Subs in LCS

yoboseo·Jul 27, 2017·1 votes·1,023 views

I feel like subs in the LCS/competitive league in general are not as well utilized as subs in general sports. A game current limits 5 players per game.

How about allowing the option for 1 substitution during game with that sub access to

Full vision with a 3 minute delay ----or-----
Limited (team) vision with 0-3 minute delay

A brief pause where both teams may discuss in comms (catch up the sub).

Thoughts? This would bring a new dynamic to the league scene and since they are pushing towards mandatory subs. rather have a real advantage for teams that took this seriously rather than to fill the roster.

7 Comments

ChompyWulfJul 28, 20171 votes

Meh....I don't think it is a good idea to pause a game for a sub, barring a major medical issue.

yoboseoAug 1, 20171 votes

Sure League games are shorter than most sports games and having timeouts/2 minute warnings is a sensitive area to touch upon. Spectators attention span, readjusting and getting ready after a pause, maybe only referee pause at a certain time? Yes a lot of details can be debated on.

But think - 2 minute discussion with a player coach for strategic purposes/ recenter the minds of the team/ untilt /etc. Rito makes $$$ from commercial break and trickles down to the players. Everyone is happy....except maybe the viewers ??? questionable. Esports is evolving. Are you?

ChompyWulfAug 2, 20171 votes

There is time aplenty between games for commercials. While some players may like to take a few minutes to refocus, you will be snapping another out of his zone. Even worse if each team can choose to pause once each and have each game interrupted twice. The best way to use subs would be if teams worked out different comps and strategy to switch things around and keep enemies guessing who is where on what champ. Far better idea than interruptions in game.

A big appeal of Esports is that as a fan you can relate a lot more to watching pro gamers than pro athletes because you can play the exact same game as them and far more reasonably emulate them as you play yourself. Throwing in pauses and in game subs for pros really changes that and takes Esports further from one of its best qualities.

Miror BJul 28, 20171 votes

Confused as to how this would improve game quality, as I'm pretty sure rito would prefer to have better 5-man teams than better 6-man ones. Something like this could also potentially drastically increase player salary, which while I'm in favor of that most of the time, would essentially mean that D-tier subs could get paid as much as the actual people on stage.

yoboseoJul 31, 20171 votes

The whole point of justifying subs in general is to change play style (champions) and to communicate tendencies. I think adding a sub who has seen 10-15 minutes of map movement to be really valuable on how a person plays/wards/jukes etc and would add to be more valuable in a sub.

Or for example: Top is the sub, first 10-15 minutes of laning phase, sub in someone who is mechanically gifted. during mid-game sub in the top who is better at shot calling and making macro plays.

I feel like overall subs are a joke right now in the LCS, do you have any suggestions in making it more valuable ie as in any other sport?

Miror BJul 31, 20171 votes

You know, aside from the fact that they aren't a joke when it comes to LCK and the majority of the LPL ones. Might want to go watch some of those regions first before trying to suggest an idea like this, as even though western teams aren't using subs effectively it doesn't then mean that all regions aren't.

yoboseoAug 1, 20171 votes

Listen to the Dive Season 1, Episode 17. The whole mentality of subs is a threat to the starting role. And this creates an environment that does not create any synergy. Think of Faker and easyhoon 2015. Some say it worked out well. Sword and Shield? blahblah. Look at 2015 worlds. How many games did Easyhoon get to play at the finals? When stakes are high, you are going to put in one player and one player only.

Now how do you change the dynamics of the 5 man roster with subs? Well I proposed my original post. The issue I address is to attack the threat a sub poses to the main roster. Instead of "I am sitting out for a game", rather than "I am going to get advantage by getting more vision, tendencies, and therefore I can contribute XYZ to the team at XYZ time"

Again your comment on D-tier subs would get paid as much as people on stage. That is a cop out blanket statement, as salary is a huge topic to cover and would vary. "people on stage" do not get the same salary to begin with. I do think Subs should get comparable salaries to starters ---IF--- they add the similar value. In the current sub system it is hard to justify such value. And thus there are D-tier subs to fill the roles (tsm's regi @ mid lane). But by addressing the issue of changing the impact of subs (to the point of having subs is more advantageous and used every game/series), these D-tier will be replaced and filled with top talent.