This Paleo-Gamer Would Like TeamBuilder Back

I have to tell ya, Riot. I'm a little disappointed. And yeah, this is about you getting rid of TeamBuilder.

Maybe you don't see it my way, so here's a little bit of background. I'm 33. A lot of my friends are getting married or having kids. I personally work full time, and I got to Grad school part time. I'm only telling you this because, when I get some spare time, and I don't have any social outings planned, I play League of Legends.

I'm not the greatest player ever. But I try every game. And this past week I said to myself "Just focus the three champs you like in each role so you can climb." I needed a third jungler, and read that Panth is going to be strong in Season 6. Got home at 9:00 p.m. tonight (EST) and hopped on. Signed up to be Jungle/Fill. I did that because it's 9, I have to be up for 6, and I don't want to play zero games. No big deal though, got jungle the first time. Great!

But I also got a dodge. This happened for 3 more games. That's 4 games as jungle, and 4 dodgers. One had the common courtesy to say "I don't like Yi, don't hate me." (The enemy picked Yi). Spoiler: I do hate that guy. Because he's likely not squeezing in a game, and hoping for a second, between a job he hates, a 3 hour study session, a 15 minute call with your father that goes for a full hour, and sleep so that you can function at a job you hate tomorrow.

You know what happened in game 5? I got top. Normally, I'd just go Panth top. But I want to climb, I gave myself rules, and I went Trundle. It's cool. We won. I did well thanks in large part to a Voli who might not have cared. But that isn't the point. I wanted to learn Panth in the jungle. I read some guides. Looked at the data on Champion.gg. I wasn't just seeing what happened. I wanted to win.

And that's why I'm disappointed. Because you're sending mixed signals here. Here's some bullet points:

• You have a rank system
• You want some competition implying you want effort
• You released a new rank system (which I love) because you think, like pro sports, people should identify with position...

But then you make it hard to learn that position. You punish queue dodging. So I'd love for someone up there in the ivory tower to explain how I'm supposed to be "A jungler" when I'm really a "jungler if the dice roll allows, or it's my first dodge and can sidestep the dice." It's counter-productive, this system you've created. You're asking us to be a thing. But then removing the ability to be that thing. Unless you've got 3 to 4 friends. Which is nice if you're 17 (no disrespect meant), but I'm not 17. Here's what it looks like when I attempt to recruit friends to play:

"Hey, man. You should try LoL sometime. It's fun. We could just shoot the breeze and play some games"

"Gah, I have to go man. My oldest just flushed Jen's wedding ring down the toilet"

"ok well...think about it."

It's fine. I'm happy to play alone. I don't even mind playing against the pre-mades even though I think it's grossly unfair. I just really like this game, and I'd like to get as good as I can with what little time that I have. It would really help a guy like me if you'd implement Team Builder. Because pretty soon I'll have kids of my own. And when I do, I'd like to stomp them as Pantheon Jungle.

I hope you see it my way.