Please stop Training wheels buffs.

Necro Warrior87·6/2/2018, 4:04:12 PM·152 votes·22,062 views

"We expect Pyke to have a steep learning curve, so we were conservative with his launch strength to make sure he doesn't grow into an overpowered state in the weeks to come. We overshot on the guardrails, so we're pumping some power into Pyke's laning strength to help him have more consistent games while players learn his kit" This was the excuse they had to hotfix Pyke this patch... Stop, with the training wheels buffs you give to all of these new champions, it makes people get used to the buffs and when you finally take them away its like slowly ripping a band-aid off your skin, It hurts, a lot. Never add something with the intent of removing it, thats basic game design. Just let us learn the champion without artificial buffs.

64 Comments

SirPurrr6/2/2018, 5:17:39 PM13 votes

Yeah, I think this idea is terrible. They should only add what they think improves the game long-term, not band-aid fixes or change for the sake of change. I hate the last hitting buffs too. I think this makes a mockery of a competitive game. Just let me get used to something STABLE so I don't feel my learning effort is wasted.

There's nothing worse to me in this game than putting time to master something or theorycrafting some build only to find that they weren't even serious about those options or that all my effort is wasted in the next "change for the sake of change" cycle. Then, instead of balance, they'll seemingly arbitrarily make another route too powerful to the point that my build isn't even viable anymore. These forced meta shifts really hurt player trust and willingness to take the game seriously imo.

What if tennis organizations changed the size of the tennis court and the type of ball every few weeks just for the sake of it? Who would want to become a tennis pro in such an environment? They wouldn't feel like they were on solid ground. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with directed change towards a clear goal and with the outcome of an improved game/more stability later but it seems like many of these changes aren't geared towards "a stable and more refined product." They're more like "let's just shake things up". If the goal was always to reach a more perfect balance state then fine, I understand that.

Venging Angel6/2/2018, 6:07:21 PM11 votes

The 40% winrate is akin to the Lee Sin effect - remember when Lee Sin was released. Same story. And now, when the meta suits him, he can have a 55% winrate (in skilled hands).

Pyke's playstyle though is clunky and awkward - that Q hook for example. But I think he'll be closer to 52% after the actual support mains get their hands on him (and he gets a few support items suited to him). Further, and right now, there are a lot of non-support players (and junglers) playing him in ranked play - and sadly that is even up to Platinum tier. Of course, with this sort of thing happening, his winrate will be majorly skewed.

Furious Delisha6/2/2018, 5:36:03 PM11 votes

If anything they want people to buy Pyke while he's new (and strong) ((and 7800 IP)), gain a sizable following, and then nerf him once he becomes a more pronounced issue. This balance pattern earns them the most money.

Keep in mind this game is also mostly played by the Chinese. The Chinese will pay big just to be overpowered.

Altiverse6/3/2018, 12:25:57 AM10 votes

It's as if they learned nothing from Kaisa...

Kharlon6/2/2018, 4:46:11 PM6 votes

Pyke is not in a good state, even early in his career, a rather straightforward assassin should not be hovering around 40% winrate. He needed something, he just is not in a good spot at the moment. It may be with him being a new archtype, but he needs something to bring him up to where he isn't a troll pick.

TotalJerk6/2/2018, 11:20:35 PM4 votes

It's kinda obvious that Pyke is bad and why he's bad, though.

Kats Pajamas6/4/2018, 12:13:20 AM4 votes

pyke has a 40% winrate because everyone rushed dirk, against any matchup, with any score, everytime. The shit falls off before you have time to even buy it assuming you didn't get 3/0 at level three. It became a popular build because someone popped off with it sure, but you would have better success with jg pyke and a poachers dirk with a team invade than building that item as support. To add insult to injury, they then build it into Duskblade more often than Ghostblade when they do. He has a 40% winrate because the majority of the player base are idiots. Pen is stupid on Pyke, the purpose of the execute is to skip armor, and if you want collateral damage, a last whisper is better in comparison anyway, AND it stacks multiplicative with sudden impact instead. You can win 70%+ just building him full resistance tank with a Last Whisper. I also take Dark Harvest. The idea of Assassinating people alone with electro verses setting up better team ults is just obvious when you have no gold income. It's the same situation as Electro bard verses Dark Harvest bard. Dark harvest is better????

KZ Engel6/2/2018, 11:52:10 PM3 votes

if a champ is bad, how will it sell skins? silly goy

Spacesuit Spiff6/2/2018, 8:06:14 PM3 votes

A lot of the edgier champs get to keep their training wheel buffs indefinitely, or get more later, because Riot knows they attract players who'd feed their little hearts out if it weren't nigh impossible.

Seer of Mind6/2/2018, 9:53:36 PM3 votes

We all have to agree with this one, remember the buffs that Kaisa got before they started to nerf her? While training wheels are needed for difficult champions, they shouldn't be broken to the point that they get banned every game.

Cyraken6/2/2018, 9:51:44 PM2 votes

I agree 100% ofc he's feast or famine rn he's an assassin that no one knows how to play >.< leave him alone, give people time to settle in an let his winrate even out. If his winrate stays low and his playrate takes a sharper dip, he probably needs a buff. If his winrate evens out and his playrate takes a normal 'new champ excitement wearing off' he probably doesn't.

3TWarrior6/3/2018, 12:49:01 AM2 votes

i've never gotten the bandaid/bandage thing. most of them lose their adhesiveness and it's less painful to pull them off slow

Skorch6/3/2018, 5:29:50 AM2 votes

Honestly I prefer training wheels buffs that will probably be removed, to the entirety of the boards for 2 patches screaming "This champion sucks and needs a buff" then them getting a meaningful buff and they become overpowered AKA Ornn

BLACK REALM GOD6/3/2018, 8:57:20 AM2 votes

but if he's not OP why would anyone ever buy him or the skins? if you buy a new champ i think they should automatically promote you to challenger.

Modl Ryden l6/2/2018, 8:29:11 PM2 votes

Holy shit I know. The Irelia rework? Her Q was really strong, then they kept messing with her base damages and the Q's ratios. You basically had to relearn the feel for when the reset would be guaranteed after each patch.

lolipopevelynn6/4/2018, 12:15:41 PM1 votes

Why pick pyke when veigar executes harder?

lykkelas6/4/2018, 5:21:50 PM1 votes

honestly yeah, i know kai'sa is still the priority adc atm but i feel like they make you learn a champ on release just so they can change the hell out of them so u have to learn it again

Flashes6/5/2018, 12:13:35 AM1 votes

:Looks at Zoe: