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IP for Runes and Set Rune Pages are limiting play and creativity

Metalmaniac·10/29/2013, 9:01:34 PM·6 votes·579 views

Having to pay IP for runes restricts players’ early games for those who cannot play as much as other people but are just as skilled. I understand the logic, having to pay for runes will make people play more, but runes are something that should be fundamental like masteries are. A person who has runes is at a huge advantage in the early game compared to someone who does not or someone who paid for the wrong runes because they didn’t know any better. Consider someone who does not know which runes to go for first, they waste their time trying to earn runes that will not benefit them that much. Especially if they are just starting out, they may be baited into wasting their IP into a low tier rune that will never benefit them later on. Other people simply do not have the time on their hands to play for runes because of life circumstances and lose their early games because of circumstance and not because of skill. Also, since the champion pool is growing still, why should someone have to choose whether to benefit their early game or buy a fun new champion. IP for Runes seems to me too much like paying to win. I can understand the other side: the people who played to buy runes should have an advantage because they played more and they earned it, but in reality, if one plays more, then they should inherently have the skill to beat someone who plays less and not have to buy the advantage through runes. Unlocking runes while leveling up is the way to go, just like masteries. This will also foster more creativity and experimentation instead of meta following where you only buy the runes that are supported by the meta because that’s all you have time for. With all the runes at your disposal, you are able to try things out more frequently, swapping them around every game if you wish.

On the more competitive side, set rune pages during champion select limits player’s skill. Being able to change your rune page during champion select would be a great extension to a player’s knowledge of the game and their match ups and it adds to the strategic aspect of the game. If a player could do so they would be able to see their match up during draft play and edit their rune page accordingly. Only players with extensive knowledge of their matchups can take advantage of this, if they know their laning phase will be difficult, they bring more defensive runes into the fight, if they think their laning phase will be very passive, a support may opt for gold/5 quints instead of armor. Having a set rune page and needing to buy multiple rune pages for certain match ups also seems to me like paying to win. If you have the knowledge to do so, why should you be limited by the amount you play the game, factors outside of your control, work, parents, school whatever your reason may be. These are just things to consider but I strongly believe that these changes will help both beginner and advanced players and open up the game to new possibilities.

TL;DR. A player shouldn't have to pay for runes, they should all be unlocked while leveling up. If you disagree, read the arguments above.

11 Comments

GwingMaster10/29/2013, 10:30:14 PM1 votes

As one of the noob players who was baited into wasting all his IP on useless low-tier runes, i have to say I completely agree with this post. The runes have always frustrated me. what's more, since i only have 4 rune pages at this point, it limits my choices when I come into champion select.I have to set those rune pages as best i can for specific characters/roles and then just hope I get them. If rune pages operated more like masteries it would allow me so much more flexibility in champion select. What's more, buying new rune pages is obscenely expensive. 6300 IP for one rune page? Come on, I could buy Jinx for that price!

I COMPLETELY understand why Riot has structured things in the current format, but i totally agree that there should be some changes here. At the very least they could lower the IP cost of runes/rune pages so that newer players and players who don't play as much on average don't have to clean out their IP supplies just to buy runes.

Desert Smoke10/30/2013, 2:10:37 AM1 votes

It would put lol on a pay to win kinda situation, as you said runes give a huge advantage in the early ranks so it wouldnt be smart to pay rp for runes, you have to play in order to get ip this makes you better at the game so it makes perfect sense why you cant buy runes with other than ip, so I dont agree with this post.

Hyperiorn10/30/2013, 3:20:17 AM1 votes

The idea of the "Rune Page" was so that it would create a different gameplay so that players can beat out their enemies during ranked (usually since they can see the enemy champions).

Honestly, I would have to disagree with the post.

  1. You can buy more rune pages to make different combinations of runes in YOUR favor.

  2. Runes are meant to change the gameplay in both teams favor, (supports don't have early gold gain early game, so they have to buy a philo stone or a kage's lucky pick, a Gold per Second Quint will be very useful to help the team)

  3. Although runes have a huge factor in the game, I have played my share of smurf games with low level account with my level 30 friends. If you are better than the other person in the game, runes become less of a factor.

I do agree with some parts of this post, but all in all, runes make the game more fun (personally) better for a challenge.

bacontacoman10/30/2013, 4:03:12 AM1 votes

This is one thing that has bothered me for a while now, I think that all in all I am in favor of changing runes to make them fit better with the way league is set up in its current purely skill based format. I understand the need to give players a place to achieve something lasting but I think obtaining champions fulfills this very well. Maybe if runes were very very cheap or on some sort of system where you would get a rune for every win... at the same time I don't mind runes too much because if you are not committing the time to create a full set of rune pages you probably are not playing at the level that they would be overwhelmingly important.

AdaptiveCoffee11/4/2013, 4:09:45 PM1 votes

While I agree that having runes gives experienced players a solid advantage, the idea that someone doesn't have access to the community to ask for advice on runes is a bit silly; however, it might beneficial for RIOT to include a link to the community on the rune page. Might make it more accessible for those who dont know a community exists.

Your points on a competitive side seem plain wrong, you can buy rune pages with IP and RP and having extra rune pages is more of a luxury then a game changer. If you know what lane or style of champion you will be playing 3 or 4 rune pages should be enough to play a mediocre level.

I am seeing more and more of this kind of comment. You want access to everything in the game without having to pay because you feel the playing field should be 100% level.

Well there are a few things that are wrong with this I'll outline my main points below.

  1. Riot has to make money. A Micro Transaction Economy (or MTE) relies on in game items such as skins or other luxuries ( such as extra rune pages ).
  2. If you're playing at a level where the smallest bonus or change to runes effects your play so much that it seems like a large problem to you then I feel like you should be willing to spend a bit of money to buy some rune pages.
  3. While I agree that players who are going from 1 to 30 might have difficulty playing against experienced players who have full rune pages (at 20+) I dont feel like the answer is to make runes free for everyone and give you infinite rune pages.

Solutions:

I think perhaps a stipend when you hit level 20 for runes or reducing the cost of some runes might bean appropriate way to make parties feel more compensated for their time spent in game while still encouraging players to play more games before they can become maximum stat worthy.

This also encourages players to use ONE account. As the more you have invested the less you're okay with getting banned and banned and banned and throwing away account after account.

I think rune pages are fine as they are honestly, its a MTE, the game is free to play. Be happy for that.