The Problems with Auto-Fill

FishUnit·11/24/2016, 4:27:01 PM·1 votes·408 views

I understand the existing paradigm of thought that would incentivize enabling auto-fill: we auto-fill in rare circumstances in order to create shorter queue times, especially in low traffic time slots. We also then "protect" the auto-filled players positions in the future so that certain players aren't abused by the system (having to play an "off-role" several games in a row).

In theory it sounds viable, but in practice I'm running into several frustrations. Bare in mind these criticisms do need to be taken with a grain of salt because I've never had a problem with 8 - 10 minute queue times to get a primary or secondary roll (adc/jung traditionally and this was in low platinum). Anyway here they are:

  1. Queue dodging is rampant; more so than it was before. There were problems previously where people would still only want to play one role, and dodge if they didn't get it, but now the problem seems to be exacerbated.

  2. If people are queue dodging constantly then the time it takes to get into a game becomes elongated trivializing this strategy. (I still would say that my queue times are down overall, but only by about a minute or two; nothing overtly significant. By queue times I also mean the time it takes me to start searching for a game and get to the loading screen of the actual match.)

  3. I don't find the auto-fill feature to be that rare given I play early in the morning, so if you belong to a demographic that plays in low population time slots, and have frustrations with it, you're subject to experience those frustrations more frequently.

  4. I've been auto-fill protected, queued up, had a game remade, and then lost the protection.

  5. Albeit this is a very subjective point, but it's happened several times: I've queued up and been granted my primary role, then someone dodges and the new match places me in my secondary role, then someone dodges, and I'm now relegated to an off-role. This has happened three times in that order, which I understand is a very small sample to base anything off of, but a frustrating experience for me as a player none the less.

  6. Lastly, I find I'm able to play my desired roles in the new system just as frequently as I was before role selection even existed (season 5). I feel like with the auto-fill enabled, at the rate it is, the efficacy of the role selection system is compromised.

Again these criticisms are based on my own experience, I'm not sure whether the community is seeing an influx in being auto-filled since the new solo/duo queue was released, but I'm eager to hear opinions none the less: thank you!

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