Expanded Competition

The Highest Noon·Nov 6, 2018·2 votes·2,066 views

First, I'd like to preface this by saying I barely have a fingertip in the world of League E-Sports so this might already be a thing.

Ok, so hear me out. What if instead of just one broad tournament-style competition, League instead has multiple divisions within a tournament based on a team's overall rank?

Worlds Challenger, the obvious group
Worlds Elite, the great teams that aren't at the Challenger level
Worlds Advanced, not at the Elite level but these teams are seriously good

Naming can be debated all you like. What's important is that because it isn't just a single bracket you can witness than the handfull of expected teams. Of course, there are specific criteria to play at a certain level that disqualifies you from playing in the other levels so you won't see a Challenger team destroying in Advanced and you won't see Advanced teams wasting time with inevitable losses in Elite.

Overall, it gives spotlight to teams that aren't necessarily good enough for the Worlds stage the opportunity to shine in their own way. It's great for promoting lesser known or otherwise up and coming teams while also diversifying the Worlds roster of teams.

There may be problems with this which I haven't taken the time to think of yet, but it's worth discussing.

4 Comments

GeminiRuneNov 6, 20181 votes

So basically something similar to the Challengers > New Legends > Legends system that CS:GO applies. In that system you don't necessarily see anything of a waste because a select team will have earned their way up the ladder even if they're outmatched. The drawback is that Legends are determined by their previous tournament. In League's case, rankings have always been strongly opinion and regionally driven. I feel like this idea would fall pretty flat unless the entire season was revamped potentially with more of a global fairness given how outreaching League esports has become.

The Highest NoonNov 6, 20181 votes

{quoted}

So basically something similar to the Challengers > New Legends > Legends system that CS:GO applies. In that system you don't necessarily see anything of a waste because a select team will have earned their way up the ladder even if they're outmatched. The drawback is that Legends are determined by their previous tournament. In League's case, rankings have always been strongly opinion and regionally driven. I feel like this idea would fall pretty flat unless the entire season was revamped potentially with more of a global fairness given how outreaching League esports has become.

You may be correct on that point, and I doubt many people would disagree that some regions objectively outclass others. Thing is though it's all about skill level. If one region doesn't have the talent to compete, it is what it is. Just to clarify though, you are referring to the official tournaments and not just the Ranked ladder itself, right?

GeminiRuneNov 6, 20182 votes

For the most part I am referring to official tournament over the Rank ladder. But I am never necessarily against an upstart squad qualifying their way into anything and I do think that sometimes the competitive infrastructure should enable those cases as they did with cases like Demacia Cup or other local tournaments such as the ones held in the LCL last summer. Secondary tournaments are fine but it does suck at times that the barriers of entry and visibility are limited. But that's definitely a global problem with team esports.

The Highest NoonNov 6, 20181 votes

{quoted}

For the most part I am referring to official tournament over the Rank ladder. But I am never necessarily against an upstart squad qualifying their way into anything and I do think that sometimes the competitive infrastructure should enable those cases as they did with cases like Demacia Cup or other local tournaments such as the ones held in the LCL last summer. Secondary tournaments are fine but it does suck at times that the barriers of entry and visibility are limited. But that's definitely a global problem with team esports.

It is, which is why I put it to the devs themselves to adjust the situation. I think they did well with the College Cup or whatever program they started in having a competitive scene for colleges. Looking at some other games, they have big tournaments but tier the competitions by age or qualification level, such as Pokemon. That game has three tiers of competition at the Worlds level, separated by age range. Those who can participate are invited due to their smaller tournament participations throughout the season, which is what I think you were hinting at. That way, the World Championships isn't limited to merely the best players ever but it also gives access to their younger, sometimes less skilled audience, so you wouldn't see world record holding tournament mastermind 30 year old going against a pretty good 11 year old.

Just something like that, which gives opportunity for Worlds style gameplay across the skill levels of this game.