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Teammate Ultimate-Timers

Zanchee··163 votes·9,435 views

Reddit Post

summoner 13

Dear Rito,

Almost a year ago, you clearly expressed to us that Clarity was a key point in the design process of League of Legends.

LoL Design Values: In-depth with Clarity

  • "Gameplay clarity is incredibly important for the evolution of League of Legends."
  • "Gameplay clarity relates to the availability of information."
  • "League of Legends provides three basic paths to mastery: personal expertise, teamwork, and adaptability."
  • "The job of clarity is to refine knowledge such that both parties can make intelligent choices."

With the idea of Clarity in mind, you gave us Red, Blue, Dragon and Baron timers.

  • "The new jungle timers are nestled at the top of the screen. They won't be presenting any new or hidden information. Rather, they present existing information in a visual display."
  • "Jungle timers...serve as an example of important information being presented in an impractical manner."
  • "The emergence of third party applications put fuel on the fire, but they only increased our confidence that such a feature was in line with our values."

These timers have been exceptionally useful in coordinating with teammates to capture these pivotal objectives, increasing strategy, teamwork and gameplay.

Your reason for justifying these additions to League of Legends were as follows.

  • They didn't reveal any information that wasn't already known by each team or individual player.
  • They encouraged teamwork and strategy from each team, allowing teams to work together, to control an objective.
  • It was a crucial part of gameplay, and having to remember what time an objective was taken, while playing the rest of the game is unnecessary.
  • Players shouldn't have to rely on 3rd party applications to remember information that should be a part of gameplay

summoner 13 ==================================================================== It is for these same reasons that Teammate Ultimate-Timers are also a good idea for the Clarity of League of Legends.

  • They don't reveal any information that a player doesn't already know.
  • These timers help teammates work together, it allows teammates that aren't talking on 3rd party applications to more easily communicate with each other. It allows better coordination and use of strategy, which increases the involvement and gameplay for each team.
  • It is an important part of gameplay, players shouldn't have to ask their teammates how long until their Ultimate Ability is off of its cooldown, they should know. A second spent typing is a second you aren't CSing.

This is a small but incredibly useful change to the gameplay of League of Legends, that would be incredibly beneficial to the team aspect that is so profoundly encouraged throughout the League of Legends community.

  • Clarity is a design value we've been pursuing for some time, it's also one where we have great opportunities to grow.

Show us that you are dedicated to the Clarity of League of Legends, you said yourself that you have room to grow, and here is a perfect opportunity to pursue that goal.

Thanks!

Zanchee

57 Comments

EndlessSorcerer19 votes

They already have a wonderful display in spectate mode for the cooldown timers of ultimates and summoner spells. I really don't know why it's not used in-game.

renullification1 votes

Really? I had no idea! So, how hard must it be to implement?

EndlessSorcerer1 votes

I can't imagine it would be too hard, since they already have the design and an existing example of the code. They should just have to modify it for in-game use and replace the existing display.

renullification4 votes

I'll never say it's easy, because I'm a programmer, and little things can always be the biggest pain. But, I will say it doesn't appear to be that difficult...and with an army like Rito, I'm sure they could get it done.

EndlessSorcerer2 votes

I'm a programmer too; definitely feel your pain there. I only meant to say that they had a template of it already coded which could be used as a base for implementing it, so it wouldn't be as intensive as creating a new solution from scratch.

renullification1 votes

Yea, I get what you're saying! Didn't think of it that way!

renullification8 votes

This is an incredibly small addition to the current gameplay of League of Legends, but I think it would be very useful for team coordination. I would love to see this implemented!

Nice suggestion Zanchee!

Zanchee2 votes

Yea, hopefully it gets implemented!

renullification1 votes

Riot better look at it! If they say no, they better give us a good reason!

Jitasi1 votes

It would diffidently improve teamwork!

badooga4 votes

Or just have it work like a clock, where the circle is black but slowly fills in in a clockwise manor until it is completely green. For clarity it could theoretically fill in yellow until it is off CD and is green.

Zanchee3 votes

This is exactly what I want to happen, subtle, but incredibly descriptive!

Jitasi2 votes

I like the clockwise circle green dot instead of the Spectator mode version.

Flying Buntcake2 votes

Make this HUGE so it will happen

Zanchee2 votes

Thanks for the enthusiasm! I hope this gets huge, it would feel great to have started something!

Jitasi1 votes

Why isn't this huge already?

Summonerrr 12 votes

Agreed!

Zanchee2 votes

I'm glad you agree!

Migrañaboy2 votes

I guess Rito leaves it this way so you communicate with your team. :v This feature is quite obvious to implement, but somehow they are reluctant to do so.

Zanchee2 votes

I feel like having it would encourage more communication. I don't know why they would be reluctant to do so. If they have a reason not to, I would love to hear it.

Migrañaboy1 votes

To tell you the truth, I've observed games where people don't talk the whole game, until the team starts talking about the ult timers, usually the precursor to start talking about the team dynamics.

Just my particular case though, I'm usually shy until somebody talks.

Zanchee2 votes

Fair point, but I don't think this would have a negative impact on teamwork. I appreciate your feedback though!

TwoD2 votes

Why doesn't league still not have this? It's such a simple thing to implement in the game. We need that teamspeak too...like why are these not implemented into the game yet? What reason is there again?

Zanchee2 votes

Ultimate Timers are a simple thing to ask for.

Teamspeak is not, I'm sorry to disagree with you. It's another completely different application, and there are already a multitude of other applications on the computer to accomplish such tasks.

Jitasi1 votes

Yea, we don't need teamspeak in League, that's what curse/skype and other stuff is for. It would just be a bigger game and might even downgrade the performance of League, causing latency.

WarlockLaw1 votes

They already have the icons next to champs that determine whether or not an ult is available and this would be a nice addition to that feature so I can plan around my teammates ults especially in bot lane or as a jungler

renullification3 votes

Yes! The green bubble is a start, but it would be so much better if it filled up clockwise like our abilities do! Even a bar, or counter!

Something, anything to make it more Clear

Dr Poro1 votes

Just a bit of feedback. I find it too hard to distinguish between abilities that are ready or on CD on your picture. I think it's a great idea, would just like to it to have a different color when on CD. The reason is that you don't want to detect whether there is a stripe in the icon or not for 12 icons in a blink of an eye. Yes, the shade is already a bit darker, but it's not enough imo because all ults have different shades and I don't know what exact shade each ult has (same for summoners but there are only 6-8 summoners used in SR so that's easier)

RyzeRework1 votes

i disagree i believe that you should communicate a place time and then talk about when ultimates will be available this timer just means that you can go in without much coordination and then ask people why they didnt use this ult at this time i think it would make the game a little more chaotic

Zanchee3 votes

I don't think it would stop communication at all, we have pings to signal engages.

We already know if their ult is up or not, so people already complain about not using it, so your point is kind of redundant.

I can't count how many times I stop to type out "How long unitl your ult is up?" If you aren't typing, you aren't CSing.

We simply want information provided to us that is already available.

RyzeRework1 votes

{quoted}

I don't think it would stop communication at all, we have pings to signal engages.

We already know if their ult is up or not, so people already complain about not using it, so your point is kind of redundant.

I can't count how many times I stop to type out "How long unitl your ult is up?" If you aren't typing, you aren't CSing.

We simply want information provided to us that is already available.

i didnt say communication would stop i said that instead of people asking people will just go and it will start more arugments like "why didnt you use your ult i saw you had it and its still up" ect.

ijustlikejuice3 votes

you can see when people have their ults up already.

Zanchee2 votes

People can already see that you have your ult. Therefore, if these arguments where to appear, they would already be happening on League of Legends as it is.

The green dot on you allies is telling you if your teammates have their ult.

We just want the timer while it's on cooldown, just like a normal ability.

I think you're missing the key concept of our suggestion.

Dryditch1 votes

I honestly think they should bring the spectator mode timers and stuff over to regular. It would be SO helpful to know who's got summoners at various points. Junglers could use the timers to help set up ganks, ADCs to call for exhausts or what-have-you, and supps to know they can engage because their lane has heal.

Zanchee1 votes

It would be great if they did that, but I'm still content with a clockwise filling green dot, just for our Ultimates.

Dryditch1 votes

I'd be fine with that too, and I kind of understand what they're going for by keeping it binary--force communication between players. I've assumed someone would use ulti when I engaged as a Jungler, but they just saved it instead, and we lost the gank because they didn't trust to use it at the right time.

Zanchee1 votes

But that is the same scenario with the green dot filling up, or being off and on. You will always wonder why your teammate didn't use their ult, regardless of the dot being a switch or a counter.

Dryditch1 votes

You're right. I didn't phrase it properly--by limiting information available, Riot wants to force player interaction. Not everyone plays with a three-man or four-man group in voice chat, for instance. Being forced to ask: "how long till ulti" means that the person you're asking is aware you might come in for a gank, and actually be prepared, even if they still ignore the crap out of ALL your pings.

Zanchee1 votes

I see your point, I guess I just feel that players should be able to communicate useful information, while not having to waste time communicating information like Ultimate Times.

I appreciate your feedback!

renullification2 votes

I'd be happy with spectator mode! It is really helpful and descriptive. I do agree with someone elses comment here, it can be hard to determine the shade of some ults though, there would have to be some clarity improvements!

Jitasi2 votes

Maybe a simplified version at least.

C9 HlGH1 votes

Would love to see this again

Jitasi1 votes

As would I, I think it's something so simple, but potentially something so useful! I wish more people would get involved in the conversation!

lukorn1 votes

i likes, plz rito implement!!

GrumbleyCakes1 votes

I think I like the communication currently required to coordinate ults more. I would not like this change.

Zanchee1 votes

I appreciate your feedback!

Soda Party1 votes

I think there should be added an option in the "pingingmenu" (idk what to call it xD) that when you choose it instead of "On My Way" or "Retreat" it'll display the name of the champion you're playing and how many seconds that's left before your ult is up.

MikoLone1 votes

It would be really nice. I mean it is up or it isn't just isn't enough information sometimes.

Zanchee1 votes

Exactly!

Nonlin1 votes

So what was the conclusion? Does riot condone the use of Ult Timers?

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