IP & Runes. A problem that needs solving.

Fantomex XIII·Aug 30, 2015·19 votes·1,702 views

So, many of the players of LoL, know that the grind to 30 is often frustrating. They're also very aware of how difficult it is to get the Champions you want to play, and the Runes you need to play them. I'm going to pull content from a few reddit posts for the purposes of this. Hopefully a Rioter can give some insight as to what they would like to do about the problem. The information MAY be outdated in some cases. Please correct me where I am wrong.

Now for some math. Bear with me here. Because this part is a little long.

The following is compiled from various resources on reddit. Some of the threads are old.

I. Assuming an average of 110 Exp per game, it would take someone approximately 365 games to reach level 30.

For a win, the reward is approximately: 18 IP + 2.312 per minute IP. For a loss, the reward is approximately: 16 IP + 1.405 per minute IP.[2] @20 minutes: WINS = 64.24 IP @20 minutes: LOSSES = 44.1 IP @20 minutes: FIRST WIN OF THE DAY = WINS = 150 IP = 214.24

II. We make THREE assumptions here. WIN every game from 1-30. WIN every game at 20 minutes. Gain the average IP of Win + Loss + First Win Bonus which is ~107.5267.

So @ Level 30 = 365 GAMES x 107.5267 IP = 39 247.2455 IP

Let's assume that a person wants to spend no money at first. 16 champs minimum for Ranked. Current standards would mean 10,800 IP for the 16 cheapest champs you can buy. So that means you have ~28,447 IP left for runes.

So let's look at say.. 4 of the most essential Rune pages for this season.

Standard ADC + Jungle Yi Page: AD Marks, Attack Speed Quints, Armor Seals, MR Glyphs. Cost: 8,610 IP

Standard AD (Jungle/Top): AD Marks, AD Quints, Armor Seals, MR Glyphs. Cost: 3,075 IP (Due to previously bought runes)

Standard AP: Magic Pen Marks, Armor Seals, MR Glyphs, AP Quints. Cost: 4,920 IP (Due to previously bought runes)

AP Top Lane Tank (Maokai, Singed): Magic Pen Marks, Scaling Armor Seals, Scaling MR Glyphs, AP Quints. Cost: 5,535 IP (Again. Previous runes can be used here.)

2 Additional Pages: 12,600 IP

Total cost for 4 pages: 8,610 + 3,075 + 4,920 + 5,535 + 12,600 = 34,740 IP

So the total cost of 16 Champions + 2 Extra Rune Pages + Runes = 45,540 IP

That means we do not have enough at level 30 to buy all of the above, as Runes and Rune Pages are so prohibitively expensive. The deficit? 6,293 IP.

So let's take it a step further. How long would it take at level 30, to pick up enough IP to cover the deficit?

That would be (6,293)/(107.5267) = 58.525 (Rounded to three places.)

You need an extra 59 games to cover it.

So how do we make this system better? How can we make it easier for new players to jump into various roles, and give a better experience? I'm open to hearing any ideas as long as you can back them up.

Sources: https://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/vow87/the_numbers/ https://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/2s5snf/cheat_sheet_for_rune_pages_for_the_2015_season_as/ https://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/2gnt16/the_ip_system_really_needs_an_overhaul_for_new/

28 Comments

TurquoiseYoshiAug 30, 20153 votes

Make rune pages free. I shouldn't be deciding between buying a champion and getting an extra page to hold my runes that I still need to buy. Just give everyone 20 free rune pages (like how you get 20 free mastery pages). Then maybe I could actually try to get extra rune pages instead of completing my champion roster.

Angry MonsterAug 30, 20151 votes

or maybe since you have to pay 0 for the game you choose one of the 2 current options. Spend some cash or grind out IP

edit To those that are down voting. You can down vote but the fact of the matter is that you have to pay one way or another in this game. Reality sucks and the fact you are down voting reality is a problem for you later.

TurquoiseYoshiAug 30, 20151 votes

Or maybe I can pay money for something interesting, like skins, and spend my IP for something interesting, like champions.

Angry MonsterAug 30, 20151 votes

Yeah you can want. But that does not matter. The point is that the IP system is their to make you choose. Sad that you do not understand really.

Riot is trying to force you to spend money.

TurquoiseYoshiAug 30, 20151 votes

So, in making a system where you don't need to spend money for anything directly impactful for the game, they are forcing you to spend money. Alright sure I'm the one who doesn't understand.

Angry MonsterAug 31, 20151 votes

See you admit it; you do not understand. You pay in cash or time. You are trying to say you do not have to do either which is asking riot to give you things.

i would say go play Pokemon but you would probably cry that you do not have all the Pokemon at the start.

TurquoiseYoshiAug 31, 20151 votes

Actually, I'm somebody who has played Pokemon for quite a few years and has enjoyed it since a young age. Betcha didn't know that.

Angry MonsterAug 31, 20151 votes

you made that you need more than one game to get them all? OR you were you angry cause you had to go hunt down pokemon and then bother leveling them up?

TurquoiseYoshiAug 31, 20151 votes

Not really that "made." If anything, it would be that sometimes they release temporary Pokemon. If you aren't there, you can't get those Pokemon. It would be like Riot releasing a champion for a month and then discontinuing it forever. However, those Pokemon aren't required for the Pokedex, so it's not too bad.

DecritAug 31, 20151 votes

that probably is the one that won' t be removed: ot cpsts RP, and people that paid for that should have theyr expence safeguarded; it would feel like shit to know the thing you spent money on is no more, right?

RolldembonesAug 30, 20152 votes

Hi there,

I recently helped a friend out that was leveling to 30 on how to maximize his IP usage. The following is just my opinion, I know others won't agree.

Champions: Alistar and Tristana free, Facebook and Youtube promotions. 8100 for the next 14 cheapest champs.

Runes: With these set ups no additional rune pages. 9 flat AD marks=1845 3 flat MR Glyphs=615 6 scaling MR Glyphs=1230 9 flat Armor Seals=1845 3 flat AP Quints=3075 2 flat AD Quints=2050 1 flat Att Spd Quint=1025

Use the same Marks, Glyphs and Seals for each page, the AP Quints for your AP page and AD, Att Spd Quints for your AD page

19785 is the new total, 25755 IP lower then your calculations for minimum runes and champs.

I know most will question the AD marks on the AP page. I saw a vlog a while back where Dyrus recommended them for AD and AP champs for laners, he also stated it helps newer players in getting better at cs. As for AP supports it is viable as well for extra harass damage.

ONLY buy additional rune pages when they go on sale 2 for 1. (About twice a year).

Every week make sure you try every free champs at least once, even in a bot game. This will help you see which champions you wish to buy next, as well as give you a bit more game knowledge.

As for moving on, I would try to keep a balance of 6300 ip, you want to be able to buy a rune page if they come on sale 2 for one. Don't buy anymore runes until you have more rune pages but if you bought more rune pages work on runes. If you try a free champ and love playing him buy it! I can not stress enough, do not buy fotm champs, or champs that you like the idea of until you have played them. 6300 ip is a lot of your time to spend saving for a champ you might play for 3 games then realize you hate playing.

I hope this helps :).

Silents429Aug 30, 20152 votes

Yes ride that bandwagon up, your post has literally added nothing the 2 on the front page already.

Fantomex XIIIAug 30, 20151 votes

Except I didn't even think that this would be part of the bandwagon. This was posted and researched merely out of my own frustration.

Silents429Aug 30, 20152 votes

What a coincidence you decide to do it the day the uproar about this subject is occurring right?

Fantomex XIIIAug 31, 20151 votes

Honestly? Yeah big time. I generally pop on to the boards if i'm curious as to what Riot has been replying to as of late. Didn't see anything in the Red Tracker. So I posted something I was curious about, that I thought might get a Riot reply, if I was calm, remained civil, and provided numbers and sources for information.

Stiv1234Aug 30, 20151 votes

Make Runes and Pages cheaper? Or outright remove them?

Madara896Aug 30, 20151 votes

I really don't think champions are too expensive. I know we are talking here about the people who are not playing hardcore 20+ games a day because for them (and me) it's very easy. I want to tell you all that I never had even half a runepage until 300+ games over lvl 30 or even maybe 400+. I never really neded them. They sure are a nice boost but most of the time I would have won my lane very nice without runes.Even after 400 games I still only had half AD runepage (only the ad part) and I was good with it. They aren't totally necessary. League isn't a game for players that play 1-2 games per day. League is a game of patience. You aren't going to have fun first 100 games. The fun begins after you entirely understood the game.

Player of GamesAug 30, 20152 votes

{quoted}

I really don't think champions are too expensive. I know we are talking here about the people who are not playing hardcore 20+ games a day because for them (and me) it's very easy. I want to tell you all that I never had even half a runepage until 300+ games over lvl 30 or even maybe 400+. I never really neded them. They sure are a nice boost but most of the time I would have won my lane very nice without runes.Even after 400 games I still only had half AD runepage (only the ad part) and I was good with it. They aren't totally necessary. League isn't a game for players that play 1-2 games per day. League is a game of patience. You aren't going to have fun first 100 games. The fun begins after you entirely understood the game.

The issue is that anyone who is using T3 runes going against someone with sub-optimal rune layouts, or even none, that person is a severe numerical disadvantage compared to the full rune page guy. Sure you can win lane, after all it's based on skill. But you cannot deny that NOT having runes is a big decrease in power.

Ice BirbAug 30, 20151 votes

make rune pages cost less. like 3150 ip per rune page

Count ZubatAug 30, 20151 votes

I started buying runes at level 27, before that I was able to play, though I could see that people with runes had significant advantage against me, especially those playing AD champs. I started buying runes when there was rune sale at the beginning of this season and it was pain in the ass. I still have only two rune pages: basic AD page and basic AP page, and I don't really want to buy anymore, because there are so many awesome champs to buy :( Kinda a shame, especially when I think that some jungle and tank runes would come in handy, but when I think about spending 6300 IP for a single goddamn rune page... This makes me sick.

Angry MonsterAug 31, 20151 votes

then spend real money and buy rune pages.

khmaricanAug 30, 20151 votes

Riot should introduce a 3rd currency that is obtained through playing games like IP and EXP, but have this only be used to purchase runes/rune pages. This gives players an additional option to purchase runes while still allowing them to purchase champions. Possibly also allow players to sell back runes for this currency, so buying tier 1/tier 2 runes isn't such a waste

Angry MonsterAug 30, 20151 votes

It is almost like riot wants you to spend money on the game........................... imagine that

Dunkrius2gAug 30, 20151 votes

If i was riot, i would do this, in where you have to grind for ip but it wont be that hard.

All items that cost IP will permanently get a 50% off. All matches that give IP will be doubled permanently.

Angry MonsterAug 31, 20152 votes

and now the incentive to spend money is greatly reduced. Are you aware that it costs money to run the servers, buy equipment, pay personal and then pay investors for the money they put into the game.

Dunkrius2gAug 31, 20151 votes

Then i see no problem with people grinding for IP. It makes more sense.

I still would add this though that you get atleast 25% off specifically for runes for 1 day in a month or twice in a month.

Ulquiorra995Aug 31, 20151 votes

I see no problem with runes costing IP. HOWEVER, Rune pages costing 6300 are utter and complete bullshit. They should be free or at least much less expensive. I can live with grinding for runes, but now I also need to grind to even be able to use those expensive runes that I just bought. Hell, 3 of 4 pages OP posted actually cost less to build than to buy a runepage.

MLDzXnRRRAug 31, 20151 votes

I don't like the runes - they ruin the balance - your champions is supposed to have low base dmg and good scaling - just get 15 dmg from runes; you are supposed to be easy target early game and monster later (Nasus) - just stack armor, so you can't be poked out of lane. And so on. Runes make all the champions too good early, if you choose the right runepage in the start of the game.