Leauge - 30% skill, 70% strategy?
Been playing a bunch of ranked lately, and I have noticed the above. Games are not so much lost because of a huge skill gap between tiers, but because of horrible shot calling and teamwork. So many times now I have lost games because team-mates make horrible Baron calls, or attempt to jungle when they should be defending.
To me it comes so obvious and second hand being a top 100 strategy game player (Company of Heroes, Warhammer). Using a champion with only 4 abilities and a few actives from items is nothing compared to 20+ different units every game with each of their own in game abilities. So when we push their base, take inhib and then retreat with 2 champs, while they have all 5 hot on our tail, that doesn't mean you go baron. To me it's simple logic. That's an example that happened last night. I pinged about 4 times, and typed in chat to RUN!!!, instead 2 members try to solo baron, do only about 3/4 damage, get owned.... then the enemy takes baron and steam rolls our base for the win.
Next game, almost a mirror of that one. We lost early game, but I managed to carry and bring us back. With our last push we take out their entire base, just the nexus stands until we have to retreat. Me (Swain) and Lee Sin are both doing good in the health department but run while we are being chased by the whole team. I decide we can take them with an ambush at Baron and tell the team to bait them at Baron so we can finish them off and win. What happens? The other 3 members of our team begin trying to kill Baron. By the time the enemy shows up, Baron is half dead, the 3 champs are half dead, and me and Lee attempt to fight it out. We lose, I barely escape and so does Lee while they now easily take Baron and walk into our base and take the win. This is also after Lee Q's one enemy and jumps into a 5 on 1 and gets destroyed (Why must EVERY Lee follow up on a Q hit, it's like some moron flowchart).
We HAD that game.... all the team had to do was listen, and just use a bit of strategy. You see the whole team coming, they are all full health. You can't take Baron in time, but you try anyway and lose half of your health. Horrible decision making. Again I don't feel it's the skills that set many players apart the most in ranked. Being completely out played in a highlight reel happens very rarely. It more or less comes down to playing safe, and making educated decisions.
