Upcoming Aram updates seem like a good start riot!
Aram is, without a doubt the main reason why I play this game. From the start when I was introduced to League I always considered rift fun, but personally past getting gold for the rewards every year would always find myself queuing for Aram or 3's instead of rift. On this account I've logged probably about 5k arams, and total with all of them roughly 8k, so I've played a fair amount on that bridge. What follows is my thoughts on the changes ahead.
Lately, with MSI and quests centered around rift (kill dragons, ward stuff, etc.) I've been concerned that Aram would just be forgotten. Today I read the /dev: ARAM Changes Incoming blog and was elated to learn that not only does Riot remember their one lane random game mode, but are working on improvements to it!
Available champion pool: This change is definitely a plus I believe. Not only does it allow people without rerolls to have more options of grabbing champs that are on the bench, but also allows those with limited champ pools to more freely trade around. Players that send one or two champs to the bench can do so either because they don't want what was rolled or to put it there for another player that would like it but can't trade because both don't own the champions in question. Personally I am most excited about this part of the updates over all others. 100/100 rating for me
All Random: Making a bigger f2p champ pool will help make Aram only accounts less dominating. I would give this update a 75/100. Ideally I would love to see all champs unlocked for Aram to kill Aram only accounts but throwing 42 extra into their pool of champs will definitely dilute their pool of "god tier" Aram champs and make their rolls less consistent.
Where is my S?: This will be a good update for box farming. Until you can earn mastery 6&7 on other game modes outside of rift this is really all that the S's are good for. I personally don't understand why T6&7 is limited to rift when it's an achievement of mastery of that champion. With the update to reqs on getting an S, it feels like they should unlock the ability to get mastery tokens on both Aram as well as 3's. If I can prove my mastery of (champion X) on either of those stages why does it count for less compared to rift. Understandably some champs in Aram are quite easy to farm S's with while others are outright impossible...but with changes to how S's are being handed out, mastery unlocks should also be considered. I would rate this 75/100 for this reason.
Base gates +/ff + exp time: Base gates and exp are both good qol updates. While /ff will be good for unwinnable games. I feel 8 minutes will make some games end too quickly. There have been a lot of times I have been on the team pushed to their inhib by 6-8 as a group of fighter/tanks vs poke. Most of those times if they can't close around 10 minutes we outscale with one or two resist items and win. It's not a fun win and most definitely an uphill battle, but there have been many times we take the "W" against a very difficult team if we can get there item wise. The early /ff will have a lot of those games end before they are given a chance to happen. If this is a good thing or not, really depends on the people I suppose. Time will tell on this one. 90/100
Dark harvest change: Needed the nerf, pushed out any other rune path for a lot of champs 100/100 update.
Warmogs removed: This item needs to stay imo. Aram only version with more hp req so mage/adc's can't grab it last item maybe...but without it as an option you're pretty much saying either go die after a fight if you're low-ish even if you can't buy or be at a disadvantage. After the event Riot will assess and see. Personally I would up the hp req to say 3k or even like 3250 on the Aram only version and call it good. I can understand why they did it. Warmog 1st (sion) or 2nd rush is becoming a thing. A compromise might be adding Overlord's Bloodmail (the 3's item RIP) to Aram. 30/100
Limited time items: Boots seem good! Cutlass seems bad as there is enough lethality imo. Veil seems fine. no rating on these as we have not seen them ?/100
Relic change/timers: Seem fun for the event. Timers after the event seem good as well so long as you only get timers if someone seen the relic taken. Just like jungle camps on rift. 100/100
Butcher's Bridge: YES!! Aram skin love! This needs to happen more often or permanent and when you load it's just a 50/50 on which map it puts you in. 100/100 GG Riot!
NOW FOR UPDATES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN!
/remake on Aram!
Sometimes trading breaks if someone does it too fast after a lobby starts.
Thanks
Bwp45 [garen-swing]