*Warning* Long Thread. I urge you to read to the end, especially any Rioters.

This thread is to address the real problem this game has, the problem it has had for years nearly ever since its release:

Its community.

Hell, "community" is hardly a word for it. Its more like an angry mob, set out to make Riot fall to their knees and follow their every command and fulfill their every wish.

As of writing this, 2 of the most popular threads on these boards comes from Riot Repertoir, and a player that goes by the name HIMM Sandwich. HIMM first made a thread addressing the apparent lack of communication from Riot, and how players are and have been frustrated with the changes that have been made to the game in the prior couple of years. This includes the lore retcon, the Cass rework, the Shuriman champ lore pages, the Juggernaut uppdate (specifically Morde), and the most recent Marksman update. Surprisingly, HIMM actually support CetainlyT in his thread (except for the Morde update), and said that his champs are revolutionary and actually quite balanced. A very stark contrast to how most vocal players address the designer.

However, as this thread lingered for a few hours, Riot Repertoir came in and wrote a surprisingly stern response to the thread. While still putting on the professional persona Riot has developed, it was quite clear in his writing that he was either upset about the thread, or something else was bothering him, saying that approaching a thread with a "passive aggressive" tone is practically meaningless.

Later that night, Repertoir made his own thread, basically an AMA (ask me anything), towards the projects he has and is working on, specifically mentioning that the thread HIMM had put up had pushed him to do it. He went on to answer 109 questions on his own throughout the night to the best of his ability despite several being basically dupilicate questions, just from different people. HIMM then made a thread thanking him for it, of which said thread is the most popular on the boards at time of writing.

A very noble effort, indeed, and I applaud Repertoir for the unneccessary work put into it. However, I couldn't help but notice a bit of familiarity in Repertoir's actions. In my eyes, it didn't seem he was doing this for the good of the community, or to settle any lingering questions that he could possibly answer. Instead, it seems he did this noble deed for himself and for Riot.

Now don't you dare think that this is a bad thing. Repertoir wasn't being selfish in any way. Instead, he was trying to settle his own frustrations, frustrations that have come from months, YEARS in fact, of this damned community bashing Riot left and right for every move they make regarding game design/balance. No matter what the change, how big or how small, or how impactful they are, whether good or bad, Riot has to stare at complaint after complaint for weeks on end, if they are even granted that luxury.

Yes, it is impossible to please everyone, but it just so happens that the displeased players make the loudest noise. I am a very strong supporter for Riot in everything they do, as you may have noticed by now, and I think I speak for every other supporter when I say that we don't speak up because every time we try, we are drowned out by the consistent whining and bitching of a Cass player, Morde player, or some other player that is unhappy about vision or even their champion concept being "stolen" by Riot. Hell, I'll be surprised if this thread even makes it to the front page, let alone be one of the top threads.

Just think of it. You work so hard on a project for so long, you feel so good about it, then finally release it to the public thinking that at least you will get some support and praise out of it. Only to find out a few days later that everyone you tried to please is against you, and ridiculing you for the "failure" you put before them. However, this negativity doesn't last for a few days, not even a week. It lasts for MONTHS, sometimes even YEARS, without any God damned end in sight.

THAT is what Riot faces every time they make a change to the game. THAT is what they have to put up with, day in and day out. I can't imagine the amount of emotional stress this puts on someone. I would not be surprised in even the slightest if someone went up to a Riot designer and asked "Have you ever been driven to tears?", and they firmly answer yes, and not in the sarcastic, trolling way that Riot tends to address some things.

Remeber the phrase "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."? Oh, how untrue this is. Some people may prefer to get stoned (and I don't mean get high) than face criticism, and being ridiculed. Its hard to imagine how long those people would last as a Riot employee, let alone a designer.

League's "community" has almost always been infamous for its legendary toxicity, and negativity. So much so, that the current state of the new player experience is so bad according to some reports, that potential players never return after their very first game, after having being stomped by a smurf, only to be ridiculed and harassed by another smurf on their own team.

This same negativity is also driven towards Riot, just so the immature brats that make up the majority of complainers feel like they're getting what they want. Well, I have a message for anyone that wants to complain to Riot, just because they don't like what they see:

YOUR "VOICE" MEANS NOTHING!!!!!

I'll say it again.

YOUR VOICE MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!!! You, by no means, have any power over this game, and the decisions that go into changing it. Forget the "the customer is always right" argument, for its a bunch of bull. Riot can and will do as they damn well please with this game, and nothing you say can ever change that. You are nothing but a spec in the grand scheme of things, and only when your so called "complaints" are actually that of the vast majority of players (of which has to be in the tens of millions, mind you), only then does it actually matter. Oh, your threatening to leave the game and never come back if they don't change their ways? Well I say GOOD FRICKEN RIDENCE!!!!! Goodbye, good day, and have a nice life. No one will miss you, let alone even remeber you, and Riot surely won't even notice you're gone. Hell, you leaving might actually IMPROVE THE GAME ITSELF, because people like you are normally the ones who harass other players, and make their games miserable.

Now that I have that off my chest, that type of complainer doesn't apply to everyone. In HIMM's thread thanking Repertoir for his work, he said his thread did have anger, and was unprovoked. I applaud him for him that. If you have a true complaint about the game, and are willing to have a meaningful discussion about it, instead of "OMG!!! I HATE THIS GAME!!!! RITO, CHANGE IT NOW, OR I WILL NEVER PLAY AGAIN!!!!!!!", or anything else that isn't professional and productive in anyway, then by all means, let your voice be heard. You might actual get a response from a Rioter saying "Hey! You're right. We'll work on this." They'll be attracted to professionalism and respect, and be far more willing to work with you. Its simple human nature. Treat others like how you want to be treated, and they'll all come running.

Anyway, rant over. I applaud anyone who read through the entirety of this, for I know it's long, and I thank you for sticking through it, despite it may seemingly have gone off track in some spots.

But most importantly, I would like to thank Riot, and all of the developers that pour their hearts and souls into this game. I know it may seem like your work is taken for granted, but just know that some of us out here truly do respect and recognize the work you put into this game. Well done, and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for you (especially those games in R&D :D ).