Why do we always have to change Summoner Icons for the quests?

Raoul·Oct 3, 2017·134 votes·2,876 views

I might be alone here, but I like my summoner icons.

And somehow, being forced to use one I dont want to use feels wrong :(

47 Comments

DogPaintedWildOct 3, 20179 votes

You're definitely not alone! I also made a board about it here: https://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/general-discussion/Hb6JLl6U-request-to-stop-tying-icons-to-missions

It made sense in the chaos vs order missions, but for the others it doesn't seem at all necessary. The star guardian mastery flares have been a thing it seems past the event which is so fun and satisfying to use, and I love the icon I worked for associated with it (S Onslaught icon) it seems a bit upsetting to have to forfeit something like that just to participate. Having icons to show off something you completed, or an old one you love is awesome! Having everyone required to use the same icon to participate in missions... not so awesome imo.

Loki the Sly OneOct 4, 20177 votes

There are extremely good reasons for that. The short answer is that helps advertising for events and new skins.

Short answer explained: First of all you need to consider that if you are reading this comment, you are not the average LoL player. If you are here is because you want to say your opinion about what's going on, and hope that Riot listens to you and make the Rift a better place. But you already know what's going on. You don't need Riot to tell you "Hey dude, I made this new mode, is supercool, wanna try it?". Chances are, if you are here, that you have seen vods on the new mode from PBE before it's released.

Missions are always linked to events, such as the Star Guardian mode(with the skins release) or such as Worlds. Riot spends money in order to offer this material to us, and they want to make sure they are not wasting that money. If you are reading this, you are probably not the reason for which Riot wants us to use a Worlds Icon. You know the tournament is coming, maybe you are interested, maybe you aren't, but using that Icon won't change it.

However, you, me and everyone on the Rift using Worlds Icons can make a difference for all those players who otherwise would have not known about Worlds. And for a physiological effect called "social pressure", by seeing everyone connected in some ways to the event, people will automatically, and subconsciously more interested in it. Maybe you will watch a game and you realize that you like it(happened to me two years ago). Or if it's an event, maybe you play the new mode and think "wow, this mode is awesome" and your appreciation for League grows, and you are less likely to switch to dota. Or maybe you see that there is a mission that requires Ashe in the game, and you think "why ashe?" and you realize that there's a new cool skin for her.

Honestly, using Icons is not a big price to pay. Even if Riot wasn't giving us free stuff for that. If Riot does something that can promote the game, make sure this game goes on, that competitive league becomes a big thing and asks me to change my summoner Icon for a few games a day for that... Tbh I'm fine with that.

Remember, the more money Riot makes, the more they are willing to invest in the game, as the game is giving them high returns. The more they invest in the game, the more awesome it becomes for us to be played.

RavenMagusOct 4, 20172 votes

Why forcing icons, though? There is Worlds news all over the place. The login screen has a special Worlds animation and Worlds music. The client is filled with Worlds news and upcoming Worlds matches and other things related to Worlds. And then the notifications about the new weekly quests which are also Worlds related.

If someone somehow made it through login and the main screen and somehow still doesn't know about Worlds, then I don't think seeing other players with a player icon is going to help them learn about it.

Forcing the icons does absolutely nothing to promote anything, honestly. It just forces us to use whatever new icon shows up every other week. I love the events and I do like the icons that every new event brings us, but I can never use them because every new event (which happens often now) brings new missions that force us to use a certain icon.

Think of it this way: There are summoner icons in the shop that cost RP to use. Some of them are pretty cool. Some people might spend actual money buying these icons, and then never get to use them because they are forced into whatever weekly event icon the missions are requiring them to use. This means that the money they paid to Riot is getting wasted because of the constant forced event icons.

Loki the Sly OneOct 6, 20171 votes

A side from the fact that it only takes a few games to complete the missions. My mission block is almost always empty.

The point to stress is again, in my opinion "social pressure". It is perceived differently by the player if Riot is advertising for worlds or if every other player in your party is. Why do you think presidential candidates make sure to be seen with other people who think well about them? Why do they sponsor t-shirts with their names printed on the back? You know about them, you don't need people to tell you about the presidential candidates of your country, but they still do it. Because it works.

Seth the GreenOct 4, 20172 votes

the icons (especially the world icon), that they force us to use, don't even look like anything. if i saw that icon, without knowing what it was, i would think it was a shitty generic one.

Loki the Sly OneOct 6, 20171 votes

When you do realize is a world Icon you will have 7 to 9 other people every game wearing it, and you will feel the effect of social pressure and be subconsciously more interested in the matter.

Champion SkinOct 6, 20172 votes

The main problem with that is that icons aren't all that visible and lots of people afk through loading screen (why wouldn't they?) so they don't even see the icons....

KnalxzOct 4, 20173 votes

Okay this is insane beyond all belief. Unless there is solid proof of this, there is no reason to believe this because you know why?

Literally everytime you go to log into the game you are treated to an updated login screen telling you what just came out or is coming out.

Every lol player sees the log in screen.

Then the first time you see when you get into the client is all sorts of news and messages. There is an a auto set ping to tell you when pro matches are going on. With all of those stacked together, the only people who wouldn't notice that stuff is doing it on purpose because they care so little and wouldn't be convinced by someone wearing an icon.

Hell even Baron and the Rift have been changed for worlds. If they change without people noticing then that'd just be crazy.

Loki the Sly OneOct 6, 20171 votes

I'm sorry you consider this to be insane. It is actually very simple and follows a logic of basic interests for riot.

Maybe english not being my first language made my comment diverge in a direction that I didn't want to take, moving away the focus.

It does not matter if they "know" about worlds. That is of course not enough. My mom knows about worlds, but ofc she doesn't give a shit. What matters is if they are interested. Bombing them with notifications is enough to let them know, but seeing other people involved (with icons, emotes and stuff), can actually make a difference. As I said, is a basic principle of psychology called "social pressure". Is not about convincing them to watch worlds, is to put that small seed, that tiny idea in their brain that at some point may trigger and make them say "you know what, I'd rather watch a pro game than study chemistry".

If you feel(not know or think, but feel), even at a subconscious level, that there is involvement of other players in the event, you are more interested. Period. It just happens, to everyone, even to those who are fully aware of it.

I hope that my argument, wether or not you approve riot "forcing" us to change icons, makes more sense to you now.

EnvonyxOct 3, 20174 votes

I like having my poro icon :C

sketchy1Oct 3, 20174 votes

[{quoted}](name=Relic of Ages,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=EWcbcGLH,comment-id=0003,timestamp=2017-10-03T19:09:38.115+0000)

I like having my poro icon :C

I read this as porn icon XD

EnvonyxOct 3, 20172 votes

{quoted}

I read this as porn icon XD

NO STOP

sketchy1Oct 3, 20171 votes

LMAO

Dr PoroOct 4, 20171 votes

Ornn icon?

NaonoOct 4, 20171 votes

POrnn icon!

The Yetii RiderOct 4, 20174 votes

I think it's because they want you to "opt in" to the event. In other words, you can't just complete missions without realizing that you're doing it.

DrCyanideOct 6, 20171 votes

Ok, but how's setting your Summoner Icon to the newest one once, leaving it there for the next several weeks, and accidently completing missions any different?

The Yetii RiderOct 6, 20171 votes

The difference is that you chose to use the Summoner Icon. By doing that you are at least tangentially aware of the event.

Warlord ScrapOct 3, 20172 votes

because reasons. Probably so riot can advertise whatever event there currently running

RalanrOct 3, 20171 votes

Or it's easier to track. Frankly idk.

Warlord ScrapOct 3, 20171 votes

{quoted}

Or it's easier to track. Frankly idk.

how would it make it easier to track thatd be like saying ford can track sales of blue mustangs easier than red mustangs.

RalanrOct 3, 20171 votes

I'd imagine it's because it's a threshold or something.

Idk, I don't do coding.

Warlord ScrapOct 3, 20171 votes

If anything forcing a summoner icon would make the coding more complex making it more likely to have a bug in the system and messing up.

Velzard of KozOct 3, 20172 votes

I can't imagine a reason for the icon in coding besides them not triggering tracking at all in non-icon games making there less data to process which may cause game to run smoothlier, however it seems to me unlikely it would cause such big difference that it would be neccesary.

LeetriOct 4, 20172 votes

If you have to equip the icon it means you willingly have to participate in the event, meaning you can't complete missions by accident. It's a way to track how many people are actively doing missions, basically.

Velzard of KozOct 4, 20173 votes

But then again, making a check-box in Missions GUI like "Activate Missions" would do the same while not requiring icon. What If someone doesn't want to participate in the event but happens to like one of the icons?

rtbf225618241Oct 4, 20171 votes

Bad comparison: The cars are registered anyways so there's honestly no reason to do such a thing.

Warlord ScrapOct 4, 20171 votes

Dealerships definately do track car colors hough

rtbf225618241Oct 4, 20171 votes

Yeah but so what? It's irrelevant regardless and i'm not entirely sure but it'd make sense that the color is registered aswell.

Warlord ScrapOct 4, 20171 votes

thats sorta the point im making. Now while theres actual legal ramifications to car color. Your missing the point of the analogy.

rtbf225618241Oct 5, 20171 votes

The only thing i missed is that i basically repeated your point now. Ok then.

Fecal Eruptions Oct 4, 20171 votes

{quoted}

how would it make it easier to track thatd be like saying ford can track sales of blue mustangs easier than red mustangs.

Okay but that's actually really easy to track and it has been/is being track regularly. In a very detailed fashion, I might add. So yes..it would be very possible and likely for Riot to track how many people use event icons and it would be very easy to see how that data could be useful.

MasziiOct 4, 20171 votes

{quoted}

Or it's easier to track. Frankly idk.

My privacy, nooooooo!

WariosOct 3, 20172 votes

From what I understand, missions are optional, part of the mission is to use the icon. Personal choice if you decide to equip it or not.

Acheron16Oct 4, 20171 votes

{quoted}

From what I understand, missions are optional, part of the mission is to use the icon. Personal choice if you decide to equip it or not. Why would anyone not do the missions?

They offer free shit and without the icon stupidity you would be able to do it just by playing.

jama655Oct 4, 20172 votes

it took alot of work to get my perfect ascension icon but with all these new missions i dont get to stunt on these noobs with it :/

dark100dark100Oct 4, 20172 votes

Others know you want to do missions rather than wining the game.

The Ghøst KingOct 5, 20171 votes

sketchy1Oct 3, 20171 votes

idk why, and I doubt anyone else would know either, they just do it :/

but being that its only cosmetic appeal, for aa profile pic that your prolly gonna change back at the end of the event, ittle probably bother less then 1% of players

archerno1Oct 3, 20171 votes

So people have choice whether they wanna do missions or not. There are people with certain....conditions,that if they see something half complete, they cant sleep at night. They would rather not do it at all than leave it half done.

DragonSheaOct 4, 20171 votes

I'd rather just buy the fucking pass than then get the master missions. having to do any of the missions because of a icon change is just a bad design.

CatastropOct 4, 20171 votes

At the very least they could have made the world's icon a bit more exciting IMO, I didn't have much issue using icons for mission progress because at least the icons looked half way decent.

AσtsukeOct 4, 20171 votes

I'm not even doing the missions because of the icon, it's so blank, even worse when 9/10 people in a game has it...

AtanchanOct 4, 20171 votes

Pretty sure you can use the Pick 'Em Poro icon and the team icons, too, as missions require a Worlds icon, not the Worlds icon.

rampaging poetOct 4, 20171 votes

Pretty sure it's because they coded missions that need icons for Order vs Chaos, and they're re-using the same code without removing the "icon" requirement.

Dr PoroOct 4, 20171 votes

How can you not like to use this poro icon? How?