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Yet another "It's only a Normal" RANT

Pr0Meister·6/29/2016, 1:46:35 PM·7 votes·1,711 views

Tilted and triggered as I am, I will try my hardest to keep this civil and stick to basic questions.

Can anyone explain to me what's with this attitude? It's the same map, same items and stats and champions, same VICTORY/DEFEAT screen. And yet people keep using this as an excuse for bad plays, mediocre investment in the match, and for defending every bad decision they make. Okay, no LP is earned or lost, I will give you that.

But what kind of masochistic mindset does it take to go by this line of thinking. It's normals, have fun they say. Well, excuse me if I am having some trouble having fun if the fed Akali (zB) from your lane evaporates me when I dare leave the range of the tower. It's damn hard having fun even enjoying the good plays I make knowing they are ultimately useless knowing there are two other lanes pushed to our inhibs. So, please, someone tell me, how can this ever be a legitimate excuse to use when the other team are making sure they kill visible DCs in a way to ensure maximum gold distribution when our mid tries to chase us off pushing their mid tower cause we wants to dick around 1v1 in lanephase more.

Again, in-game there is literally ZERO difference between Ranked and Normal. Both games, you start with the implied obligation of giving your best and actively striving to WIN, come hell or high water. Bad games happen, that is a fact, and statistically win/loss rations vary from 50/50 to 60/40 so that implies a lot of defeats, too. But it's this cavalier and preposterous attitude of using "just a normal" as an excuse that is so unreal.

What kind of player on any team in the world, in any game every played, is okay and having a blast when losing? Newsflash people, all those fancy plays and, hell, even a well-deserved Penta are null and void when your Nexus falls. There are 4 other people on the team and the least we all each other, at the MINIMUM, is to TRY TO WIN.

Seriously, I've never seen this attitude in real life. These games aren't pick-up basketball after school. They are structured, with a concrete set of rules and win conditions and if they were really "just anything", we would be able to drop with 0 reprecussions like in customs.

Hell, personally I even try to refrain from starting a new champ unless there are two friends on their mains in-game to be there to pick up the slack after the inevitable fuck-up of anyone trying anything unfamiliar.

TL:DR What is YOUR opinion on the matter? Comment, discuss, flame, defend, just voice your opinion and give us your two cents on the matter

30 Comments

Kaioko6/29/2016, 3:07:09 PM5 votes

I agree with you to some degree but also disagree at the same time on some of your points - hear me out (or I guess read?)

Normals are meant to be the less competitive version of league of legends. You don't have tier or even level differences restrictions. You can play with all your friends and there's no LP to lose or win. A lot of people will try builds and champions in normal that they normally wouldn't try in rank games. People use normals to also practice with certain champions before they take them into rank games - I definitely do this all the time. Your normal MMR and rank MMR are kept completely separate because of this.

Now on the other hand - even if you're playing normals you should always be trying your best. I honestly believe that most people do however the whole "it's just normals, chill" probably comes from the fact that people don't like to admit when they get outplayed and honestly don't want to be under a lot of stress when playing a game.

Litzner6/29/2016, 2:48:59 PM4 votes

I don't agree with the attitude of "it's just a normal" but normals are the place to experiment with new builds, and try new champs.

Personally before I try any new champ I go into a custom game first. Let's say I am going to try Jungle Gragas for the first time, I will research his build, go into a custom game and do a full jungle clear, just to be sure I have the starting items in order to make that possible before I start a normal with him. Or lets say I am trying out ADC Vayne, again before I start a normal I start a custom game and I practice last hitting with her, just so I can get use to the animations and to how her abilities work.

At the end of the day, even if I am trying something new to me, like full AP Malphite, I want to give it the best chance in succeeding, and so should everybody. "It's just a normal" is no excuse, but also in turn, seeing a build/champ/role you don't like is not a reason to flame someone for having a bad game. Someone could pick the most meta roles/champs/builds out and still have a bad game on them.

Jeddy0176/30/2016, 12:16:06 AM2 votes

I only bother to say the "it's only normal" thing when there is that one player. That one player who is being a toxic, rage filled nuisance with a side of salt to all the other players for no reason.

Other than that, I honeslty don't care how people play in normals. Why? Because it's normals. I don't play normals to focus on how other people play. I play normals to practice things, try out new things or just play the game & have fun. Of course I will play to win, but I'm not going to get mad if others aren't focused on winning nor will I get mad about losing. It's just normals, there's no need to get upset over loses, especially if you tried your best & gave it your all. I had games where I lost but I was satisfied with my overall performance that game.

Yeah, even in normals, some games are frustrating. But when the game is said & done, it gave me nothing but experience & some fun (depending on the game). No point in fretting over it. And if the match was that bad, I'll just simply stop playing League or play some ARAM.

DeathBurst6/29/2016, 3:52:27 PM2 votes

So, I know you won't appreciate my answer, but that's still true. Most people who play Ranked, when they want to play a game to win, they go in Ranked. When these people go into Normal, it's because they want to relax/enjoy the game/learn a new champ/improve a specific aspect of their game play/etc. And then, they don't really care about winning. So sure, winning is still a secondary objective, but it's only secondary, and if the game is lost, well, it's not important. And if you start complaining about the lost game, that's why they basically try to tell you: "yes the game is lost; sorry, but it doesn't matter".

I totally understand how this is super frustrating for people who play only Normals, I'm not completely defending it, but that's why and how it happens. And there aren't a lot of alternatives, for any side.

Kaioko6/29/2016, 3:39:20 PM2 votes

I think something along the lines of a bard with nashor, guinsoo and then ap could be really good actually but that may be just me. People should be allowed to test their ideas was the only point I was trying to make. For every one build that works, you've got 50 that failed.

Reaper Soraka6/30/2016, 12:20:58 AM2 votes

I don't know... Sometimes I play and try as hard to win as humanly possible. By that I mean I pick my best champions (not to be confused with favorite,) ping and ward as much as I can, and reallllly try to go all out like I'm winning that 30minutes of my life back.

Other times I just want to play Quinn support so I can give them the bird. You know... just have some fun with weird off-picks. It's a normals game, so it's not like we're actually losing anything. Me taking an off-pick isn't going to get you demoted.

They need to keep an URF mode or something around so I can play something with completely random picks and just have fun, without feeling like I'm ruining someone's day because they NEEEEED that win.

ilt6/29/2016, 8:06:59 PM2 votes

It's only a game

Hydroxlic6/29/2016, 3:25:15 PM1 votes

You can thank the people like Tyler1 for that.

Ralanr6/29/2016, 3:26:43 PM1 votes

I believe you shouldn't take things to seriously if things go bad in a normal. But I don't support the idea to act like a jackass or to be lazy in them.

Gibberwatt6/29/2016, 3:49:50 PM1 votes

I think the thing is that in ranked, if you screw up, you are permanently punished. Your lp will always be 20ish points lower than if you had won that game. So, every game affects the rest of your ranked career. However, in normals, it doesn't matter so much. Yes, the akali might be 20/3, but after that game, you never have to deal with either your teamates, or that akali, again. You can continue your life, with zero consequences from that game. Also, If you are the 20/3 akali, you get to be happy while playing that game, but so what. Once you're done with that game, you did not benefit from getting all those kills and winning.

It is, after all, just a game

Exiles SoIace6/30/2016, 1:08:47 AM1 votes

I get having a bad match and I won't rage if you just are that bad but when you decide to quit or not try just because you are playing normals it's annoying. I'm all for off meta and some of my favorite things to do are off meta (Kat jungle) but just because I'm having fun doesn't mean don't even try. Keep the complete opposition to winning in Custom games or AI Matches. You don't need to play how people want you to play but don't play to ruin it for your allies.

UpDownLeftRightAB6/30/2016, 1:15:12 AM1 votes

Because in normals you should be able to try new things/practice without someone raging about win/lose. I've seen Jungle teemos, annies, vaynes, but it's just normal so I don't care, I'm trying Jinx support to practice skill shots. It's where you go to play a champ and get better at it, not to win a game. Some people want to see how fast they can split push, others want to practice their teamfights, you get to experience the same situations as a ranked, as you say, without the pressure. So have fun, learn how to fight a 4v5, take on the enemy team and see if you can't 1v5. It's essentially the training grounds for when you do want to take on ranked and all it's flame. That's just how it's been since the game was made in 2009, blind normals are for win or lose to do whatever, normal draft is for practice ranked, ranked is for trying to win above all else.

Illiad6/29/2016, 1:53:40 PM1 votes

It generally just a lack of consequences in normals, you win, you lose, life stays the same, in ranked the stakes actually get value so people will take it more seriously. Im with you on the fact that its a stupid mindset, but its a mindset with no risk, because in their mind a normal game compared to a ranked game has so little to lose that just wondering around in a normal can be justified to them

DREADN0UGHT6/30/2016, 10:34:49 PM1 votes

I play ranked only. I literally only have something like 27 norm games this season so far, and nearly 600 ranked games.

So when I hop on a norm to try a new build or learn a champ, I don't expect people to be all try-hard and serious about it. Norms are for fun. I don't play them to win, rather for learning and enjoyment.

Why don't you try playing ranked games?

Insert Cuck Here6/29/2016, 2:00:37 PM1 votes

It's just a game LUL - diamond 2 twitch in a competitive game mode going 0-11 20 minutes in

SapphyreSkye6/29/2016, 2:11:22 PM1 votes

i get super upset when i lose ranked but normals are just meh

The JigSAW6/29/2016, 2:18:19 PM1 votes

I have to agree with everything you said honestly.

I'm so sick of the people going into PVP games as a first time champion because "its only a normal" and feeding ten times with no clue how to use their champ. I've long advocated for a requirement of 5 bot game wins before a champion could be unlocked for PVP when purchasing champions, but it appears unpopular although it would be a massively positive change.

I've got the "its only a normal" on feeders, AFK's, etc.. bottom line is a lot of people don't take the game that seriously and that's fine but don't cost your team! I hate ranked with a passion because of how brutal and toxic it can be, so I try to have fun in normal but it just isn't that easy when there's "first time rengar" in the jungle getting slaughtered because he can't figure out how to use his empowered attacks and is a sitting duck for the enemy jungler who can tell he has no idea what he's doing.

Worst is bot lane, honestly. I've seen supports take tons of kills and BRAG about it, and ADC's who can't get kills because they just have no clue and supports who want to stay supports -have- to take the kill. Then the ADC says the support is a ks'er. I used to ADC a lot more, but after getting multiple supports who steal CS even when asked nicely not to and kills, I decided to try and stay out of bot lane unless I know the person. Then, you have the adc/sup vs two mages or tanks and other non-meta combos, and I LOVE non-meta but don't expect a support to have to stick strictly to support items when two people are trying to murder you with full damage items. You gotta be aggressive and fight without worrying about taking a kill or a minion.

As a top main I've also noticed an influx of duo tops lately in normal games. I actually would prefer duo top to a jungle position, because I get some people jungling who honestly have no clue how to. Some forget smite, some die 3 or 4 times to chickens, then there's always that jungler who tries to "help" with a kill, and ends up dying at level 2 right at the enemy turret to a full health level 5 Riven who just stunned him asking "WTF WHERE WERE YOU?!?!" Also, there's the killhog junglers who just take 10-15 kills right underneath a laner and go back to the jungle, with the belief "its a team game" being enough to justify you being underfed. Almost every single time, those same people who take tons of kills they don't need die and in the time before they respawn the other team goes to town and usually ends up winning the game since none of us can fight back.

The one thing that bothers me most is the way we can't even get our preferred roles anymore. Team Builder guaranteed champ and role, and for those of us who despise draft because we actually like a challenge, we have no real guarantee of being put into a favorable role. I don't recall any of the oft-lauded pro players having to switch positions because they excel at one lane, and frankly I'm best in one lane although I can do multiple others. However, expecting someone to go from their best to their worst with the same results is unrealistic, and for a game trying to push pro play on us endlessly you'd think Riot would allow a way in blind pick to get your damn role (aka, bring back team builder) you do best with. You don't expect Bill Gates to mine coal, you don't want Peyton Manning doing your taxes, and you sure as hell don't want top lane mains trying to support, which is a whole different playstyle. Then if you do poorly, they nail you on your performance.

Frankly I wouldn't care about many of the issues if we just had Team Builder back, but Riot can't admit they made a mistake and fix it, only admit they did something wrong and keep doing it.

ltmetal6/29/2016, 2:31:38 PM1 votes

The problem rises from normals being the lowest pressure format that actually improves you. We need a "group practice" or sandbox mode, maybe even custom game Dominion so that we can satisfy both the people who want to try out something new with low pressure and the people who want to take a normal game seriously.

kuzzy476/29/2016, 3:06:12 PM1 votes

Some quality walls of text in this thread.Normal is even more of a joke than ranked.It's not worth tryharding and getting mad like on ranked.I use normals to try out new champs and i'm gonna feed or build wrong.Normals have more feeders trolls ,afks than ranked and you get very high ranked people vs very low rank making the game a stomp.

FreeKillsAtBaron6/29/2016, 3:22:30 PM1 votes

Well I rather have trolls/afks/flamers/first time champs stay in normals rather than going into ranked. You don't lose any LP from losing normals and if they have fed Brand one shoting errrrbody, other 4 guys on your teams are going to ff20 no matter what.