4/25 PBE Update: Braum and Dragonslayer Braum splash art

(Warning: PBE Content is tentative and iterative - what you see may not reflect what eventually gets pushed to live servers! Manage your expectations accordingly. )

New Splash Arts: Braum and Dragonslayer Braum 

While we saw it in his official reveal, Braum's splash art has just been added to the PBE!

( Click here for more information on Braum or click here for a short video preview! )

( Click here to see Dragonslayer Braum in-game or click here for a short video preview! )

Here are the load screen wedges for those two:

New Audio Engine Activated on PBE - Round 2

Here's BelligerentSwan with an announcement that the new Audio Engine, something we first heard about a few months ago, is back on the PBE for testing!

"Hey Summoners! For the next day we'll be turning on our new audio engine again for another round of testing on the PBE! The last time we activated the new audio engine, everyone came out in full force and gave us a lot of great feedback. We've been hard at work for the past few months trying to address some of these issues and would love to hear what you think. 

We've had to change a few parameters around, so some of your favorite champions might sound slightly different. Things may be louder or quieter, VO lines might overlap, or some sounds just straight up might not work. However, surround sound and stereo panning should be functioning now. 

If you find a sound that doesn't work, or if you want to leave feedback about the way things sound now, just leave a comment on this thread! We’ll be actively monitoring it and replying to your questions and concerns. Please let us know what equipment you’re using for audio (Stereo headphones vs. 5.1 surround sound speakers, Sound Blast Zx vs. Realtek HD Audio) so we can help narrow down the cause of the issues.
If you’re unsure how to get that your system info, here’s a handy guide for PC and one for Mac. 

Why are we changing audio engines? We’re looking to create a more immersive and engaging in-game league of legends audio experience, and this new engine will allow us to do a lot of cool things in the future. 

The new audio engine won’t be going out with the next patch, but we will be working to hopefully bring it to you guys and girls sometime in 2014."

Misc

The Air client summoner spell previews have all been updated to go along with yesterday's updates for Cleanse, Flash, Exhaust, and Clarity.

Braum Lore Updated

Braum's lore has been updated!

''Would you like a bedtime story?''

''Grandma, I'm too old for that.''

''You're never too old to be told a story.''

The girl reluctantly crawls into bed and waits, knowing she won't win this battle. A bitter wind howls outside, whipping falling snow into devil whirls.

''What kind? A tale of the Ice Witch, perhaps?'' her grandmother asks.

''No, not her.''

''What about a story of Braum?'' She was met with silence. The old woman smiles. ''Oh, there are so many. My grandmother used to tell me of the time Braum protected our village from the great dragon! Or once - this was long ago - he raced down a river of lava! Or -'' She pauses; puts a finger to her lips. ''Have I told you how Braum got his shield?''

The girl shakes her head. The hearth fire snaps, holding off the wind.

''Well. In the mountains above our village lived a man named Braum -''

''I know that!''

''He mostly kept to his farm, tending his sheep and goats, but he was the kindest man anyone had ever met, and he always had a smile on his face and a laugh on his lips.

''Now, one day something terrible happened: a young troll boy around your age - was climbing the mountain and happened on a vault, set into the mountainside, the entrance guarded by a huge stone door with a shard of True Ice at its center. When he opened the door, he couldn't believe his eyes: the vault was filled with gold, jewels - every kind of treasure you could imagine!

''What he didn't know was that the vault was a trap. The Ice Witch had cursed it - and as the troll boy entered, the magical door CLANGED shut behind him and locked him inside! Try as he might, he couldn't get out.

''A passing shepherd heard his cries. Everyone rushed to help, but even the strongest warriors couldn't open the door. The boy's parents were beside themselves; his mother's wails of grief echoed around the mountain. It seemed hopeless.

''And then, to everyone's surprise, they heard a distant laugh.''

''It was Braum, wasn't it?''

''Aren't you clever! Braum had heard their cries and came striding down the mountainside. The villagers told him of the troll boy and the curse. Braum smiled, nodded, turned to the vault, and faced the door. He pushed it. Pulled it. Punched it; kicked it; tried to rip it from its hinges. But the door wouldn't budge.'' 

''But he's the strongest man ever!''

''It was perplexing,'' her grandmother agrees. ''For four days and nights, Braum sat on a boulder, trying to think of a solution. After all, a child's life was at stake.

''Then, as the sun rose on the fifth day, his eyes widened and a broad grin lit up his face. If I can't go through the door,' he said, then I'll just have to go through -''

The girl thinks; her own eyes widen. ''- the mountain!''

''The mountain. Braum headed to the summit and began punching his way straight down, pummeling into the stone, fist after fist, rocks flying in his wake, until he had vanished deep into the mountain.

''As the villagers held their breath, the rock around the door crumbled - and when the dust cleared, they saw Braum standing amidst the treasure, the weak but happy troll boy in his arms.''

''I knew he could do it!''

''But before they could celebrate, everything began to rumble and shake: Braum's tunnel had weakened the mountaintop, and now it was caving in! Thinking quickly, Braum grabbed the enchanted door and held it above him like a shield, protecting them as the mountaintop collapsed all around them. When it was over, Braum was amazed: there wasn't a single scratch on the door! Braum knew it was something very special.

''And from that moment on, that magical shield never left Braum's side.''

The girl is sitting upright, struggling to conceal her excitement. Her grandmother waits. She shrugs and gets up to leave.

''Grandma,'' the girl stops her, ''can you tell me another?''

''Tomorrow.'' Her grandmother smiles; kisses her forehead; blows out the candle. ''For you need to sleep, and there are many more stories to tell.''"

Balance Changes