[{quoted}](name=Ass Backwards,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=BBjF5Vlw,comment-id=,timestamp=2018-12-12T01:34:40.535+0000)
doesn't do anything but hamstring smurfs
Two words: Suck Fmurfs.
[{quoted}](name=Ass Backwards,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=BBjF5Vlw,comment-id=,timestamp=2018-12-12T01:34:40.535+0000)
To my knowledge the only thing levels accommodate are the reward system which doesn't need levels to function. You could easily make capsules mission rewards or milestone rewards.
True. They probably considered that as an alternative. Levels just gives you a false sense of progression which can be a hook to certain players.
[{quoted}](name=Ass Backwards,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=BBjF5Vlw,comment-id=,timestamp=2018-12-12T01:34:40.535+0000)
I don't really understand the reasoning behind this design choice
You do, because you already acknowledged their obejctive.
[{quoted}](name=Ass Backwards,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=BBjF5Vlw,comment-id=,timestamp=2018-12-12T01:34:40.535+0000)
Is there some actual value to this slow and tedious progression?
I wouldn't call it slow, but I wouldn't call it progression either. You're not really progressing to anything, other than the few emotes and summoner banners you can get at certain milestones. Level 1000 is the same as levels 30..999 - except on what I already mentioned.
But it isn't slow. It shouldn't take more than 14 games to level up once, even in the worst case. A regular player has more than 20 games per week, so you're looking at 1..3 levels every week.
[{quoted}](name=Ass Backwards,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=BBjF5Vlw,comment-id=,timestamp=2018-12-12T01:34:40.535+0000)
Would it be that bad if everything was unlocked at the start and you just let people play the game fully as it was meant to be played?
Yes and No.
Yes, everything should be avaiable from the start (runes, summoner spells and normal game modes) but at the same time we need a good tutorial system.
One of the reasons why we unlock new stuff slowly goes back to the primordial of League. It was designed this way not to overwhelm new players with information. As a newbie in plenty of games I can tell that having everything at your fingertips from the get go is pretty daunting (eg DotA). That said, I believe it shouldn't be that slow.
In a perfect system you have the following:
- Tutorial for the basics - champion control and UI
- Tutorial for intermediate skills - spells, abilities, items, lanes, runes, etc
- Tutorial for advanced - farming, jungling, fighting
Right now we have a mix of everything in quick succession.
Everything should be unlocked as soon as you either complete the tutorials or skip them. For example, unlocking Smite only at level 9 doesn't make sense. Same thing with Runes.
