League of Legends: A Retcon That Was Needed?

For the more regular readers of my blog, I would like to preface this post with a quick note that this will probably be quite drastic a diversion from my usual content. But without trial, there can be no improvement!

Very recently, the Narrative Team of the game League of Legends decided to retcon their core narrative vehicle and remove it entirely. First off, I'm sure I'll need to quickly explain a couple of the things I mention in that sentence. League of Legends is one of the currently most dominating and popular computer games, and in short, features teams of characters from the spans of a fictional universe fighting against each. If you don't already know this, I'm not entirely sure why you're reading this post, but I digress! Secondly, "recon" is short for "retroactive continuity", and is when the canon of a particular piece of fiction is retroactively changed. For example, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle decided to retcon the death of Sherlock Holmes due to the public demanding the character's return. In other words, it can be used as a last ditch effort for authors to remove themselves from knots they may have tied themselves into earlier that stops them from progressing the continuity the way they wish to. Finally, what the Narrative Team of League of Legends have done to retcon the canon is remove the core storytelling vehicle for the game to exist within its own universe - namely, Summoners and the Institute of War. These two elements on their own allow for the gameplay to make contextual sense within the fictional universe.

To better understand what exactly I'm talking about, here is the article I am referring to.

So, with that out of the way, here is my opinion on the matter. My impression is that the response to this news is largely negative, and in particular, because of the community's emotional tie to these two elements that have become the spine for the lore. And I understand where this is coming from. It would be the equivalent of taking out the element of the Force from the Star Wars lore, or removing the concept of Pokémon being capturable; it doesn't destroy the entire universe, but it does require a lot of change due to the removal of something that is crucial to its structure and existence. In addition, it also means that something needs to take its place to make sense of the continuity, which is a particular problem when the story has come so far already, as is the case for League of Legends and its vast, complex lore. I can see how this change will in effect, cause a lot of its current characters and its main game to make no sense whatsoever without severe rewrite, which, as history has proven, is not a popular move.

However, having said all that, I think this is a move that needs to be made, but an unfortunate one at that. The Summoner/Institute of War as a storytelling tool and reason for the game to exist is weak, in my opinion. I agree with the Narrative Team when they say it diminishes all the rich characters to simple puppets for players. To justify the game's existence within its universe is a hard task, because it's simply illogical in most cases. It's a tool that seems forced, its ties to the gameplay itself minimal, and has caused awkward links for more than a few of the characters of the universe. It's not a great solution, but was one that worked for the early stages of League of Legends. However, with its current expansive roster, interrelationships, and factions, it can no longer suffice to explain some of the more intricate character backstories and motivations.

So, what are the options then at this point? Break the hearts of the fans of the game and its current lore, or deal with the existing, restrictive narrative boundaries? Well, I think there might be a middle ground - and this is ultimate point of this post. I am on the Narrative Team's side: Summoners and the Institute of War need to go. It is a minimal solution. But instead of retconning it completely, I would say take this opportunity to drastically alter the canon from this point onward. Destroy the Institute of War via a big story event involving all of the newer characters and the established factions. This pays due respect to the long-time fans, and doesn't lessen its importance, but also simultaneously cuts ties from its restraints. As for Summoners, curb them to sideline involvement so that the players still feel involved in the universe and its canon somewhat, and retains the key identity that are the players of the game. The biggest problem with using a retcon as a solution is that it nullifies something that was previously canon - or rather, official. A swerve in direction however does not withdraw what has been established.

My point being is, retconning is a dangerous move, especially when it comes to long-established fanbases. I understand there are particular scenarios where it becomes the best option (if not the only one) to move forward. It's always hard to plan so far ahead that you never trip yourself up when it comes to continuity. But I don't think this is one of them. I always think it's smarter to admit the issue and then move away from it, rather than completely ignoring the problem. Sure, it may be a more clumsy solution, but in a way, it represents the fact that you respect the way the story has unfolded- you just need to turn to a new direction for progression. Change is always risky, but with this alternative, it allows for fans of the old to retain something. When the new stuff comes along, they can then make a decision whether it is to their liking or not. If they do prefer it, perfect. If not, then at the very least, they will have the original content to hold onto. Right now, the Narrative Team has shut this option out, and have taken away from the canon anything fans might prefer.

But all this is just talk. So, how would I go about solving the problem? Here is my stab at it (you'll need to know the basic retconned canon to make sense of this):

• With how the Summoners and the Institute of War have functioned, their control over the champions have attracted many more champions' attention. With worry about too much power being under one roof, the Institute is on the edge of a revolt. The Summoners are split in opinion: disband and hide in fear of retribution by the champions they have summoned, or use their combined power to try and contain the growing danger, even if they don't know if there is a limit.
• There can be of course further plot opportunities as to why there is split opinion, involving the various factions.
• As a result, half the Summoners choose to retreat, and without the combined power, the Institute fails to retain control of all the champions. Some Summoners remain to try and contain the damage of particular champions seeking vengeance and destruction. (This is where I would keep minimal involvement of the Summoners as a concept and involvement in lore.)
• Summoner's Rift is thus abandoned for its original purpose. Moreover, it is explained that the Blue and Red Nexuses of Summoner's Rift are composed of five shards. (Feasible, considering the map's upcoming revamp.) These shards under the possession of the champions heighten their power (e.g. Darius' strength, Ahri's orb powers, Leona's command of the Sun, etc.), and have been a part of the source of power for Summoners. With complete Nexuses, champions assume that it might even be possible to control another champion, as the Summoners have in the past. Thus, these shards pose a desire for all the champions. With the fall of the Institute of War, the shards of multiple Nexuses have been claimed by various champions for their own reasons. 
• Coincidentally, it is discovered that when the two opposing Nexuses are rebuilt using shards, Summoner's Rift comes alive again, and when the Nexus of one colour is destroyed, the other Nexus doubles in number of shards. In essence, it means that champions must gamble their own shards to win more. Hence, you have various champions banding together for their own purposes due to possessing the same coloured shards, and challenging others to a face-off using their own shards.
• To solve the innate problem of champions of the same faction fighting one another, an additional detail of the shards is that they mesmerise its possessor. Those with increasingly more shards are drawn to possess even more, and are drunk with power and greed. This hypnotic effect causes some champions to turn on their own to win more shards on Summoner's Rift. Some also see this as a necessary and acceptable evil, since champions can revive in battle on Summoner's Rift.
• As for why champions revive in battle and all the other rules of gameplay, these are all integral of the power of Summoner's Rift as left behind from its original purpose. (Again, retains somewhat of the old lore.) 

And there you have it: a vehicle for gameplay to exist in its own little world, featuring champions with their own lores, factions, and rivalries, with no restraint of Summoner's Rift on any extension of the overall narrative. Boom!

So how would you re-write League of Legends? Do you think they made the right move with the retcon? Let me know in the comments.