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Should ranked be fun?

T RexHasTinyArms··1 votes·532 views

So I want to have a discussion with the community bc I think it impacts how we play the game based on what people think about this. I had a game recently where I struggled early and when mid started fussing I asked them to calm down bc it is hard to focus and want to win if the team is raging and the game isn't fun any more. They responded by saying it's ranked and you don't play to have fun, you play bc it's competitive and so shut up and enjoy the free LP when they carry.

That strikes me as a strange perspective, but it's one I've seen from a number of people in discussions on boards. "Ranked isn't about having fun, it's a competitive mode where the only goal is winning." Personally I think this is wrong, but I'm hoping some people who agree with it will start a discussion here and we can go back and forth on the merits of the idea. IMO ranked is a more competitive mode than normals and is where you play what you're comfortable w/ rather than champs you're practicing, or something you're weak on but enjoy playing even though you lose often. However, ranked is still a GAME mode. I play games to have fun. I'm not paid to play test, compete, review, stream, or anything else that would generate income or other benefits besides enjoyment from playing the game.

Where did the idea that enjoyment isn't a core element of ranked come from? Winning should be the goal, but what logic exists to make winning a more important goal than enjoying the game and having fun w/ the people you're playing with?

8 Comments

Mecha MaIphite2 votes

It is perfectly okay to have fun in ranked games, provided you do it in a way that doesn't negatively impact the four other people on your team.

If you're truly looking to have fun and mess around, just stick to normals. There's nothing wrong with being a casual player.

T RexHasTinyArms1 votes

yeah the post was about player behavior though not screwing around vs playing serious. I like ranked bc it is for stuff you're good at and you're almost always getting your opponent's best, but I have heard people say that even if your teammates make the game miserable it shouldn't effect how you focus on the game. Personally, lol is like any other game I play and if I'm not having fun (ie the people I play w/ are so rude that I'd rather just not be playing than play w/ them) I lose focus bc I'd rather be doing something else. The post was more about that.

Oddysseas1 votes

I didn't read your post. I am not sure if you are opposed to rank and fun or opposed to rank and unfun. The reason why i am saying this is because being absolute about things in life is usually wrong, however in this case it isn't.

In this case it's absolute that ranked will not always be about fun and you MUST deal with it responsibly and maturely. Now being a midlaner who gets first pick, bans who he wants and picks who he wants, then everyone goes to the right possition with no complaints, this would a fun ranked game. However you will sometimes be last pick and have to play a role you think it's unfun and you don't enjoy. When that momment comes, YOU BETTER BE ready and willing to do it!

There is no excuse. If you are Gold 1 make sure u support, top, mid ,adc and jungle like a gold player. Don't find excuses as to why you can't play a role, especially if that is 'it is not fun to play'. If you can't adc or mid because you can't farm, go to normals, or teambuilder or even custom games and improove your farming skills. If you don't have runes to play, play norms till you do.

I will tell you this, some people no matter how silly it may sound to you, are trying to make a career in this game. Some people have dreams of streaming and even make a living streaming. Some may even dream about the LCS, you have no right to take that away from them because you are irresponsible. LOL is called e-sports, this means it's meant to be more than a game. It is an electronic sport. If you do cross country for your state or college, you don't lose on purpose or run for fun. You do it for the win. If you are in the team to joke around and make trips around the country, your coach will kick you out of the team. If you are a shooting guard for a college basketball team, you should know how to shoot, and how to dribble. If you can't shoot, no coach will keep you to the team as a shooting guard. LOL is the same way. If you ONLY play ranked teams then yes, you can your main role and ranked will always be fun for you even if you suck at one or more roles. But in sole/due queue you should be familiar with all roles, and respect pick order.

If i want to have fun i play teambuilder, it is actually ALOT of fun, you should try it. For 4 months i ONLY played teambuilder cause i didn't feel ready and in shape to play ranked. Some people take this game seriously and ranked is a way for them to prove that their time of practice pays off. You have no right to deny that from them.

So i am not attacking you personally as you may think, i am speaking in general manner, like i said i don't even know your possition in this matter but no ranked won't always be fun and that is the way it is supposed to be so people take it seriously.

T RexHasTinyArms1 votes

Um.... the post was about player behavior impacting the game. IE I'm firmly of the opinion that the point of a game is to have fun, the point of ranked is to compete and see how is stronger (thus you should play your best, although I'd argue it's inefficient to play everything at the same level, personally I can't ADC for shit, but it's a carry role so there's almost never a lobby where no one is down to play it and I usually just dodge if literally no one else plays ADC decently). The issue was whether or not "winning" excuses negative behavior from teammates. Personally I think if you're insulting your team/a player enough (and won't change the behavior when asked nicely "please, can you not be so angry in chat, I'm playing poorly this game already and arguing will put me on tilt and I'll play worse") that they stop enjoying the game, then you should expect them to not want to play that game and just make up the LP in another.

TLDR; If someone is being really insulting or toxic, is it appropriate to /ff or focus on the game less and just get ready for the next game bc you'll make up the LP and climb eventually if you're better than your current rank, but you won't be able to get back time spent in an unpleasant game.

Dreadlocks1 votes

It should be enjoyable, however its where you should be "try harding" and doing your best. The problem is people take the game far more seriously than it should, and others don't take it serious enough which is where the conflict begins. Their is no definite answer as to how competitive ranked should or shouldn't be played. In my eyes though, if you are name calling and talking shit about a person's life that you know nothing about, then you are taking things too far. At that same token, if you are going to be so sensitive about another persons decision in the game that you upright afk, then you are not taking the game seriously enough to even earn LP.

TL;DR play the game to win, cooperate with your team, DO YOUR BEST, don't give up too early and have fun. Do not make it a life or death situation for you or your teammates over points.

T RexHasTinyArms1 votes

:D glad to know I'm not the only one who is a bit more middle of the road. Made this post after someone raged at me for giving /ff vote like 30 min in after they continued to rage at me despite my attempt to cooperate by asking them to please be calm and we can still win the game don't worry. Guy was convinced he could carry no matter what and just kept raging and usually I would have muted him, but was having a rough streak of bad teammates and instead just got super tilty and played even worse.

Dreadlocks1 votes

Forsure man, i find ranked much more enjoyable on my other account playing my favorite champions rather than my "freelo" champs, and i'm getting it close to gold5 like my main.. I feel like my own mindset and worries play a bigger role in my gameplay than anything else. Unfortunately some people legit cant handle a loss, ever.

GreatWhiteNorth1 votes

If you normally play to have fun, your elo should reflect it, so it shouldn't matter...

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