The Rune Wars desecrated the land known as Summoner’s Rift, corrupting the area with Nexus power and augmenting the growth of its many natural inhabitants. These creatures have become so thoroughly infused with Nexus magic that it is impossible for even Summoners to control them. Instead, they have become an additional danger that Champions must overcome while they compete in the Fields of Justice, and their demise often grants the victor additional powers and wealth. However, many of the beasts have existed there for centuries, and only the foolish would dare challenge them without knowing full well the danger that they pose.

The dead still plague the aftermath of the Summoner’s Rift, and those who chose to linger here have turned to ghastly Wraiths. These flying Undead attack any who happen to pass by, haunting their victims with visions of the death and destruction that took place here. Imbued by the power of the Nexus, the planet itself rises up to bring forth a protector of its lands. The Stone Golems roam the forests of Summoner’s Rift, imbued with the strength of the Nexus and acting against any who disturb the peaceful wake of this isolated battleground. The scent of chaos fuels the flames in the heart of the Dragon. Drawn to this war-torn land, the mightiest of beasts has settled deep within the Summoner’s Rift, awaiting the next great war. To those who wake this slumbering ancient, beware: for his sharp teeth and suffocating breath have been tempered by the bravest of Champions, and yet it is he that still thrives in the depths of the Rift.

The plains on the outskirts of the Shurima desert have always been known as the voodoo lands. Dark magics flow over the landscape like a chilling breeze. The dried grasses rustle, and the cackles of those who dabble with this power float through the air. There is a valley, just on the sandy edge of the desert. It is said that a powerful witch lives there, at the very bottom—all by herself, but never alone. It is said that she commands the powerful magics that circle and batter this place. She transforms the energies into semi-living souls, trapping them inside the bodies of carefully crafted scarecrows. Those who have been to the edge of that valley have seen the rows upon rows of shambling creatures. They have seen them dance and fight with each other. And they have fled in fright, for there are few sights more terrifying. The witch has kept to herself for many long years. That is, until a few months ago, when she sent one of her creations out to warn the rest of the world. Leaving the valley in the middle of the night, Fiddlesticks shambled across the desert and into the neighboring realms. He tormented and terrified all who looked upon him, and he smiled. For it is his job to be the harbinger, to bear the news of the impending doom.

Forging A Champion by Colt Hallam My name is Colt Hallam and I am a Game Designer at Riot Games working on our upcoming title, League of Legends. I’ll be leading you through a four-part series on how we bring a champion from its initial concept to an in-game playable state. As an added bonus I’ll be showing off a brand new champion, one of my all-time favorites: Jax, the Master at Arms. I hope that all of you enjoy this view into the League of Legend’s champion design process.

Scenario Design by Edmundo Sanchez My name is Edmundo, and I am part of the small close-knit group of artists at Riot games. I received my bachelor’s degree in media arts and animation at the Art Institute of California, San Francisco. I have been involved in the game industry for about six years. Two years ago, I joined Riot Games art department to work on everything from conceptual art to 3-D production. One of the primary objectives for the art department has been the creation of the first League of Legends scenario of which I along with the rest of the art team have been actively involved. I will run you through the general process here.

Tom Cadwell Class: Director of Systems Design Skills: N00b Advocacy +15

Steve Snow Class: VP of Production Skills: Brutal Honesty +15

Prior to joining Riot, Tom worked at Blizzard as a Designer on World of Warcraft, designing much of the core talent system and polishing the new player experience. He also worked on the Warcraft III The Frozen Throne, heading up play balance, and working on a variety of other systems. Tom holds a MBA from Kellogg and a BS in Computer Science from MIT. We thought this meant he'd know a bunch about business and about technology, but we later found it just means he has good alcohol tolerance, and a tendency to make painfully geeky remarks. In his spare time, Tom plays too many games, and reads sci-fi while working up a sweat on the treadmill. Once upon a time, he was the winner of the Blizzard Brood War Beta invitational, and #1 on the Starcraft & Brood War ladders several times. Special Ability: Summon Beer Tom briefly meditates and accesses the para-plane of brewing. Focusing this energy, he manifests into existence 2d6 random beers, often including Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Franziskaner Hefeweizen, Young’s Chocolate Stout and Spaten Optimator.

Steve Snow joins Riot with 12 years of game production experience, including 8 years as a Producer on big budget MMO’s. A seasoned veteran of the online games space, Steve has helped produce high profile MMOs at places like NCsoft and Perpetual Entertainment as well as classic PC games including Dungeon Siege for Gas Powered Games, and Total Annihilation for Cavedog Entertainment. He is still a diehard gamer and when not working he is usually playing LoL or one of the latest releases from other AAA studios. Steve brings to Riot a vast and extraordinary knowledge of production and management processes in game development as well as an uncanny knowledge of hot sauces. Special Ability: Identify Critical Path When activated, Steve roams around the office waving his arms and shouting “critical path, critical path!” which immediately causes all employees to stop what they’re doing and work on something more important.

Tristana, Megling Gunner If there is one thing that all Meglings (gunners of the Yordle army) have in common, it’s their love of explosions. It’s a known fact that one in three will lose either a finger, a toe, or singe off all their facial hair by the age of seventeen...

Tryndamere, Dark Champion There was a legend among the barbarians clans of the Fyrone Flats, told each time one of their own was to give birth. It was a story about a child who would enter the world with a distinctive mark on his belly—a black circular rune, resembling a snake, coiled over on itself, biting at its tail...

Soraka, Starchild Among the Ionians, Soraka is known as the "Starchild"—the first among equals, the high priestess of Ionia, the ruler of all her peoples and the sworn protector of their spirits...

Q: How do I improve my chances of getting into the League of Legends beta? A: The best way to increase your chances of getting into the League of Legends beta is to be consistently active on the League of Legends community message board. Q: Will League of Legends have AI modes available? A: Depending on the game type, you will be able to play with or against bots in practice environments. Q: Can I work for Riot Games on League of Legends? A: We are always looking for positive and creative individuals, with a “can do” attitude. If you feel you have the knowledge and ability to work for us, you are more than welcome to check out www.riotgames.com/careers/ and look through our career section for a position that would fit you best. We may also open positions for community volunteers - stay tuned!

Stay tuned for more: -Exclusive new champion previews! -Contests to win awesome T-shirts and\ other cool stuff! -The latest news on League of Legends!