I'd appreciate any kind of system to deter players from smurfing. It truly is an epidemic.

Blam·Mar 7, 2018·26 votes·2,059 views

It's ruining everyone and anyone's experience from climbing.

I'll take a bit of responsibility and admit that I was playing with a diamond 5 smurf and we were struggling to win. Go ahead and assume I'm paper 5. Or you can stop being biased and realize that WAYYY too many people smurf.

Ie: I want to pub stomp, I'm high and i don't want to try hard. I'm practicing a new champ (knowing fundamentals on a diamond level fk u) I'm lvling another accnt. I'm boosting (the most fked of them all)

Thats enough isnt it. What the fuck is Riot going to do about it aside from watch games like fornite TAKE their fucking money from them.

Rip the fun away from people trying to enjoy your game. Let's see how that goes for everyone' s future employment.

52 Comments

IfnethMar 7, 20189 votes

If Riot could end smurfing, then it would. But the only possible ways would make your League account like a bank account. Social Security number, passport, address, full name, phone number—they would need it all.

You would get a letter in the mail and then have to send it back with your signature. And then there would be the identity theft prosecutions to keep any would-be smurfs too scared to fake it. There would be at least a few dozen people doing more than a few years for fraud at any given time. League’s personal information database would need serious 24/7 protection and doubtless attraction regulatory attention.

And that’s not to mention all the people and parents who would say, “I have to give Riot all that? Heck no, I’m or you’re not playing or not playing anymore.”

SõnaMar 8, 20185 votes

It will be dangerous to expose those private numbers into website just for a game. It could be leaked by hacker if the verification works that way globally.

XilixerMar 8, 20183 votes

dota2 handles this quite well in my opinion.

UnoGetGoldELOMar 8, 20182 votes

no more kids in league? id take that in a heart beat , riot can even have a stool and bloodsample of mine if that´s what they need or some of my stemcells.

IfnethMar 8, 20181 votes

Young people should be allowed to play League, and requiring that level of documentation would make lots of people not even join. I wouldn’t have.

BlamMar 7, 20183 votes

I cussed too much and it made me sound like an idiot but just think about it please.

HalcyonDwellerMar 7, 20183 votes

You can edit the post to make it more appealing to read if you wish to do so.

That said, I agree that smurfing is a problem.

BlamMar 7, 20181 votes

I know, I feel like it comes off more passionately without the :edit: highlight. Which is how I really feel. I want this game to do well. I've been playing it since s2 and I love meeting new people through it. I miss the chat rooms from the old client. I miss a lot of things. I let them know. How many times do you think they ever pay attention?

BlamMar 7, 20183 votes

All bs aside. It's your multi million dollar game to lose. I've had 900 skype contact since season 2 through the old chat room. I was a pos and got perma'd on an account that I spent over 2k on b/c I had a bunch of bad days.. consecutively. I still love the game.

If we can ignore literally everything else and do something to fix this game and make it better ITS EASY----> Do something to make it easier for players to find other to play with ASIDE from posting in the "Player Recruitment" forums. Make it to where players can find premades, voice chat or no through the client.

I know riot's creative minds can come of with something here.

It's mind boggingly ignorant that you make a game like this UNECESSARILY DIFFICULT to find other people to play with.

BlamMar 7, 20182 votes

It really pisses me off how this isn't just a simple "no duh" situation. I really don't get it. Do i have to get a thousand man petition to get you motherfuckers to wake the fuck up or what??!! Jesus tits and crackers batman!! :edit: about the finding people to play with situation. just to be clear.

BlamMar 7, 20181 votes

Thats what this game has over fornite,pubg,overwatch. It has a client where you're sitting there with downtime. Why the fuck not just give people a way to look for friends that want to meet other friends.

Ahem: my question to ANY Rioter is this: Do you think there are people out there wishing they had friends to play with that have a mic and discord? I don't need to say anything more.

IgnoreIntingRitoMar 8, 20183 votes

I'd prefer a system that actually punishes griefers and trolls instead of the legitimate players who call them out for being the wastes of oxygen that they are.

But alas Riot cares more about feelings and rainbows rather than actual game health and experience.

hhaavviikkMar 8, 20181 votes

{quoted}

I'd prefer a system that actually punishes griefers and trolls instead of the legitimate players who call them out for being the wastes of oxygen that they are.

But alas Riot cares more about feelings and rainbows rather than actual game health and experience.

and how does calling them out do anything? ''stop being a fucking troll'' wow you sure contributed to solving the problem! just mute them and move on with your life instead of making the match even worse for everyone, nothing you say will stop a troll or griefer.

SubdueMar 7, 20181 votes

The only kind of system that would discourage smurfing would be one that either has a cost of entry or an external identifier. For example, if you could play normals with any account, but to play ranked you had to first 'activate' your account for ranked play by paying $25, that would drastically reduce (but probably not eliminate) smurfing. Alternatively, if account creation required some sort of external identifier more difficult to obtain than an email, like for example, a phone number, or perhaps a SSN number (Which is what they do in China and South Korea I believe), that would also heavily cut down on smurfs.

No other measures other than these will reduce smurfing.

RenownedWheat42Mar 7, 20183 votes

Overwatch is riddled with smurfs and is gated by money. That won't stop anything unfortunately.

Also phone number requirements would be equally pointless as plenty of Apps these days can give you additional phone numbers to use with no hassle to set up.

BlamMar 7, 20183 votes

As a game like this ages, this is how it falls apart then. Too many recycled/extra accounts. There's no two ways about it.

BlamMar 7, 20182 votes

Have some empathy on this. Imagine finally getting to s5 promos as bronze 1 only to realize you got "cucked" by some smurf. Every game after that you will think anyone that carries is smurfing. It really is shitty business out here.

VizulixMar 8, 20181 votes

Happened to me :(

At least I'm pretty sure that chap was a smurf, no one gets over a hundred farm in the first ten minutes in Bronze/Silver

HalcyonDwellerMar 7, 20184 votes

An external identifier such as a league client or an ISP program that can track which accounts are used from it as well as connect heatmaps and other patterns to identify which accounts belong to the same players.

It wouldn't even have to restrict the smurf accounts, it could simply equalize their MMR with their main accounts so that they couldn't play with players beneath their own skill level.

ZerenzaMar 7, 20182 votes

Or just have 2-step verification like Korea does....just saying, you guys are making it to complicated.

Basically before a ranked game you have to input a code sent through your phone, a phone number can only be on 1 account at a time. This means they either have to buy a new phone to get smurfs, or they have to remove the phone number from 1 account to put it on another and at that point it would be easy to watch but Smurfing isn't against the rules soooooo yeah.

HalcyonDwellerMar 7, 20181 votes

Unfortunately in the USA we would have a difficult time implementing such 2-step verification. Korea can make use of social security numbers. Riot would have difficulty getting that sort of thing approved legally in NA.

Also phone numbers can be acquired relatively easily.

Edit: For clarification it is not the 2-step verification that would be difficult, but the use of it to restrict players from smurfing that would be difficult.

{quoted}

Also phone number requirements would be equally pointless as plenty of Apps these days can give you additional phone numbers to use with no hassle to set up.

ZerenzaMar 8, 20182 votes

Well that's the thing, the phone number has to be connected to a phone and that phone must be able to receive a text message. Also, while korea makes use of SSN's, we don't have to do that, do you know how 2-step verification works without SSN's? They just send you a 6 digit code through Text Message, it's not as complicated as you guys are making it out to be(google,facebook and twitter all have 2-step verification to deter hacker's, i use it on all platforms it's available, basically you can log in and if someone tries to log into your account they have to input a code sent to YOUR phone).

Starcraft243verMar 8, 20182 votes

Many people own multiple phone numbers.

ZerenzaMar 9, 20181 votes

Phone Numbers are not the same as having those numbers connected to a phone, if they have multiple phones by all means but otherwise this works.

Starcraft243verMar 9, 20181 votes

It doesnt make sens.

ZerenzaMar 9, 20181 votes

Don't understand why.

Starcraft243verMar 12, 20181 votes

Because a number is bound to a sim card and not a phone. Having multiple sim cards is nearly free, a phone number can cost 1€ a month in France, it's basically free if you just want to have multiples accounts.

HalcyonDwellerMar 8, 20181 votes

{quoted}

Also phone number requirements would be equally pointless as plenty of Apps these days can give you additional phone numbers to use with no hassle to set up.

"plenty of Apps these days can give you additional phone numbers"

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for 2-step authentication, it will have plenty of other benefits. But it barely scratches the surface with the problem of smurfs.

ampheonMar 8, 20181 votes

What if someone doesn't own a phone?

ZerenzaMar 8, 20181 votes

Then they can't play ranked. Unfortunately.

Though you CAN make it work for email to, that's less effective.

Starcraft243verMar 8, 20182 votes

So how is it supposed to equalize my mmr between the account I play drunk and try new champs and my main account with which I'm an OTP ? :)

Which mmr do they take ? :)

ISP program ? What about people playing in from shared network ? Network coffee ?

HeeroTXMar 8, 20182 votes

Take highest MMR, easy-peasy. Highest MMR is obviously the best you can play. If you're play suck style and angering people you're "capable" of playing with normally, then eat all the criticism for it. No reason lower ELO should be stuck with your glorious personality on "lower" skill.

HalcyonDwellerMar 8, 20181 votes

That's not quite a solution, but I agree with the general sentiment.

Starcraft243verMar 8, 20183 votes

So when I'm drunk or willing to try a new champion, i'll play on my smurf which has the same mmr as my main OTP, and i'll ruin the game for my teammates, since these were the teammates I would deserve when playing my best.

Let alone this problem, now i've lost 25 games in a row on my smurf because i'm using it only to try out new champions. Did I lose mmr ? On which account ?

If I dont lose MMR woo, thanks, I just have to never play on my main, and my smurf is basically shielded from any mmr loss forever no matter what my real mmr should be.

If I do lose mmr do I lose it only on my smurf (which means the actual situation) ? Or do I lose it on my main too ? But what about my ranking ?

What about the fact the elo system HAS to be a 0 sum game to work out ? (Means you'll have to split the mmr loss/win between the 2 accounts)

HalcyonDwellerMar 8, 20181 votes

All of these are excellent points. And they are also great reasons for why people should not be smurfing. If you want to play competitively you should play ranked, if you want to try new champions play normals. The MMRs are already separated.

Having a smurf account makes it impossible for Riot to do things like what they are investigating doing with MMR between normals and Ranked (loose connection to preserve fairness for casual players).

That aside though, I do have a solution for dealing with the concept of a smurf account. It should have its MMR coupled and decoupled from the connected account based on how it performs. If it plays a game and does way too well, for the rest of the day it should have a higher MMR. It could be reset afterwards or if gameplay deteriorates suddenly.

ShaolinToiletMar 9, 20181 votes

That's a horrible idea. I always have a high kda and good stats every time I play. Doesn't mean I'm smurfing or I'm good

HalcyonDwellerMar 9, 20181 votes

It would be comparative to past games' performances. If you suddenly do way better or way worse it should temporarily adjust.

Also if you play that way consistently then there shouldn't be any problem because your MMR should be stable.

HeeroTXMar 8, 20182 votes

As I understand it, as Riot CLAIMS is the case, the whole POINT of MMR/ELO is that you will be matched in a "fair" agame against others of comparable skill. How YOU choose to play in those games is all on you and if YOU choose to play drunk then all the other upper MMR people can report you and hate you for not being a try-hard in THEIR games. Maybe then all the low elo won't need to hear how they should "git gud" and "carry harder" despite having games with smurfs in em even though that's always dismissed as "like 0.0001% of games" or something. For the whole MMR system to WORK everyone needs to be assumed to be playing their best, period. If Riot is gonna throw any person in any rank simply because on X account they're always screwing around, then MMR is worthless and they can put queue time to 0 by just throwing any 5 randos against any other 5 randos, and the only "real" way to play is in a premade group of 5.

HalcyonDwellerMar 8, 20181 votes

Heatmaps, Client side tracking, compare accounts. If they are different enough then no issue and no need to connect MMR. If you only play on your drunk account when you are indeed drunk then there shouldn't be a problem, because things will be different from your main account and that account.

But should you ever wind up playing on it while sober and completely ruining other peoples' games because you are playing at your best (with similar heat-maps and play patterns to your main account), then I think something should be done. Either the account should have it's MMR matched to the better account's MMR or it should be flagged for boosting. Which would you prefer?

Starcraft243verMar 8, 20181 votes

Either the account should have it's MMR matched to the better account's MMR

See my answer to HeeroTX. What happens once I got 25 lose in a row on my smurf because I'm playing at suboptimal conditions ? Do my main mmr drop or am I shielded forever for MMR drop, which is even worse ?

it should be flagged for boosting.

Yet it's not boosting since it's my account as well, so you actually ... can't ?

HalcyonDwellerMar 8, 20181 votes

smurfing is just as bad as boosting IMO, because the person ruins the game for the entire enemy team. It should be handled similarly.

Starcraft243verMar 9, 20181 votes

Changing my champion pool brutally as I did in S5 ruined the game for my teammates as well.

When I play offrole I ruin the game for my teammates (not on purpose ofc, but still, I get a lot of bad games when I do that)

Playing when tired ruin the game for my teammates because they do not have the best of me in their game.

When I play while phoning, I ruin the game for my teammates.

HalcyonDwellerMar 9, 20181 votes

Playing off-role or changing champion pool are a separate issue that should be addressed with a different solution. People should have their MMR based off of their experience with the role, rather than just their win-rate.

Playing while tired could result in a temporary reduction in MMR, resulting in fairer matches for you as well, not having to play against opponents who are far more alert and effective than you.

You shouldn't answer the phone while playing, you made a commitment to play that match when you accepted the queue pop. Unless the call is an emergency you should not be on the phone.

Starcraft243verMar 12, 20181 votes

Playing while tired could result in a temporary reduction in MMR, resulting in fairer matches for you as well, not having to play against opponents who are far more alert and effective than you.

How is the game going to guess that ? :)

Playing off-role or changing champion pool are a separate issue that should be addressed with a different solution. People should have their MMR based off of their experience with the role, rather than just their win-rate.

Same question. Since you pick champions after you are matched with other peoples and since you can swap roles afterwards how would it even be possible to do that ? :)

HalcyonDwellerMar 12, 20181 votes

{quoted}

How is the game going to guess that ?

By comparing your performance in the match to your performance in past matches.

how would it even be possible to do that ?

Switching can't be prevented nor should it, but it can be accounted for so that people don't get to climb or drop unfairly due to it. You can detect afterwards what position the person played, if it is clear that they switched then it would adjust that lane's MMR on their account rather than the assigned lane's MMR.

Der LindwurmMar 8, 20181 votes

I've contacted Riot about this very issue and they basically said there's nothing they can do about it. They'd better put their heads together and figure something out. It's the main thing that makes the game inaccessible to new players and the reason why there are basically no new players and the playerbase will only continue to shrink from here on out.

RagingDerpnessMar 8, 20181 votes

Is there a way to make it so that you can only have 1 account per client?

This should get rid of your smurf problem.

This will not however stop high elo players from playing on their buddies Bronze V laptop.

Attticus FinchMar 9, 20181 votes

The problem isn't the existence of smurphs, its that ypu have to waste 15 minutes of your life minimum before leaving the game and getting into another match.

There should be no time limits on surrender votes.