Some ideas to help new players get into the game (mastery,runes, level progression)
How dumb is it that an outside factor of someone being a higher summoner level than you affects your in game damage?
Summoner spells: They should all be unlocked from the first level. With this botched matchmaking system there is no easing new players in anymore. They will get matched versus someone with flash eventually.
Masteries: There should be a separate tree from the already existing mastery tree where you choose your keystone. Then you can only go down a certain path until you reach the required number of points to go into talent tree. This would allow low levels to have keystones and not be at such a disadvantage.
Visual Reprensentation:
The keystones would be swapped from bottom to top but would force that tree only to be highlighted until you allocated the minimum amount of points needed to get that keystone (18). The other talent trees would be greyed out until that task is complete.
Runes: All runes slots should be unlocked from level 1 with a tutorial on how to manipulate runes.
This allows players to not feel as disadvantaged. With the ridiculous numbers of smurfs running around queuing with their level 30 friends this will at least give players a fighting chance.
Some may argue that this removes a feel of progression but the following is an alternative that allows players to feel the need to push towards that extra level to unlock new goodies. Hextech chests were an incentive to perform well, the following is an incentive to level.
**Champions:**With 100+ champions farming IP for rune pages,runes AND champions is a grind. To improve role diversity all 450 champs should be free like in DOTA 2 and there should be a voucher system for every couple of levels.
Level 10 voucher: Unlock one 1350 champ free
Level 20 voucher: Unlock a 3150 champ free
Level 25 voucher: Select from of balanced list of rune sets (9 marks, 9 seals, 9 glyphs and 3 quints for free)
X9 AD, X9 ARMOR, X9 MR, X3 AD QUINTS / Attack Damage Champions X9 MPEN, X9 ARMOR, X9 MR X3 AP QUINTS / Ability Power Champions X9 AS,X9 ARMOR,X9 MR X3 AS QUINTS / Jungle Champions
(This allows new players to have basics runes to prepare for ranked and also eases them in to eventually try advance setups like CDR runes/Health per level)
Level 30 voucher: Unlock any champion for free
This would allow players to go into ranked with a better chance of understanding the game. An easier time for new players would allow them to be more invested into the game which is a win-win because they have a higher chance of spending money on their new 6300 champ they love and they have fun.
T2 runes will stay as placeholders until level 20 but with a tutorial the rune system will be introduced.
Thoughts? An easier time is never a bad thing. And now that autofill exists this would be less of a chore. IP will still have a use for advanced runes, champions and RUNEPAGES.
TL:DR New player experience sucks
- All rune slots unlocked, Free runes levels
- 450 champs free for all
- Level 10 free 1350, level 20 free 3150, level 30 free any
- Keystones for level 1 summoners