League of Legends has released their post-launch trailer! The new video highlights new champions and the newest map! League of Legends was created by members of the original DotA team and was launched last week after a very successful beta period!
Here's a look at the new trailer:

Riot Games has just released details about its newest map for the upcoming PC game League of Legends. Twisted Treeline is one of the League's newest arenas best suited for 3v3 action and will officially be added to the closed beta on October 20.

 Riot has also unveiled brand new Champion skins for Alistar, Katarina, Kayle, Warwick and Cho'gath.  These alternate skins give a whole new look and feel to each champion adding another layer of customization for players to choose from. They will be purchase with Riot points and for cash from the cash shop!

Here's a screenshot of the new map:

Twisted Treeline map features faster paced 3v3 action due to its two lanes/ two forests layout. One lane is curvy, and the other is straight. The map also features several neutral monster camps, and plenty of opportunities for team fights due to the two large forests located on the map. The top forest is accessible only from the top lane, has high reward monsters, and is structured to increase random forest encounters. The lower forest narrows in the middle, allowing for increased ganking opportunities. Other features of Twisted Treeline include new Sigil monsters, in addition to a new monster whose buff reveals the bottom forest for a short period of time.

Here's some informational lore for the new Twisted Treeline map:

“The Field of Justice known as the Twisted Treeline is one of the League’s newest arenas, and as such, still quite the mystery to most of the League’s competitors.  The arena itself is located north of the Ironspike Mountains in a large expanse of forest nestled between the city-state of Zaun and one of the major passes that connect Noxus with the northern reaches of Valoran.   It is one of the few remaining forests near Zaun that has not been exploited for natural resources; a mere cursory glance at the geography of the arena quickly explains why.  The misuse of magic – mainly from Zaun but also from the numerous battles fought here during the various Rune Wars – has warped the verdant environs of the Twisted Treeline into terrain with a bizarre, alien-like visage.  The two nexuses that power the Twisted Treeline do more to try and maintain the physical stability of the region more than any other function they would normally perform.”

League of Legends will be available for PC download on October 27.  For more information on League of Legends champions please visit http://www.leagueoflegends.com.

League of Legends is rapidly approaching their release date (Currently end of October) and has given Curse an exclusive heads up on the last two champions that will be released before launch! The two new champions are Heimerdinger and Shaco. Heimerdinger and Shaco will come out next week on the 17th!

Here's a look at the new champions:

Heimerdinger, the Revered Inventor

Hero Type: Defender

It is unusual to see yordles outside of Bandle City, but the lure of science was something Heimerdinger could not resist.  The great academies of Piltdown called to him; daring him to make his mark in the City of Progress.  Knowing he would never thrive away from his own kind, Heimerdinger gathered like-minded yordles to join him in his quest, thus forming the backbone of the now famous Yordle Academy of Science & Progress.  Since then, he has become one of the most respected minds of the modern age.  The state of war on Valoran, however, is unacceptable, and Heimerdinger believes that science is the key to saving the world.  Much more, he is out to prove this as a member of the League of Legends.

 Heimerdinger brings his powerful scientific creations to bear on the Fields of Justice.  His feared shrink ray turns his enemies into diminutive threats, dramatically reducing their abilities.  He carries land mines, which he places on the ground to be detonated by approaching foes.  However, it is his artillery turrets that make Heimerdinger the most dangerous.  They become more powerful the more he tinkers with them, bringing them to a point where they can even destroy nearby structures, including enemy turrets and nexuses.  Heimerdinger also supports his allies by setting loose his repair bots: automatons that both repair nearby turrets and heal friendly champions.

 Science is on the march.  Don’t get in its way.

Shaco, the Demon Jester

Champion Type: Assassin

They say that death isn’t funny.  It isn’t, unless you’re Shaco.  He is Valoran’s first fully-functioning homicidal comic; he jests until someone dies, and then he laughs.  The figure that has come to be known as the Demon Jester is an enigma.  No one still alive knows from whence he came.  There are rumors, but one must not speak of them too loudly lest Shaco come to jest.  It seems unimaginable that such a threatening figure would be allowed to remain at large.  There are those that believe he is an assassin for hire, left to roam until he is needed. Others believe that Shaco is simply too clever, evading authorities at every turn.  Still others believe that he is the demonic manifestation of humanity’s dark urges, and therefore cannot be stopped.

 To jest with Shaco is to box with shadows.  His mastery of the shadows is unparalleled, limited only by his magical reservoir.  This allows him to deal devastating amounts of damage as he stabs his enemies in the back.  Shaco can also confound his enemies by creating an illusion of himself that will do combat, only to violently explode when its time is up.  The wicked daggers he carries are coated with the same ajunta poison gathered by the yordle Teemo, bringing pain, suffering, and death.  To complete his ensemble, Shaco also plants psychotic animated Jack-in-the-Boxes on the field of battle, which pop out and shoot at nearby foes.

 Whatever you do, don’t tell him you missed the punch line.

To learn more about the game and sign up for beta visit: http://www.leagueoflegends.com/

Today our friends at Riot Games revealed 5 new champions for their upcoming multiplayer online battle arena game, League of Legends. In League of Legends you control a mighty summoner who calls forth champions to do battle in player-versus-player matches ranging from 1-versus-1 all the way up to 5-versus-5, along the way leveling up your summoner and gaining access to special skills, masteries and runes.

If you'd like to check out League of Legends for yourself, we currently have a beta key giveaway running here on Curse.com! Head over to the North American giveaway or the European giveaway to get your beta keys and start playing League of Legends!

Introducing the Champions

Blitzcrank, the Great Steam Golem

Blitzcrank is techmaturgical marvel; he is a slow metal bruiser who is a challenge to bring down.  When Blitzcrank is in mortal danger, he automatically converts his mana-enriched fuel into a protective barrier that keeps the mighty machine going.  Rockets in his wrist propel his fist into enemies, grabbing them and dragging them back to the waiting machine.  He is able to charge up his mechanical fists, inflicting increased damage on an unsuspecting target.  Blitzcrank can also energize his inner circuits to randomly arc electricity into nearby enemies; he can further increase this power to trigger an electromagnetic shock wave, silencing his foes.  Despite his normally plodding nature, he is capable of firing his systems into overdrive, rocketing himself around at amazing speeds.

The Great Steam Golem is quickly becoming the most feared magical automaton in all of Valoran.

Kassadin, the Voidhunter

Kassadin has harnessed the power of the Void.  His Nether Blade steals the magical energy of his opponents. This dark blade also allows him to fire ethereal bolts of Void energy, not only harming his enemies, but inhibiting their ability to utilize their mystical abilities.  Kassadin draws energy from others’ magical use, charging him until he unleashes a force pulse that both damages and slows foes.  His connection with the Void also allows him to transform the damage he takes from other Champions, increasing the speed of his attacks.  Kassadin can also step sideways through the world, teleporting where he pleases.  He can utilize this rift-walking ability multiple times to deal more and more damage.

Taric, the Gemknight

Taric is both a warrior and a healer, drawing on the mystical powers of the earth.  Taric uses different kinds of gems for different kinds of effects, shattering his enemies’ defenses while boosting his own and those of his team.  When needed, he uses his father’s arts to bring health back to his wounded allies; his persistence in combat allows him to heal more rapidly.  Taric can also use the damaging energies of his gems to focus his anger into a dazzling ray of light, damaging opponents at a distance.  If he truly concentrates, he can channel the powerful energy of the crystals in the earth, rallying and healing allies that surround him.

Veigar, the Malefic One

As one might expect, Veigar brings the power of dark magic to bear.  He fires dark bolts of mystical energy that not only harm foes, but strips their protective armors right from their beings.  Veigar has the power to snatch a meteor from the heavens and bring it down upon a terrestrial target.  He may also channel his power into an intense single-target magical strike, one that increases in lethality based on how much mana the sorcerer has at his fingertips.   Furthermore, Veigar can also permeate the ground with magic, constricting and stunning any foe that enters the area.

Who says evil needs to come in a fearsome-looking package?

Corki, the Daring Bombardier

Corki brings his talents as a fighter pilot to bear on the Fields of Justice. Up high, he sees much further than most of his foes. His advanced weaponry allows him to lock onto a target, viciously hounding it while also painting it for the rest of his team. The automatic guns of Corki’s gyrocopter can fire at nearby enemies nearly continuously, filling the air with whizzing leaden bullets. However, his bombing runs are what give him his appellation. He is capable of cluster bombing an area, unleashing a furious firestorm, as well as piloting his dreaded bombing runs, where all within his path must face his wrath.

He is Corki – death from above!

 

The Creators of DotA and Curse bring our users exclusive early access to the League of Legends beta!

This giveaway is open to US and EU Curse members!

For EU Members please visit the League of Legends EU Beta Key Page!

For US Members please visit the League of Legends US Beta Key Page!

League of Legends is a competitive online game set in an imaginative world. Gamers take the role of a powerful Summoner, calling forth and controlling brave Champions in battle. League of Legends combines the best elements of session-based games with persistent elements of MMORPG’s. Enter the Fields of Justice with your most trusted allies as you fight for your right to rule the world of Valoran. There is only one rule of law among those in the league: Winner rules all.

Features:

• Play as dozens of unique Champions with diverse skills and abilities while engaging in fast-paced team-oriented combat.
• Advance your Summoner in rank and power to gain skills and abilities that give you an edge in battle.
• Robust matchmaking and detailed stat tracking help to ensure balanced games for new players and veterans alike.
• Unlock new content through persistent gameplay and mastering the game.
• New maps, champions and content added regularly.

League of Legends has created a new walkthrough video (shown below) that explains the game and some of the cool features players will find when they try out the beta! If you haven't made it into beta yet; they've have announced they're expanding the number of people allowed in the beta - so be sure and signup at www.leagueoflegends.com!

Here's the introduction piece for the video:

Lead Creative Designer Shawn Carnes and Director of Systems Design Tom Cadwell give gamers an overview of League of Legends and the innovative gameplay elements sure to make it a hit. Most recently Carnes was Blizzard Entertainment’s Lead Developer of Licensed Products and a game designer on World of Warcraft. Cadwell also joined Riot from Blizzard Entertainment, where he managed play balance for Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne and was a key designer on a number of game systems and zone and dungeon polish for WoW.

League of Legends combines elements of role-playing and strategy genres with addictive battle action that brings accessible, replayable and competitive gameplay into a whimsical universe that deepens with the player’s commitment.  Built by a veteran development team and the original creators of DotA Allstars, one of the world’s most popular player-made mods, League of Legends is a unique and genre bending experience.  The game will be operated as a live service that will be frequently updated with new features, champions, maps and additional content as suggested by the community. 

Here's a look at the League of Legends walkthrough:

Last week Riot Games took some time out of their busy schedule to visit the Curse office in San Francisco for a guided tour of the new Summoner systems they recently unveiled for League of Legends. We got the lowdown on specific details for each, as well as a chance to play the game -- a first for me personally since GDC earlier this year. It's progressed quite nicely since then and it's great to see all of the aspects beginning to take shape as Riot Games sets their sights on a September release.

The Summoner System

At its core the summoner is your account, but there are three facets to the system: Spells, Runes and Masteries. As you level up your summoner by playing games you'll unlock additional spells, more rune slots, and additional mastery points to not only enhance your summoner spells, but also the champions you play.

You can also unlock access to new champions and more powerful runes as you level up. Marc Merrill described this as "gating content" so new players aren't overwhelmed by complex heroes and other aspects from the start. As you level up you'll unlock more complexity in the game, but early on the focus is on learning the game. And there will definitely be a lot to learn -- even for seasoned Defense of the Ancients veterans. You might recognize a few similar items and abilities, but for the most part these champions are in stark contrast to the heroes of the Warcraft III mod. And then there's the whole persistence of your summoner and deciding how to best set up your spells, runes and masteries for the champions you enjoy playing.

Summoner Spells

Early on you'll have access to a small selection of basic spells. Some of these will let you heal your champion and surrounding allies, reduce the movement speed of a targeted enemy, deal extreme damage to a minion or neutral creep, teleport to a targeted friendly minion, or allow you to run a bit faster and ignore unit collision. As you level up your summoner, you'll unlock more powerful spells. A few examples were the ability to revive your champion instantly when it dies (though with a long cooldown), or to teleport your champion forward a short distance -- allowing you to either escape harms way or gain on a fleeing enemy.

You'll be able to equip your champion with two of these spells during a match, so choosing wisely is important. You'll also want to pay close attention to your team's choices so that you can set up your spells around what will help the team as a whole.

The Rune System

The rune system can probably be best compared to the attribute leveling of Defense of the Ancients. The system will allow you to boost all kinds of attributes on your character; critical chance, movement speed, health regeneration, health, mana, etc. There are three different colored runes, as well as a fourth "uber rune" as Marc described it. These runes are of course offensive, defensive, and utilitarian in nature. At max-level you'll be able to slot up to nine of each of the red, yellow and blue runes, as well as three "uber" runes.

The major difference is this all takes place outside of the game, at your summoner profile -- giving you the time to decide which rune combinations fit your playstyle best. You can have up to three different rune combinations saved in your rune book, and will be able to choose from them when you start a match -- after selecting the champion you want to play. So if you want to play a tank champion, be sure to load up your rune configuration that fits that game play best!

Acquiring runes will be through the Influence Points system, which Merrill mentioned will accrue over the course of playing games. For each win or loss you'll receive influence points, which can then be used to purchase runes.

Masteries

The mastery system is essentially a World of Warcraft talent system, to best describe it. You have three mastery trees, though they're the same for every summoner -- it's not based on the champion you play. One tree is devoted to offense, another to defense, and the third to utility. Some examples Merrill gave were the ability to augment your Clairvoyance spell to also reveal stealthed units and increase its duration, augment your Smite spell to reward bonus gold and reduce its cooldown, or various ways to enhance your champions directly -- critical chance, mana regeneration, etc.

Similar to World of Warcraft, each tree is tiered, so you must spend a certain number of points in a tree to unlock deeper tiers. But as expected the best stuff is at the bottom, so you may want to focus on a single tree; some masteries will have multiple ranks as well. You'll start off with 1 point to spend, and as you level up, you'll receive additional points -- similar to unlocking rune slots or new spells. From the number of masteries available -- at least 30 -- it doesn't look like you'll be able to max out each tree by the time you reach the level cap for your summoner.

Best of all is that you'll be able to reset the mastery tree at will. So if you just played a game as a tank champion, but want to mix it up and play a bit of support, then just click on the "Return Points" button and you'll be able to set up your mastery spec for a different playstyle.

Hands-On

The game has changed substantially since the last time I played, way back in March of this year at GDC. To start off with, the game shop -- which you spawn at and have access to immediately -- now has a list of recommended items for the champion you're playing. For new players this is a godsend, as it means you don't have to memorize the massive number of potential item combinations you'll encounter while leveling up your champion and gaining gold.

In addition to this, Riot Games has implemented a range overlay for using abilities. When you use an ability that's targeted, a range indicator will display; this green radius around you is where your champion can successfully cast the ability from its current position. Anywhere outside of that radius and your champion will need to move a bit to cast it.

Overall the game is shaping up nicely for its September release, and it's going to be Free to Play, so it'll be worth checking out for any avid action strategy fan -- whether a novice or a pro. Merrill went as far as equating League of Legends to Defense of the Ancients as being the same as World of Warcraft to EverQuest. Whether he's right, only time will tell, but Riot Games seems to have the recipe for something that will drive the genre forward -- especially thanks to Tom Cadwell, the person who helped develop World of Warcraft's talent system and the new player experience.

League of Legends

League of Legends is due to release this fall and is an excellent mixture of RTS and RPG styles that should appeal to most gamers. It is a competitive online game set in an imaginative world with you as the player taking control of a powerful magical character known as a Summoner.

Each Summoner must participate in session based battles and control Champions to achieve victory and advance their persistent character. Champions are amazingly powerful characters with unique spells and abilities granted to each champion.

Here are the currently known champions in League of Legends. Riot Games has just unveiled details about two new champions; Amumu the Sad Mummy and Cho'Gath the Black Terror. Both Amumu and Chogath have been added to the official roster of champions and will be playable when the game releases this fall!  

 Here's a look at these exciting new champions:

Amumu, The Sad Mummy

 Stat Type: Strong

Champion Type: Tank

 Perhaps one of the oddest champions in the League of Legends is the yordle known as Amumu.  His life before joining the League remains unknown – especially to Amumu.  All he remembers is that he woke up alone inside a pyramid within the Shurima Desert.  He was wrapped in mummy wrappings and he could not feel his heart beat.  Furthermore, he felt a deep sadness that he could not entirely explain; he knew he missed his parents, though he could not remember who they were.  Dropping to his knees, Amumu wept into his bandages.  No matter what he did, it seemed he could just never stop his tears or sadness.  Eventually he got up off his knees to mope and wander the world, making his way to the League; it would seem that even the raw power of unleashed emotions can be used to benefit the plans of summoners.

 

 To this day, Amumu remains a very sad mummy, occasionally experiencing moments of extreme anger followed by bouts of crushing depression.  It is during these times that it is best to stay out of his way, or you may find yourself wrapped up and suffocating inside his tear-stained bandages.  Whenever a nearby enemy unit dies around Amumu, its corpse explodes, dealing magic damage to surrounding units.  Amumu can unleash his sadness and anger into a terrible tantrum, permanently reducing the physical damage of his foes.  He can entangle surrounding enemy units, immobilizing them and inflicting magic damage for a short duration.  Finally, Amumu temporarily reduces the magic resistance of every enemy he strikes.

Health = 8
Attack = 5
Spells = 5
Difficulty = 4

Cho'Gath the Black Terror

Stat Type: Strong

Champion Type: Tank

There is a place between dimensions, between worlds. To some it is known as the Outside, to others it is the Unknown. To most, however, it is called the Void. Cho’gath is a creature born of the Void, a thing whose true nature is so horrific most will not speak its name. Its fellows have been poking at the dimensional walls for a crack, a way into Runeterra, where they can visit their own personal paradise of horror upon the world. A way in they have found, as something dark stirs in Icathia, perverting the summoning ritual – how Cho’gath came to be here. Fortunately, the power of the summoning has chained Cho’gath to the League of Legends, where it uses its Voidborn abilities to help decide the fate of the world. It knows what it would choose, if given half the chance.

 

Cho’gath is a horrifying opponent. It is capable of impaling not only its enemies, but those standing nearby on vorpal spikes. It can also cause the earth beneath its foes to rupture, causing an explosion that sends them flying. It can unleash an otherworldly scream that not only harms the flesh of terrestrial creatures, but also silencing them for a time. However, and perhaps most terrifying, Cho’gath not only drains the life from those it kills, it can consume them whole, growing ever larger. There are those that wonder if there is a limit to how large the beast can become.

 Woe betide the day when Cho’gath grows weary of the League.

 Health = 7
Attack = 3
Spells = 3
Difficulty = 2

Riot Games has announced retail outlets and price for their September release of League of Legends! There will be a pre-order available from Gamestop and Best Buy and players who pre-order the Collectors Pack at www.leagueoflegends.com or at those retail outlets will also receive an exclusive Champion skin that will only be available with the pre-order. The Collector’s Pack will retail for $29.99. There will also be a free version for players who don't need any extras!

League of Legends will not use a subscription model but will sell Riot Points which will be obtainable with cash and will be required to buy from the in game item shop. Gamers who spend money in the game will not have a power advantage over other players; they will have access to rare visual customization options. Riot Points will also be awarded at the end of matches!

If you haven't had a chance to play or familiarize yourself with the game; League of Legends has put together an excellent Summoners Guide and a video walkthrough located here:

Here's a look at the official press release from Riot Games:

LOS ANGELES — July 14, 2009 — Riot Games, an independent developer and publisher of premium online video games, has unveiled the Summoner and currency systems for its highly anticipated online multiplayer session-based game League of Legends.   In a quest to make the title available to all gamers, and to support and reward a passionate community of competitive players, Riot has confirmed that League of Legends will be free.  Optional payment will enable additional virtual currency to be used within the Summoner system meta game for play diversity, customization and novelty.  League of Legends, which was nominated for the Game Critics Awards Best Strategy Game of E3, will be available for Windows PC in September 2009.

 “One of our goals at Riot has been to set a high quality bar for core games that are available for free online as we believe that a relentless focus on delivering tremendous value to online communities will earn player loyalty,”  Brandon Beck, co-founder and CEO, Riot Games, said.  “League of Legends is being built as a highly competitive core game that we believe will change many people’s minds about the type and caliber of games that can be offered for free.” 

A player in League of Legends takes on the role of a Summoner – a gifted spell caster who has the power to bring forth a champion to fight as his or her avatar in Valoran’s Fields of Justice.  As the Summoner controls the champion in combat, it also influences the outcome of the match through the use of spells, masteries and runes.  Once a match is over, the Summoner gains Influence Points and Riot Points. 

 Influence Points will be earned by simply playing the game, while Riot Points will be available for purchase with real money.  Both currencies will be used to unlock additional content customization options, whereas only Influence Points will be used to unlock content such as Runes, which enhance the power of playable characters.  Gamers who spend money in the game will not have a power advantage over other players; they will have access to rare visual customization options.  The system is designed to empower the player with a huge number of mechanical choices that deepen the level of the strategic thinking in the game.  

 Riot Games will also offer a League of Legends Collector’s Pack that contains exclusive items, such as two unique Champion skins, as well as a number of Champions, Runes and Riot Points.  Players who pre-order the Collectors Pack at www.leagueoflegends.com or at retail outlets GameStop and Best Buy will also receive an exclusive Champion skin that will only be available with the pre-order.  The Collector’s Pack will retail for $29.99.   

League of Legends combines elements of role-playing and strategy genres with addictive battle action that brings accessible, replayable and competitive gameplay into a whimsical universe that deepens with the player’s commitment.  Built by a veteran development team and the original creators of DotA Allstars, one of the world’s most popular player-made mods, League of Legends is a unique and genre bending experience.  The game will be operated as a live service that will be frequently updated with new features, Champions, maps and additional content as suggested by the community. 

 During each online multiplayer game session, players will choose from one of dozens unique Champions wielding diverse skills and abilities, and engage in fast-paced team-oriented combat to bring their foes to ruin.  Champions will gain levels, items and abilities that enable them to slay their opponents and augment the strength of their allies by battling with enemy minions, foul beasts, deadly turrets and enemy Champions.  Players will also advance their Summoner’s rank and power after each session to gain new abilities and items that assist their Champions in future battles.  At the maximum Summoner level, players will be on an even playing field from a power perspective.  League of Legends will offer endless permutations of builds, strategies and combinations that will make the game extremely competitive and interesting for those focused on competitive play.  

More information on League of Legends’ Summoner system, including an FAQ, can be found at www.leagueoflegends.com/summoners.  Riot Games will also host a live chat to answer the community’s questions about the Summoner system on Friday, July 17^th from 2 – 4 pm PDT at www.leagueoflegends.com/summonerchat

League of Legends has released a new gameplay trailer highlighting Champions Annie the Dark Child, Tryndamere the Barbarian King and Jax the Armsmaster in various forms of combat! If you haven't been following the game, League of Legends: Clash of Fates is an online multiplayer session-based game that combines elements of role-playing and strategy genres with addictive battle action.  The development team of League of Legends is made up of a decorated group of industry veterans with credits that include PC & console blockbusters, as well as part of the team that created the popular Warcraft 3 mod DotA-Allstars. The game is due out Fall of 2009 and should be one of the hottest titles this year - we've had a chance to play it at GDC and E3 and it's good for hours and hours of intense fun.

Here's a look at the exclusive League of Legends Gameplay Video:

In other good news about the game; League of Legends has won "Best Strategy Game of E3 2009" on GameTrailers.com's Best of E3 2009 Awards.  A video showcasing the nominees along with the winner can be seen at the following link. 

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/51396.html

League of Legends New Champions

The team at League of Legends has sent us the details on the latest two champion released for the game! LoL is a mixture of some of the RTS (Real time strategy for your RPG only folks) and RPG games you've played in the past, but with so much more. League of Legends is a competitive online game set in an imaginative world with you as the player taking control of a powerful magical character known as a Summoner. Each Summoner must participate in session based battles and control Champions to achieve victory and advance their persistent character. Here's a break down of the different types of characters in League of Legends. Riot Games has just unveiled details about its latest two champions for the upcoming PC game!

League of Legends: Clash of Fates. Both Evelynn and Sion have been added to the official roster of champions to battle on the Fields of Justice.  Here's an exclusive look at the new champions:

Evelynn the Widowmaker

Evelynn's origins are clouded in mystery, though it is clear upon first seeing her that she is not quite human. Some theorize that she was cursed with a mild form of vampirism as a child.  Others suggest that her savagery in combat was so great that she has magically morphed into the hungering beast she is in combat. Evelynn simply smiles when hearing these stories, baring her razor-sharp fangs and teeth. Whether or not she herself knows her origins is unclear, but her recent admission into the Institute of War as a champion has certainly gained the attention of summoners more focused on the here and now.

Evelynn's dark blue skin and her heat-sensitive eyes are ideal for her role as an assassin. When she is able to approach an enemy undetected, she will often catch them by surprise. Unless an enemy is quite resilient, that will often spell the end for her opponent. She has a chance to initially stun her unsuspecting opponent, and then furthering harming a foe so long as she remains behind her prey. Should she actually finish off her hapless victim, she becomes filled with bloodlust and even can replenish her own health.

While Evelynn may have been given her title of "The Widowmaker" through legend, she earns it time and time again in the Fields of Justice. Here's the special abilities available to Evelynn:

Shadow Walk - Evelynn fades away, becoming Stealthed for a few seconds.  Evelynn's next attack or damage ability will stun that unit, ending her Shadow Walk.  1.5 sec delay on Stealth (delayed by damage).  Evelynn can cast Shadow Walk while Stealthed to destealth.
Ravage - Deals damage to target unit.  If Ravage was used from behind, it reduces the target's armor for 5 seconds.
Hate Spike - Instantly spikes a random nearby energy with malevolent energy, dealing Magical Damage.
Malice and Spite  - Evelynn takes pleasure when enemies are slain.  Each time an enemy champion dies, Evelynn gains attack speed and movement speed for 20 seconds (non-stacking).  If Evelynn was the killer, she is also healed for 50% of the target's maximum health.
Silent Killer - Evelynn's attacks do not trigger calls for help.  Turrets and minions will only attack her when she is the closest target.

Sion - Undead Abomination

The history of war between Demacia and Nox extends as far back as the founding of the respective cities in Valoran. A recent product of this conflict was the murderous Noxian warrior, Sion.  Used by the Noxians as a human battering ram, Sion would be sent thundering ahead of Noxian troops. He would mercilessly slaughter foes with his large double handed axe, "Chopper". His complete disregard for caution would ultimately cost him his life, and he was captured and summarily executed by Demacian forces. The Demacians thought that the beheading of Sion would be the end of his bloodthirsty ways. Death, however, was merely the beginning. The famed Noxian assassin Katarina recovered Sion's remains and Noxian necromancers reanimated the behemoth to serve Nox once again.

Sion emerged from the reanimation process even more brutal than before. His gaze alone would now stop foes in dead in their tracks. His skin thickened considerably, increasing the amount of damage the already brutish beast could withstand. He could focus his rage into attacks that cause near-crippling damage at the expense of his own health. Finally, he could drain the very essence of life out of his foes, replenishing himself and his allies. The one thing, however, that the Noxian necromancers did not anticipate upon reanimation was Sion's change of loyalty; his new powers have given Sion a desire to seek his own glory in undeath as a champion of the Institute of War.

Here's the special abilities available to Sion:

Cryptic Gaze - Blasts a single enemy, dealing Magic Damage and stunning for 2 seconds. 
Death's Caress - Sion surrounds himself with a shield which absorbs damage. If the shield is not destroyed in 10 seconds it will explode dealing Magic Damage to surrounding enemies.
Enrage - Increase Sion's damage and he gains Health per kill.
Cannabalism  - Grants Sion Lifesteal and 45% Attack Speed for 20 seconds, additionally Sion's attacks heal surrounding allies for a percent of damage dealt.
Feel No Pain - Each time Sion is attacked, he has a chance to ignore a portion of the damage.

To learn more about League of Legends and to signup for beta visit the League of Leagues website!

League of Legends

League of Legends is a mixture between some of the RTS (Real time strategy for your RPG only folks) and RPG games you've played in the past, but with so much more. League of Legends is a competitive online game set in an imaginative world with you as the player taking control of a powerful magical character known as a Summoner. Each Summoner must participate in session based battles and control Champions to achieve victory and advance their persistent character. Here's a break down of the different types of characters in League of Legends. Riot Games has just unveiled details about its latest two champions for the upcoming PC game

League of Legends: Clash of Fates. Both Ashe and Sivir have been added to the official roster of champions to battle on the Fields of Justice.  

Ashe the Frost Archer

 As a direct descendant of Avarosa, one of the three legendary sisters who each claimed dominion over the scattered tribes dwelling in icy tundra known as Freljord, Ashe mirrors her ancestor’s unparalleled mastery with the bow.  Ashe has come to the Institute of War in service to the Institute’s summoners, seeking enough influence and favor to finally bring peace to her realm – a realm that has endured civil strife since the Time of the Three Sisters.  With enough victories under her belt, she hopes to have the means to finally claim the throne that had long eluded Avarosa.

 Ashe is one of but a few hearty souls from Freljord who can claim the title of Frost Archer. Along with mastery of the bow, Ashe is renowned for her resourcefulness even in the most dire of environments.  She has mastered the ability to channel the frigid climate of the tundra into her arrows, slowing her foes with but a single flick of her wrist.  She can even deliver a vicious shot from hundreds of yards away that freezes even the strongest of foes in their tracks.  As tenacious as she is beautiful, she has earned the respect of ally and foe alike in the Fields of Justice.

 Frost Shot (Active) - Toggle ability, While on, each of Ashe's attacks slow her target's movement speed at the cost of mana.
Volley (Active) - Ashe fires 9 arrows in a cone for 150% damage. Volley slows enemies based on your current level of Frost Shot.
Archers Mark (Passive) - Each time Ashe kills a unit, she gains some extra gold.
Enchanted Crystal Arrow (Active) - Ashe fires a missile at any point on the map. If the arrow encounters a champion it damages him and nearby enemies. These units are stunned for up to 5 secs, based on how far the arrow has traveled.
Focus (Passive) - While out of combat, Ashe's critical strike chance increases every 3 seconds, but lasts for only one attack.

Sivir the Battle Mistress

The beautiful and deadly mercenary known as Sivir has earned many titles throughout her illustrious career, but the one she held until recently was “Battle Mistress of Nox”.  Now, however, she is known as “The Battle Mistress” after breaking her contract with the Noxian High Command.  Sivir dared to object to the Noxian war against the peaceful island state of Ionia; her predictions of a bloody stalemate came true when the Ionians held off the relentless assaults of the Noxians.  Claiming that the Noxian High Command had lost its direction, she left Nox and made her services available to the Institute of War.  The Noxian High Command have sent a number of contracted assassins to deal with their rogue mercenary, but none have yet to deliver… or survive.

 The Battle Mistress brings an unparalleled mastery of bladed weaponry and battlefield tactics to the Fields of Justice.  Her weapon of choice is the “crossblade” – a large four-bladed weapon that she uses as a ranged weapon.  She may hurl it with such force that all foes in her way are wounded twice – once as the weapon flies past them, and then again as it returns effortlessly to Sivir.  She has mastered the ability to ricochet the crossblade off her foes, inflicting grievous wounds to multiple opponents.  Her skill and experience in combat allow her to not only anticipate the tactics of her foes, but also lead her compatriots to victory by bestowing increased movement and combat haste.  Time and time again, Sivir proves that she has earned the right to call herself “The Battle Mistress”.

 Spiral Blade (Active) - Sivir hurls her Crossblade like a boomerang, dealing damage each way. 
Ricochet (Active) - Each of Sivir's attacks will bounce between targets, dealing reduced damage with each successive hit.
Spell Shield (Active) - Creates a magical barrier which blocks a single enemy spell cast on Sivir. Lasts up to 20 seconds.
On The Hunt (Active) - Grants Sivir and nearby allies faster movement and attack speeds for a short period.
Sprint (Passive) - Sivir has an increased chance to dodge attacks while moving.

League of Legends

League of Legends is a mixture between some of the RTS (Real time strategy for your RPG only folks) and RPG games you've played in the past, but with so much more. League of Legends is a competitive online game set in an imaginative world with you as the player taking control of a powerful magical character known as a Summoner. Each Summoner must participate in session based battles and control Champions to achieve victory and advance their persistent character. Here's a break down of the different types of characters in League of Legends. Riot Games has just unveiled details about its latest two champions for the upcoming PC game League of Legends: Clash of Fates. Both Teemo and Jax have been added to the official roster of champions to battle on the Fields of Justice.  

Teemo the Swift Scout

Captain of the Bantam City Scouts, Teemo is the foremost defender of the yordle homeland. In addition to his duties as scout leader—which include planning the soap-box derby, teaching new recruits the scout’s pledge, and judging the yearly s’more-eating contest—Teemo is also responsible for the defense of Bantam City itself.

 In Teemo’s bestselling autobiography, Accuracy by Volume, the leader of the Bantam City Scouts expounds on yordle military tactics, such as blow-dart carpet bombing, and filling trebuchets with poison-tipped sewing needles.

 Though he can often be found in the courtyard outside the practice arenas signing copies of his book, Teemo is really at the League of Legends for another reason. He has come, as the emissary for the entire yordle nation, to petition the Institute of War to start a new type of tournament. His proposition includes wood carving, rope bridge building, and campfire cooking to the list of approve forms of “combat” sanctioned inside the League. So far, he hasn’t had much luck.

 Blinding Dart (Active) – Teemo fires a poisonous dart that causes damage and hinders vision for a short duration.   

Toxic Shot (Active) – Teemo sends a poisonous dart at a targeted Champion, dealing damage over time every second.  Teemo can stack the effects of the poison with subsequent toxic shots.

 Move Quick (Active) – Teemo goes into a full sprint, increasing his movement speed drastically. Should Teemo take damage while Moving Quickly, he must move slowly to recover.

 Scouts Bounty (Active) – Teemo tracks an enemy champion for 30 seconds, causing the target to lose armor.  If the target dies while being tracked, Teemo gains extra gold. 

 Eagle Eye (Passive) – Teemo’s eyes can see far into the distance; his sight range is increased.

Jax the Grandmaster at Arms

The most prolific tournament fighter in the League of Legends, the self-proclaimed “Grandmaster at Arms” rattled off a streak of consecutive wins 152 long. No one had ever achieved even half of that number before, but what made it even more remarkable was that he did so while fighting only 152 matches.

 Concerned the peace accords that ended the Rune Wars would be threatened by a fighter who was unbeatable in the arena, the Institute of War hastily banned Jax from the arena all together. But after scores of petitions from his adoring fans, the Institute eventually relented, stating that a champion’s skill was no reason to remove a realm’s access to the governing powers of the tournaments.

 Jax was reinstated, but with one rule: He is only allowed to fight with weapons the Institute deems suitable. For now, that list includes a lamppost, a chicken’s foot, a spatula, and a fishing rod.  

 Empower (Active) – Jax’s next attack cleaves multiple enemies in a single swing. This ability can stack where each subsequent attack adds bonus damage, cleave radius, and sight radius.

 Leap Strike (Active) – Jax leaps toward an enemy target, attacking target immediately and dealing bonus damage.

 Counter Strike (Active) – Jax’s Counter Strike permanently increases his ability to dodge incoming attacks. Additionally, if Jax dodges a physical attack he will briefly stun all nearby enemies.

 Relentless Assault (Active) – Each attack drains Jax’s mana, but if he lands enough consecutive attacks on a target he will deal massive damage. Additionally, each successful attack increases his attack speed.

 Weapon Mastery (Passive) – Jax has an incredible understanding of weaponry, this increase his physical damage gained through items.

League of Legends: Clash of Fates

League of Legends is a new title by Riot Games that is similar, and considered by many die-hard fans to be a sequel, to DotA. During the Game Developers Conference this past week in San Francisco we had a sit down with the League of Legends development team and had a chance to play the game! We've posted previously about League of Legends Screenshots and an Exclusive League of Legends Video Trailer, so excitement for the game here has been growing. Sitting down and actually playing it was a great experience, we played a 3v3 match on a map very similar to the picture on the right. 

Playing the game

The game starts each summoner with one champion at the designated respawn point which is also next to an item shop. The item shop provides upgrades as you gain experience and gold from killing enemy summoners and minions. You can also obtain several types of items and combine them to make super items towards the end of the game. Each side (Red VS Blue) has several buildings inside their main base area that offer services to the champions. A few buildings spew out rows and rows of minions that do battle in the center of the map; their primary goal is to defend your towers and area of influence. Left alone, minions from both sides will continue to clash without much progress either way, but when you combine the help of champions with their powerful spells and abilities and they become a force to be reckoned with. 

There are also defensive towers and a few buildings that control upgrades for your minions. Defensive towers for each side are spread across the map and help keep enemy minions at bay, as they're destroyed the enemy progresses and there doesn't appear to be any way to rebuild them (Which is good unless you want a game to last forever). The buildings in the main base area benefit the minions and champions as long as they stand and they level with the champion. If they're destroyed the bonus is lost and you'll see the results. In the demo we played our own building was destroyed and our minions became much much weaker then the competition, resulting in our imminent defeat. The total game lasted about 30 minutes and had very little downtime after the champion hit the ground.

Features

League of Legends will have several features not seen in similar predecessors that will make playing League of Legends much more exciting and less aggravating than anything you've played before. Here's the list of the new features:

• Champion Options - Dozens of champions to choose from, each with their own style, unique skills, and abilities.
• Enhanced item shop - Very simple to use and upgrade items, even in the heat of combat.
• Hand Crafted Battle Arenas - Several highly stylized and unique handcrafted battle scenarios.
• Summoner Avatars - Persistent Summoner avatars and customizations as you progress in the game.
•  Persistent Summoner Ranking and Skill Accumulation - Ability to advance your Summoner in rank and power to gain skills and abilities to assist the Champions you summon as they do battle.
• Practice Modes - Practice new strategies and learn how to play by engaging intelligent single player Bot-AI and by playing Practice Games online.
• Persistent Unlockable Content - Unlock new content through persistent gameplay and mastering the game.
• Integrated "Leaverbuster" technology - Prevent people from quitting the game and ruining your experience.
• Massive focus on community - Web-enabled game technology allows for close interaction between the in-game and out of game community.

New Screenshots

We also received some special, never before seen, screenshots of the newest game level for your viewing pleasure:

League of Legends has released a new set of in game screen shots for your viewing pleasure! Last week we announced an exclusive trailer for the game, if you missed it be sure and check that out here. League of Legends is a mixture between some of the RTS (Real time strategy for your RPG only folks) and RPG games you've played in the past, but with so much more. League of Legends is a competitive online game set in an imaginative world with you as the player taking control of a powerful magical character known as a Summoner. Each Summoner must participate in session based battles and control Champions to achieve victory and advance their persistent character. Here's a break down of the different types of characters in League of Legends. This game is developed by the same people behind DOTA Allstars, and Riot Games.
League of Legends is published in the U.S. by RiotGames.com and published in Europe by GOA at lol-Europe.com.

To get in on the action be sure and visit the U.S. Beta or the EU Beta signup pages!

Here's a look at the new screenshots:

And of course don't forget the official trailer from last week:

We're thrilled to announce an exclusive first look given to us by League of Legends. This new game was developed by the same people behind DOTA Allstars, and Riot Games. We were lucky enough to get an exclusive trailer that will only be available on Curse.com.
League of Legends is published in the U.S. by RiotGames.com and published in Europe by GOA at lol-Europe.com.

To get in on the action be sure and visit the U.S. Beta or the EU Beta signup pages!

 

League of Legends is a mixture between some of the RTS (Real time strategy for your RPG only folks) and RPG games you've played in the past, but with so much more. League of Legends is a competitive online game set in an imaginative world with you as the player taking control of a powerful magical character known as a Summoner. Each Summoner must participate in session based battles and control Champions to achieve victory and advance their persistent character. Here's a break down of the different types of characters in League of Legends.

Summoners

Gamers take the role of a powerful Summoner, calling forth and controlling brave Champions in battle. As you participate in battles your Summoner grows and becomes more powerful in the persistent part of the world. Battles are session based and are the best way to increase the power of your Summoner. As a Summoner you will not be directly engaged in battle; however, the more powerful and skilled you become, the more you can influence the battle. Your Summoner will be completely customizable, allowing for a dynamic and meaningful impact on combat. Features of your unique Summoner include:

• The unique and exceptional ability to call forth Champions into the battle arena.
• Create your own unique Summoner Avatar that will represent you as a player and track stats as you play the game. As you progress in the game, your Summoner will accumulate experience allowing you to access more options, abilities, items, and game modes.
• The Summoner is a persistent game element that stays with you from battle to battle.
  Customize your Summoner. The look, style, and abilities your Summoner has will be entirely up to you.

Champions

Champions follow the will of their Summoner, and fight for them to the death. There are currently currently 16 known champions each with special abilities, spells, attack powers, and stats that will level up with in the battle sessions. Each Champion is individually designed to have specific abilities and traits that players must use wisely. Some Champions use brute strength and power, others use deadly precision and cunning, and certain Champions make their presence known through supernatural vision and magic.

Three of the latest are the Warwick, Morgana Le, and Zilean. Each of these champions is controllable by you, the Summoner, in a massive battlefield pitting your skills and powers against other players in truly online RTS experience.

League of Legends looks to fill a void that many RTS/RPG gamers have been feeling for some time now. The ability for players to control a Hero class character and engage in real time combat is a rare thrill indeed; That is why we are so proud to bring you this exclusive video from League of Legends.

If you're as excited for this game as we are we suggest you visit the U.S. Beta page or the EU Beta page!