Credit where credit is due

Recently, I have made a couple posts/comments criticizing Riot for some of their recent decisions (at various points between patches 5.1-5.4) that have led to massive power decreases for several champions (Syndra, Azir, Kassadin, Veigar, etc.), as well as made life more difficult than it ought to be for junglers. I still believe that Riot needs to be more careful/incremental with their nerf decisions (especially with range/hitbox nerfs) to avoid making champions unplayable overnight. However, I did want to take a moment to recognize things that I think Riot is doing well:

1. Setting good goals for champions and playstyles. Regardless of how successful these changes have been, I think the goals are great. For example, they definitely seem to be looking to give champions unique playstyles and open more opportunities for interesting counterplay. A game where you're absolutely helpless before a somewhat fed Kassadin who cannot be kept off your back line, or before a somewhat fed Veigar or Akali who can 100-->0 you with an easy-to-execute combo, is not a fun game (well, at least for the opponents). There are clearly some lessons to be learned in how to achieve these goals, but I think Riot is definitely aiming for the right thing.

2. Communication. Rioters have been self-critical for not communicating the intent behind certain changes before making them, but they are at least responding to the backlash. Check out [email protected] within a few days of a new patch, and you will see responses to just about every reasonable complaint that people have made about a new patch.

3. Follow-up work. Generally speaking, they do (eventually) follow up and fix their mistakes. For example, I'm pretty sure Syndra is playable again (albeit a shell of her former self, much to my personal disappointment), buffs for Azir are being tested on the PBE, interesting new jungle items are being tested to increase diversity there, and so on. Heck, buffs for Urgot are even being tested.

In short: Riot, I would greatly appreciate it if you would look into tactics for better estimating the true impact of your patch decisions, as well as be more conservative with buff/nerf decisions overall. However, I believe in your vision of what League of Legends should be. Thank you for your commitment to communicating that vision to us and constantly working to make it a reality.

Sincerely,

A level-28 n00b