Blood Lord Vladimir Unleashed

"There is a monster in all of us"

Vladimir got his legendary skin, announced with a trailer. Finally a decent Vladimir skin that will please the players. Personally, I don't prefer playing with Vladimir, but he's often a serious challenge (or a total feeder, it depends). The skin looks great, anyway.

Upcoming champion: Volibear, the Thunder's Roar

A bear champion will join the League of Legends soon and he's known as Volibear, the Thunder's Roar. Only a teaser is available at the moment, check it out.

I hope it's better than Fizz.

League of Legends hits 32 Million Players

Yes, the did it! League of Legends grows to 32 million players worldwide, and Riot Games published this nice infographic.

Click for full-size image.

Torchlight 2 next year?

Since I never said this blog was only about League of Legends, I will use my right and blog space to share some info on Torchlight 2, the game I expected the most this year (yeah, even more than Skyrim, although I got hook on it as well these days).

Yesterday, the release date was postponed again, probably sometime in 2012. Read the official announcement from Travis Baldree:

"So... where is Torchlight 2? Didn't you guys say that you were planning to try to release this year?"

Well, yeah. We did - and we made a good run at that. We've come to the realization, however, that getting a game of this scope up to the quality and polish level we want to achieve is going to take a little longer; especially since we want to run a small beta before release to ensure that our launch is smooth.

The first Torchlight was released in record time, but it had plenty of issues that a little more development could have resolved. We didn't have the resources at the time to give Torchlight that treatment. Right at this moment though, we do have those resources for the sequel, and we feel strongly that we should apply them to make this the best game we can make and hopefully one that you'll enjoy and continue to want to play in the future. We've probably had 18 months of full development time on it so far - not excessively long yet, as far as that goes. The amount of time we need to take it the rest of the way is relatively small.

We feel pretty safe in saying that if you enjoyed Torchlight at all, this sequel is superior in every respect. Right now our job is to ensure that the quality level is consistent all the way to the end.

Besides, you're all playing Skyrim right now anyway, aren't you? Or Battlefield 3? Or Uncharted 3? Or Saints Row 3? Or Arkham City? Or Skyward Sword? Or Minecraft? Or Modern Warfare 3? Or Dark Souls? Or Assassin's Creed Revelations?

Those are awesome games. When Torchlight 2 goes live, we want it to be awesome too - all the way through.

I kinda hoped that I would be able to play Torchlight 2 this year.

How To Win A Dominion Match

I'm far from an expert in the new League of Legends Dominion mod, but my experience has taught me few things about winning The Crystal Scar, which I'd like to say something about it now. I've lost many games with players who are just running across the map, chasing kills and doing nothing for the team, especially not capturing the crucial points or even defending them.

The main strategy for winning a Dominion match is of course, capturing the points. There are five capture points on map. The more you control, the fast you will win the match. Let me give you some very, very basics tips on How to win a Dominion match.

• In order to win, you need to capture points. At least three. So, one of the basic goals is, of course, to control even one more capture point, than the enemy team.
• A good practice, or a standard formation is this next thing now. One player captures the bottom point and holds the lane, while the four other players are rushing top. The middle point is captured by one player as well, who will join the other three at the top capture point. The fight is usually going on at the top at early game, so 4v4 team fight is better than 3v4.
• Map awareness. This one is a must. Even though you will run across the map more often, always keep an eye on what your team already captured and what might need a defense. Try to respond to the pings and don't go 3v1 in an already won lane/capture point, while you're losing what you already have.
• Use the Speed Shrines. They've put them there for a reason and sometimes you will need to move faster.
• The Greater Relic also needs to be captured at some point of the game. Sometimes, someone else will need it more than you do. Perhaps a tank who might be the last chance to save a capture point. Don't be selfish and if you don't really need it, give it to someone else. Also, don't be selfish capturing the Health Relics, as well.
• Quests are also beneficial things to do in Dominion. When your team gets a quest, try to focus that quests, but don't forget about your other capture points. Games are lost when the team is concentrating only on their quest.
• Don't count kill. The main idea of Dominion is capturing points that will win your match. Don't just run around killing enemies without a purpose. Teamwork here is even more important than the classic game.

Hope this helps. Let this be the very basic guide to Dominion and prepare for a more in-depth guide soon, one that will also cover the best champions.

Masteries in Season Two + Summoner Spells

One of the big changes in League of Legends' season two is the new mastery system. Check them out here.

The Summoner Spells are also getting some changes and nerfs. See the full list below:

• Clairvoyance
  • Cooldown increased to 70 seconds from 55
  • Improved Clairvoyance increases duration by 2 seconds, down from 4 and no longer reduces the cooldown
• Cleanse
  • Now cleanses summoner spell debuffs such as Exhaust's movement speed and damage reduction and Ignite's damage over time
  • Cooldown increased to 210 seconds from 150 seconds
  • Improved Cleanse no longer reduces cooldown, but now extends the secondary disable reduction buff by 1 second
• Exhaust
  • Duration reduced to 2.5 seconds from 3 seconds
  • Improved Exhaust no longer increases the duration
• Flash
  • Cooldown increased to 265 seconds from 255 seconds
  • Range reduced to 400 from 450
• Fortify
  • Removed
• Garrison
  • Now usable at Summoner Level 1, down from Summoner Level 4
• Ghost
  • Now improved in the Offense Mastery tree instead of Utility
• Heal
  • Heal amount per level increased to 25 from 20
  • Improved Heal no longer reduces the cooldown but now increases the amount healed by 15%
• Promote
  • Added to Summoner's Rift
  • Promotes the nearest allied siege minion, increasing its attack range, health, armor, and magic resist. 180 second cooldown base.
  • Improved in the Utility tree - Improved Promote increases the defensive bonus stats of promoted minions by 15%
  • Now usable at Summoner Level 8 (on both the Crystal Scar and Summoner's Rift), up from Summoner Level 1
• Rally
  • Removed
• Revive
  • Health bonus upon reviving is now innate to the spell (as opposed to requiring Improved Revive)
  • Improved Revive now grants a 125% movement speed increase upon revival (Improved Revive no longer grants a 225% movement speed increase)
• Smite
  • Now improved in the Defense tree instead of Offense
  • Improved Smite no longer reduces cooldown but the gold gained on cast is increased to 10 from 5
  • Cooldown reduced to 70 seconds from 75 seconds
• Surge *New*
  • Empowers your champion, increasing ability power by 10-78 (depending on level) and attack speed by 35% for 12 seconds (220 second cooldown)
  • Improved Surge increases the attack speed bonus to 40% and ability power gained by 10%
  • Usable at summoner level 1
• Teleport
  • Summoner's Insight no longer reduces cooldown

Three more amazing League of Legends desktop wallpapers

People on Twitter asked me if I have some more League of Legends wallpapers for their desktops (unfortunately, I don't know who the authors are, but special thanks goes to them). Of course I have, so get 'em quick. Enjoy these three great League of Legends wallpapers. Click on the images for a full resolution.

Kassadin Wallpaper

League of Legends Champions Wallpaper

Nunu and League of Legends Champions Wallpaper

Amazing League of Legends Wallpaper

Finally, a decent League of Legends wallpaper for your desktop. Kudos to the author, this really looks amazing. Grab it! (the wallpaper of course, grabbing the author is optional)

Click on the image for full-size resolution

Welcoming Fizz and the new patch

Fizz was finally revealed along with a new patch preview video that say something on balance updates. Katarina, Graves, Sona and couple of other champions are getting a certain updates. Graves is getting nerfed and I'm not quite happy with that.

Screenshot of Fizz and his shark. But there is not water on The Crystal Scar.

Also, Riot Games made available over 460,000 summoner names that were registered to level 1 accounts and that hadn’t logged in for over 90 days. Read more about it here.

What happened to Magma Chamber?

Magma Chamber Concept Art

Ever since I started playing League of Legends, there were numerous release dates for what should be the best MOBA map I have ever seen. Of course, beside the 'standard' 5v5 that we usually see in games like this.

This new map was about to introduce a new approach to our beloved Summoner's Rift gameplay, with a slightly different strategy and more tactical fights taking place in the lanes across. What I really loved about Magma Chamber, was the design and looks. Half of the map was covered in ice, while the other half bursting in flames and magma. The whole thing about lanes connected with small paths looked interesting and could've offered a whole new experience in an familiar manner. Also, Magma Chamber was going to introduce portals for transport from lane to lane.

Layout of lanes, monsters and structures

What happened? Did Riot ditched Magma Chamber for Dominion? It seems so. If you take a close look at the concept art, you can see some elements that The Crystal Scar has. I was really hoping the map was stuck into development hell, but now it looks like they've turned it into something else.

Anyway, there is still some hope left here, since we never got any official word on the current Magma Chamber status. Maybe we'll finally see it in the next gigantic update of the game. I'm sure many Summoners will be happy.

Is it a Yordle? Is it a Water Elemental? No, it's Fizz, the Tidal Trickster!

Fizz is the latest champion that is about the join the League. First to date to have something to do with water and he looks like a child of a Water Elemental and a Yordle. I guess it's time to splash some water on the field, right? Also, a shark is included so beware of this little assassin! Check out the introduction below:

He looks like a nice addition and I will be checking this guy for sure!

Some bragging about Xerath, Graves and everything

Hi everybody!

Been busy for the past few weeks, that's why I stalled posting. So, what's new in League of Legends? Many things! They have released a new champion that I didn't covered here - Shyvana, the Half-Dragon. I've seen people playing her, even as a tank, but she seems completely uninteresting to me. That's why I bought Xerath and Graves and currently playing them.

Xerath turned out to be an amazing mage. He's great for many situation and works perfect on every map. Boosting the range on his Arcanopulse spell allows you to kill enemies from a long distance, electrocuting them with a huge fucking AP! Hide in a bush and - blaow! Defend capture points in Dominion, ambush on Twisted Treeline? Perfect. Just spice it up with Rylai's and they will be going nowhere. Some spell-vamp might also come in handy at late game.

Graves is my new favorite champion. Works both mid and lane, he's good for Dominion and Twisted Treeline, plus he has a top-notch lore and looks, that really fits my mood these days. He can be build with many different combinations and when I play Dominion I like trying different items (in the fitting manner, of course). Attack speed is a must in most of the builds, Attack Damage too, but what I really like it's the Life-Steal "experiments". The Bloodthirster is my standard item most of the winning games, and sometimes works insane with Bligewater! Get a Phantom Dancer and just imagine how the screen of your enemies becomes gray as they curse you while the respawn counter melts to zero! Graves also has an ultimate spell that can get you easy multikill. At this moment, he's my favorite champion for Twisted Treeline matches, even solo.

These two champions were a great purchase!