Open Plea to Rioters (not Riot, Rioters): Please come to the boards more!

HalcyonDweller·Jan 18, 2018·40 votes·8,553 views

Please do not be afraid to come and talk with us. I know that there are some bad apples among us and that they attack you and make you not want to come here anymore... but there are lots of us who are genuinely excited to talk with you and who won't attack you when you comment.

Just the other day I saw a post where Riot Sparkle responded to address an issue and one of the commenters replied and went off on a huge rant full of conspiracy theories about one of the champions. This interaction seemed to push Sparkle away and I haven't seen them on the boards since that day. Please Sparkle, we're not all like that prick who ranted at you, and we genuinely appreciate the effort you have put into interacting with the boards community.

The moderators are trying to deal with the bad eggs so they don't ruin everything, but it's a difficult job. And it sucks when the rest of us suffer not being able to talk with you simply because a few among us are dicks enough to push you out of the boards.

50 Comments

RiotSparkleJan 18, 201833 votes

Oh hi I'm still here, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. <3

EDIT: I did have to go to bed though cuz it was like late o'clock so I didn't want people to think I had ragequit the mostly productive conversations that were happening in that thread. :)

ChermorgJan 18, 20187 votes

but i thought your bed time wasn't until late dark'thirty?

RiotSparkleJan 19, 201811 votes

Jeez reading the times at which I comment on stuff, yeah I can see why people think that lmao ;)

HalcyonDwellerJan 19, 20181 votes

Oh good! I'm glad that you are still around and have not been scared off :) I know that some of us can be really nasty sometimes and it's a relief to know that you haven't been pushed out!

Blood MagicksJan 19, 20181 votes

My deepest wish is for the story/worldbuilding guys and gals to attend the boards more often. There really is no other place one can discuss the lore (certainly not reddit). Lore hints or a Rioter (for example Bobo) sharing the research they've done to write something are my absolute favorite types of red posts.

MillyNotMileyJan 19, 20185 votes

Bad apples... attacking...Conspiracy... Would you say TOXIC apples? POISON apples perhaps? Rioters = Snow White confirmed. [sg-syndra]

RiotSparkleJan 19, 201825 votes

No I wanna be Jasmine. I would like to retake this Buzzfeed quiz, please. :P

A450EssenceChampJan 18, 20182 votes

You do of course realize, people that don’t come to the boards already will never see this right?

HalcyonDwellerJan 18, 20182 votes

Ish. But that is sort of besides the point. I guess I didn't make this clear, but what I mean by "come to the boards" is "comment on the boards" rather than just lurk. Lots of Rioters lurk on the boards, and don't comment. I'd like to make it so they don't feel like that is their only option.

I'm trying to show them that we aren't all just looking for witches to burn.

nerak23Jan 19, 20181 votes

{quoted}

Ish. But that is sort of besides the point. I guess I didn't make this clear, but what I mean by "come to the boards" is "comment on the boards" rather than just lurk. Lots of Rioters lurk on the boards, and don't comment. I'd like to make it so they don't feel like that is their only option.

I'm trying to show them that we aren't all just looking for witches to burn.

Agreed !

RiotFearlessJan 19, 201816 votes

Some of this is the problem that it doesn't take many people wishing that you and your whole family dies in a car crash to make this seem like a less productive use of time. It can also be disheartening to see the massive upvote counts on extremely negative posting.

I'm very happy to talk about problems that people care about, and I feel very luck that people care so much about the game. I really miss talking on our own boards. I really wish I could find more questions and discussions to jump in.

nerak23Jan 19, 20182 votes

{quoted}

Some of this is the problem that it doesn't take many people wishing that you and your whole family dies in a car crash to make this seem like a less productive use of time. It can also be disheartening to see the massive upvote counts on extremely negative posting.

I'm very happy to talk about problems that people care about, and I feel very luck that people care so much about the game. I really miss talking on our own boards. I really wish I could find more questions and discussions to jump in.

Can you tell me a bit about what you do? Your interests ?

BTW, I can't thing of a thing right now as it's late my time but sure do appreciate your reply. It does mean something and make a difference.

On another note I've been around the boards from the beginning, lurking sometimes...so I completely understand your hesitation. I hope myself and others can make you and the rest off the staff feel more welcome !

Thanks for the reply. I hope OP has opened a door to make you feel better about posting. TY.

OxyrottenJan 19, 20182 votes

{quoted}

Some of this is the problem that it doesn't take many people wishing that you and your whole family dies in a car crash to make this seem like a less productive use of time. It can also be disheartening to see the **massive upvote **counts on extremely negative posting.

At the very least doesn't that illustrate the gravity of issues with the game currently, that need to be addressed? I realize that those threads don't make for productive conversation, but what is being done to address these issues or are they just overlooked because they are unsightly complaints?

RiotFearlessJan 19, 201816 votes

This is my point. On the boards, those posts will have large upvote counts. Similar topics on reddit, twitter, or from in game surveys will be much more positive, and show a much wider spectrum of player feelings. Boards is by far the most negative source of player feedback, and frequently has the most simplistic discussion. This is not true in all cases, but the general trend makes boards one of the least productive places to speak to players.

OxyrottenJan 19, 20181 votes

But that is my point, and I am not referring to Rioter's commenting on things, I am referring to Riot addressing obvious issues with the game.

If a thread is so negative, and or receives so much upvote/attention doesn't that show that there is an issue that needs to be addressed? If your only participating in threads that are pleasant then aren't you cutting out the negative feedback in favor of more "yes men" centric feedback? Does the fact that a portion of the playerbase is unintelligent enough to well word an essay or articulate their feelings that are beyond rage at the appalling state of the game, do those facts mean that portion of the playerbase doesn't deserve their fair part in feedback? I mean your essentially saying Riot only wants feedback if it is what they want to hear, and if it's not what they want to hear they will ignore it, right?

Also how is the obvious favoring of one medium (reddit, twitter, etc) at all fair to the other mediums communities? Wouldn't Riot want to encourage more interaction on their own platform rather than outsourcing it because the feedback is easier to hear?

Chromatic EagleJan 19, 20184 votes

“I am frustrated with Zoe because she carries little counterplay” is fine.

“I believe X Rioter has made difficult champions or balance decisions” is probably tolerable.

“Riot is dying, I hope these people are fired, or have something terrible happen to them” is not fine.

OxyrottenJan 19, 20182 votes

We aren't discussing if it is pleasing or not.

"Riot is dying, fire ghostcrawler blah blah, because of X" IS still valid feedback that Riot is saying it will ignore.

Electro522Jan 19, 20184 votes

But why listen to it?

If you have someone making that kind of comment, they make it abundantly clear that the only answer they will accept is the answer they want to hear......which, in most cases, is the absolute worst answer that could arise.

There will always be a group of people who hate the current state of the game, and the Boards is the funnel that they all come to. Even if Riot fixes all of the current problems that the Boards present, 1 month from now, the front page will be filled with people who oppose all of the changes made, or are upset about something else entirely.

Do you see where Fearless is coming from?

OxyrottenJan 19, 20181 votes

They should listen to it because it is feedback. Period. It brings up issues with the game that they otherwise would not get feedback on.

Sure it's going to be onesided, and probably not productive. But it still counts as feedback, if they are not willing to listen to it, then they can not claim that they listen to our feedback at all.

I understand that the boards serve as a venting medium, and I also see where Fearless is coming from. But there is an important distinction that needs to be made, that is too often avoided. They are posting with a Riot next to their name. And thusly are posting as Riot. The distinction that needs to be made is yes rioter's are people and yes they have their own opinions and feelings and may not enjoy being flamed etc. That is all valid, but if they are posting in an official capacity then they need to do so because that is their job, regardless of whether or not they like that someone said something mean.

If Rioter's ignore unpleasant threads of their own volition that's one thing, but if they are ignoring threads and because of that feedback goes unnoticed, that is entirely another issue.

Electro522Jan 19, 20182 votes

{quoted}

They should listen to it because it is feedback. Period. It brings up issues with the game that they otherwise would not get feedback on.

Despite getting feedback from several other, far more reliable resources? As mentioned several times? And, I'm sorry, but I'm going to argue that it isn't feedback. It's just some pissed off player who isn't getting things their way, and not realizing that Riot has an entire world to appeal to.

The whole point of an argument is to convince the other side that your view is right. How on Earth do you expect to do that with nothing but incoherent rage?

Sure it's going to be onesided, and probably not productive. But it still counts as feedback, if they are not willing to listen to it, then they can not claim that they listen to our feedback at all.

I'm sorry, but......what? This makes no sense. I mean, I can't even explain why it makes no sense, because it is that confusing. You are saying that all feedback will be and goes ignored, because some of it is ignored. See how little sense this makes?

I understand that the boards serve as a venting medium, and I also see where Fearless is coming from. But there is an important distinction that needs to be made, that is too often avoided. They are posting with a Riot next to their name. And thusly are posting as Riot. The distinction that needs to be made is yes rioter's are people and yes they have their own opinions and feelings and may not enjoy being flamed etc. That is all valid, but if they are posting in an official capacity then they need to do so because that is their job, regardless of whether or not they like that someone said something mean.

Except it isn't their job. Every time a Rioter posts something on whatever social media platform, it is coming out of their own time. They are not paid to come onto the Boards and answer questions, they do it because they want to. Anything that is "official" (by how you are stating it) comes from Ask Riot, Dev Blogs, or anything that comes from official League of Legends profiles. Everything else is not "official".

If Rioter's ignore unpleasant threads of their own volition that's one thing, but if they are ignoring threads and because of that feedback goes unnoticed, that is entirely another issue.

And who's to say it doesn't? Someone else can say the exact same thing, but in a far more constructive and professional manner, and it will easily get noticed. This happens pretty much all the time: you have 1 thread bashing Riot left and right, making no real argument at all, but then just a few threads down, you have someone who actually thought something up, and made a very good point. The problem here isn't Riot, but how the Boards work. Which thread do you think will get more upvotes? The quick and easy "RITO SUKS!!1!", or the well thought out essay?

OxyrottenJan 19, 20181 votes

[{quoted}](name=Paleo Electro,realm=NA,application-id=6heBIhQc,discussion-id=HHBrycot,comment-id=000000000000000000010000000000000000000000000000,timestamp=2018-01-19T10:31:57.873+0000)

Despite getting feedback from several other, far more reliable resources? As mentioned several times? And, I'm sorry, but I'm going to argue that it isn't feedback. It's just some pissed off player who isn't getting things their way, and not realizing that Riot has an entire world to appeal to.

Feedback from other sources is additional feedback, it does not replace feedback from another source. And even if a post is "riot sucks... because of X" it is still feedback. Period.

The whole point of an argument is to convince the other side that your view is right. How on Earth do you expect to do that with nothing but incoherent rage?

No one said it has to be an argument. The point is not the rage, the point is the message behind the rage. They are unhappy for a reason, that reason is what is important and is what is being overlooked.

I'm sorry, but......what? This makes no sense. I mean, I can't even explain why it makes no sense, because it is that confusing. You are saying that all feedback will be and goes ignored, because some of it is ignored. See how little sense this makes?

I'm not sure how it doesn't make sense to you, in fact I am having trouble reading what you wrote. That's not at all what I am saying, I am saying that Riot claims that it listens to our feedback, but in fact doesn't. If they are unwilling to listen to negative feedback, they can't claim they listen to all feedback, they need to revise their position as listening to only positive feedback. There is an important difference there.

Except it isn't their job. Every time a Rioter posts something on whatever social media platform, it is coming out of their own time. They are not paid to come onto the Boards and answer questions, they do it because they want to. Anything that is "official" (by how you are stating it) comes from Ask Riot, Dev Blogs, or anything that comes from official League of Legends profiles. Everything else is not "official".

Again, your missing the important distinction that needs to be made. There is a difference between "Fearless" commenting on something and "Riot Fearless" commenting on something. There is also a difference in Fearless not wanting to read something, and "Riot Fearless" refusing to comment on something that he is supposed to address. You completely missed the point.

The issue is not "Fearless" ignoring a bm thread, the issue is Riot not reading a feedback thread because it is negative and may hurt Fearless feelings.

And who's to say it doesn't? Someone else can say the exact same thing, but in a far more constructive and professional manner, and it will easily get noticed. This happens pretty much all the time: you have 1 thread bashing Riot left and right, making no real argument at all, but then just a few threads down, you have someone who actually thought something up, and made a very good point. The problem here isn't Riot, but how the Boards work. Which thread do you think will get more upvotes? The quick and easy "RITO SUKS!!1!", or the well thought out essay?

How it is said is not the issue, we realize being toxic isn't productive. We all know there are better ways to express themselves. The issue is that effectively Riot is saying they don't listen to negative feedback if it is toxic, but toxic or not it is still feedback that is then being ignored. It's not a matter of someone else may say it better, it is a matter of one person is heard and the other is not. It is censorship plain and simple, and it is a serious issue, especially if Riot wants to remain claiming that they listen to feedback. If Riot wants to claim that, then they need to listen to ALL feedback, not just the feedback that they find easy to hear.

As long as there is a point to their feedback, there is a voice that should be heard.

Chromatic EagleJan 19, 20183 votes

They’re not ignoring “because of x”, they’re ignoring threads that can’t express that properly.

OxyrottenJan 19, 20182 votes

But they are still ignoring it. Fearless just confirmed that. That is my point. As long as it still says "because of x" it is still valid feedback, toxic or not.

RiotFearlessJan 19, 20187 votes

That's actually not true, and you're ignoring things I've said multiple times in this thread. I feel unable to engage and respond in those threads, but I don't ignore they exist, and I train designers on my team to look for the underlying problems players are attempting to express in highly negative threads.

OxyrottenJan 19, 20181 votes

Then why is it being deleted...?

And why is it being deleted by people other than Rioters, presumably before Rioters can read it?

Edit: Furthermore, why are Rioters openly mocking the boards? Why are they openly stating that Riot does not care about the boards? Why do they admit that Riot does not listen to us?

ChermorgJan 20, 20184 votes

It's being deleted because we're trying to solve the problems that Sparkle, Maple, and Fearless have said - the boards are the most negative and least useful source of feedback. The negative posts with very little useful feedback get upvoted and drown out the positive and useful posts, even when said posts have good discussion.

Just perusing the reddit rules, it would appear to me they have quite a similar rule themselves:

No calls to action - don't rile up the community to vote for/against something or to boycott/support a person/organization. This does not include polls or contests created FOR the subreddit.

and

If your post is hyperbolic, acerbic, or otherwise inflammatory in nature, it may be seen as a rant and removed.

There's a reason for the rule - posts that say "fire x" are useless, and saying "fire x" is not useful feedback in the slightest.

OxyrottenJan 20, 20181 votes

That is not the problem, nor is it the topic of discussion.

The issue is not that "fire x" are useless, it is that "fire x BECAUSE OF Y" is useful feedback. Even if it is not pleasant to hear.

The issue is that Riot claims to listen to feedback, but clearly does not.

The issue is that when Riot gives an honest opinion "no one cares what the boards say" and then Riot also gives a textbook answer "We read the threads, we just don't comment on them", which one are you inclined to believe?

The issue is that Riot says "Oh yeah we read even the negative threads", but they get deleted (presumably before Riot can read them), that throws transparency out the window. And it looks suspiciously like Riot is lying at that point.

ChermorgJan 20, 20183 votes

{quoted}

That is not the problem, nor is it the topic of discussion.

The issue is not that "fire x" are useless, it is that "fire x BECAUSE OF Y" is useful feedback. Even if it is not pleasant to hear.

The issue is that Riot claims to listen to feedback, but clearly does not.

The issue is that when Riot gives an honest opinion "no one cares what the boards say" and then Riot also gives a textbook answer "We read the threads, we just don't comment on them", which one are you inclined to believe?

The issue is that Riot says "Oh yeah we read even the negative threads", but they get deleted (presumably before Riot can read them), that throws transparency out the window. And it looks suspiciously like Riot is lying at that point.

No, "fire x BECAUSE OF Y" is not useful feedback. "Y" might be useful feedback, but the "fire x because of" has no place on the boards. Hence why that part is removed, or if the whole post revolves around it it's removed.

You are taking quotes out of context now. You quote "no one cares what the boards say" but refuse to read the rest of the context surrounding that to determine what that really means. This is the same attitude you and others have in your feedback - you take things out of context to try and make Riot look bad, then you harass and abuse them when they (rightfully) do not wish to respond to your negative non-feedback. You take your good idea and bury it behind all this crap about firing people and them not listening - why do you expect they'll validate your opinion by responding to such a negative thread when they can just go to Reddit and get more discussion and much less, if any, harassment and abuse?

OxyrottenJan 20, 20181 votes

{quoted}

No, "fire x BECAUSE OF Y" is not useful feedback. "Y" might be useful feedback, but the "fire x because of" has no place on the boards. Hence why that part is removed, or if the whole post revolves around it it's removed.

You are taking quotes out of context now. You quote "no one cares what the boards say" but refuse to read the rest of the context surrounding that to determine what that really means. This is the same attitude you and others have in your feedback - you take things out of context to try and make Riot look bad, then you harass and abuse them when they (rightfully) do not wish to respond to your negative non-feedback. You take your good idea and bury it behind all this crap about firing people and them not listening - why do you expect they'll validate your opinion by responding to such a negative thread when they can just go to Reddit and get more discussion and much less, if any, harassment and abuse?

The context being; we are a small fraction of the community so our opinion does not matter, the boards are only negative feedback so they get ignored, the boards are where people complain so why read complaints, and so on.

You are just trying to deflect the issue because you are being defensive. Please stop and listen to what I am saying. If Riot is going to listen to feedback it needs to listen to ALL feedback, even the negative. This is a serious problem with corporate culture and it is extremely unhealthy not only for employees but for companies as well. Negative feedback is perhaps more valuable than positive feedback. Because of Y is possibly the most valuable of all feedback, people usually are not spurred into writing feedback unless they either have free time on their hands (end of call/generated survey/polling samples) or because they are displeased with something. Here we have a case of the extreme latter, and with good reason. There are serious issues with the game, over the last several years they have only gotten worse. And now Riot is effectively saying they don't care if the game is so bad it makes you angry, they only want to hear from you if you have something nice to say. Many of the playerbase lack the rational or self control to productively make that healthy conversation, that in no way means that they lack a point or that their opinion is not important. Stop trying to reinforce that idea. Please. For the sake of the game, and the playerbase.

nerak23Jan 19, 20182 votes

{quoted}

That's actually not true, and you're ignoring things I've said multiple times in this thread. I feel unable to engage and respond in those threads, but I don't ignore they exist, and I train designers on my team to look for the underlying problems players are attempting to express in highly negative threads.

That is very interesting, I'd like to understand this more. I've tried to look up your job discribtion but haven't found a similar one.

I know you all don't need to hear this but .... I apprieate that Reds are continuing to post.

Thank You All ! Have a good day :)

Mysticman89Jan 19, 20181 votes

How viable might doing something along the lines of what meddler does with his occasional quick thoughts threads, for you and various other leads that might be involved in things players may have strong feelings about?

Since it's a fresh thread you wouldn't be diving into any specific negative feedback, and it'd be nice to get that extra bit of insight into the decision making that goes on in systems/gameplay/etc. You can then selectively respond to the reasonable stuff and ignore the salt, or even just bail out before things get too hot and have a fresh thread another day.

Even if it's not directly responding to any specific players, it seems to me an effective way to demonstrate that relevant rioters are here and thinking about the issues.

RiotRiot MapleNectarJan 19, 20185 votes

I've been trying to do this on the dev corner - and in several posts on the boards/through twitter. Could probably do more, but need to make sure I'm still striking the balance between my job and posting here. It's not a bad idea by any means, but we just need to be careful with how much time we spend talking about things vs working on them. If that makes sense?

Mysticman89Jan 20, 20182 votes

Certainly performing your duties is first priority, and odds are even the rabid ones legitimately calling for the firing of X would miss the good things X might otherwise be doing, even if they don't credit X with those good things. At the end of the day the majority of us do still play the game because we do ultimately enjoy it, even if we might grumble about balance states or similar, and even the ones who have full on quit are still here because they do care about the game.

I don't know how much workloads vary, but I mean, meddler does manage somehow with almost weekly or biweekly threads, which is probably more than sufficient. For those who are higher up or otherwise busier, maybe a post every month or two would be adequate. It's just in a lot of cases, it feels like we get nothing at all, or maybe 1 big post in a year if we're lucky, and on top of that it can feel relatively impersonal to the point where it can be like "Ok, it was posted on their account, but it feels like it was written by someone else, and they only stopped by the forums for 5 seconds to copy paste it and then bail out immediately".

I don't know what exactly an appropriate balance between doing work and talking about the work is, but I think most of us would agree that 100% doing work and 0% talking about it isn't what we want from rioters, particularly where part of the whole riot brand is how you're all personally passionate gamers, so up to a point talking about stuff should be an exciting thing you might want to even do on your free time. Expecting anything job related when you're not on the job is of course unfair, but theres certainly people out there who will come up with their own narratives for how much a given rioter might care if they don't ever see them interacting with the playerbase directly.

nerak23Jan 19, 20184 votes

{quoted}

This is my point. On the boards, those posts will have large upvote counts. Similar topics on reddit, twitter, or from in game surveys will be much more positive, and show a much wider spectrum of player feelings. Boards is by far the most negative source of player feedback, and frequently has the most simplistic discussion. This is not true in all cases, but the general trend makes boards one of the least productive places to speak to players.

After reading the comments that follow your posts I realize I should have spoken my thoughts quicker but I was trying to be kind.

Posters, this is the very reason why so few Reds post on any topic here ! Because no matter what they do or what they say, someone is going to try to screw with them.

I'd say more but think I'll check twitter, shame on you all !

Kei143Jan 19, 20181 votes

Any idea why you would get such population on a Riot platform instead of on reedit / twitter?

I would think that the ratios of positive:rude people would be around the same regardless of what platform you use.

VekknaJan 19, 20181 votes

You have to go to page 5 of the reddit sub before you see a post talking about balance. It's all meme and esports spam.

If you just looked at Reddit, you'd have no idea that a new season started or that preseason was an unmitigated, ongoing shitshow.

KarunamonJan 20, 20181 votes

Boards is by far the most negative source of player feedback, and frequently has the most simplistic discussion. This is not true in all cases, but the general trend makes boards one of the least productive places to speak to players.

Reading this was a punch in the gut. Like, legitimately saddening.

That aside, the way you've phrased this makes it sound like Riot doesn't value anything but positive feedback, because negative feedback is "simplistic" and "least productive". I can't say for sure if that's what you meant, but that's how it reads.

Please understand that I am not some head-up-my-ass random here trying to bitch about everything. My work has been on the receiving end of bad product feedback by paying customers before at my day job. I've been in your (collective) shoes. Someone slagging off something you did is never fun.

Still, at my day job, we don't write off entire sources of negative feedback just because the feedback is mostly negative. Never once has someone said the words "ah, don't bother with the subreddit, that place has nothing but complainers".

I can only imagine some of the less charitable and measured ways this sentiment is phrased behind closed doors at HQ...

HalcyonDwellerJan 22, 20181 votes

Thanks for dropping by this thread! It is comforting to see that you guys do read the boards a lot, and it is a relief to know that you are interested in finding valuable discussions.

If it is not too much trouble, would you be willing to skim the following lists and see if any of the topics would be interesting for you to discuss?:

I know that some of these are minefields for you guys to discuss, if it helps at all I promise to not be volatile about them regardless of what responses you may have. I'm just always excited to discuss the game and how it works as well as ways to possibly change it if such changes are deemed worthwhile.

Hypothetical Reworks to various aspects of the game:

Rework of Fire and Mountain Drakes' team-wide buffs to add windows of power and interactivity, basically to make them more conditional and trigger & effect focused.
Rework of Crit to be a tank-busting stat rather than simply a damage boost against everything. (maybe apply a %armor reduction debuff that can stack?)
Rework of item restrictions (such as melee-range) to reduce abuse cases.
Wukong or other older champion reworks, or VGUs in general

Player Behavior Stuff:

The catch-22 faced by both players and Riot with regards to communication on the boards and how to improve it.
On reviewing behavior, and how to streamline / improve the process so that it is not as complex or time consuming for Riot to track and punish non-chat forms of trolling.
Separating punishment out by category so that players are not 14-day banned for one thing and then perma-banned right afterwards for something different that they didn't get any warning not to do.
On the use of the word "Toxicity" and why everyone has different definitions of it.

LegendofmoiJan 23, 20181 votes

Sorry for all the pricks out there guys! And you know what? Those rude, ungrateful, unsupportive spoiled brats can just quit league if they’ve got a problem with it!

5000000000000000Jan 19, 20181 votes

Rioters who do come on could let other rioters know.

RiotFearlessJan 19, 201810 votes

There are a lot of us that read the boards that don't post very often. The biggest problem is that so much of the boards are negative that I don't find points to jump in. If I look at boards and see a bunch of points I can't touch, I tend to go over to Tumblr/Twitter and answer questions over there. I love talking with players, but it's a lot more productive when I can find discussions that are less hyperbolic and more earnest.

Evil YasuoJan 19, 20181 votes

{quoted}

There are a lot of us that read the boards that don't post very often. The biggest problem is that so much of the boards are negative that I don't find points to jump in. If I look at boards and see a bunch of points I can't touch, I tend to go over to Tumblr/Twitter and answer questions over there. I love talking with players, but it's a lot more productive when I can find discussions that are less hyperbolic and more earnest.

Yeah I was having a really good conversation before on here with a rioter about what i'd like in Talon/some changes and I wanted to directly message him but I was thinking, would that be a good idea? Anyone being able to message rioters... no, it wouldn't. You guys would be spammed with so much nonsense and unconstructive criticism and probably not even be able to see the good stuff.

KoboldJan 19, 20182 votes

I'm a little concerned here by your wording.

I am assuming I am reading into this wrong (but it may be true for some). But are you saying that you and others (you may not know if that's true) read some of the boards but when a discussion of frustration is brought up (almost always negative threads) that you then avoid reading it? I am hoping that's not true as frustration with champions and feedback on whats frustrating the playerbase was what was wanted for feedback just a few seasons ago. As has been pointed out positive topics are not usually meant for feedback regarding what is posted in the gameplay section (the issue that many have with lack of responses and acknowledgement/reasoning for feedback there).

I feel we are at another ball and gravity generator point in leagues lifespan. When Riot decides to apply more proactive approach to the community they will increase the gravity but applying too much (lots of communication but not on discussions on feedback/unstructured communication) or too late (after change is permanent) will cause the ball (satisfaction with the game) to not be as high or the lack of applying a change will cause the ball to lose height slowly but steadily or rapidly based on the surface (opposing games) in which it hits (is compared too).

DarkKatalystJan 19, 20187 votes

It all depends on how the frustration is worded. Many threads I see are worded as attacks against various decisions or Rioters. When a poster says, "This game is shit now," "League is dying," "Why are the devs never listening," "RioterXYZ is ruining the game," they're being hyperbolic and you already know what sort of atmosphere will be in that post. How can Rioters respond to statements like that? And it's not one occasional post, it's multiple ones every single day. No one wants to deal with the hyperbolic negativity of hundreds of players.

It doesn't help that angry people are attracted to flashy negative titles like the statements I mentioned. People have the wrong impression that being more and more aggressive will get them their way and make things better. There's no patience, no sympathy for the lengths of time and work it takes for game development.

Riot runs a game, not a country. If they mess something up, or aren't being vocal 24/7 about things, it's not a big deal. But some people treat the development of League as if their lives depend on it. That's not healthy, for the player or Rioters. The only time it's too late to fix something is when players decide it's too late. People need to give Riot breathing space and time.

If posters on the Boards want to repair their relationships with Rioters, they need to downvote the tactless posts, and upvote the constructive ones. Otherwise, you will see less and less interaction from Riot. It's not their fault they don't want to endure endless taunts, threats, negativity, and hyperbolic exasperations. No normal human does.

RiotFearlessJan 19, 20188 votes

The negativity doesn't mean that I don't read it, I most often still do, but I frequently can't respond in any useful way. I always seek to understand player sentiment, but it's much harder to have the productive discussion when the frustrations are vitriolic and generally untargeted.

ISLAMICWARRIOR99Jan 22, 20181 votes

Why would they come read the senseless, never ending, circlejerk that is the boards. Most posts on here regarding balance are just plain incorrect and whiny. Reading boards is like watching hashinshin, if you lose to it it's because x is op and not because you didn't correctly play around it.

HalcyonDwellerJan 22, 20181 votes

You are ignoring my point, there are valid feedback threads on the boards, they just tend to get drowned out by all of the noisy ones that are not helpful.

And some of those concerns about things being OP are valid. It is fallacious to dismiss all of them simply because some of them consist of people shifting responsibility away from themselves.

ISLAMICWARRIOR99Jan 22, 20181 votes

{quoted}

You are ignoring my point, there are valid feedback threads on the boards, they just tend to get drowned out by all of the noisy ones that are not helpful.

And some of those concerns about things being OP are valid. It is fallacious to dismiss all of them simply because some of them consist of people shifting responsibility away from themselves.

I mean considering most of boards recently is people crying adc op when they aren't makes it pretty hard to take anything on here seriously. Boards is just absurdly baised towards supports (who are the only reason adc are strong at all rn) and bruisers (who believe it or not don't actually need buffs)

HalcyonDwellerJan 22, 20181 votes

I understand why you would think that, but you do yourself and everyone else a disservice when you generalize us all like that.

Some people put a lot of thought and effort into their posts and ideas, and they most definitely deserve at least some respect and consideration.

I've seen some absolutely fantastic ideas here over the years.