How it came to pass that Riot stepped on their words from Preseason or A Discussion on Lethality

First, let me say that I hold absolutely no grudge against Riot, and that this is not a flamer post. I wish merely to point out some Balance issues that have developed over this season, and how they are the direct opposite of what Riot aimed for.

Now, let's remind ourselves the glorious preseason patch notes where Riot sort-of announced The End of the Tank Meta, among other things, but far more important was the announcement where they said that for this season they will aim for greater Telegraphy. Meaning that they wished to give space for more counterplay. Meaning that more things will be a bit more telegraphed, more noticable, more avoidable. That one would have time to react. That death, if you're a squishy champion, was not a certainty. And we cheered in joy, oh how we cheered. League was going to become a higher-skill cap game! Hooray!

• This is not sarcasm, but mournful remembrance.

Now we approach the new meta, which has grown quite popular - and that is Put Lethality on Everything. Ladies and gentlemen, there are many clips on the interwebs today that display the absurdness of One-shots, Insta-gibs, however you wish to call them. Basically, an event where champion A, usually with Lethality, attacks champion B, and kills them in less then 2 seconds. Quite often even in less then 1. Now we see the paradigm that so clearly contrasts the wishes of Riot from the Preseason, or even before (since that was not the first time they wished for more counterplay space).

Let me state that I play those same Lethality champions. I love playing Zed, Talon, Nocturne. Shaco, etc. But it feels unfair sometimes, and I feel regret that Riot has not achieved what they wanted. But somehow in the process made the situation even worse. You now also have Lethality Jarvans, Rivens - even AD carries often build Lethality nowadays. So what is happening is that - suddenly - everyone's becoming an Assassin, instead of being representative of their respectful classes. Of course, people will always experiment with items, and invent new, crazy builds that work in a weird way, breaking the dreaded Meta. But to this Lethality business I say: Not Like This, gentlemen, Not Like This.

And now, I fear, we are coming full circle. Why? Two words: Cho Gath. The Tank meta is threatening to come back. And strong. But such worries are for the future, no? Mayhaps. I leave that to you, dear Riot.

With sincere respect and love, A worried Summoner.

P.S. This was not meant as a scornful blurt at Riot, as in the sense of 'Oh how could you do this'. No, rather, I would wish for Riot to take notice of the things that are going wrong. And maybe that they've strayed a bit from the path they initially set on.