Temporary game mode idea: Traitor mode!

Raptamei·Mar 24, 2015·169 votes·8,448 views

Two teams of five play a regular match on SR. However, one player on each team is randomly appointed as the "traitor" before champion select starts. This player gets a loss if his team wins and a win if his team loses, and therefore has an incentive to toss the game. No one else on either team knows who the traitors are. (Edit: the enemy team knows who your traitor is and vice versa)

This player is not allowed to blatantly troll though: A team can start a vote against a player of their choice on their team at any time in game, declaring the target player the traitor. If they guess correctly, the team immediately wins and the traitor loses. If they guess wrong, the team loses and the traitor wins.

Nemesis draft was added as an answer to the misconception that low tier champs are "useless". Seeing as the community complains a lot about people who "intentionally play bad", perhaps we need this to demonstrate how difficult it is to actually do that.

106 Comments

The5lackerMar 24, 201578 votes

The idea is cute, but "Guessing the traitor wins the game" seems to make the rest of the game completely arbitrary. Why push when you can just play a guessing game?

I'd say if you want to do something like this, look up "Shadows over Camelot" for an idea of how a Traitor would work, especially the process of outing them. In that game, one of the Knight of the Round Table is a traitor, and outing him limits his power but still allows him to participate in the game. However, accusing an loyal Knight costs you a point you need towards victory, and can only be done a certain amount of time into the game.

I'd say outing a Traitor should initially make them targetable by your team as if they were an enemy champion, though you still retain all of their vision while they lose yours. Once you kill them, the enemy respawns on the enemy team, but your team gets some massive buff to compensate, like a perpetual Baron buff, and you also get the enemy's traitor, who likewise gets the buff. But if you guess wrong, you end up killing a teammate, which grants global gold to the enemy team, and then can't accuse another traitor for...5 minutes or so.

RaptameiMar 24, 20157 votes

{quoted}

The idea is cute, but "Guessing the traitor wins the game" seems to make the rest of the game completely arbitrary. Why push when you can just play a guessing game?

Because a random guess is 80% likely to give you a free loss instead. The point is to prevent the traitor from blatantly trolling, not to be invoked every game.

The5lackerMar 24, 201512 votes

So nobody will ever guess ever and again, the entire game is completely arbitrary. You might as well just play group russian roulette.

WarlockLawMar 24, 20151 votes

The problem I see is that if the traitor get feed or somehow lure the enemy to his team when they are low health then being the traitor may as well mean you lose if you do well. how about whoever you vote can't destroy structures/epic monsters but also is worth no gold to the enemy team

shadowhunter4444Mar 25, 20153 votes

I'm confused as to how the traitor loses from leading the enemies to his wounded teammate. Could you elaborate?

Old Man TeetoMar 24, 201519 votes

Seems like a good idea.

Every 5 minutes each team can vote a traitor. It allows them to kill them. If it's the real traitor, that team gets a permanent baron buff for the rest of the game, and swaps the two traitors in the game teams.

This way the game isn't instantly decided by who figured out the traitor, it's possible the traitor did enough damage already (maybe they baited some really bad team fights putting their team far behind) but gives the other team an advantage for being correct.

Chans Baby BoyMar 24, 20151 votes

Cute idea but way to easy to just feed and what if their really bad but they just decide their feeding so they ban them its too hard to tell for intentional feeding on this game its wont work with the LoL community none of them care about the game enough they'll make a game hell just for spiting another player (s)

wopMar 25, 20152 votes

You obviously didn't take the time to read grasshopper

Rew711Mar 25, 20151 votes

I want to be the one... who isn't it... but could be it.... when you least expect it.

wopMar 25, 20151 votes

{quoted}

I want to be the one... who isn't it... but could be it.... when you least expect it.

for some strange reason, I got a notification of this comment. This comment which had nothing whatsoever to do with me.

iLumaMar 25, 20151 votes

Because they replied to you.

wopMar 25, 20151 votes

lol for some reason this was in chronological view, so when I saw it, it looked like it was just all on it's own lol, same with yours until I changed it back

rtbf211279518Mar 26, 20151 votes

I feel like voting for traitors, you should only have a limited amount of tries, because if you go once per 5 minutes, you'd find the traitor at 30 minutes. I think you should only get 3 tries to find the traitor limited by a 5 minute interval. There should also be something to help people guess who the traitor is, but I have no ideas for that. Also, after 3 tries, you shouldn't automatically lose the game, you should just be stuck with the dilemma of entrusting anything to the 2 players who haven't been voted traitor, and knowing that at any time, they can throw the game. Oh, and if players blatantly put out that they are the traitor (trolling, saying it in chat, etc) the vote system should switch that player to the other team, (so basically you switch the old traitors), and then a new traitor is chosen. There's a catch though, while you think that the old traitor on the enemy side would be your new traitor, it's actually not. The traitor choosing is randomized, and only limited by the fact that your new person cannot ever be a traitor in that round. So if the next traitor calls out that he or she is a traitor, then the same process happens but the person that had gotten recently switched, can now be a traitor. Btw, this sounds like a fun game.

RaptameiMar 26, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Also, after 3 tries, you shouldn't automatically lose the game, you should just be stuck with the dilemma of entrusting anything to the 2 players who haven't been voted traitor, and knowing that at any time, they can throw the game.

There is no dilemma. You HAVE to lose the game if you get it wrong. Otherwise it would be too tempting to just try a random vote and hope you get lucky (your suggestion of 3 tries would actually give you a 60% chance to win if you randomly vote). AND because you have to win if you get it right, in order to prevent the traitor from going afk or intentionally feeding in a very obvious manner.

Most games would not be decided by votes. The vote system is only there to ensure the traitor is sufficiently subtle about it (possible improvement: show to the enemy team who the traitor is, so they can help the traitor make it not so obvious. Editing OP). If the traitor is subtle enough, then his team won't dare to vote.

People who claim that it is not fun to instantly win just because the enemy got a traitor vote wrong have never had the enemy team surrender in a regular game. :p

BatteryDeadMar 24, 20152 votes

My concern with this is how fun is it going to be if this power shift occurs and the losing team can't effectively fight for 10 more minutes of the game. If this buff is so powerful that the team that gets it can steamroll the enemy team why waste time and a potentially bad experience for the losing side? Could just end the game there after the guess which saves time.

I do see a problem with the original plan in that a random guess after 20 mins could end the game in a completely random fashion, but again they could make it so that a majority have to start a vote and the 4 allies have to vote out the traitor. Make it harder to end the game to avoid trolling.

eh, each system can work. Just depends on how it's implemented, personally I'd prefer a shorter game, I don't like wasting 10 minutes on a game I believe is already gone.

The5lackerMar 25, 20151 votes

Isn't that basically how Baron Buff currently works? You have to work much harder to defend it because in order to get it you have to place yourself at risk. Likewise, guessing wrong results in you killing a teammate with no reward and wasting your guess from then on in.

Also, if someone had a permanent Baron Buff, do you REALLY think the game would last for 10 more minutes?

M0RDEKA1SERMar 24, 20151 votes

Nice to see another board-gamer!

I think a traitor mechanic closer to Betrayal at House on the Hill would be what this guy is looking for though. Thoughts?

The5lackerMar 25, 20152 votes

Another good game, but not a good point of comparison as the traitor in BaHotH doesn't know they're the traitor until the haunt is revealed and therefor can't play around it.

The best comparison points for how I imagine the game mode would play out would be a combination of Shadows over Camelot and Town of Salem/Werewolf. Someone has to pretend to be on your side but is trying to subtle sabotage you, while you have to be careful who you accuse for fear of both losing the opportunity to accuse again later and helping the traitor by killing an innocent.

FreljordanMar 25, 20151 votes

traitor should then also be able to damage his own team since they can damage him.

The5lackerMar 25, 20151 votes

Not if accused. The accusation system would exist to REWARD the team for correctly guessing the traitor. Having the traitor be able to defend himself against such accusations is ridiculous.

Have you ever played Town of Salem? Imagine if, when you voted to hang somebody, they got a glock and were told to defend themselves. That'd be abysmal.

Sneak DogMar 25, 20151 votes

What if your traitor is an adc and the opponents traitor is a support? Suddenly the enemy tanks are unkillable.

Trading traitors has a serious team composition impact on Summoners Rift.

The5lackerMar 25, 20151 votes

Kinda like having an entire team of VI's would have a serious impact on team composition.

It's a featured game mode. Who gives a shit about the finer points of balance in it so long as the experience is interesting?

Argomecha PerdixMar 24, 201547 votes

This already exists, its called SoloQ.

NinjaToad99Mar 24, 201512 votes

http://i.imgur.com/sPwgpLj.gif

CoolKnightSTMar 24, 201512 votes

I think it would be more fun a random player from every team switch from side every 5 minutes.

mjack33Mar 24, 201511 votes

Bard

Hi.

Deadly MittensMar 24, 20155 votes

Anivia

You can cc your teammates once every 2 minutes? How cute :3

FredFreddersonMar 25, 20152 votes

Trundle Time to Troll!

Baxter900Mar 25, 20155 votes

Kalista Ahem, hello!!! I'm feeling ignored!

Alistar What do you mean you don't want me to knock their team away!?!

Gragas I ulted, saved them, you happy?

Janna Pushed their carry away from our tank, nothing wrong with that, right?

LeeSin I kicked them for 900 damage, why are you complaining that they're under their own turret now?

JarvanIV Oh no, they're getting away, how do I get rid of this wall around us?

iLumaMar 25, 20151 votes

Rammus Ok.

Daedalus871Mar 24, 20159 votes

I do like the idea of traitor mode, but guessing the traitor shouldn't be an instant loss.

Instead when you guess the traitor, (available at 10 with a 5 minute guessing cd), it should make them killable by allies. If the person was the traitor, they should then spawn on the enemy team, with the ally team getting a buff large enough for them to 4v6, also granting gold for kills and assists. If the person was not the traitor, then the traitor gets kill gold and the enemy team gets assist gold and maybe a longer death timer, possibly a permanent death.

ScreamPasteMar 24, 20151 votes

{quoted}

I do like the idea of traitor mode, but guessing the traitor shouldn't be an instant loss.

Instead when you guess the traitor, (available at 10 with a 5 minute guessing cd), it should make them killable by allies. If the person was the traitor, they should then spawn on the enemy team, with the ally team getting a buff large enough for them to 4v6, also granting gold for kills and assists. If the person was not the traitor, then the traitor gets kill gold and the enemy team gets assist gold and maybe a longer death timer, possibly a permanent death.

An easier way to do it would be: If the traitor is discovered, his traitor status is /removed/ and he has to help his team win to achieve victory.

AbodyHUN666Mar 24, 20152 votes

The problem is, it could be too easy to admit you are the traitor and play normally for the easy win. Once the traitor is revealed, he should have a big loss.

EnkidusmurfMar 25, 20151 votes

Killable by allies? But what if the traitor just happens to walk over a presumably friendly Teemo shroom?

Daedalus871Mar 25, 20152 votes

Then enemies and the accused take damage. Allies do not.

RaptameiMar 24, 20157 votes

Of course this is Boards, the land of downvotes without comments...

ChaosThiefMar 24, 20154 votes

I would think that one of the features is that "team damaging" is allowed, as well as destruction of things such as turrets and maybe, just maybe, remove being able to see friendly units(only limited to wards and towers within base range(inhib towers and nexus towers). And finally, if someone is killed, a large monster is killed, or a tower is destroyed but you do not have direct vision, it will display the following: For champions: ???? has killed a player!(insert icon here) - if you can see who died but you can't see who killed them. A player (insert icon here) has killed ???? - if you can see the one who kills the target, but not the target killed. A player(insert icon here) has killed another player! (insert icon here) - if both are visible.

For towers: ???? has destroyed the X tower! - if you can see the tower but not the destroyer X has destroyed the ???? tower! - if you can see who destroyed it but not which tower ???? has destroyed the ???? tower! - if neither are visible Replace X with either what destroyed the tower(minion, champion, etc) or with which tower was destroyed(it will be location specific)

I think you get the idea. Maybe make it a little more... rewarding, to ward, as well as to play safe. And, you would have less chance of location who is the traitor and who is not simply based on what they do.

red panda zMar 25, 20154 votes

Hmm... What about this:

Each team has 1 randomly decided traitor. That traitor's victory condition is that the opposing team wins. (Stays the same) Global gold will affect the 4 members of your team and the 1 traitor on the enemy team Global buffs will affect all 5 members of your team including the traitor to avoid unintentionally outing someone

At the shop, the traitor can buy certain benefits for the enemy team. Here are some examples: Ward Coordinates: Grants the enemy team vision of your currently placed wards. This vision lasts until those wards are gone. This does not reveal wards placed after the item is purchased. Gold Stash: Steals up to 100 Gold from each member of your team and gives it to the enemy team. The gold will be taken from all other teammates and only affect loyal members of the enemy team. If a player has less than 100 gold, it will take all the gold they have. Explosives: The enemy team deals additional magic damage to structures for 3 minutes.

Only 1 Traitor Item can be purchased every 5 minutes. For the enemy team, you would get an announcement like: "An enemy informant has granted you vision!"

Much like the surrender vote, you can vote to declare someone is a traitor. This vote can be made 10 minutes into the game and every 5 minutes after that. The vote must be 3 out of the 4 not being voted on. That player loses vision of allied champions and can be targeted by them. It also disable's the traitor items in the shop for that player if the guess is correct.

Killing the Traitor grants global gold to your team and a temporary global buff. A killed traitor will then officially switch sides and respawn on the opposing team.

Falsely accusing an ally champion and slaying them grants the same global gold the the enemy team and the the global buff.

This buff and gold should be large enough to warrant not wanting to guess wrong.

The enemy team would also receive announcements on traitor votes, for example: "The enemy team has declared a traitor!" A successful guess will also prompt this message in the chat box after the champion has been slain: (Champion) has joined your team/the enemy team!

BorfinMar 24, 20153 votes

I'm not sure I'm a fan of the team immediately winning if the traitor is found. Maybe they get a huge buff or something.

S H A Y C 0Mar 24, 20153 votes

I think your idea starts out with a decent concept then goes to a bad place. Consider this instead.

Normal draft. Game starts, and at the same time dragon spawns 1 player from each team is marked as the traitor...then automatically switches teams no matter where they are on the map. Yes the fountain will lazer you, but youre a traitor you deserve it :P It can happen again at some point to keep it interesting.

terkmcMar 24, 20153 votes

Traitor mode: Friendly Fire enabled.

nerdydinoMar 24, 20153 votes

could make it so he has like a "traitor chat". A driect line of communication with the enemy team. This could be accomplished in a couple ways. One way is it could be broadcasted to the entire enemy team (this would be the enemy traitor has access to the info you (the ally traitor) gave them. Or it could go to everyone except the traitor in this case they lack the counter knowledge (which is good) but are then susceptible to being baited out by the rest of the team saying things only one person wouldnt know. Or last way is they can only communicate with one random non-traitor member, downside is this narrows down the traitor options by 1 player

DreadlocksMar 24, 20152 votes

This sounds like "phantom" on StarCraft :) anyone else play it? hehe

GooberpMar 24, 20152 votes

Interesting concept, but like some others have suggested, I think a better implementation would be to have the initial draft, and then at the loading screen, the teams have been shuffled. It would be neat to have to piece together a lane order from that.

hopadopagopalasMar 24, 20152 votes

I would just like to see a game mode where friendly fire is activated on every thing from champions, to minions, to towers. I think just that would add a lot of diversity to how league of legends is played

FreljordanMar 25, 20152 votes

what if a random player got switched with a random player on the enemy team? would mess up lanes and stuff so you would have to adapt.

Miku Lv99Mar 25, 20152 votes

I think it'd be better without the voting thing. I don't want the game to end just because my opponents took a vote. Also, if they ended the game with a vote, does my team win or lose or what? That just sounds so disappointing. Instead, I'd rather see this:

There is no voting against the traitor. The traitor gives no gold when killed. This way, they'll have to come up with a lot better of strategies than feeding in order to try to lose the game. Kalista disabled since she's too much better of a traitor than anyone else could be.

BorblandMar 25, 20152 votes

Bard : Oops guys, missclicked that ult

Edge of DaybreakMar 26, 20151 votes

so what stops people from admiting they are the traitor so that the game ends at 20 minutes? either way they get ip so you could just use it to farm ip faster. Also gets you through chat restricted games quicker.

RaptameiMar 26, 20151 votes

{quoted}

so what stops people from admiting they are the traitor so that the game ends at 20 minutes? either way they get ip so you could just use it to farm ip faster. Also gets you through chat restricted games quicker.

Brilliant plan!

Or you could just feed in regular games instead. You have a 100% chance to be able to do that instead of just 20%.