A Discussion about Hextech chests and key fragments

Silvarspark··6 votes·853 views

Hi, I really like the Hextech system Riot has implemented or rather the chance to get free skins. Of course they dont want someone to farm boxes and so they restricted the ways they can be obtained. You know the details by now: 1 per champ, only with S- or higher, and only one box per week.

Now, you could argue that it's hard enough to get an S- on so many champions and that you should just get a box whenever you score that well for the first time on a champ, but that might be a little too generous. It doesnt really matter.

What I dont understand in all of this, are the key fragments. Like I described above: The ways to get a box are already very limited, BUT they have very clear rules and are fair. The key fragments on the other hand are just randomly dropped grindloot that puts another hurdle on the Hextech system and I really dont get why they are there in the first place?! Right now the keys mostly confuse people in regardss to why they dont get any. It's random for once and riot is meddling with the droprates over the month or maybe regarding other factors as well, which is intransparent and therefore rather frustrating for players.

Imagine there were NO keys and you can just open your box when you get it. This would be a very simple but good change of life improvement for the Hextech system. After all, the keys have no effect on how many boxes you get, they only delay you from opening them.

What are your thoughts ? If you agree, please comment and/or upvote.

9 Comments

Desolas Arterius2 votes

I definitely feel the same.

Getting boxes isn't an issue for me, it's always the keys. One month I'll get to build a key, but then next month I'll be lucky to even get a single fragment.

I get the whole RNG loot aspect feel they want with this, but when I'm sitting with 5-6 boxes and no fragments, it really sucks.

I really enjoy the system, but I hope they tweak the numbers better. At least with the fragments. The boxes is fair and I don't mind having to earn them on multiple champions (actually forces me to play outside of my mains!), but the keys are what kills it for me :/ Especially since you don't get much for your box when you finally manage to collect enough fragments after weeks of playing straight.

I will say though, the Project Caches were a great idea. You could earn small ones with IP, and the big ones were definitely worth something, but hardest to get. I kind of hope they lean towards that more, where the boxes require more effort, but it's definitely worth it in the end.

Silvarspark2 votes

The direct benefit is that it keeps people playing. Someone will pay some bucks for something and that's totally fine.

To me, the keys are a step backwards after a lot of great changes to the game. It's pretty much the same as runepages for 6300 IP. Runepages are such a basic thing, you shouldnt have to grind for it. It should just be in the game, period. Also paying for good skins etc is fine, but if you feel like you have to because otherwise you're missing out on something, it's bad.

BastionKross2 votes

I personally have two or three unopened boxes sitting in my crafting inventory. It's both annoying and frustrating earning that S rank on many different champions only to not be able to claim the contents just because I didn't get lucky with my fragment drops.

And don't get me started on finally being able to open a chest only to get a champion shard. If I wanted a champion, or the shard, that's what IP is for.

DoktorKaiser2 votes

Yeah, I agree. You are supposed to get 4 keys per month because you get ~4 boxes per month, but its so inconsistent. Last month I got only 2 keys (7 fragments to be exact) and this month it hasnt even been 10 days since my reset and I already got all 4 keys (13 fragments). Please RIOT just make it so that you get it with first win of the day and you can get 3 per week, just to unlock the box you get that week.

Eedat1 votes

the keys have no effect on how many boxes you get, they only delay you from opening them.

That's the point lol. Probably persuades people to spend some RP on keys.

You have to look at this from their perspective. The Hextech system is literally them giving money away. There is no box cost or subscription fee for LoL so all of their bread and butter is skins and other extras. They do give us some free skins which we should be grateful for, but they are going to weigh it to give incentive to buy some RP

Randomonium4 votes

It's actually probably a net profit for Riot. Hextech is only given out to people who don't get punished. It rewards people to be less toxic. Fewer toxic people means players enjoy their games more. When people enjoy the game more they spend more on RP.

Plus, it gives Riot an RNG element that can be bought as well. This is a very common tactic that even some casinos use. They'll give you an amount of chips for free because you're more likely to keep playing and spend more money. Giving free chests encourages people to buy more chest using RP.

I'm very thankful Riot is giving me free stuff but I think it's a bit naive to say that they're losing money over the system.

Sariat11 votes

Imagine if Riot decided not to give away cosmetic items and champions away for free, and you had to spend real money to buy skins and champs. Now woulnd't that be terrible?

Silvarspark1 votes

{quoted}

Imagine if Riot decided not to give away cosmetic items and champions away for free, and you had to spend real money to buy skins and champs. Now woulnd't that be terrible?

Didnt I write that I like the Hextech system ? That doesnt mean you cannot propose changes to it as if it was rude or something.

Silvarspark1 votes

A little push ?

More from Gameplay

More by Silvarspark