pretty much supposed to be hyper-sexualized. It's part of her whole thing.



Besides, there are plenty of reasonable female characters in League. Not to mention that gals like playing attractive female characters as well, just like guys like hyper-masculine characters.

There's a distinction between clearly pandering over-sexualization and idealized wish-fulfilment.

Derp! I meant Katarina >.>

It's been awhile since I've played!

 

[Bleidd Whitefalcon]

Now it just looks like she's wearing heavy Stalhrim armor [http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130213013839/elderscrolls/images/7/7d/Stalhrim_Armor_-_Both.png] XD

This is actually really quite silly considering which developer we're talking about here. Over half of the females in the game have far more hilariously, oversexualized outfits. If you're going to make this kind of change why don't you start with someone like Eve or Tristana?

To be fair, they don't live up in the Arctic Circle like Sej does. That's probably why they went with her first. It makes no sense at all for that outfit on her. I'm half expecting an Ashe visual upgrade sometime soon

 

[Drejer43]

slow news day eh?

 

[Absolutionis]

slow news day eh?

I thought so too until I realized LoL is the most popular online game out there right now, and them leading by example against stripperific slutgear is actually progress in the right direction.

 

[Erttheking]

It's kinda nice to see people slowly acting more mature.

 

[Davroth]

Derp! I meant Katarina >.>

It's been awhile since I've played!

The difference is that Kata is supposed to be nimble and lightly armored, while Sejuani is supposed to be a battle-hardened warrior. They did the same a while ago with Leona, actually, and gave her a full plate armor skin.

Sexy women are not really the problem, I don't think. The problem is that there are only sexy women. And on that end, I think LoL is actually doing better then we are giving them credit for.

With few exception, most female characters have a skin with appropriate looking armor that covers most if not all of their skin. And those who don't are usually supposed to be sexy, like LeBlanc, or very feral, like Nidalee.

Ofc, all of that rings hollow until we got the first overweight female champ, seeing how we already got Gragas on the male LoL Champion spectrum.

 

[roastbeefy]

Personally, I thought Sejuani's old design looked pretty badass. To me, it seemed like one of those good designs that manages to be sexy without being sexist or exploitative, and it was the main reason I picked her when I first saw her.

...that said, thinking about it now I can definitely see the absurdity of someone running around the tundra in a bikini, so I still think this is good. It still looks cool and does suit her character better, as well as making a bit more sense given the kind of place she's from.

 

[Smeatza]

I saw the overhauled look and didn't even notice Sejuani was different. I was too busy staring at the awesome new design of her pig thing.

 

[Quazimofo]

Well at least now she won't get frostbite on her bellybutton.
Nice of them to leave the chest form fitting but without the cleavage.

Yeah, we haven't gotten so far as to realize that underneath heavy armors, its difficult to tell someone's gender usually. But hey, nothing wrong with form-fitting armor. In most cases it's pretty sexy (as the general descriptive term for something particularly good, though of course the less-slangy definition works as well in most cases.)