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What if we just... removed runes entirely?

Count Lieberkuhn·8/30/2018, 11:45:13 AM·4 votes·1,021 views

So the general consensus seems to be that Runes Reforged has completely buggered the balance of the game. As I understand it, the purpose of Runes Reforged was three-fold:

Remove the gate to lower level players by removing the level restrictions on runes
Allow for more diversity in playstyles
Allow for balancing of champions to not be based on their stats with optimal runes

Of these, only the first point has been achieved with a high degree of success. Sadly, points 2 and 3 still stand, because just like the old runes, the new runes have been 'solved'. Sure, things get shaken up a bit when runes get added/changed, but it doesn't take long to figure this stuff out. Furthermore, because the new rune system is driven based on powerful effects rather than basic stat boosts, the effects are far more likely to have overpowered synergies with particular champions' kits, aka abuse cases.

Abuse cases, such as Kleptomancy Ezreal or Hail of Blades Jhin, kill diversity even more. Either the rune gets nerfed so that it's useless for almost all champions to balance it (bad), or the champion itself gets balanced around the rune (even worse). When items get thrown into the mix, this increases

While there are a few times when unconventional rune choices are relevant (Sencux' Grasp of the Undying TF being a good recent example in pro play), more often than not it's going to be the same choice each time, thanks to natural synergies between certain rune/champ combinations. We've actually regressed in terms of balance as a result of runes reforged too, with damage outputs being increased significantly.

But what if we removed runes entirely? Would this really be so bad?

If we had no runes, champions could be balanced more effectively. Champions would not be able to artificially shore up their weaknesses before the game starts, nor would they be able to push their strengths to absurd degrees or abuse synergies in unhealthy ways. It would also just get rid of the whole 'check online for the best build' ritual that people do.

Diversity should be promoted in-game via greater item choices.

3 Comments

TeCoolMage8/30/2018, 12:32:13 PM4 votes

I don't get why people keep saying runes didn't increase playstyle diversity when they actually really do.

The only people who complain are those that go on probuilds, don't read what their runes do, or play around their runes, in which case you're just making things harder for yourself. Of course there's going to be that one build with a 5 damage advantage. But picking the 'best' runes then complaining the system is 'solved' is like going to champion.gg, picking out the highest winrate champion, then ditching your one-trick to learn a new role, new champion, and new class just to win 2% more of the time.

I play anivia and some people go electrocute, some go comet, some aery, and some spellbook. Maybe one build is more powerful than the other, but people who play anivia aggressively with electrocute will suffer more trying to change their playstyle to a more passive spellbook playstyle than whatever they statistics say they'll gain. And for sure they'll suffer more if their keystones are removed entirely.

As for item diversity... Fine, at the start of the game you get to choose a consumable item that gives you certain permanent effects. Wait, that's just a rune. Runes are just special starting items wow

If we had no runes, champions could be balanced more effectively. Champions would not be able to artificially shore up their weaknesses before the game starts, nor would they be able to push their strengths to absurd degrees or abuse synergies in unhealthy ways. It would also just get rid of the whole 'check online for the best build' ritual that people do.

This makes 0 sense, items do all of these things unless there's some sort of distinction between 0:01 and before game that matters.

Honestly just remove the starting 500 gold and change the rune system to have a distinct universal slots/runes instead of all this tree shenanigans. Make runes based off things all champions can play around (all champions, regardless of preference, will play around vision, game phases, objectives, kills, minions/monsters, and lane priority/states to a notable degree. Not all champions will be able to use late game health, healing/shielding, AP, AD, auto attacks to a notable degree. Why is resolve, precision, etc the categories here??)

nelogis8/30/2018, 12:28:40 PM3 votes

That would kill pretty much any off meta playstyles.

The current runes aren't 100% bad. The problem is that they have WAY too much of an impact in laning phase and early game. Their impact decreases relative to gametime to a point where you dont even feel a difference between old and new runes as soon as the real late game hits (5 items+)

When they have so much impact in the early game it feels like you are playing a champion not because of the champion but because electrolute can be used best with that champion.

The next problem is the base stat buffs that are horrible. So horrible that I have no idea how any sane person gave green light to that mechanic or if anyone even tested it out.

Going Sorcery / Dominion is the equivalent of picking full AD runes in every rune slot and going 9/21/0 in masteries.

You used to be able to go aggressive masteries and pack defenses in runes like a sane person.

Now you just CANT go defensive unless you go Resolve but that tree has been nerfed 5 times regarding early game, exactly the time where you need the bonus defense the most.

Also there is no way to get any MR via runes anymore. Good luck with your stupid base Armor buff you got when fighting Fizz, will for sure turn out great.

The right thing to do right now is to drastically reduce rune power, no I'm not talking about a 5 damage off electrolute OMEGALUL meme I'm talking about making electrolute do 10 damage lvl 1 with like 10%AP and 30% bAD scaling.

Then reduce every other rune power level down to that electrolute level.

Then re-add the choice to actually chose your defenses in a meaningful and efficient way. No I don't want armor against Fiora give me my bonus HP. No I don't want armor against Fizz either.

The core design of runes aren't bad they are just tuned/handled so horribly.

Seriously was there anyone even testing this Riot? Or was the whole playtest team in holidays or something?

BrightWîngs8/30/2018, 3:20:48 PM1 votes

Game would just be empty and there would be almost nothing you can do against bad match ups