User blog comment:BlitzerRyuusei/Kiria, the Storm of the Blades/@comment-1330314-20140228202217/@comment-35019468-20140228223604

Okay then, let me reply to every one of your points, starting from the top:
 * If I set it up correctly, she should feel very different from Irelia, even though Kiria is also from Ionia. While Irelia is a duty-bound leader who has a strong attachment to Ionia, Kiria is a wanderer who doesn't have a strong attachment to anything—not a goal (like Yasuo or Varus), a country (like Karma or Irelia), or an ideal (like Zed or Shen).
 * Her full burst is meant to be, as you're not expected to get into range to land Bladed Aegis's damage (which I should remove anyways). I was worried that she had too much damage and CC, which was why I gave her crappy mobility, decreased range, and squishiness to compensate (and it seems that it's not enough compensation).
 * Technically, Heartstrike is a single-target ability, but I see what you mean. What would you say about making Swordsweep into a ground-targeted area of effect? (Sword tornadoes.)
 * Emblem of War: For a similar ability, see, which is also an aura that scales with a total stat. Kiria's high AD without items is an intentional part of her kit, as she should scale well without having much gold (although, considering support income, this can be adjusted). The high base attack speed is also intentional, and was intended a boost to her marksman capabilities; she has no AS steroids (and I should reduce her AS per level), so to compensate she should get more out of the attack speed she buys. With her low range, Kiria is meant to put herself at risk if she wants to autoattack.
 * Swordsweep: I like the knockup on Swordsweep, and would rather change her W and R to entirely slows rather than remove it.
 * Heartstrike: The reason why Heartstrike applies on-hit effects is to increase Kiria's synergy with, as she should gravitate to TF more than the other upgrades when building marksman. The on-hit effect part of the ability is tacked on, however, and can be removed. The AD utility ratio isn't going anywhere, as I feel that that is a core part of Kiria's mechanical identity—it can be toned down, and other parts can be nerfed to compensate, but I disagree with removing it outright.
 * Bladed Aegis: The line of thought behind the damage was "It's a shield made out of swords, of course it would do damage." I've considered putting no damage on the shield, and putting a knockback on the shield (don't ask). I can probably remove the damage at this point, as there are more questionable abilities out there ( shields... and gives AD... with wind?)

The AD utility ratio, like the one on Heartstrike, is here to stay. Don't think of the lifesteal as free stats, but as a single-targeted heal, as it only lasts for 5 seconds. The biggest problem here is that it's hard to make the lifesteal impactful at lower levels while not being ridiculous during the endgame (say, at level 1, your allied Caitlyn is healing for 8 HP each autoattack over 3 or 4 autoattacks... then, at level 18, Caitlyn is healing for 500 HP each autoattack over 7 autoattacks, really?) At the same time, I don't want it to simply be a heal, as lifesteal promotes interaction.

The best direction to go with Bladed Aegis right now would be to remove the spell vamp and make it so that the life steal only applies to other allies.


 * Storm of Blades: Meant to be similar to in execution; CC with a massive area of effect, but delayed and with relatively short range so that its main use is counter-engaging (Kiria is meant to be a peel mage, after all). Possible adjustment points would be the channel time (0.5 to 1 second) and root time (1.5 to 1 or even 0 seconds, as the  field slow might suffice).

(Design note: The armor penetration also helps against bruisers trying to dive your carry.)