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Purple side vs. Blue Side: A Plea for Camera Shift

Valon Durey·12/25/2013, 9:20:13 PM·8 votes·1,432 views

Hello. Summoner Valon Durey Heimerdinger , here. And, I'll get to the point, straight away. I come to bring to your attention an issue of which I'm certain you are aware: the unbalanced camera view of Purple side on Summoner's Rift and Howling Abyss. The following is a posted proposition I made in the LoL community forum:

"In my opinion-which is supported by all of my peers and the vast majority of the LoL community, the visual difference between Blue and purple sides on most maps are horrible imbalanced and desperately need to be rectified. More often than not, by far, when my peers and I are selecting characters and one of us notices we are Purple Side, all of us who use SS (Skill Shot) heavy Champions IMMEDIATELY groan and lose 20% morale. This is why: When in combat, most of what's important to the conflict SHOULD be in front of your character. On blue side, more of your camera-when locked-is ahead of your Champion, making aggressive and timed play more possible. However, on Purple Side, not only is more of the camera is BEHIND your Champion, but the status (health item 2003 , mana item 2004 , buffs item 3207 , etc) and item displays are on the bottom. Due to this, your range of effective vision is DRASTICALLY limited. This presents an unfair advantage for the Blue Team and makes everyone feel less productive. And, that makes for poor gameplay. And, no one wants that. Now, my mentor always told me "Never present a problem without proposing a solution". Thus, I have one. Now, I understand that the people of Riot are very busy and, do a lot to provide us with an excellent and entertaining gaming experience. However, I'm certain it is within the power of the fine minds of Riot's programmers to do one of two things: 1. create an inverted view where, while Blue Side remains facing north east, Purple Side would be turned to face north west, instead of south west. The mini map would adjust accordingly. Or 2. Rotate the ENTIRE map (and mini map)to be a straight east-west view-much like the Twisted Treeline-balancing the vision radius across the board, creating a diamond shaped mini map. I feel like either of these options would be effective in fixing the visual issues that so unnecessarily affect the flow of the game. Also, I feel as though these changes could easily be implemented without damaging the system. I would like to see this done and, I'm certain many others would as well. I do hope this reaches the right eyes and I thank all who aid it in doing so. Cheers!"

Now, I understand that, in this age of mass communication and social integration that, the opinion of one man rarely carries much volume, alone. Thus, I've included a few links to other LoL community posts regarding the issue:

http://forums.euw.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=910663 http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=2108748 http://forums.eune.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=477272

What I ask, now, is that as many of my League peers as possible submit your support for this cause by simply commenting on and reposting (copy & paste) this post-including any supporting links and evidence you may find. I do hope this issue is resolved in some adequate manner and, would greatly appreciate it. I'm certain many others would, as well. Should my suggestions prove fruitful, I will always be available with countless more suggestions. I have ideas for Champions, skins, maps, play modes, the tribunal and much more. This is Valon Durey Heimerdinger. Cheers!

15 Comments

SSJ Vegeta Jr12/25/2013, 9:46:19 PM6 votes

i agree, me and my teams also lose morale when we see we are purple team

Void225812/26/2013, 3:37:43 AM2 votes

This has been commented on a LOT (look me up, I have 3 or 4 threads on this just on the beta site). Riot has acknowledged the issue but claims that the non-symmetry of the map and letting purple pick last compensates, and refuses to change anything about the map.

The cash cow is too large, and anything they do could draw backlash and make the game "merely" big an not the world leader. Unless something extremely damaging happens, it is to their benefit to NOT change anything and just keep raking in the dough.

Burr12/26/2013, 5:36:28 AM2 votes

Honestly, I can see the argument for those who play with their camera locked. I myself play with it unlocked, so I really don't ever get much of an issue. But not all of us want to play that way. So for those that choose to play with a camera lock, it's a problem to be on purple side.

But... playing with the camera lock has it's penalties and benefits. You lose a lot of map awareness and skill shot set up. Certain abilities like the Caitlyn/Lux/Ezreal ult will many times go off screen, so you'd need to take off the camera lock to get that perfect snipe set up. And of course, there's dread of purple side! The up of camera-locking is that you have one less thing to worry about. You don't have to stress about not having your camera on your champion and missing a close range skill shot, or messing up your running, etc.

That's just the thing though, it's a choice to handicap yourself on purple side by playing with the camera lock. Just as much as it's a choice to learn to play with the camera unlocked so it doesn't bug you. I think the "unbalance" of purple side might actually be an incentive to get players to learn how to take off the "training wheels" if you will and learn how to operate with the camera to gain the advantage with their sight. There's a reason bot games (which are apparently meant to teach newer players the game) are always on the blue side and don't put the player on purple.

JackAqua12/25/2013, 10:34:08 PM2 votes

I've posted countless threads and comments about this, (some were a bit rage-y :/ )and I hope this will be fixed soon.

Bl3u12/26/2013, 1:10:51 AM2 votes

They have commented on rotating the map so that mid lane goes directly east to west, and said that it causes more problems (i don't exactly remember why) with readability than it fixes.

Honestly I've never really had a problem with being on purple side, but I know plenty of people do. I wouldn't have a problem with them changing it but it might be confusing for newer players since top lane on purple side is now bottom lane. You'd be like "i'm suppose to go top" and then i'd be like "yeah but we are on purple so you need to go bot" and they'd be like "wut? I'm so confused!"

SaveTheShip12/26/2013, 3:55:17 AM2 votes

Absolutely agree.

Secret Agent 42012/26/2013, 12:10:54 PM2 votes

A simple solution would be to allow custom interface. EX. moving the map to the top right corner, and skills vertical on the side, and allowing a custom lock on your champion, where you just move your camera allowing the same granted vision blue team has.

Snowify12/27/2013, 11:38:54 PM1 votes

I agree with this mainly because I'm more comfortable with playing with a locked screen (same with a few of my friends).

Solan Stonewhip12/26/2013, 1:57:59 AM1 votes

hey mate - those are some really old posts - 2012 the change to the jungle timers and the addition of the wight camp mitigates a lot of the legit issues between blue and purple sides. the only one that i feel is left is baron nashor - and baron is due for some changes later in the pre-season - what that will be as of yet is unclear. so i'd give blue a SLIGHT advantage if any at all from an unlocked screen perspective.

now i've never played with a locked screen so i can only guess what the issues would be. locked screen is a huge disadvantage to anyone and i don't really understand why you would choose to handicap yourself like that.

making the kind of changes you're suggesting are most definitely not as easy as you think they are. rotating the map is a big change. now i like SR as it is - but i'm not opposed to such changes - that said i doubt riot is in any rush to do something like that. it's not really cost effective.

i can't really imagine there's a large group of players who really play with a locked screen passed a certain level - it's a pretty big handicap. can i ask why you would handicap yourself that way instead of learning to play without a locked screen? it would take some time to adjust i have no doubt - but i imagine you would find the reward greater than the pain.

Bongo Johnson12/26/2013, 3:42:14 AM1 votes

super agreed

Sir ArmaMalum12/26/2013, 4:05:34 AM1 votes

This post actually gave me an idea for a partial fix. No clue if it's been thought of before, but what if there was an option to move the UI bar to the top your screen if your on purple side? Actually did a post for it, if you think it's a good idea please check it out.

The Tbone12/26/2013, 5:05:12 AM1 votes

i dont really have a problem with it, one side is better for baron, one side for drag, don't really see what the deal is, but then again the only time i camera lock is when im running

ghToxicity12/26/2013, 3:37:11 PM1 votes

I agree. as i have won more games on blue team than i have on purple team, mostly because of the field of view in front of my character. I find myself running away most of the time on purple than staying and fighting because of this.

Asderition12/27/2013, 7:51:13 PM1 votes

I disagree with this. And here is why, multiple reasons: Everyone has to play on each side. If you truly believe that being on purple side is a significant disadvantage, you should never lose while on blue. Watch the LCS and see how often teams swap sides. And see if sides really affect them or not.

You only look at the camera angle, but you disregard the benefits of purple side. For example. It is easier to take dragon on purple side, because blue is right there and the jungler already spends a lot of time near wolves, wight and blue buff, along with bot lane.

It is also easier for jungler to gank bot, having easy access to river especially if wards aren't deep.

I feel safer bot lane, on purple side, because tri is a common place to gank bot lane. And blue tri is dangerous, any good jungler will know its a near guaranteed kill ganking from and unwarded tri bush while playing on purple team. As a purple player, I am no where near that bush, I have no reason to really be afraid of it, so long as river bush is warded.

While blue side has better Baron coverage, purple side has safer warding options, with a wall between Baron and purple jungle, it's easy to drop a safe ward in the pit without exposing yourself. Due to mid and bot's necessity for jungle presence, one could argue it's even safer to ward blue top jungle as a purple player.

I can go on about the different strengths and weaknesses of each side, the point is that, no side has a direct advantage. Especially if you neglect the obvious advantages one can abuse while on either side. So, a tip: stop playing with locked camera, it is unbelievable limited. You have no idea whats going on in other lanes with a locked camera. If you really wanna watch yourself walk from your fountain to lane, maybe you shouldn't complain about camera angle. And if your a jungler, you will never go anywhere watching yourself kill camps.

Riot is fair in leaving the angles the way they are, they won't ever change, they don't need to. Map balance is hardly a pressing issue.