I figured out how to Balance AFKs in Ranked

Im Free Food··16 votes·9,180 views

This thread is based on the fact that about every 3 ranked games, I get at least one that has an AFK (AFK as in, D/C'd from game for inactivity or loss of connection) from the beginning of the match.

So, naturally, I started complaining and trying to think of how LoL could implement a system to help combat losing massive amounts of LP because of leavers. I understand that we can't have LP forgiveness (Loss Prevention), because people will just start leaving in the last few minutes to save their team from losing a lot of LP......

BUT, What if the amount of LP you lose while playing in a 4v5 is determined based on how long the game continued AFTER the AFK leaves/dc's. Here's the idea: You start game and mid lane leaves at 5:00 min in. Instead of just /ff, your team tries to hang on for as long as they can and for each minute (or a benchmark of time) passed will reduce the amount of LP you lose. Benefits: People will be encouraged to actually try, even if it's 4v5. The AFKs from 5:00 mins in wont ruin your Rank. Just all around better than Riot saying, "Sorry you had an AFK in a 40 minute match, but FCK YOU ANYWAY, HERE'S MINUS 28 LP :)"

and if you find yourself asking how it'll help keep people from AFK, you could also implement the same idea in reverse for the AFKer. For Example: If you AFK 5 mins into a 40 minutes match and you never come back, you'll get a LP loss based on the 35 mins you were AFK. Could also work for those who D/C for 90% of the match and show up just as your nexus is being blown up. Time away= LP Lost

what you think?

35 Comments

Marothennan8 votes

i'd still rather ff than waste 50 minutes

Im Free Food2 votes

{quoted}

i'd still rather ff than waste 50 minutes

what if you would lose 0 LP for playing it out till the very end?

Linna Excel2 votes

That'd be better than nothing, but there's still something wrong with the game if you have to play for 30 minutes in a 4v5 not to lose LP.

KVbqbFsC8e3 votes

I'd rather just move on to the next game. I wouldn't like this system, 4v5s are not fun.

Im Free Food1 votes

[{quoted}](name=The Big Piece,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=veesVMET,comment-id=000500000001,timestamp=2018-08-17T22:31:58.595+0000)

I'd rather just move on to the next game. I wouldn't like this system, 4v5s are not fun.

I can't remember for sure, but I know other games include an "opt-out" feature when you have a d/c on your team where if you wait just a few minutes after the d/c, you can leave the game without being punished for afk'ing. You still lose the same amount of LP, but you can't be punished for leaving.

I say include that option. So if someone d/c's and 3 out of 4 of the team wants to play it out to try and save themselves from losing more LP, they can do that; because the 4th guy who wanted to leave, can leave after a few minutes without punishment for afk (But you'd still lose the full amount of a loss with this decision)

Stray Kat2 votes

[{quoted}](name=The Big Piece,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=veesVMET,comment-id=000500000001,timestamp=2018-08-17T22:31:58.595+0000)

I'd rather just move on to the next game. I wouldn't like this system, 4v5s are not fun.

I find this hard to agree with. Some of the most fun I've ever had in League has been in 4v5 games that I managed to come back and carry. That feeling of accomplishment when you just refuse to give in. That wonderful moment when you're taking the enemy nexus and they say in all chat "Wait, Jhin is AFK???? This was a 4v5??"..

I mean, no, a 4v5 isn't ideal - But I'd say I win a solid 1/3 of the ones I'm involved in, by simply refusing to give up on it. If it's a 4v5, and the score is 1 kill to 25, and they've taken most of our towers and we're just floundering - Of course, give up, move on. But if we're ahead by 5k gold and the jungler disconnects? Keep playing, he might come back - And if he doesn't, the lead can still be dragged out into a win if you try.

Im Free Food1 votes

{quoted}

I find this hard to agree with. Some of the most fun I've ever had in League has been in 4v5 games that I managed to come back and carry. That feeling of accomplishment when you just refuse to give in. That wonderful moment when you're taking the enemy nexus and they say in all chat "Wait, Jhin is AFK???? This was a 4v5??"..

I mean, no, a 4v5 isn't ideal - But I'd say I win a solid 1/3 of the ones I'm involved in, by simply refusing to give up on it. If it's a 4v5, and the score is 1 kill to 25, and they've taken most of our towers and we're just floundering - Of course, give up, move on. But if we're ahead by 5k gold and the jungler disconnects? Keep playing, he might come back - And if he doesn't, the lead can still be dragged out into a win if you try.

100% agree with

and you're right. All of my most memorable and most entertaining matches were when the odds seemed impossible.

I'll never forget a game i carried as tryndamere and we won a 3v5. it felt unbelievable.

Marothennan1 votes

Still would rather get into another game than having to go through a boring and energy draining experience that would destroy my will to play another match

FixHealsRemoveGW1 votes

What if you gain more LP for a win because your MMR is pretty good and then the next game would take less than 30 min after you surrendered at 20 or 15?

Less time, more LP.

Alzon6 votes

I can see this as keeping players “trapped” in a losing game for the sake of LP. Not the healthiest, but it’s better than the current lack of a system regarding AFKers.

Im Free Food2 votes

{quoted}

I can see this as keeping players “trapped” in a losing game for the sake of LP. Not the healthiest, but it’s better than the current lack of a system regarding AFKers.

yeah, but there's always a 4v5 you can win where one guy is just completely tilted cuz it's a 4v5; so it gives those games apossibility of being played out in full.

PhearBunny2 votes

its a good idea, but just like every idea like this, it will be abused therefore they will never do it.

Im Free Food1 votes

its literally impossible to abuse this system

HalcyonDweller3 votes

I wouldn't say "literally" but I agree it looks like it would be extremely difficult if not impossible to abuse.

Solid idea! +1

Tuition Fee2 votes

Four people could pressure a feeder to AFK by bullying them into the idea. Gullible 12 year olds will be told they will receive a $5 RP card if they AFK.

HalcyonDweller2 votes

Pressuring somebody into doing something would be very easy to detect and punish.

Im Free Food1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Tuition Fee,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=veesVMET,comment-id=0000000000000000,timestamp=2018-08-17T21:57:35.477+0000)

Four people could pressure a feeder to AFK by bullying them into the idea. Gullible 12 year olds will be told they will receive a $5 RP card if they AFK.

why are you even arguing? Halcyon is right. 1. It's already an extremely punishable offense to do that 2. There's something called a "Mute" button, and any summoner has the right to exercise that in case of harassment 3. People who are toxic in this game already do exactly what you're talking about. It's not going to "increase toxicity"

Tuition Fee1 votes

I'm very sorry if it seemed like I was attacking your idea. That was not at all my intention, and I actually quite like it very much. I was merely pointing out the two methods I could think of (Imo, your idea is actually less abusable than some of Riot's ideas) that people could use to abuse your idea, to expand on Halcyon's post.

To prevent more misunderstandings, I'd like to mention that the only reason why I posted those two were because some people don't understand how to use the mute button and would much rather keep arguing, and because although it is easily detectable and bannable, it still happens, just like toxicity. I'm also "arguing" because I'm allowed to state my own perspective and ideas. Rest assured, I am in no way trying to shoot down your idea, and wholeheartedly support it.

FixHealsRemoveGW2 votes

I understand that we can't have LP forgiveness (Loss Prevention), because people will just start leaving in the last few minutes to save their team from losing a lot of LP......

What you are suggesting is also LP forgiveness, just less extreme, but you can abuse it as well. To prevent this you would have to punish a duo for example if just one player disconnected. Would you like to lose additional LP just because your duo partner lost connection?

and if you find yourself asking how it'll help keep people from AFK, you could also implement the same idea in reverse for the AFKer

It won't stop anyone from going AFK. But it will encourage players to keep wasting time in lost games just to punish anyone who is afk or disconnected. We shouldn't give players the tool to get their revenge, griefing is already a problem. I wouldn't want to encourage that.

In general I think it's better to get out of lost games fast and just queue for a new match, because by doing this you ALREADY gain more LP for your time investment. The advantage is also that you spend more time having good games and less time in bad games.

Im Free Food1 votes

{quoted}

What you are suggesting is also LP forgiveness, just less extreme, but you can abuse it as well. To prevent this you would have to punish a duo for example if just one player disconnected. Would you like to lose additional LP just because your duo partner lost connection?

It won't stop anyone from going AFK. But it will encourage players to keep wasting time in lost games just to punish anyone who is afk or disconnected. We shouldn't give players the tool to get their revenge, griefing is already a problem. I wouldn't want to encourage that.

In general I think it's better to get out of lost games fast and just queue for a new match, because by doing this you ALREADY gain more LP for your time investment. The advantage is also that you spend more time having good games and less time in bad games.

Responding to your first paragraph: Yes. You currently will take a full Loss if your duo partner D/C's anyway. that wouldn't change. it's not like it suddenly makes it unfair for you as the duo partner. He's your partner, if he d/cs or afks; it's your responsibility to take that risk when teaming with him.

second paragraph: this isn't grieving at all. It's playing the game all the way through because not every 4v5 is a complete loss and this system is simply encouraging people to take ranked more seriously than a draft (where you would just ff @20). The person who d/c's isn't being punished under this system any more than they currently are, which is the same answer as your duo question. If you afk now, you get a full penalized loss. if you afk in this system, you get the same exact punishment. The only difference is that the teammates you screwed over now have a CHANCE at salvaging their ranking regardless of your commitment.

You are so wrong. That would be the case ONLY if your average game time was as low as the combined time of: queueing + queue dodges + load screen + other delays. Playing a game and dragging it out anohter 20 mins is worth it to not lose any LP at all. Think of it like this, if you win 15 LP a game, and you lose 20 LP a game. would it be wise to take a loss of 20 LP and win one OR take two losses of 0 LP (because you had back to back games of AFKers and you drug it out) it's pretty simple guy. You're overreaching for a reason to make this system sound bad when in all actuality, it doesnt change or alter anything about the current ranked system EXCEPT giving the opportunities to victims of d/c'ers for improving their position in ranked

FixHealsRemoveGW1 votes

You don't seem to understand the consequences of your suggestion, but you should at least try. Then again there are too many things that you don't want to understand so I won't waste more time.

Douglas Funnie2 votes

No. I don't want to sit in a game for 30-40 minutes knowing that the game will still be lost due to someone afking. The sooner the game ends, the sooner I can get back into two other games and potentially gain twice as much LP.

Losing 28 lp a game means you do not belong in that elo.

Im Free Food1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Douglas Funnie,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=veesVMET,comment-id=000c,timestamp=2018-08-18T15:22:37.860+0000)

No. I don't want to sit in a game for 30-40 minutes knowing that the game will still be lost due to someone afking. The sooner the game ends, the sooner I can get back into two other games and potentially gain twice as much LP.

Losing 28 lp a game means you do not belong in that elo.

https://matchhistory.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/#match-details/NA1/2848316613/200115644?tab=overview

Shukr4n1 votes

Uha e to think each scenario.

What if afker come back? In case of win?in case,of still lose? What if afker dc? What if dcer afk? What if he lag spike? What if he afk then turn off his connection to try a fake dc?

Im Free Food1 votes

{quoted}

Uha e to think each scenario.

What if afker come back? In case of win?in case,of still lose? What if afker dc? What if dcer afk? What if he lag spike? What if he afk then turn off his connection to try a fake dc?

if afker come back, then its fine. if it's a win, you wouldnt lose LP anyway, so nothing changes. if afker dc? what? lmao? thats basically the same thing. Not in game is Not in game? whatre you even trying to discredit? same as before? Not in game is Not in game. as soon as the player d/c's for being AFK, the clock starts. Lag spike has nothing to do with it? if he has to d/c and come right back, that's okay to do and your teams will generally be okay with it D/C is same thing. NOT IN GAME IS NOT IN GAME

FixHealsRemoveGW1 votes

What if you have a duo partner who boosts you by always going afk when a game seems to go bad and then you just stall as long as possible to lose as little LP as possible?

Im Free Food1 votes

Well the simple structure of the system wouldn't let that be a viable option? if you were with a duo partner who was boosting you, they'd want the game to end quickly; they wouldn't want to sit afk for you to finish 20-30 mins later to start another game. What I'm saying is that would take them twice as long to get you higher in ranked. If someones boosting you, they probably have better than a 50% winrate, so why would they waste more than half their playing time, waiting for you to drag out every loss? Plus, if you manage to get him to afk; that's a ban-able offense, so goodluck after the second time.

Saletty1 votes

In Switzerland you can bring a paper with maybe 10000 sings of people to the government and then the whole land will vote for or against it. Maybe you can talk to Rito if you get 500 Yes votes they will add the system or try it out.

Linna Excel1 votes

Last week I did a few bot games for a change. Just about every game, AGAINST BOTS, had an AFKer. If this is normal for people coming into the game to see, they are probably getting the wrong idea about the game and how one should behave in it.

AnAggravatedPimp1 votes

It's not a bad idea but I can very easily see players deciding to give up because of a lost first blood then harassing a player to get them to afk. Now they just hav to play/stall long enough that they don't lose much LP.

HalcyonDweller2 votes

That would be easy to detect and harassment is already punished. It wouldn't go the way the harassers want, especially not in the long run.

Im Free Food1 votes

I can't remember for sure, but I know other games include an "opt-out" feature when you have a d/c on your team where if you wait just a few minutes after the d/c, you can leave the game without being punished for afk'ing. You still lose the same amount of LP, but you can't be punished for leaving.

I say include that option. So if someone d/c's and 3 out of 4 of the team wants to play it out to try and save themselves from losing more LP, they can do that; because the 4th guy who wanted to leave, can leave after a few minutes without punishment for afk (But you'd still lose the full amount of a loss with this decision)

Im Free Food1 votes

To anyone discussing that they'd rather just leave a 4v5: https://matchhistory.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/#match-details/NA1/2848316613/200115644?tab=overview

It was 4v5 from level 10 and we drug it to 40 mins long and won. so not only did we just avoid losing LP, we won and got LP. proof that playing out a 4v5, under right conditions, can be worth it.

gileskd1 votes

if this plan fails, can we just group the afkers in the next few games?

Hollowchazz1 votes

Or better yet, a remake means the team that "wins" gets a small amount of LP, like 5 or something just to compensate for lost time

More from Gameplay

More by Im Free Food