Ranked Team Builder: Ranked Queue Overhaul Ideas @Riot

Ever since Teambuilder came into existence, I have been wondering about how it would fit into a Ranked mode. The initial struggle to fit in was the pick and ban phase. How do you have a queue for specific role/champs and still have the strategy of banning. I have some ideas on how to implement a new ranked system that fits this as well as presents a new ranked system that fits more into the model of a Free to play online game that requires 20-45 minutes of play per game.

Current issues with Ranked:

• Some people cannot play all 5 roles/lanes, especially those who recently hit level 30 but are itching to play more competitively.
• Instant locks, trolls, AFKs, lack of communication of who plays where - issues seen in Normal Queue before Teambuilder
• Leagues are not always an accurate representation of skill due to nature of placements, being forced into foreign roles and how long it takes to rank up (don't have the math, but if it takes 5 games to reach 100 LP and then 2 matches to win promos, that is 7 games to rank up once, not accounting for any loses. It can easily take 10+ matches to increase one rank around Silver/Gold due to the fluctuating skill levels seen in those queues [some teammates are really great, some are really bad] and bad placements can put you far below your skill level, especially if you did your placements a long time ago. Some people don't have that much time to spend playing ranked inbetween playing Teambuilder or Normals with friends).

My idea aims to fix these issues and improve how enjoyable Ranked is for all players. So what is it?

Skill Ranking Based on Role/Lane:

My idea is that in Ranked, you have a League/ranking for every different lane: Top, Middle, Jungle, Bottom (Support, Carry). When you enter a ranked queue, similarly to Teambuilder, you act as a Captain or as a Solo player. As a Captain, you select which lane you want and then set which positions you are looking for (example, a Captain Top Laner wants a Mid Laner, Two Jungles and a Bottom Laner. I use this example just to show that this system wouldn't be meta-enforcing). As a Captain, you can also invite a friend to Duo-Queue with. As a solo player, you simply pick which lane you want to rank up in and find a team.

Once the team is made up of members for each lane, all 5 are matched with another 5 and then the teams can enter a ban phase where someone from each team (the Captains?) ban 3 people each, just like in current ranked. Then each laner picks a champion to lane with. And...the game commences.

There are a few issues with this problem but I think that a system can be developed to minimze their prominance and get rid of the issues currently holding back people from playing Ranked now. Some issues I can imagine are meta-enforcing with bot lanes. This system assumes that there are two bot lanes, and should there be a league for just supports or just ADCs? That is meta enforcing. However, one could just make Bottom Lane it's own league, a mix of ADCs and Supports or other.

Also, how do actual Leagues play out? Well, based on how well you do in one Lane, you get a ranking for that. The League system could still be maintained - if I perform well as a Mid Laner, I could be a Platinum Mid Laner, but then as a Support, I could be ranked Bronze. One issue with this might be that strategicaly, you play better - emphasizing vision control, rotations and teamwork, but functionally you play mediocre as a support. Do you get ranked that much lower and suffer poor teammates? That is why I think this system should work off a flat ranking value - with MMR being clearly stated and perhaps a Summoners overall MMR (across all lanes) is what determines their rank. I am not quite sure on this part to be honest, I don't know much statistically about how ranking can work - I am merely thinking about the actual concept of playing the game. I would leave the ranking system to be determined by those at Riot that know what they are doing.

Why does this system solve the previously mentioned issues? And why do they need to be solved?

Well, my first point was that some people simply cannot master all the lanes (due to issues like time restraints, hitting lvl 30 and wanting to be competitive but only knowing top and mid for example and so on). I think it is important that people are encouraged to learn all the lanes! Currently, it is encouraged, but in a toxic way. People are yelled at to not play ranked if they can't play support or jungle when they are forced to etc. People should want to learn to play all the roles to get better at the game. The system I proposed actually encourages people to learn all the lanes but in their own time. Having a League for all Lanes would encourage people to test themselves and try to get better and develop a high ranking (combined MMR of all lanes? maybe?). Some people may be satisfied with just a high ranking in Mid lane. And that is fine. But I think most people would see the other lanes not being ranked and feel like they want to compete in different areas as well! The fact that they can do it on their own time gives them a sense of autonomy that encourages mastery and positivity. This is why I heavily support this idea.

Also, playing with people that are in their desires roles encourages positivity and teamwork as well as communication. If I am playing top lane, I know my way around it decent enough and am with people that feel just as comfortable. If I want to know something about bot lane, I can trust that they know more about it that I do (perhaps!). This would encourage discussion and trust in games and raise the level of competition!

Additionally, some people want to play competitively but don't have the time/want to go through the hassle of ranked because they may be forced into a role they don't want. For those that just want to play one role, they can put in one or two games each night into their ranked profile for Mid. They can perfect that role with their limited time.

The second issue I pointed out would be solved as well, as Teambuilder fixes the toxicity that people get when pressed for time and put off by being forced to play a role they do not want!

The third issue would also be resolved to some extent as people who really excel as ADCs can finally show people that that is what they rock at without having their rank be lowered by how lost they feel playing top lane.

All in all, I think this is a step in the right direction and I don't think that the system is perfect (rarely is any system perfect), but I do think it is an improvement and something that would make mine and my friends enjoyment of League improve a lot! My final point is that it would simply encourage more people to play ranked and that is something that I feel is where League should move, especially with the increasing popularity of the Professional scene. I would love to hear additional ideas, feedback, criticism etc. and I hope someone at Riot sees this and it creates some discussion on how Ranked can be improved.