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Balancing in an F2P game, feat. the FOTM champs.

Niyumi··2 votes·950 views

So, balancing in an F2P game. Does it really happen? Not really.

See, balance is stagnant and "boring" as far as whales are concerned. They don't see any flashy, "free win" champs they can pour money into and expect to win all their games in a balanced game. Champs like Yasuo, Vayne, Vi and all them wouldn't be absurdly broken / annoying like they are now, they'd be toned down or changed in a traditional P2P game -- since, in a P2P game they have to make their game itself as fun as it can be, since that's where they make their money, whereas an F2P game doesn't give a damn about how long you play so long as you throw money at their cash shop.

So, even though Vayne is one of the most hated champs in the game right now (rightfully so), Riot ignores her and takes their time doing anything to her -- sometimes even taking several patches to do so. This isn't because it takes a long time to change her, and it's not because it takes a lot of effort, it's because Riot is milking as much money from her as they can. Once she plateaus and doesn't make a ton of money, Riot will then change her with some kind of placebo nerf that really has no impact on her whatsoever, like the -3 AD "nerf" not too long ago. This is also why Vi, who has been carrying a ton of games lately, is entirely ignored.

Now, what about champs they actually nerfed? Yeah, they do exist, but the nerfs are never to the issue. Ashe, for example, was all over the place, carrying games left and right, and being just generally broken. Her passive and Q were to blame for this, but instead of nerfing either of those, Riot first nerfed the mana cost on her W, and then her ult damage, and then finally gave in and took one second off her Q -- no further changes. Now, did any of those nerfs actually fix Ashe? Fuck no. She was still broken as all hell, and that was because she had a Project skin coming, and couldn't fall out of the spotlight just yet.

A lot of people have been complaining about Poppy lately, and she's got nerfs up on the PBE to her ult damage if you tap it. Now, is her ult the issue? Was it ever? No. But Riot won't dare touch her base damage or her W passive, because she's gaining popularity and has a handful of skins people can buy on her. Once she plateaus though, she will be nerfed or ignored.

What about Garen? He had one of the lowest (if not THE lowest) winrate for a long time now, and only just recently got attention. Nothing changed about him being the lowest winrate champ, so why did they give him a buff? Oh right, he has a skin coming.

... and that's why I really, really hate the fact that this game is F2P. Balance doesn't exist, and no attention is given to champs who need it because they don't make money, but Riot lies to our face the entire time talking about how much they care.

I'd sure love for our wonderful balance lead to come in and prove to me that they actually balance the game based on numbers and making the game fair and fun for everyone, rather than just balancing for whatever's most profitable -- but, he refuses to do so, because he can't. And if he tries to and I prove it wrong, people might start to question Riot, and that's not good for business.

22 Comments

Fairyfleur4 votes

Its very hard to balance the most popular game in the world across multiple reigons, and for LCS and Solo queue. Not to mention each tier from bronze to challenger.

Niyumi2 votes

It's not as hard as you'd think. MMOs, which are dramatically more complex, but they're balanced better than this game. Why's that?

dragon1xx2 votes

Because you're biased against LoL?

Niyumi1 votes

No, because I hold all games to the same standards.

ZephyrDrake2 votes

{quoted}

It's not as hard as you'd think. MMOs, which are dramatically more complex, but they're balanced better than this game. Why's that?

tell me how many classes MMOs have? tell me how many characters each with their own unique skills have? MMOs are actually insanely easier to balance than MOBAs due to how small the actual roster there is. You get essentially 10~15 classes at most in MMOs so all you need to worry about is balancing those classes instead items are also incredibly easy to make due to you just giving each of the classes a set of stats that they want and there is ALWAYS a "best gear" that has the best effects, stats and whatnot unlike League in which all of the items compete with each other and what you build is dependent on the situation of each game.

Niyumi1 votes

Each class has 20-30+ abilities, with unique interactions and synergies, they have 10-15 stats you can build that do different things, different builds you can run, different talents, different team comps, all that. It is much more complex than a MOBA, but every MMO is far more balanced, with far higher quality, far more content, all that.

ZephyrDrake2 votes

{quoted}

Each class has 20-30+ abilities, with unique interactions and synergies, they have 10-15 stats you can build that do different things, different builds you can run, different talents, different team comps, all that. It is much more complex than a MOBA, but every MMO is far more balanced, with far higher quality, far more content, all that.

sorry but WRONG! you have a bunch of abilities that are tiered! which means that you aren't going to be using the early skills for long and you are going to be using the high tier abilities pretty much 99% of the time! and 1015 stats? Str, Mag, Agi, Dex, Def, Mag Def (if even), HP... those are the main stats in every MMO! you might have some secondary stats that really don't do much or are tied to the MAIN stats. I really want to know where you get 1015 stats since i have yet to see a SINGLE MMO that has that many stats that actually aren't tied to a main stat. MMOs are not more complex than a MOBA at least not the vast majority of them. Go and play your precious MMOs since they are obviously more balanced (which is actually insanely easier to do!) and more "complex" which is just FALSE!

Niyumi1 votes

Sorry, but I have three action bars full of abilities. That's 36. And some classes have more.

Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Stamina, Crit, Versatility, Haste, Mastery, Attack Power, Spell Power, Armor, Dodge, Parry. There was also hit chance, spell hit, armor pen, spell pen, mana per 5, expertise and block chance, but they took those out.

ZephyrDrake1 votes

{quoted}

Sorry, but I have three action bars full of abilities. That's 36. And some classes have more.

Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Stamina, Crit, Versatility, Haste, Mastery, Attack Power, Spell Power, Armor, Dodge, Parry. There was also hit chance, spell hit, armor pen, spell pen, mana per 5, expertise and block chance, but they took those out.

please tell me this great game you are speaking off? you also know that a single game =/= the entire genre right? this is like saying that all RPGs are turn based just because they played a final fantasy/pokemon game. You can have 99 action bars full of abilities and that still wouldn't matter. I have had games in which i could have up to 4 yet i only use the one action bar and not even all of it due to how pointless it is to use any other skills other than the few i use... with the exceptions of buffs that you rarely ever need to refresh so they might as well be part of your characters by default. That is essentially every single MMO out there. It doesn't matter if you are able to fill up a million bars when you barely use more than one... if even that much

TheKemperor1 votes

Name me an MMO that is in anyway balanced.

Niyumi1 votes

GW2, WoW, FFXIV. That's three.

Void Nargacuga1 votes

Now explain exactly what makes them balanced.

Niyumi1 votes

Every class is viable, and no class is objectively better. They have niches that they excel in, and have defined weaknesses.

There is no Vayne, there is no Vi, there is no Yasuo.

Void Nargacuga1 votes

Do you actually play these games and know this for a fact and can pull up all the data and information to back it up?

Niyumi1 votes

I've been playing WoW for 13 years, GW2 for four.

And, just like with League, there is no mountain of data you can pull up. It's all relative to other champs, and how players feel about it.

TheKemperor1 votes

How are they balanced?

dragon1xx2 votes

Dude stop spamming gameplay. Riot cannot balance everything around everything. There will always be outliers because Riot tries to balance around LCS AND Solo queue.

Niyumi2 votes

No, that's not why there are outliers. It's because of money, and whether or not a champ is lucrative.

ZephyrDrake2 votes

{quoted}

No, that's not why there are outliers. It's because of money, and whether or not a champ is lucrative.

except that you can just get champs with IP which costs no money. The only money you waste in this game is because you actually want to use your own money. You using money gives you ZERO advantage over those who actually just simply play the game without spending a single cent. The game isn't balanced because of how many champions there are, how many regions each with it's own little meta, SoloQ and Pro Play being a thing and not to mention all of the ranked tiers that exist (some champions are gods at low tiers while garbage at high ones and vice-versa)

Niyumi1 votes

Sure, you don't have to spend money unless you want to, but Riot does everything in their power to make you want to. And even then, they balance the game around whales, who will always spend money.

ZephyrDrake2 votes

{quoted}

Sure, you don't have to spend money unless you want to, but Riot does everything in their power to make you want to. And even then, they balance the game around whales, who will always spend money.

sorry but i haven't spend a single cent in about 3 years! not one single cent! and there are people who do not pay ANYTHING in the entire time they spend playing. Tell me what are the advantages of you paying money? you get skins and icons... you can get IP faster if you so wish, you can get chests and keys to get a chance at getting something you want. In game though you have ZERO advantage, it doesn't matter whether you are someone who owns every single icon and skin in the entire game you won't be any different than someone who has no skins and just the default icons. Tell me how does me paying money gives me an advantage? that is what "balancing around money" means FYI

TyrekGoldenspear2 votes

Azir was extremely powerful and popular. Got hit into the dirt with the nerf hammer.

He got two skins while he was in this state, no meaningful buffs.

Kalista. She got an SKT 1 skin this year, got her legs broken by nerfs.

Explain.

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