Kalista's Oathsworn AFK

Muzzrah·Jan 14, 2016·1 votes·1,063 views

I'll keep this short and sweet, as another thread touched on this but emphasized a different aspect of the issue: Kalista should have the ability to switch her oathsworn binding at any point in the game, on a cooldown. Instead of it being you can only rebind within the first 3 minutes of the game, there should be a 3 min cooldown where, after binding, you can't rebind for 3 minutes. This would alleviate issues with people going afk or trolling. With season 6's new ranked draft system, which heavily aims to allow for role preference and team composition, Kalista losing her oathsworn for any reason is a heavy hit to her niche as an adc. We have seen her receive nerfs to her autos, her passive, her wind-up, her rend, all because she brings a lot of damage through unconventional methods, especially when her and her oathsworn both zero in on a target. If her bound partner leaves the game, she becomes an adc with a tremendous handicap. Switching targets for binding plays more into the idea of a team comp that can evolve as the game goes on, and given the way her kit has been uniquely structured to accomodate an oathsworn mechanic, she should not suffer this loss at any point in the game. Feedback is welcome on why this isn't allowed (rebinding regardless of what time in the game). I want to understand but also felt the need to vocalize this idea once more.

10 Comments

SerevasJan 14, 20162 votes

The problem with being able to change at any time is that it then creates the issue of bind to your support for laning phase, then bind to your engage at the teamfighting phase.

Being able to rebind to a Malphite top lane once team fights role around would be complete bullshit.

MuzzrahJan 14, 20161 votes

I understand that point, but then if you make that choice to unbind your support, the support loses value from dealing damage in team fights and can no longer be used to initiate. So there is a trade-off for unbinding. If this is the only issue with her black spear though, what happens in situations where your oathsworn afk's? Are you just forced to bite the bullet? That doesn't seem like a fair alternative either.

XicashinaJan 14, 20162 votes

Ya but its a team game and to be fair lots of supports EX Soraka Nami, zillean, zyra, lux ... etc etc will get blown up if they initiate, Also ya the game is being balanced around there being no afks etc. Besides if someone is afk your probably going to lose that game anyways (theres like a 12% chance of winning)

MuzzrahJan 14, 20161 votes

Thank you, this helped me understand Argronar's point better as well. I guess it is a risk you take playing Kalista.

SerevasJan 14, 20161 votes

The trade off is your support does less damage, but your now rebound target deals more damage, that's not really a trade off.

The game also shouldn't be balanced around the chance of a player afking. If that happened every champion would have to be capable of 1v5ing.

If you balance around the possibility of a champion afking, suddenly you have all overpowered champions as it's possible you could lose one of the other champions on your team.

MuzzrahJan 14, 20161 votes

I see what you're saying now. I guess in the context of the fact that a 4v5 should be unwinnable anyway it no longer really matters that you no longer have an oathsworn, you're probably going to lose anyway. I guess that is a risk that playing Kalista heralds. Well thanks for the explanation. Still sucks that she has that extra liability but you're right you can't balance a champ to make them strong enough to 4v5 without drawback.

SerevasJan 14, 20161 votes

Yeah, I'm not gunna lie, it sucks when that happens, but you really can't balance around the potential of AFKs.

MuzzrahJan 14, 20161 votes

{quoted}

The problem with being able to change at any time is that it then creates the issue of bind to your support for laning phase, then bind to your engage at the teamfighting phase.

Being able to rebind to a Malphite top lane once team fights role around would be complete bullshit.

Another point- imagine you are support. Your adc is doing terrible, and is very far behind. You may make the smart/conscious decision to roam, try to support other carries who are doing better, and save your peels for someone who is doing well. Is that really much different than Kalista deciding the top laner or jungler is doing better at peeling and attacking, and deciding to stick with them more than the support? even though the main issue for me is losing on your oathsworn altogether due to afk e.t.c.

SerevasJan 14, 20161 votes

You need the actual trade off.

The trade off to leaving lane when you're a support, is it's possible your ADC is irrelevant the rest of the game. Being able to unbind whenever you want has no trade off, the extra damage gets shifted to someone else. You lose nothing for it.

Maximum MordeJan 14, 20161 votes

Well, there is a balance issue with letting her switch that others have mentioned. There is also the fact that it isn't terribly relevant if she can switch due to an AFK, since if there is an AFK you probably lost anyway even if you can switch. From a balance perspective, it isn't worth the trade off of creating a balance issue when the potential benefit in the negative situation is very minimal.