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Why is Riot's Live Game balance designers working against players?

Skaarrjj··5 votes·757 views

Olaf is my example.

Olaf I felt before all his nerfs took effect, that he was in a good spot. He was able to use his ultimate (6 second duration mind you) to bypass some CC, use his health scaling true damage by building health related items to make him live longer and do good damage on top of that, to walktz into a fight, live long enough to start to sustain and deliver some good damage.

Then you guys nerf him, tried to remake him, then nerf and a slight buff later, and he's still bad as when you originally nerfed him. I know League Players like me see things from one lense. Our own lenses. But that's because at the end of the day we are the ones spending money on your game, and we are the ones who really enjoy playing it. We are greatful for all the extra things you do. You are a player focused company, I don't think you're greedy at all. What I do think is that you constantly underestimate the effect that your live game designers (the people who balance this game) have on players. I'm concerned that you are pushing this game to a place where champions will just become mediocre instead of awesome as hell in their own gameplay moments.

Back to Olaf. The Olaf we have now in the current patch. Just what is he supposed to do when and after he ults? He can't quickly get to a target. And even if he does the damage he does is but a fraction of what he was able to do before. His Q is really cumbersome because of the range nerf. He just doesn't feel threatening. Okay he can waltz past enemy CC. But he can be killed. It's not like he's immune to dealth. He's not going to instantly leap on your face and deal tons of damage (enither of which he can do). And if he builds attack damage like Riot seems to want him to do, he'll just die. I have no found success on this new olaf. And a lot of others haven't either considering his 46% winrate. And you gave him buffs he didn't need.

I don't understand how you can work against people who like to play Olaf (or another champion that has seen massive injustice). I don't think you have the best intentions for your players when it comes to live balance. Live balance is everything in this game, And I don't think it's being done properly. If it was Olaf would be handled much better. Other Champions in a similar boat to Olaf who aren't seeing success would be handled better.

It's just easy to pick Olaf due to ... well... being Olaf.

5 Comments

CmereCupcake2 votes

They changed olaf because he had overwhelming success in tournament play, despite the 46% winrate.

Skaarrjj1 votes

Couple things

  1. I don't care about Tournament play. And just because what .0000001% of the league player does in LAN's shouldn't affect everyone else who plays. Balancing the game for them, and everyone else being affected by it is nonsense. Think about that. You know I'm making sense. And there's a massive problem if only .00000000000000001% of the players (only professional players) can only make use of a champion and no other skilled players not in a professional setting can't. That means there is a giant flaw with the champion, and the fact that Riot didn't fix it is even MORE disapointing.
  2. This "rework" was a giant nerf. Nothing More. Nothing Less. If Riot's Live team actually wanted to work alongside their players, they would of done much more with his rework, and came to players much more frequently concerning olaf, and should of had much more testing and more help in general. This is a prime example of the Live Team working against the common player.
Sunfield2 votes

I think he had high win rates in challenger, diamond and plat as well

All mobas have 2 floors to balance around; casual and competetive. A game that neglects one of them will see success in neither

Pharrøw1 votes

A pirate coughs in the distance, sobs uncontrollably

HigeR1 votes

I think it's a bigger picture than what we can see, the whole state of the game from items standpoint is something we can barely grasp, the changes that affected Olaf are similar to when they removed the first locket, everyone thought Sona, Udyr and Gragas were garbage because of that change and look at them now O.o not too shabby.

We get attached to champions and think their balance is utmost perfection so naturally any and all change is gonna irk us but they have a much bigger background and number to consider when making changes. I seriously doubt Riot has favoritism for some champions, they just do what's the most healthy for the game when one champion warps the whole experience.

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