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Quick Gameplay Thoughts: May 4

RiotMeddler·5/4/2018, 3:17:56 PM·1 votes·61,150 views

Hey all,

Usual Disclaimers

These posts will often contain talk about future work we're doing, or planning to do, that isn't yet guaranteed to ship. The nature of the work could change or, depending on what we discover, projects mentioned may get put delayed or even stopped. If you'd like to see a Tweet whenever a new one of these posts goes up: https://twitter.com/RiotMeddler

Cursor Update

We've just started looking at updating LoL's cursor (it's certainly showing its age). Plan is to have an updated one in internal testing for a while. Once it's looking solid, we'll then get it onto PBE for a second round of feedback (best guess is that'll be a month or two away). We're taking a slower, more deliberate pace with that testing because of how impactful changes to interface elements like cursors can be, especially when you've spent a lot of time using the previous version and are pretty accustomed to how it behaves.

Is pre-minion spawn phase worth the time it consumes?

Something we've been talking a bit about lately is whether or not the phase when the spawning platform barrier is down, but minions haven't yet spawned, is worth the time (about a minute) it consumes. On one hand it can sometimes lead to cool invade, warding or counter jungle play. On the other hand most of the time it just results in people placing a ward or two and then alt-tabbing, spamming /dance etc.

Been wondering as a result whether we'd be better off removing that phase and getting the game going faster, given it's so often a break in game flow right now. Would need to make a number of adjustments to compensate of course to things like trinket timings, champions who need set up time at camps, effects that support invading/counterjungling (so that's still able to happen in some form) etc. If we were to do so it's not something that would happen until preseason and it's still in the category of something we're thinking about, not something we're committed to doing. Would love to hear your thoughts on the concept.

What on PBE is for 8.10 versus 8.11

Been seeing some uncertainty as to which changes currently on PBE are potentially in 8.10 versus which are aiming for 8.11. Quick rundown below as a result for anyone interested:

8.10:

  • Champion changes with the exception of marksmen base stat changes
  • Scuttle change, Runic Echo change, Talisman change
  • Bounty change
  • Plus likely some more champion adjustments that will come later in the cycle

8.11:

  • AD item changes
  • Marksmen base stat changes
  • Hail of Blades (new Domination keystone)
  • Plus some other stuff that won't hit PBE until the 8.11 PBE cycle

http://ddragon.leagueoflegends.com/cdn/6.24.1/img/champion/Ziggs.png

297 Comments

iServeAthena5/4/2018, 3:31:22 PM119 votes

Please don't get rid of the time before minions spawn. Quite often, the client crashes, or the player just connects really late. That extra minute acts as a buffer for the team to get themselves straight. Also, I've often discussed strats with my team while we wait for the minions to spawn. That time isn't all that boring. It lets us calm down and get a grip on ourselves before the game begins.

SupremeVoid5/4/2018, 3:26:07 PM17 votes

Glad to see you finally update the cursor. Some guesses:

  1. Provide more than one option. (including a polished old one maybe)

  2. Make it future proof. With that I mean scalability for higher resolutions like 1440p, 2160p and so on.

  3. A color and/or size option for every version (if there are multiple) would be good.

Please go full on this one and not only updating a 64px img and do nothing else. This is the right opportunity

Galiö5/4/2018, 3:32:00 PM9 votes

Spawn phase is fine. It gives brief breathing room start of game and helps mitigate start up issues: Afk, start delay, brief connection issues, muting all, invade/counter invade communication.

I'm excited for Marksmen adjustments next patch. As I had spammed on the boards I believe a -1 through 3 AD nerf on most marksmen and increase a spell of their by 10 early base damage but increasing mana costs can promote farm or trade patterns with spells but also curbs spamming.

This won't turn all marksmen to casters just curbs early strength.

I feel supports should be slightly less tanky and/or damage however cause the marksmen changed would also promote stronger supports that take the role of Carry (early game especially)

Many equate bot lane to be worth 2.5 players right now while many older players/streamers and pros think a healthier spot for bot lane should be worth 1.8 players.

That would require a huge shift and hitting just marksmen (although a good start) isnt a good direction.

FrankTheBoxMnstr5/4/2018, 3:30:40 PM9 votes

I personally feel like the lull in the beginning of the game is nice to give you some mental time to prepare for laning as well as allow for some lighthearted emote spam before the game gets serious, so I would feel sad if that was removed in the name of reducing game time by a minute.

warpenguin5555/4/2018, 4:17:23 PM8 votes

Are there plans to add a keystone for DOT or sustained damage mages?

Solari Fortune5/4/2018, 3:24:24 PM7 votes

Another Meme sentenced to death

Looks at Death Recap Eventually it will be your time

On a more serious note how do you feel the marksmen stuff has been going so far on PBE? I know it still early and pbe is pretty wild. But do you guys feel somewhat confident in the direction it could be going?

Rework Quinn5/4/2018, 3:20:57 PM7 votes

Happy Friday dude.

Thoughts on how the mana changes have panned out so far?

Also, what are your thoughts on Vel'Koz in mid?

atlıkarınca5/4/2018, 3:39:22 PM7 votes

Hi Meddler.

Do you know about the new champion?

Chermorg5/4/2018, 4:14:01 PM6 votes

Why so many changes designed to make games as short as possible? First making surrenders easier, now removing minion spawn time.. is this a change in Riot’s philosophy towards short, Overwatch length games, or is there something else going on here?

TomiMan75/4/2018, 3:23:07 PM6 votes

Hey Meddler

Last post you was talking about supports. I'd like to propose a mechanic regarding supports and clearing wards with the red trinket. As a support main its kinda fustrating to find a ward and as im about to hit it the 3rd time the oracle lens runs out and i can no longer see the ward. Since you guys made sure only supports can buy a supp item, could there be a mechanic that gives temporarly attack speed when you are hitting wards(requires to have supp item)? Same mechanic like machete had? OR if this does not works out, maybe if you are hitting a ward and you have your clearing lens going maybe the duration wouldnt go down? Or something along these lines?

EDIT:What do you think about Brand after the mana changes? I feel he got hit hard since he has quite high mana costs.

Akali is SO HOT5/4/2018, 6:30:12 PM6 votes

The pre minion spawn phase is pretty important and should stay imo. Having that extra minute to figure out what to buy, which side of the jungle you want to start on, coming up with a plan with your team, etc. are all useful things that can happen in that one minute. Not to mention invades (although most of the time only get vision for either team) can be really important for gaining an early lead. Also, we need to keep invades so people can keep pumping out the wood division invade plays videos.

The client can crash for players or they might be having technical difficulties getting into the game so having the extra minute for all of the players to sort out any problems that happen with connecting and getting started is good for not putting less optimized players behind. Even if nothing ends up happening during that time period, spamming laugh/taunt/mastery with the enemy team for a minute can be a funny way to start a game. It would do a lot more harm than good if it was removed imo.

IxtaliKing5/4/2018, 3:32:15 PM5 votes

Hey Meddler, are you able to tell us whether or not you still intend to do those "small mechanical changes" on Karma?

Soníc5/4/2018, 3:24:18 PM4 votes

So with the recent introduction of Hall of Blades on the PBE, can I ask who it would be aimed at? Its very much a lovechild of Press the Attack and Lethal Tempo, with both of those runes often fulfilling the purpose better. Especially as Hall of Blades can only be proc'd once a fight, would this keystone be aimed at Junglers or what? Im just struggling to see the niche this keystone would actually fill

Zed genius5/4/2018, 3:29:45 PM4 votes

Removing the pre minion spawn phase feels really random to me. What if it can just end up in people just placing a couple of wards and then doing nothing for 1 minute, it's literally one minute, it's not like 5 or 10, doesn't seem like a big deal to me and it would just prevent some cool stuff like invades from happening

Stacona5/4/2018, 9:06:36 PM4 votes

If you shorten the game start time then if someone disconnects... PAUSE. THE. FUCKING. GAME!

Have a 60 seconds pause until everyone connects in fully, if the pause time runs out then the game ends like it never existed AND NO ONE GETS A LEAVER OR LOSS PENALTY! No one should get punished for disconnecting, just make it where the game no longer exists, at worse treat the disconnecter like a dodge penalty and leave it at that, you do not need to go further beyond that.

Also remove the current leaver buster penalties completely and make it like a glorified queue dodge, 5 minutes becomes 50 minutes and 30 minutes becomes 300 minutes (5 hours) and a 3rd tier which is something like a 24 hour timeout (this if the act happens within the same 24 or 48 hours of the previous act). Swift and immediate punishment, gets people to think about their actions with immediate consequence and does not remind them of their sins over any long period of time - the most effective correction is immediate, short term correction.

I WILL LET OUT MY SALT!!!

Zooma5/4/2018, 11:35:55 PM3 votes

I think the 1:00 or so time before minions spawn is good. you dont really get to use your dance or quotes that often when the game starts. I think people might just stop using them all together if we drastically reduced this time. Also with the introduction of clash that time is often used to plan out the first little bit of pathing and other things that need to be said. Just my thoughts (:

zippyHD5/4/2018, 3:22:03 PM3 votes

Hello meddler. AzuBK, said that he wanted to release LeBlanc weak/in a OK place(patch 8.8) and then buff her afterwards and fixing some bugs. But there is nothing and everybody(LeBlancMains) wants to know why. Hope you will answer. Would be much appreciated.

fattypattydaddy5/5/2018, 2:56:12 AM3 votes

#NOTMYCURSOR

AkhriPasta5/5/2018, 3:18:37 PM3 votes

How about making lw and its upgrades 'Ranged' or Assassyuns will abuse it with lethality.

Dog of Pavlov5/4/2018, 3:22:02 PM2 votes

Wow somehow checked randomly and ended up being early for this post!

Anyways, thanks for the Syndra Q revert, how has she been doing since then and do you think there will be other changes for her down the road?

Almost Creative5/4/2018, 3:49:19 PM2 votes

Is Fleet Footwork getting adjusted? Should've sworn I saw that in the Marksmen update thread.

WindLord70705/4/2018, 3:32:29 PM1 votes

On your last post you replied about nidalee and said that there are some concerns that you have to deal with before you can let her be a top/mid lane champion again could you talk about what those concerns are? Maybe the nidalee community can help some?