Boards›Gameplay

"Meta?"/"Bronze=bad"

Jad51·7/29/2016, 3:25:33 PM·14 votes·3,367 views

So I look at the boards almost everyday of the week for new and interesting things. From new skins, to game-play issues, and yes, even the memes. Though some recent threads and comments (I mean no disrespect to anyone) have grabbed my attention.

I've seen quite a lot of talk about what champions should be played or shouldn't and comments such as "silly bronzies" and what-not. I thought about these things and I don't understand why there has to be a certain "order" or meta to the game. I play League and while season 5 I was Silver I am currently Bronze 1 on my way back to silver, and all around me I hear comments that bronze are the worst and bronze suck and etc etc. Yet i see people say "This community is so toxic", but turn around and say people suck. Why not encourage these bronze players to be better, teach them how to be better, and see them grow into something more then a "bronze player".

Now onto this "Meta" topic. I play League of Legends and I know that there should be certain champions played in certain areas. Though I don't see why this has to be a thing honestly. I always thought League could be that game where you could pick up any champion you want and have fun playing it where you want. I remember playing Ashe jungle one time, and even though it didn't go well, me and my friends though it was funny and we had a great time with it. Though today I threads talking about how "Master Yi support is a Bronze 5 support". Though why pick on someone if they just want to enjoy the game and come up with creative ideas? I will never understand it.

I don't expect these issues to dissolve because of one post, yet I just felt like I should put my thoughts out there. (Sorry if my mind wondered throughout this post, I'm not too good at writing)

Edit: I should have put in here that I was trying to talk about "off-meta" picks in the ranked system, the two topics about Bronze players being bullied and "meta" were meant to be separate. Sorry if this caused any confusion.

58 Comments

Rain Smurff7/29/2016, 3:31:21 PM8 votes

Meta stands for most efficient tactic available. Playing things that aren't efficient in ranked increases the chances of loss. Now, if you want to try crazy sht like Ashe jungle, keep it in normal games. Ranked is a place for player improvement, competition and for people with a drive to win. (Despite riots recent addition to dynamicQ)

But you get the point

BLACK REALM GOD7/29/2016, 4:20:42 PM6 votes

Ranked vs normals. Lcs is supposed to be a championship of the best league players. So when those players explain why they play their champs the way they do with math and show that it is very effective the lcs wannabes take that and try to use it because they want to be professional too. That's when you get players who refuse to acknowledge the legitimacy of alternative tactics.

the meta was designed by professionals as the go to plan for earning the most gold and XP in the shortest amount of time while also balancing character playstyle. It has been in use since the end of season1 and is the reason why I stopped playing during season 2 - my karthus kept getting banned by my own teammates in bronze because they feared what they had seen other players do. However there were a lot less champs back then so personally I don't think it's worth arguing over now.

now back to my point ranked vs normals. If you can't stand losing make a proper team and go play ranked. If you're playing with randoms in normal you're not team captain. If you ban a teammates pick you're an asshole. If you take a teammates pick without talking about it you're an asshole. Intentionally starting a fight over an allies pick makes you and asshole. Just play. If they die a lot they'll learn. If they don't die maybe just maybe they've discovered one of those "Korean builds". It's normals not ranked.

on to ranked. Ranked isn't worth playing without a team. You're never going to matter without a team. The points system makes sure of that. Comparing personal ranked solo que is pointless. Arguments started by accusing others of being terrible at the game because they're bronze or silver is the dumbest thing ever. Some bronze players know more about the actual mechanics of the game than some gold and gold+ players. They just have poor connection, terrible social skills, or a busy schedule.

in conclusion you're right. It's stupid. But then again so is any other form of certification as a way to judge someone. Doesn't stop it.

DrCyanide7/29/2016, 7:52:40 PM3 votes

Though today I threads talking about how "Master Yi support is a Bronze 5 support". Though why pick on someone if they just want to enjoy the game and come up with creative ideas? I will never understand it.

Lets make one thing abundantly clear - Master Yi "support" is Master Yi kill lane. There's not a single supporting ability in Yi's kit, so almost anyone would be a better support by the nature of their kit. Now, you can have fun with your kill lane, and it may work out, but don't call him a support.

Now, that out of the way, I'm fine with people playing off meta stuff. By it's very nature there are strengths and weaknesses compared to other builds/roles, so you've got to be aware of that, but you can overcome that with practice. I played AP Ezreal Mid for a lot of Season 5 (before Ruinglaive mostly, Season 6 changes killed it for me), it was a fine pick with a lot of damage, but it came at the cost of CC for the team. If my team didn't have enough CC between the rest of them, then it was a bad time to pick that build.

colesy7/29/2016, 4:41:54 PM2 votes

i'm diamond 3 and won a game a little while ago with a xerath+zyra bot lane.

as in, we literally didn't have an adc.

meta doesn't matter as much as you think it does.

VoidStaresBack7/29/2016, 3:52:42 PM2 votes

Best of luck getting to Silver, we're rooting for you!

LatetotheRace7/29/2016, 9:19:21 PM1 votes

Due to the way ranked works, there has to be massive bottom. Around 60-80% of players have to be in bronze/silver for the other ranks to really mean anything. As a result very few players are able to leave "elo hell" and they get flamed for it.

Only Play Darius7/29/2016, 9:46:43 PM1 votes

Master Yi support is a terrible idea because he has zero utility and is put in a role where he can't CS despite being one of the most item-dependent champs in the game. There is absolutely no reason to try it.

IreliaCarrlesU7/29/2016, 9:51:17 PM1 votes

70% of the community, is below plat.

inplane7/29/2016, 11:44:40 PM1 votes

I don't get why people think off-Meta choices are Bronze actions. Like I main Taliyah Support in mid Plat and I still do consistently well with the side of my teammates tilting uncontrollably at some points. I don't think off-Meta is even a factor when it comes to any elo below high Diamond.

Regarding the people bashing on off-Meta picks, ignore them. I haven't seen one good player who has said these things in champ select and performed well. Some of those people I've supported said nothing after I fed them a double kill on a silver platter. Some were still lost games and I was blamed afterwards (Lol), but it's just how things go for Support players.

Jhin UItd JFK7/30/2016, 12:16:51 AM1 votes

Bronze has always had a negative stereotype attached to it. Mostly I think it's because of inexperienced players reach level 30 and immediately think they're ready for ranked, and end up falling from their placements down to the cesspool of Bronze V.

As well as that, there are a lot of videos that make fun of these kinds of people (See: Wood Division Adventures) and it's ended up to become a phrase that's used whenever someone makes a questionable decision or play.

Because of this, it's automatically assumed that if you're Bronze you do the exact same things seen in videos and described by other people. It's also assumed that because you do those things you aren't knowledgeable about the game either. Simply watching a youtube video on League about upcoming changes, reading patch notes and keeping up on Surrender@20 for PBE changes really goes a long way in keeping yourself educated and learning more about the game. Hell, I have Gold friends who don't even look at patch notes until they lose a game against a newly buffed champion.

tl;dr Bronze is considered uneducated because of the League "media" portraying really cringey plays of people in Bronze, and so people take that stereotype and apply it to everyone in Bronze regardless.

Left Hook Larry7/30/2016, 12:23:14 AM1 votes

IF the truth hurts then you need to change. Bronze players DO suck. It is below average and the worst league.

Unstoppable Monk7/30/2016, 7:49:20 AM1 votes

You can't tell bronzies what to do. They will deliberately sabotage your lane if you have superior cs by tower diving, do baron/dragon when they shouldn't, and ignore the ones that should be done. On top of that they will pick popular champions that aren't at the top of the meta without any skill despite needing it heavily (teemo/lux/caitlyn are terrible for noobs).

signed, someone that wants to climb while having fun instead of having to have first time ranked on his team or a griefing asshole.

1wolfpack7/29/2016, 6:57:40 PM1 votes

well said, this is a game and should be played to have fun.

I play AD Nami support in ranked as a gold player, because its fun. I still try to win, and have won about 50% of those games :)

Angry Monster7/29/2016, 7:40:48 PM1 votes

You do not seem to understand efficient game play. Your whole idea back fires when you try to optimize to win. Also another thing you seem to fail to grasp is that the game objective is to win.

You can go at league any way you personally want; but there is a right and wrong way to play when you consider game efficiency and tactics.

Your argument is very bronze and limited. IE very shallow and lacking any thought process.

Sure you are going to get upvotes, most people(~70) that play are S4 and lower.

NotCounter7/29/2016, 8:23:42 PM1 votes

in my opinion and observation there really isn't a meta. from what i've seen in-game, in high elo gameplay, and from the boards my conclusion is that things come and go in popularity, but they aren't the most efficient choices nor is there a strong logic to why they are popular aside from the community being impressionable/ignorant

tank ekko, irelia, etc have reinforced my mentality

Gimpy897/29/2016, 8:33:25 PM1 votes

From my experience most bronze level players are delusional and would rather blame their team and elo hell than put in effort to improve. Encouraging these players to get better is futile as they don't want to look at their own mistakes and work on their play. The ones that do look at their own game-play and try to learn and improve almost always climb out and they climb out FAST so they are a rare breed. This is probably why people would rather talk shit than help players that for the most part don't want help.