Why is leveling up in honor RNG based?

Naalith··2 votes·451 views

It sounds like an inflammatory title but I promise I'm not trying to be, it's a legitimate question. Out of everyone on my friends list (been playing since season 1) I only have 2 friends who are honor level 3. One I don't play with too often but he plays probably about a game every other day or so. What really bugged me was that my friend who only plays when I'm on, and plays about 1/5 as much as I do hit honor level 3 before me.

Riot themselves have said that if you aren't punished for reports, you won't slow down in honor progress, so what gives? I've played around 5 times as many games since honor comes out, usually get like 2-3 honor a game and am almost always a positive force in chat, if not a neutral one just informing people about objectives. Maybe I've been reported a few times for "feeding" when I had a bad game or a 4 man premade reported me or something, but I've never actually been punished so none of that matters, right? I just don't understand what the deal is. My friend who got it today only plays with us when everyone is on, and barely ever gets honors from randoms. I mostly play solo, so most of my honor is from randoms which Riot says is worth more than premade honor, so what's the deal? I understand there is no progress bar because it's a "holistic" level up or something, but why are players who play more and get more honor being left out of the cool honor level 3 stuff and players who barely play and don't talk in chat leveling faster? It just makes absolutely no sense and has to be RNG based as to when you level up because I can think of no other reason my friend who plays less, is honored less, and interacts with randoms less, would get 3 before me?

Side note, don't players who hit honor 5 by the end of the season receive something? We're nearly 2 months into the honor system and most of us haven't hit 3 yet, which I assume has a lower requirement to reach than honor 4 or 5. I really need someone to shed light on how this system works, I know Riot has said they don't want honor to feel like a grind but in light of what I said above honor literally just feels like a brick wall that makes me frustrated with the game I love because people who play far far less than I do are progressing when I am getting more honor, it just makes no sense.

11 Comments

Umbral Regent2 votes

I only have 2 friends who are honor level 7.

Just a small bit of clarification here; Honor Level ends at 5; Champion Mastery (not related to player behavior, but rather player skill), ends at 7.

Naalith2 votes

Fixed it, just hit 7 LeBlanc so I was thinking of the number.

This Is Your Dad1 votes

Not even related to player skill really, just how much you played the champion. I still suck booty with my level 7 champs lol.

Naalith1 votes

Bro I feel you there, I have 28 level 7 champs and some of them I swear it was pure luck I got the S games in to level them.

This Is Your Dad1 votes

I rolled out with ap tryndamere in urf mode for level 7 but don't tell anyone. >.>

Chermorg2 votes

Its not RNG based at all..

It's based on a hidden number that describes your honor. The number increases slowly for everyone, faster if you get honor from non premades, if everyone in your team honors, if you are most honorable, etc.

Once it reaches the threshold, you move up a level.

If you haven't moved up, honestly the only explanation I can think of is you are misinterpreting the amount of honor you received vs your friend.

Naalith1 votes

Nope. He literally only plays the game when the whole crew is on and we convince him to join in, so he very rarely gets honors from randoms whereas I play solo the most, get honor all the time, and haven't been hit with a penalty. I used to think the system worked like you but nope. I play around 6 games a day and he plays around 15 games a week, that's why I'm so frustrated with the system. The only two things I can possibly think of other than it being RNG is 1) A bug or 2) There is some other hidden part of the algorithm they don't talk about. Like I'll drop a few hell yeahs and some other swearing in occasionally to compliment people or have some fun competitive bs with someone else in the game, but never a report and I'm never toxic. Unless swearing = the system frowning on you or something.

TLDR, I literally just don't understand and I get Riot doesn't want people to game the system but a ton of people play a lot more and are a lot less toxic than some of the level 3's I've seen.

This Is Your Dad1 votes

Maybe it's not based on a flat rate, but a percentage? So if you got 1 honor 2 times a day every day out of 6 games and he gets honored every game it is different?

Chermorg1 votes

I feel like there's possibly a time component like you say. Maybe a percentage/ratio, or maybe just having to go a certain time based on your honor rate.

Regardless, there's no reason for it to be random and that wouldn't make any sense.

Naalith1 votes

I agree but like I said, I get 1-2 honors a game from randoms and I play more games so that makes no sense. He also didn't play for the first 2 weeks the honor system was out because he was pulling crazy overtime at work so that can't be it either. This is why the system is so frustrating to me, it literally just appears to be RNG and even if it's not I don't get what the deal is.

Sukishoo1 votes

Side note, don't players who hit honor 5 by the end of the season receive something?

Anyone level 3 and up unlock the End Of Season Honor Rewards (whatever they may be).

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