Boards›Dev Corner

Quick Gameplay Thoughts: March 6

RiotMeddler·3/6/2019, 5:10:41 PM·1 votes·144,992 views

Hi folks,

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 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

Clash Tests

It's been a bit since we talked about Clash, work continues though to get ready for a full release. The next major step are some upcoming tests this coming weekend in BR and LATAM. Those are focused on testing two things primarily:

  1. Tier based phasing. Matches for different skill tiers start at different times of the day to spread out how many players hit the servers all at once basically.

  2. Caps. There's a limit to how many teams can compete each day. The limit's very large, so shouldn't be hit in most servers. We do believe it's better to stop taking new teams into a Clash tournament if a server gets really full than to let a few more players in at the expense of degrading game performance for everyone already there.

Ranked Update

As you might have seen already we put out an update on how Ranked's going last week, talking about both what seems to be working well and what isn't:

https://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/developer-corner/voxV8l2u-ranked-2019-dev-update-3

This Friday we should have follow up on the things that aren't working well enough, including details on what we'll be changing as a result.

Urgot

We've got some meaningful changes to Urgot on the PBE at the moment. Some are just straight power (he's on the weak side now as expected since we hit him with some meaningful nerfs). Wanted to talk through some of the changes that might benefit from more context though:

  • We testing moving his shield from his W to his E. Goal there is to make so that if Urgot wants to trade using his shield he has to put both of his defensive tools (dash as well) on CD. That increased risk to his trading then means we can probably give him power in other regards.
  • We're increasing his ult range noticeably. In retrospect we were potentially overly cautious on the range restriction originally, especially given it's easy to block or miss.
  • We're making AD builds less sub optimal, with the aim of opening up his itemization a bit more. Goal is still to have him as a juggernaut who tends to want to build fairly tanky. Would like to narrow the gap in effectiveness between AD and tankier builds though.

We're looking for a few associate designers

More details in this Twitter thread in case it's of interest and you haven't already seen it:

https://twitter.com/RiotMeddler/status/1102988737175216128

TLDR - we've got a few open spots right now for associate game designers. These are roles aimed at people with moderate or no games industry experience. Things like having worked on big mods, making your own game projects, CS degrees and professional experience in other analytical fields (sciences, engineering, law etc) are meaningful pluses if you're thinking about applying!

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

236 Comments

HommeGoujon3/6/2019, 7:01:42 PM16 votes

Good afternoon,

Any plans about giving some cs'ing power to Shen early? He's not in a bad spot but still, it would be nice :)

Luxanna Magica3/6/2019, 6:46:17 PM14 votes

Things changed between 8.11 and 9.3, and now Yasuo's healing is a big problem. He should need to sacrifice the attack speed from Legend: Alacrity and/or invest into BT if he wants lifesteal, not take Ravenous Hunter and heal 90% of his HP bar from an E-Q or nado.

Ravenous Hunter has a lot of ridiculous interactions and heals off of so many things it shouldn't. For example, imo, things like Vayne W, or abilities that are essentially auto attacks like Yasuo's Q, shouldn't heal off of it. Also, Statikk Shiv.

Remove some of RH's wonky interactions (or at least penalize healing on AOE abilities more) and nerf/remove the healing on Conqueror and he'll be fine. Maybe remove the rest of 8.11's compensation buffs if his damage is still a problem after that.

Naalith3/6/2019, 5:44:29 PM11 votes

What are your thoughts on support items? It seems like they're becoming the Azirs of items where they are constantly hit because of emerging strategies at high levels of play. Unlike Azir though, "real" bottom lane supports are still forced to take them. Do you guys have any reworks or small buffs for usability incoming?

Also, any thoughts on Dark Seal? I personally think it grants too much power for what it costs even if you're not stacking it or upgrading to Mejais.

Rayjay Redfang3/6/2019, 6:23:24 PM9 votes

Hi Meddler, with regards to the urgot change, I look forward to testing it, but I have some initial concerns/comments,

  1. I am not particularly excited with a shield on e for three possible reasons. First, if it is an instant cast shield, you don't get much out of it due to the cast time of the dash and the interruptiblity of the dash. Second, if it isn't an instant cast shield, then it isn't an instant cast shield and that will hurt his survivability (due to long cast time) like it did with ornn. Lastly, I think putting a shield on e is overloading the spell (it should not be his bread and butter spell) because it will have a dash, shield, damage, displacement, and stun. In general I just think it will feel bad to play because it limits playstyle.
  2. if you want to encourage a more ad build, would it be possible to scale his dash range with bonus ad or something like that?
  3. I think that the ult change is pointless and a waste of his power budget because the current range is fine.
  4. I read the tweet from riot repotior and one change I did like was the w on hit changes.
AIQ3/6/2019, 5:20:21 PM8 votes

Hey Meddler. 3 things on Shyvana. Elder Dragon scaling, is it going through? Did it get scrapped? Can we remove the decay on W? And as for her story, whats Riot stand on the outcry against it? If you can answer that.

Thank you

Floupi3/6/2019, 5:39:38 PM8 votes

Why are rune trees necessary at all now that stat shards exist ?

Letting us choose freely our 6 runes (just one keystone of course) would feel way funnier, and would allow more creativity. Right now for a said champion, the "meta rune page" is too easy to find, there is no freedom because the trees are limiting things too much.

All runes are already pretty balanced with each other (otherwise you would see everyone going the same secondary tree etc. ), and if that makes some runes too redundant you could remove some of them...

DeadUnborn3/6/2019, 5:20:34 PM8 votes

Hey Meddler! hope you are having a good day.

So I wanted to give you some feedback on Rek Sai since I've mained her for a while and she is definitely too strong now:

  • **Her sonar now is confusing to use **(specially with her skins). I am no longer able to tell in which direction a champion is moving (previously I did)

  • Rather than nerfing other parts of her kit, I think cutting down on the execution damage of her ult is the way to go if nerfs are needed. This way she is still encouraged to build damage and she doesn't get a free pass with her ult now that it works.

  • Conqueror is also helping her quite a bit, typical case of double buff dipping. Also it isn't popular but spear works wonders for her in prolonged fights

Regarding the new Game design positions. do you as a company value consulting work in analytics as an entry path into the business? I love my current job but video game design has always been a passion of mine. Also would you consider foreign sponsorship to work in the US if you found a strong candidate?

Sunset260173/6/2019, 5:14:17 PM6 votes

Any comment on Aatrox?

TV Offline3/6/2019, 5:18:43 PM6 votes

Hey Medder, Any thoughts about the Resolve rune's 2nd path? There are 3 choices which many champions(for example tank junglers with no shields) don't need. Maybe swap places of Shield bash and Bone plating or Second wind?

lol you wild wyd3/6/2019, 5:18:45 PM6 votes

@Riot Meddler

The current iteration of League of Legends has lost a big chunk of it's strategic nuance. As a game that was once dubbed "5D Chess" is there anything to be done to higher the emphasis of the strategy pillar of League?

Also re jobs: It would be sick if associate marketing spots open up, I recently graduated from Real Madrid with a Masters degree in Sports Marketing and would love an opportunity at Riot.

Have a good day :D

Daddy Ants3/6/2019, 7:07:25 PM6 votes

Any changes (preferably nerfs) for item 3191 ?

https://clips.twitch.tv/ReliableCooperativeRuffTooSpicy

Zed who is ahead in levels, kills, cs and items against a Kassadin.

Zed has item 3142 Kassadin has item 3191

Zed lands full combo, Triple Q and Kassadin still survives.

You seriously can't believe that this is fair or balanced in any way?

This isn't some Bronze or Silver Zed.... This is one of the best Zed's in the world.

Heiwa no Shocho3/6/2019, 11:15:37 PM5 votes

Wassup Meddler

I was wanting to ask, is there any way that my boi Shen getting atleast a small buff? maybe like a q dmg buff or a ulti buff would be really nice!

Impish Yordle3/6/2019, 10:59:15 PM4 votes

Have you considered applying a similar change you plan with Urgot's shield to Ornn so he'd shield's himself if he collided with terrain with E? That champion seriously feels like he's in an identity crisis right now. Is he a bruiser? Is he a tank? Why did his niche of increasing allied CC with brittle get downplayed for massive amounts of % health damage? How do you feel about tanks that have relatively reliable long-range hard CC that does not force them to commit like it is the case with Ornn ult and Sejuani ult? Because I feel like that is a common problem they share that might haunt them forever.

PowerOfDrainAge3/6/2019, 5:23:44 PM4 votes

Any thoughts on Ornn?

ChrisBrownze3/7/2019, 6:37:37 PM4 votes

When will the bounty system be reverted?

Monkey Strangler3/6/2019, 7:54:00 PM4 votes

Hey Meddler, any updates regarding Sion's bugs getting fixed anytime soon or nah? It's been years for some.

Irìss3/6/2019, 8:43:39 PM4 votes

Any work going into Amumu at the moment? The changes to his passive and lower q mana cost about a year ago definitely helped him back then, but he has slowly faded into nonexistence again. I love playing him but its impossible to make him work as a strong pick in Masters+. Also, Orianna thoughts? I know she becomes a monster when the meta is right for her, but I feel that she has been slightly below average for months now.

Luxrayvision3/6/2019, 6:35:56 PM3 votes

Hello Meddler! Would you happen to know when would be the next champion roadmap on the next champs scheduled for VGUs? Now that Kayle and Morgana are out, and the next being Mordekaiser, it would be cool to know who's following after him so we can get hyped. Thanks!

Teslalyte3/6/2019, 5:29:42 PM2 votes

Good morning, Meddler! I hope you are doing well!

I'd like to know your current thoughts on the crit item update from 9.3, if you think the changes are still holding up well, and how you think ADCs in general are performing. Also curious whether you think Ezreal is on the strong side (or not) since the update.

Thank you for your time and hard work!

Pokemonred2003/6/2019, 5:21:07 PM1 votes

Thoughts on the current state of Jinx and Sivir? How have Lucian's nerfs landed?