@Riot How hard is it to balance league of legends

Simuku·Feb 5, 2017·3 votes·1,110 views

I understand you guys try your hardest to keep the game balanced but how hard is the job? In my eyes it doesnt seem like its that difficult realising that something is op then nerfing it. Dont get me wrong, im sure the balance changes in terms of numbers is confusing and challenging to deal with but when it comes to certain mechanics surely it should be a quick fix. For example, at this point in time Kha'Zix is pretty overpowered. What i would do is revert the q evolution to how it was in season 6 and then see how things play out. But then again thats me.

9 Comments

MagicFlyingLlamaFeb 5, 20172 votes

A lot harder than you think.

Any change tends to have cascading changes to the metagame - nerf one champion and another suddenly becomes important. Nerf or buff an item/mastery and everyone that builds it, and everyone that it counters, are directly affected.

WoonStruckFeb 5, 20171 votes

Meanwhile Riot goes and completely fucks up balance on a yearly/semi-yearly basis with preseason/midseason changes.

Hard to claim that actually balancing the game would be hard when Riot intentionally fucks it up constantly.

Don't see that kind of stuff happening in other MOBAs, many of which are more complicated than LoL.

MagicFlyingLlamaFeb 5, 20171 votes

I get the feeling riot has conflicts of interest within the balance department, or between them and esports.

They try to rebalance to improve game health without properly testing all the collateral damage and without giving enough time for feedback and meta development.

WoonStruckFeb 5, 20171 votes

Pretty much this.

They never give time for meta development anymore. And any time a meta development does happen without their balance intervention, they gut part of it out of usability so the thing that was originally a problem remains a problem.

Meep ManFeb 5, 20172 votes

Incredibly hard. Almost every balance change is littered with trap doors.

specter424Feb 5, 20171 votes

if they balanced the game a lot of people wouldn't have jobs.

WoonStruckFeb 5, 20171 votes

Not as hard as Riot makes it out to be.

That said, its not as simple as 'nerf it'. Its a good starting point for things blatantly out of line though...

######COUGH JAYCE COUGH

legionnaire99Feb 6, 20171 votes

it's not possible to balance a MOBA

JackMcSnipeyzFeb 6, 20171 votes

Great idea, so you say revet kha's Q change? You know it was changed for a reason right?

Balance will never be achieved in a game of this size, there's too many variables - player's skill, items, champion counters, map and position i can go on and on, but why? Just by making this thread you prove you lack any understanding of balancing an entire game