Those who have played League of Legends are undoubtedly aware that the roles each champion is given isn't always entirely accurate. Some bruisers are tanks, some mid lanes only work as junglers, the list goes on and on. But today, Riot Games' Tom Morello has announced that the team is going to reclassify and rebrand each and every champion. Every champion will have a "role" that it is going to be branded as. "A champion's role roughly defines the type of value they contribute to a team, or else communicates the fundamentals of their playstyle," Morello said. "It sets expectations for what a player's experience will be like and what they can do for their team. At Riot, we see a champion's place in the game as some combination of primary and secondary roles from the following list."
- Assassin - An agile champion that specializes in killing or disabling high value targets.
- Mage - Mostly ranged champions who prioritize powerful abilities over basic attacks.
- Tank - Durable, front-line champions that help lock down enemies and start fights.
- Support - Make plays by enabling their allies through buffs and heals, or by disrupting enemy lines through crowd control.
- Fighter - Melee combatants that possess a mix of offensive and defensive capabilities.
- Marksman - A ranged attacker that sacrifices defensive power and utility to focus on dealing strong, continuous damage to individual targets.
Morello goes out of his way to explain why Riot is using "Marksman" instead of "AD Carry" saying, "Calling the role marksman defines it in a more clear and accurate way." There is also some discussion as to what the difference between "Position" and "Role" is.
For more information, check out the post on the League of Legends forums.