[Feedback] Honor Initiative lost momentum.

Sir ArmaMalum·Jan 26, 2014·2 votes·99 views

So if anyone was here when Honor was first introduced I you remember when everyone and their mother had a red ribbon and you would get at least 5 different honor points every game? yeah that was a bit silly, but now we're having the opposite problem! While I can say I will always try to be as positive and helpful as I can be because that just makes sense, I see honor less and less. Even I find myself honoring others less and less. It really takes something special to make me or anyone else "Holy crap he's getting an honor". Now I don't think that's much of a problem, but I have been able to get my green ribbon back and then taken away again and again and frankly I'm getting tired of what seems to be a really short window of high pressure to be in-your-face friendly to simply keep the ribbon. Thoughts anyone?

6 Comments

RoaranorJan 27, 20143 votes

I think it has a bit to do with a, how to say, league version of "class consciousness". That is to say, the honoring system's runs somewhat parallel with the mindset of different skill groups within the game.

Pre-30, people are still new to the game and don't quite know what the standard is or what one should expect from one's team. This being the case, honors were frequent as the only real basis was performing exceptionally well, or simply having a fun chat with teammates (or the enemy team) during game. Simply saying "glhf" in some manner warranted an honorable opponent. Once people hit 30, their mentality shifts based on where they are, but the general observation is the emphasis placed on focusing on the game rather than making idle chat. Full conversations turn into "gj" or "ty".

For those in lower elo (aka "Elo Hell"), the the stereotypical standard is a poorly performing team; the "troll, d/c's, and feeders" if you will. Here, just like Pre-30 play, you can earn honors simply by performing exceptionally well. Though, it's not less because they felt you deserved the honor for being a good "leader" or "teammate" and more because they're grateful for being carried after being so used to losing.

Once you reach higher elo, it's rare to receive an honor for either of the above reasons, as doing well is now the expectation. People tend to adopt the mentality that you shouldn't get a pat on the back for doing what you were supposed to do anyway. And, as stated before, there's the transition to pings, key in-game info, and simple "gj"s as opposed to stopping to chat every 5 seconds. Once you're up here, you basically have to be 25-0, Good Guy Faker Senpai in order to get at least one honor and even then it's rare.

This isn't for everyone of course, as there are many exceptions to this. But, I'd consider this the majority.

Sir ArmaMalumJan 27, 20141 votes

I could see it being different at lower elos under that logic, which wold bring a difficult position to 'balancing' honor based on number and impact of actually having the ribbon. And I do agree, you described the pre-30 to 30 to high ranked demeanor perfectly and while I can say that's another problem in of itself, it does provide a good baseline for a cause. Any ideas of helping the higher elo good spirited players while not giving lower elo players ribbons everywhere? My thinking was to lower the threshold needed to "refresh" a ribbon, making it just as hard to obtain one but not as bad to keep it.

RoaranorJan 27, 20141 votes

That's a good question. I think lowering the threshold for maintaining a ribbon is a good idea. My only worries are that, if it's made too easy, people will lose any real incentive to maintain their behavior; and that people might feel as if they're being forced into "only having a window to display honor worthy behavior" if that makes sense. A sort of battle to get ribbon before you climb too high, otherwise you'll miss your chance. This isn't too far from what's already in place.

Another suggestion to add to that would be to rework the distribution system itself. To give players another incentive for simply giving out honors, but limiting the number of honors one can give out per match to one or two. This might serve to not only keep the honoring system from leaning towards the trivial feeling it gets post 30 while encouraging some friendly competition to exude good sportsmanship. If you break it down farther, and change it to one of each category per match as opposed to one or two per match, it might help to serve to keep the different categories relevant while giving players a better idea as to what the highlights of their teammates are (ie known for being a good leader, helpful, etc). This would, of course, lead to ribbons becoming much more common at all levels of play as opposed to the former suggestion. Regardless, I think the system they have for determining the worth of the honor (ie. players on your friend's list or frequented honorers are worth significantly less) is pretty efficient.

Sir ArmaMalumJan 27, 20141 votes

I didn't think of it from the giving end, that's a good angle. I can see why Riot avoiding crediting gifting honor to avoid abuse cases but I could see handing out honor being a requirement to 'maintain' a ribbon, allowing for a lower threshold to counter-balance.

Limited honor gifting would definitely make each point more precious but I don't know about denying the opportunity to honor your entire team during those rare amazing games. That being said the higher you go in Elo would make those games more nd more rare and make the choice easier and easier so that's a good parallel to the problem. Unfortunately you run into the classic marketing snafu of it would still be 'taking something away' even it was better, which would get a lot of negative feedback. Then again any changes would be met with the vocal minority no matter what.

hunnyflashJan 26, 20141 votes

idk I still consistently get honor, and I give it out as well. But might be because I'm at lower ELO.

I don't play the game to get ribbons, and it's not the thing that keeps me from being a decent, civil person in game.

It should ALWAYS take something special to give out honor.

Sir ArmaMalumJan 27, 20141 votes

I don't play for ribbons either, but personally I always feel an additional pressure to be forcefully nice and stupid happy to keep the dang thing when I get it back, as you have to keep getting certain amounts and kinds of honor to keep the ribbon there. Unfortunately as Kero Legend says, higher elo makes this pretty much impossible as honor is only given if you make such a startling impression Dyrus would be proud. Now, an incentive to be in better spirit and a good sport is by no means a bad thing, but the lengths I personally have to go to keep it up was not only extremely tiring but I flat out gave up and stuck with my normal good sport, say things only when necessary or pretty funny self.

That demeanor got me that green ribbon just by me playing a game I find enjoyable, but I have a problem not with the fact that you have to keep it up (that bit makes perfect sense) but the amount you need and how often makes it stupidly difficult, and I feel a bit bad everytime I see the ribbon taken away, in a "was I a dick to someone? Did I ruin a game for someone?" kinda way.