The Understated Importance of Imbalance

While playing, I've seen a lot of frustration with champions like and as much as I can appreciate the sentiment of a champion's stats being a bit high, I also find myself appreciating the power differences that are innate in a game of this scale. "Perfect balance" is synonymous with predictability and consistent strategies. Look at chess, with its named openings, maneuvers, and known outcomes. I like chess, but it's games like League that I prefer to have some level of imbalance.

Playing a game with complex systems results in simple solutions, such as Dota 2 when compared to League. I don't want to read a manual on functions and research numbers to find what advantages I have. Jukes, aiming skill shots, and other real-time elements that are moreso (in my opinion) a part of League than other similar games, is what makes me come back to it so many times. It's thrilling to me that I can play a champion with a lower win rate or widely considered to be sub-par stats and find a way to manage against more widely considered powerful champions, both on my own and with my team.

I'm not saying balancing isn't important or necessary - because it absolutely is, but complaining about a champion in a game, in my view, is selling the experience short. I don't want a "perfectly balanced" game. I don't think I would play League if every champion had consistent win rates.

Okay, that's my short rant/rave or whatever. I'm gonna go play against Zoe as Akali.