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Quick Gameplay Thoughts: March 16

RiotMeddler·3/16/2018, 3:31:58 PM·1 votes·47,356 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

Some possible 8.7 changes

Some potential 8.7 patch changes below. 8.7's a small patch, particularly since we're approaching midseason so are putting some time into that. It'll be on the lighter side as a result, with a fair bit of it made up from things that didn't make it in time for 8.6. Early on in the 8.7 development cycle we'll also be more focused on systemic changes than champion stuff, a bit of extra champion balance work is likely to make it in later though.

Champions

  • Swain nerf. Most likely candidates are Q CD (might have lowered it too far) and Q damage. Still figuring details out though, nothing solid yet.
  • Rumble buff. Straight Q and R damage buffs from 8.6 were ok but don't think they were targeted enough at Rumble's problems. Trying to do a bit more as a result.
  • Ahri changes (still working on clearer highs and lows, plus general strengths and weaknesses).
  • LB changes. More likely to be in 8.8 at this point because there's some visual effects work still needed that's not on track for an 8.7 release. Possible it still makes it into 8.7 though.
  • Kayn changes that should smooth out transformation point gain over game time. Likely to be a slight buff and should help lane Kayn a bit more than jungle Kayn too.

Runes

  • Manaflow Band nerf/reshape (reduces mana gating too much)
  • Presence of Mind reshape (too strong on its best users, not strong enough on many others)
  • Numbers tuning on some other runes that are just not balanced well enough (e.g. Approach Velocity is weak, Celerity is strong etc)

Items

  • Still working to make Locket more contextual (good some games, bad others) and probably less effective against single target burst champs
  • Looking at Ninja Tabi, given they're really dominant choices for the boots slot and can have a very large impact on some lanes. Number of things we need to figure out here, including how much they're just too good a general choice, how much they're just too strong, how important they are as a safety valve to AA champs, how much of a safety valve (or excessive counter?) to Lethality, what the right mixture of Armor versus other defensive effects is etc. We're trying to avoid solving a couple of problems only to replace them with other equally large ones.

Non LoL related game design: Floating Combat Text in Diablo 3

Interesting article below where some of the Diablo 3 team talk about their approach to building a better combat text approach, including problems they had to solve around localizing for different languages, delivering both satisfaction and readability, working well with a variety of different hero builds and appropriate use of color. Well worth a read if that sounds like your sort of thing.

https://eu.diablo3.com/en/blog/19996041/engineering-diablo-iiis-damage-numbers-22-01-2016

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

316 Comments

IxtaliKing3/16/2018, 3:48:21 PM12 votes

Hey Meddler, a couple questions for you:

  • I hear that Ahri's rework/partial revert was pulled to work more on her W. Will she be getting a completely new W? (Apologies if this has been answered already)

  • In light of all these recent partial reverts (LB, Rengar, Ahri etc...), has this direction been considered for Karma? It seems that a lot of her gameplay issues stem from those 5.10 changes (I could be wrong).

Wukong Airlines3/16/2018, 4:02:22 PM8 votes

Hey Meddler. When will you at least talk about MonkeyKing future plans? or at least, rework his passive?

a Passive tells much about a Champion, it gives the champion an identity. Yasuo for example, wouldn't be Yasuo if his passive wasn't the way it is.

So yes. Wukong's passive needs to be addressed immediately and be granted a reworked no matter how much you try to compensate for the item 3147 nerfs.

Erulus3/16/2018, 3:40:38 PM7 votes

Has Riot ever considered creating more AP Bruiser items? Currently it seems like Nashors and even Lich Bane are the only items. Asking in reference to Diana. Any thoughts on her would be appreciated. She's a bruiser not an assassin, so why add to burst instead of longevity?

Viscâ3/16/2018, 4:03:30 PM7 votes

Meddler any buffs for Edge of Night? because this item should be good choice instead of Duskblade if u buff with good way like +60 65 ad +300 HP it can be good for 3100 gold item.

N0rth Wind3/16/2018, 3:41:24 PM6 votes

Are there any considerations about a slight change in direction on the LB rework? Namely, to counteract her complete loss of the ability to actually deceive people, instead of Diana-ing them?

fdgfdhfdsh3/16/2018, 5:27:51 PM6 votes

Hi Meddler. Any plans for Ashe?

Tarte aux Fruits3/16/2018, 4:07:03 PM6 votes

Hi meddler, for Kayn, did you ever thought of giving the heal of Rhaast's ultimate even though the target dies before you can recast your R ? It manly punishes you for having a team that doesn't know the mechanic, and feels unfair. Thanks.

Frozen Diva3/16/2018, 4:00:42 PM6 votes

Hi Meddler. Why don't you list Lissandra? I thought you guys are working on some changes for her.

Malicious Metal3/16/2018, 3:49:33 PM5 votes

Anything in store for Nautilus? He doesn't really see that much play anymore and struggles to compete against other tanks.

His niche of THE CC monster got overtaken by so many new champion releases anyways so I think he should get a new, more clearly defined gameplay fantasy.

Ninjako3/16/2018, 4:27:45 PM5 votes

Hi @Meddler

Have you guys disccused the changes from 7.12 on Rumble and it's current heavy impact on his laning/early game ? Experimenting the reverts ? Will W be looked at also?

Pokemonred2003/16/2018, 4:06:51 PM4 votes

Any updates to unsealed spellbook? I remember you saying a while ago that Unsealed Spellbook was being changed to bring back older summoner spells (such as Clarity), although nothing has been said about it recently. Is this still on the table? I really miss using Clarity on Summoner's Rift especially, and Clairvoyance and Revive would be pretty fun to see too.

Yorushika Fanboy3/17/2018, 7:18:51 PM4 votes

Why doesn't taste of blood have the same cooldown indicator as manaflow band or bone plating?

jadelink3/18/2018, 4:41:54 AM4 votes

Concerning Tabi;

I don't think it's that they are too strong, the problem is that the alternate choices, particularly Mercs treads feel AWFUL to buy.

Tenacity is a garbage stat these days, as nearly all CC possessed by meta champions is knockup/knockback/suppress. Without real value from tenacity Mercs are a noob trap, offering very low value vs magic damage for the cost. The only time I really want them is vs a veigar (to avoid the CC-meteor combo).

Likewise swifties have felt bad ever since the 'way back when' nerfs, but at least they actually give more CC reduction in a typical game than mercs do.

Sorcs and Bezerkers feel Ok on their core users, but ADC burst (especially at 1200 range, through the tank, via Rapidfire + Shiv) has become excessive as you have mentioned, and 2 item adc damage (or 1 if its a rageblade user), is so powerful that people feel forced into tabi. Rageblade is a particular offender with the extra on hits pushing Tabi into the space of 'the only real defense I can afford' position. Rageblade REALLY needs to lose the on hit bonus's, it's hard enough as it is to itemise vs a phys/magic damage 1 item hybrid, without having it possess extra on hit damage. Tabi is the last ditch desperate option to stop a kogmaw or a varus from shredding you as a tank when they have only 1 item.

Nerfing tabi is not going to address the core issue of adc damage and rageblade, or of Tenacity having fading value in the modern meta and thus of Mercs being a great s2 item and a garbage s8 one. I really think the Merc/tenacity weakness and the strength of 2 item adcs and rageblade are the real issues affecting boot choices, rather than Tabi's being OP.

Teemo the Orange3/16/2018, 4:00:36 PM3 votes

dear meddler are we able to see old shen ? this current one doesn't felt like a ninja since you guys accepting your mistakes one by one so lets bring him back. whoever talk on online or different league forums/chat rooms when someone talk about shen everyone agree to say "i miss him so badly"

Plusmine3/16/2018, 3:50:13 PM1 votes

What are your thoughts about Presence of Mind? I agree it can be too strong on some champions, but I'm not sure about the goals here.

Last PBE cycle we saw a "20% max mana regeneration" iteration, the same one that got removed from Morello and currently no item has.

Mr Penguin3/16/2018, 6:24:11 PM1 votes

I think the best nerf for Swain would be a revert for his Q CD buff from this patch, maybe sth like this: 8/6/4/2, instead of the current 5.5 / 4.75 / 4 / 3.25 / 2.5 . Maybe also a nerf for his ultimate early HP gain and buff for later? Since it feels weak when a Tristana starts doing 3-4 autos and 600 crit each one.. 100/200/500?

Jackom13/16/2018, 7:47:59 PM1 votes

Since Irelia was teased today, and you'already talking about mid-season, is aatrox's update coming after that? Or might he actually make it before/with mid-season?

waiting for WoW3/16/2018, 3:49:26 PM1 votes

"Numbers tuning on some other runes that are just not balanced well enough (e.g. Approach Velocity is weak, Celerity is strong etc"

Does this mean Riot will shift the power back into Phase Rush if Celerity gets nerfed? Phase Rush is already awful and just straight up nerfing Celerity is a big hit to Phase Rush users specifically.