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Quick Gameplay Thoughts: March 28

RiotMeddler·3/28/2017, 5:41:21 PM·1 votes·59,608 views

Morning all!

Some thoughts below. Next time (Thursday?) should be ready to take a look at what some more of the things we'll be working on in 7.8.

Magic Damage Shield UI

During Galio's development we identified that on tanky targets it was too difficult to tell how much damage they were taking if they had a long duration magic damage shield up, because of the similarities in color and tone between the enemy healthbar red and magic damage shield purple. As one of the steps to improving that we tweaked the magic damage shield bar color. Internal feedback on that change was that it read better. PBE feedback, as is often the case for changes that go out mid PBE cycle, was minimal. After the patch went live however we started seeing a lot of feedback from players who felt that the new color was too close to the regular shield UI, resulting in a different mislead instead. We'll be adjusting magic damage shield color use again as a result, both to find a point that avoids overlapping enemy health bars/regular shields and to put in some specific tunings for colorblind mode.

Things moving to 7.8

A couple of things that have been in testing during 7.7 will be moving to the 7.8 patch cycle instead:

  • Lissandra - Testing a new passive (tear style mana stacking and enhanced auto attacks post spell cast). We'll either ship that or, if it's not working out, the backup changes (Q AP ratio, maybe something else) next patch. Needed more time to test that passive properly.

  • Shen - We've been looking at making some adjustments to Shen's kit to make him more balanceable in organized play versus regular match made games (if balanced for one ends up pretty unbalanced in the other, a long running Shen problem unfortunately). Those won't be ready for 7.7 as originally targeted though.

  • Bard - Changes to Bard's passive (adjusting which rewards at which Chime counts, more possible meeps) look promising. We've got some concerns the numbers in testing are too strong a power boost however, so we'll probably be taking another patch to look into those too (chance this does still ship in 7.7 though depending on how testing goes).

Unusual Playstyles Update

For anyone that hasn't already seen it we posted a runthrough yesterday on how we'll be approaching unusual playstyles like Smite Support Nunu that come to player support's attention going forwards. From the gameplay side most important thing there is that trying to win is what counts. Link below which is well worth a read, we'll be talking more about how we distinguish between intent to win and trolling soonish too/

https://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/player-behavior-moderation/EtXQhs5J-weore-updating-our-policy-so-unusual-play-styles-dont-get-14-day-bans?comment=00030000

180 Comments

Dessem3/28/2017, 6:34:41 PM9 votes

Worried Lissandra's passive change isn't quite what she needs. Her AA animation is pretty slow and I don't think AAing her opponents really fits in her playstyle or teamfight presence.

Thanks for taking a look at her, though!

SociopathFriend3/28/2017, 6:03:56 PM9 votes

Can we have a hint at the next new champion please? Just a hint? A little crumb in information for the rumblings in the metaphorical tummy?

(Apparently Black Cauldron is sitting heavy in my thoughts today)

ReworkUdyr20203/28/2017, 6:38:03 PM7 votes

Would appreciate an update on the Udyr situation. You mentioned he was being looked at in 7.7 but things have been quiet since.

Thank you.

Vayatir3/28/2017, 6:26:31 PM7 votes

Hey Meddler,

I was wondering if the balance team has any current thoughts on Diana? She appears to be performing really poorly in the jungle, and isn't doing so hot in mid lane either. Is there no perceived problem or is she in line for an evaluation?

6Sfool3/28/2017, 5:45:39 PM6 votes

Have you decided on the MR route of nerfing Graves, or are you still testing? You said you had 2 routes but only one is on the pbe.

EROTIC RAID BOSS3/28/2017, 6:08:30 PM5 votes

What are your thoughts on ryze? Obviously he's having similar shen/azir type issues, but do you think it's as simple as less power in the ultimate or is he also just too complex to fight with for most players?

Łucîd3/28/2017, 6:39:24 PM5 votes

Hi Meddler,

Could you comment on any plans or ideas for Udyr? As someone who has played since season 1 and used to main him, he feels the weakest he's ever been. The nerfs following the abusable AP-jungle item + boots of swiftness meta can still be felt and stink for those of us that favored cinderhulk regardless. He used to be a swiss army knife, master-of-none. Now it feels like he performs each role slightly below average.

ZodiacSheep3/28/2017, 8:06:18 PM5 votes

Are you still trying to give Morgana a small buff? I saw the addition of grievous wounds to her W got put on then removed a while back. Any other idea floating around for her in the next few PBE cycles?

Adalvar3/28/2017, 8:22:44 PM4 votes

Have you guys considered decoupling the heal from Lissandra's ult and make it her passive instead? Here's an idea:

  • Iceborn: When Lissandra is hit by a hard crowd control effect she is restores 20-250 (based on level) +35% AP health which increases by 1% for every 1% of her missing health (Numbers may be shifted). This can only occur once every X seconds (maybe make it so when you CC an enemy the CD is reduced). Lissandra also gains this healing effect if she self-casts Frozen Tomb.

You maintain the playstyle of burning time with her ult/Hourglass combo engages, but at the same time you can also survive critical times when your ult is down.

EDIT: Formating

CyberBalt3/28/2017, 8:04:37 PM3 votes

How do you guys feel so far about the ZZ'rot changes that hit a few patches back? Did it meet your goals, or do you still think it needs some tweaking?

Personally I would like a small buff to the distance the voidlings can travel -- even if it comes at a cost of reduced damage to minions or something.

Sun Wu Ryuumoku3/28/2017, 9:30:46 PM3 votes

Any thoughts on item 3107 item 3190 item 3109 ?

Jeitsu3/29/2017, 5:49:25 PM2 votes

How do you feel about Aatrox changes?, you mentioned he was being looked at in 7.7 but we don't have more information about it since. Have you had enough time to check his performance in the Summoner's Rift or you are going to wait for 7.8?

In my opinion i think that his passive still needs some tweaks, at least for early game. Thank You.

DarkPh0enix3/30/2017, 11:33:29 AM2 votes

Can you stop Gutting Rengar? His damage is not the problem with his kit and I don't even understand why you are attempting to gut him more and more.

If you want him to be more of an assassin with an escape, revert W, give him CC immunity when he kills a champion, massively increase AD ratios on Q but gut the base damage.

iahim983/28/2017, 10:52:37 PM2 votes

@meddler what are your thoughts on ww, he seems on the strong side, any intent to nerf him, and if yes, are guys gonna address the QoL the community has asked for a while (clearer ult hitbox and the q awkwardness) with it?

VagueMan3/29/2017, 6:17:19 PM2 votes

Hey! It was my birthday this past week, and I celebrated it on /r/JaxMains a bit and was wondering if as a late B-day gift you could give me some special insight about how Jax and Jax related questions. If you're strapped for time, please only answer the questions marked "IMPORTANT"

Obligatory: How is Jax right now performance wise? Any plans for buffs, nerfs, distant ideas for a an update of any sort? Is he even on the list of champions needing attention? What kind of attention would said attention focus on? VGU? Whole package?

  1. IMPORTANT Why does Jax's (W) Empower not give him extended range like so many other auto attack resets? It feels so bad to activate the spell then flub the auto reset because of the range. What's the balance costs for giving his W or his ult autos bonus range on those specific autos?

  2. IMPORTANT Why does Jax have 125 Range for his basic attacks? (This is one that I hear a lot from /r/JaxMains that I think is really silly. "giv mor rang pls") I suspect it to have something to do with his versatile and long range mobility spell being on a relatively low cooldown as well as his access to hard CC.

  3. IMPORTANT (sub questions are not) Who even is supposed to build item 3124? It doesn't feel like Jax is supposed to build it but It seems like such an amazing item for jax to want to prioritize it. AS, AD, AP, Ghostly doubleAutos. But I can't even feel good about building it in 1/20 games because of the stack management and cost. Why does an item that cost so much have one of the strangest feeling gated usages?

  • Why does Guinsoo's have 6 stacks? Is that the sweetspot for Ranged and Melee Champs?
  • Why can't it have 8 stacks but generate 2 stacks per auto?
  • Is there a reason why a lot of stacking items/stats don't have the same "falling stacks" mechanic that Jax's passive has?
  • I actually really liked the AOE version of rageblade a while ago, Was it just too powerful in general, or where there just abusers of it's power that were too effective (cough, kog/jax)? Is there a reason why ranged champions just can't have a smaller AOE. or AOE scaling with range?

  1. Could you please tell me, statistically, if the new version of item 3153 that's live right now better for Jax than older versions of BotRK?

  2. What 3 stats do you feel are most important for Jax? Personally, my top 3 stats are.

  3. Attack Speed (Not all of it, just having enough attack speed is very important.)

  4. Health (Jax already has a lot of damage mitigation tools, so just get HP to make it matter)

  5. CDR (Jax feels really good with low CD's)

  6. IMPORTANT ABOVE ALL ELSE Could you please harass the skin team, or send Krepo and Froggen to do some sleuth work to find out if there are any skin ideas for Jax? (I don't like warden, sorry. Another Nemesis tier skin pls.) Is Jax's age holding him back from getting skins? Or just lack of good ideas? In order of importance imo. Please flame them pass it on to them.

  • BattleBoss (or RaidBoss) in the arcade/boss line of skins. an EPIC weapon, Jetpack Q, and shiny particle effects for WER. Maybe he has an everything proof sheild text effect, or the skin gives off a general vibe that he's "Cheating" or not playing fairly, even though he's just better. "omg ur hacking", 'no i'm just really good hehe'
  • Project Jax. Lots of purple and blue please and an Amazing Future BASHING weapon.
  • Blood Moon Jax. Seems like a nobrainer considering all of the ionia champs and how he sorta has ties to Ionia? (Most ionian champs are graceful and elegant, but jax is a bash master who's in game mechanics, despite his lore of him being skillful, just plays and looks like a brute.)
  • Dragonslayer Jax (I'd like to imagine Jax trying to solo dragons in search for bigger badder prey)
  • D&D Warrior Jax. I have no ideas for this but I do like this.
  • Monster Hunter Jax (TBH I wasn't stoked about this line of skins, but same reasoning as dragonslayer)
  • El Macho Jax. He wears a mask, He boasts about finding worthy challenge, seems great! (Going to find a hard time looking for a weapon though :thinking:)
  • Nightmare Jax. I think that skin for tryndamere is really dope and would like to see one for jax, but I understand Trynd has the whole Pyramid head thing going for him with his massive sword.
  1. Jax Expanded VO like lux. Is Mr Erik Baa still able to be brought in for VO work in the future?

I also got some Jax ideas that are PROBABLY pointless, but I'd still like to ask you to indulge me and see how this shifts jax's power. EVEN if some of these changes don't fit him thematically.

Jax's (W) Empower feels really simple, noninteractive, and not entirely great sometimes. I have some ideas to make the item "Overloaded" and "Cool"

Empower gives other abilities special effects!

  • Empower Q reduces it's CD in exchange for damage, or some other effect like. APPLYING ON HIT EFFECTS, PLEASE LET JAX'S Q APPLY ON HIT EFFECTS.
  • Empower E increases the stun radius, damage, or stun duration based on how many attacks were dodged
  • Whenever Ultimate is cast Jax's W and R autos have very small AOE (like, malphite (W) Brutal Strikes sized.) for the duration of the ultimate.
Pink Ward3/30/2017, 8:03:30 AM2 votes

What direction are you guys trying to take Shaco? With the current nerfs on the pbe, I feel it will just incentivize the playstyle that has the current high winrate. This nerf really is only going to hit the early game Assassin/Lethality/Crit Shaco and Ap Shaco. The current build that is has that high winrate is the tank/onhit build, Trinity into Titanic then tank. Shaco's winrate in the early game is high till around 25-30mins, that's usually where crit/lethality Shaco falls off. Yet, it pops back up post 35mins when tank/bruiser Shaco is coming online. These early game nerfs are just gonna force those players into farming the early game and ganking when it looks easy. I feel he's becoming what Ekko and Fizz were a few patches ago, build tank on an assassin.

DCYOUNG8883/28/2017, 6:57:30 PM1 votes

When will the mid-season patch update be?

Beorntim3/28/2017, 7:38:34 PM1 votes

Hi Meddler,

When we can expect Urgot rework? Before NEXT new champion? or later?