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Revamping the Hextech Crafting System? - Issues, Possible Solutions, and Discussion

Archton·8/15/2016, 1:43:46 AM·2 votes·920 views

Ever since the Hextech Crafting system was implemented into the game, I was really excited and thrilled to see it in action. The idea was amazing - but certain elements and aspects of it just doesn't seem to click. The main issue that I want to address is the balance between hextech chests and hextech key fragments. Chests are rewarded to you if you play well in a game - and you know if you're going to get it or not (based off your grade and how many chests are available). This makes sense, because players should be rewarded for playing well and given the opportunity to unlock something for their good play. On the flip side, Hextech Key Fragments are pretty much completely RNG, with the only **official ** criteria being that the game has to be a win for you to have a chance at getting a fragment. Yes, randomness is always a fun and cool mechanic to play around - anticipating and seeing if you will get a fragment after your win. However - through my experience, the system just doesn't work reliably and doesn't seem fun anymore. Getting Hextech Key Fragments feels more like a grind now, which is what Riot told me that it shouldn't be. > "The system is designed so that players should all have equal chances of getting enough keys to unlock their 4 chests that they can earn each month without having to grind out a bunch of games."

From my personal experience, this is not true. I still have 5 chests with 0 keys/key fragments - many of the chests earned months ago (See here -> http://oi64.tinypic.com/2uh4qa8.jpg). I really feel that the system should be revisited and changed so that the idea of "getting enough keys to unlock their four chests" is reality.

Furthermore, I recently went through a time where I didn't get a **single key fragment ** in 40-50 wins - despite playing with friends which apparently makes keys drop more. > "Keys drop more frequently when you group with friends"

I had played with two people, three people, four people, and five people - but I did not see any significant change between soloing and 5-manning (in terms of key drop rates). I really feel that all these problems can be resolved through making the system less RNG and more reliable so that you don't have to grind it out just to get a couple key fragments to open one chest - for a chance to get something crazy epic - or something horribly bad. The chest opening RNG is fine in my opinion, but the key fragment drop system just needs to be revamped.

Gnar **Archton **Azir

Comments are really appreciated! Discuss below :D

9 Comments

Give Me Trophies8/15/2016, 2:15:47 AM1 votes

Should be fucking removed.

Feels more like an art style experimentation than anything. Its over 10x slower than hearthstone and hearthstone is notoriously grindy.

Sohleks8/15/2016, 2:51:40 AM1 votes

You can only get 12 fragments a month. If you don't get your 12 in 28 days the drop rate and tally resets and there's no way to make em back up (freely)

In my experience the past 2 months it takes about 40 wins to get 12 key frags. You get the first 6 very easily after like 10-12 wins. The last 6 take more effort. Assuming 50% winrate that IS at least 80 games a month.

There is a mechanic in place where you are gauranteed a key frag drop if your luck went bad enough. The biggest gap I've had so far was 7 wins, which is 14 games with a 50% winrate.

If you're grinding after already getting 12 you stone cold get nothing.

It would be nice if Riot implemented tracking of your key drops; like I did for curiosity. They probably thought it was TMI or wanted to lure people to grind their game.

Amelie8/15/2016, 3:52:57 AM1 votes

...And I have 0 chests and 1 completed key waiting for a chest. From my personal experience, hextech crafting is working just fine.

I honestly don't mind the grind, if that's how you look at it. It's free stuff for playing, playing well, or playing with friends... I just see it as an unnecessary but very nice bonus. If you rely on hextech to get good loot, you're gonna have a bad time.

TFBaam8/15/2016, 4:50:40 AM1 votes

i feel ya, 5 chests with not a single key fragment, and i have been playing regularly since its summer, and ever since hextech crafting came out sometimes if im lucky i would get 3 frags, then the frags would go silent for a month, i cant imagine someone in the comments said you get TWELVE in a month, i dont see it

but a revamp just for key frags? nah thats too much