Dominion's disable: Riot's first nail in the coffin?

DISCLAIMER: this is my personal and subjective opinion on that matter. Have that in mind before engaging a one-sided argument against it.

I'm not an avid Dominion player, I modestly hold up to 300 games, 147 victories. But I felt my voice had to echo with the rest of the Dominion (and Crystal Scar custom) community.

I do believe this sets a milestone in your internal policy shift in these past 4 years. Back when I started (Graves launch patch), I felt Dominion was a weird mode, with less appeal for the casual player. Time proved me wrong.

Dominion was, albeit perhaps poorly delivered, your most interesting product. The fast pace, the build/champion flexibility, the innate strategy required for playing it... It screamed for a bit of attention or at the very least a competitive space. Time passed, and both the map and the mode, became a daily reminder of what true oblivion is. I do understand the reasons behind your decision. But please, for both old and new, both avid hardcore and casual players of the mode; don't treat us as bunch of illiterate hillbilly's. Just 0.5% of the player base enjoys Dominion, so what? If you guys were having budget issues, I would consider it a reasonable consequence, but it isn't it, right? Sadly, you've showed your true colors: we ( the community) are a number to you as a percentage, and ultimately your source of income. Barely, nothing more.

Your objective isn't to "deliver the best experience", your objective is to bind the community to your last change of priorities . Featured modes having a greater effect due to being temporal? So they are some kind of marketing tool I guess. And although it is partially true, I dare you to check your own data: I bet more than 15% of the player base got burned from playing the NEW ORIGINAL FEATURED MODES after a while. Perhaps it is due the fact they are temporal, and it has a compelling effect on the player to stick to the featured mode? Who knows....

Were you afraid of asking the community about it?

Finally, I want to leave some food for thought regarding where Riot is going. The game has evolved from an open ground, seeking inspiration from all the available sources (including the community); to a forced paced game dictated by some few, and clearly influenced by eSports. What this game lacks is from new ideas ultimately. Yeah, we got champions every now and then. Cool, some of the older ones are being updated. Lore events are ALWAYS welcomed. But the main problem remains. One main mode, one main map and not enough alternatives. TT is the SR to a smaller degree (I wasn't trying to be condescendent here, forgive me TT avid players); and ARAM, while fun and supported by the community, doesn't offer much aside from random picks and a constant team fight.

Both modes and maps are currently lackluster. And this final decision (as it does seem final), sets a precedent for all the other modes and maps we currently enjoy. You've entered into serious quicksands. But again, I'is the humble opinion of just another player in your net.

PD: trading off a possibility, trading off variety and creativity for an icon? No thanks. I might as well don't have it.

{{summoner:17}} Good bye Dominion. Good bye Crystal scar. Requiescat In Pace 2012-16 {{summoner:17}}