Should Masteries/Runes Simply be Removed?
During my morning shower, I pondered to myself what it is that makes some champions so overwhelmingly oppressive. And while there are many key issues with certain offenders, I found myself thinking back on the many complaints players issued and continue to issue in regards to damage creep and, more specifically, the runes that have enabled or, at the very least, exacerbated it. I then wondered as I do now if the game would be easier to balance, more enjoyable for players, and healthier overall if runes/masteries themselves were simply removed from the game.
Continuing this line of thinking, I noticed that many champions benefit specifically from certain rune sets and that deviating from those sets adversely affects their performance. Then I wondered why champions, Runeterra's most elite who don't even number 150 out of millions, need what some might consider a crutch to help them achieve their objectives.
I also wondered how difficult it must be for Riot to revisit the subject of runes repeatedly to try and tweak them in order to achieve some sort of semblance of balance, especially when and WHEN (not when and if) certain runes are abused. And why it is that runes and masteries have undergone so many changes over the years.
It may seem like a general problem area that might be best alleviated by simply removing it altogether.
But, what are your thoughts? Should runes/masteries simply be removed? If not then what, if any, suggestions do you have in regards to the runes/masteries system?
