Just a friendly reminder. Ever wonder why that enemy jungler inexplicably is the same level as yours despite failing ganks and getting counterjungled?
He got a kill on a gank once and invalidated the experience discrepancy.
With regards to the jungle, and how it functions, you have one of two options:
1: Unrecoverable losses, a design in which falling behind means you stay behind. This is the sort of design which created the Lee Sin power bar; basically you had to be able to (reliably) fight off, or at least survive, an invade from lee sin at level 2 or three. Any pick which could not do this was not a viable jungler, and this led to the only picks basically being lee, olaf, elise, and udyr.
This style feels great when you're on the upper hand because it's easy to completely remove the other jungler, but it sucks being on the flip side because.. you're not even playing the game anymore.
2: Roughly even jungler xp. A system with catch up xp where, if you fall behind, jungle camps have benefits which let you stay in the fight with regards to levels. You'll still be behind in gold (the big thing), and also slightly behind in xp. However being early invaded, or failing a gank, won't remove you from the entire game.
This choice is noticeably worse when you're the ahead jungler because your counter part will still be close to you in levels. They'll hit 6, 8, 11, ect at roughly the same points in time. They will still have potential to do things. It's much better for the losing side, however, because they still get to play the game. They play it weaker, with noticeably less gold, but that level 3 invade which killed them and stole a buff doesn't mean they suffer through 20 minutes of absolute hell.
As a jungler main, and even one who really enjoyed invading and crippling enemies, catch up xp is the lesser of two evils. It gives a greater breadth of picks, more options in how you play in the jungle, and de-emphasizes a successful first gank setting the tone for the entire game. It does this at a cost, but it is most definitely the lesser of two evils.
I always enjoy watching a 3 level behind jungler that's 0/5/1 while I'm 6/2/6 with a 30 cs lead up and magically pass me in levels after getting one successful gank off and doing a single camp.
Just a friendly reminder you are still ahead in gold.
It's Mario kart 64 all over again!!!
Just pray for a proper catch-up rework during pre-season.
Personal pre-season wish list :
Meanwhile you've been ganking all game and getting your team ahead and haven't fallen behind in levels because you only need to take a few camps? Catchup XP is better for ahead junglers than behind junglers.
The problem is that if there was no catch-up exp like there is now, nobody would play anything besides safer picks. Why risk being behind the whole game when you can just...not be?
well that's also because jungle experience gets lower the further u are ahead.
which is why junglers are behind solo laners now
I'm going to repeat something that's been said quite a bit here. If you walk into their jungle, you'll still kill them. They are still significantly weaker than you. If you've been doing your job better, you'll ahead in gold and thus should win.
man imagine if riots response is to apply a similar catch up exp mechanic for laners too. That would be insane for making a big fuck you for having any lead.
If you're 2 levels ahead of monster level : You get (10 per level up - 10)% less exp. If you're 1 level behind of monster level : You get 30 flat more exp per level behind.
What would happen if minions gave more exp as soon as you are one level down and less exp as soon as you're one 2 levels up ?
For me it seems this happens: I do fine, I'm constantly out farming the enemy jg, stealing his buffs non stop n such, but the moment I start ganking I start to do horrid. Or(mainly when I play shaco) I overgank and become behind on farm.
