Boards›Player Behavior

Suggestion for preventing so many AFK players

BloodStandard·5/16/2016, 2:21:12 PM·4 votes·601 views

The most frustrating aspect of this game is a player (or in a game I played, 3 players) leave the game. Toxicity usually starts when someone does this or starts feeding massively. It becomes impossible to pull a game up from a nose dive with 3 missing players. The result of players that leave a game causes people that are trying to have a good competitive game be set back and stuck in a situation that feels almost inescapable. This is enough to cause players like myself (who have invested a tidy sum of money into this game) to explore other games.

Here are a few suggestions that could be a starting point to improve the player experience.

  1. Add an AFK detection based on no actions in 60 seconds (outside of death timers).
  2. Add a data “tag” to the player accounts (and IP address) from players that ditch or AFK a game. (database indicator) a. This would then be used to form groups. Players with this “tag” would only be able to queue with other players with the tag. This would be worked off in several games completed (regardless of win or loss). b. If the games are left then the “tag” removal game count would be reset (restarting the process) c. Once the “tag” is worked off then the player would be placed back into the regular queue.
  3. Add a buff to the team when a players is AFK for over 3 minutes. i. This buff would stack per missing player and level. The idea is it would offset the missing people. ii. As soon as a player returns, the buff “erodes” over 30 seconds. b. When a player AFK is detected, then at the 5 minute mark, the team that has the missing player(s) would have a dialog box presented with the following options.
  4. Surrender with no penalty
  5. Continue with “buff” at full penalty

This is a game, everyone has a real life outside of LoL. The AFK system should only go into effect after a person chooses to leave for 2 times in 20 days. If the player reconnects to a game inside the 5 minute time window, then this would not cause the AKF system to “tag” the account or IP address. Optionally, players could use RP to purchase a highly priced token ($10.00) to reset the “tag” once every 30 days.

Thank you for your consideration, Bloodstandard Sion

6 Comments

Sarutobi5/16/2016, 2:48:21 PM3 votes

1min seems like a really short time. What about people at the start of the game who might have gotten something to eat/drink, or went to the bathroom? Also the "tag" seems likes too much. what about people whose connection might not be the greatest, or like if the problem isnt on their end? You really shouldnt tag them as leaver if they arent leaving intentionally. Point 3 is just too heavily abusive. Whats stopping a team from just giving one person a hit of being AFK just to power them up? i mean this wouldnt work if there is a close game because just buffing up one person alone could be the end of the match.

Also anything to do with IP addresses will never work mainly because they will not only go towards the person who did break the rules, but also the innocent people associated with that IP address, like Dorms/Colleges/Universities, Libraries/Internet Cafes usually consist of just one IP address, plus the fact that IP addresses can be changed rather easily so why even bother?

The thing is with an Online game like this, dealing with AFK can be a hit or miss type of deal. Yes it is a problem, but remember it might not be on the player or Riot's side. It could be the ISP which neither the player, nor Riot can actually solve. So it wouldnt be right to shift blame on either the player or Riot when it could have been the ISP.

Tsugaga5/16/2016, 2:37:08 PM2 votes

I experience an AFK/leaver maybe once per 25-50 games, it's likely more common the lower MMR you have. The leaver buster works well, and those players likely do get banned. There is AFK detection for players who haven't performed an action in 3-5 minutes or so. You can't target addresses due to the possibility of that targeting innocent players. The buff is a cool idea, but that would cause toxic players to tell others to just AFK because the buff would be more useful. No penalty can be abused by one player (probably alt account) taking the fall by leaving so that the other players don't lose MMR.

Maximum Morde5/16/2016, 2:45:50 PM2 votes

Fuck da internet cable coming straight from the underground. My computer got dced cause I'm brown.

Pandorca5/16/2016, 2:54:06 PM2 votes

This sounds good, hopefully the DEV's read it. I am tired of afk players ruining my few hours of gameplay.