Boards›Player Behavior

Honor & Reformation - Lack of Progress?

CuddIe Bug··8 votes·8,122 views

Posting on a smurf account. I was chat restricted early in the season and have been dishonorable (Honor Level 0) since then (around February or March). I initially ignored it but started to chat significantly less in all of my subsequent games.

Recently, I noticed that after 3-4 months, I was still only checkpoint 2 of Honor Level 0. So I decided to play more of an active role in trying to achieve Honor Level 1. For the last two weeks, I've played a minimum of 4 bot games per day (~50+ games) where I've received at least one honor per game.

In my pvp matches (another ~50+ games) and ARAM games (another ~25+ games), I no longer talk in team or all chat, aside to give team information or shotcall (I'm heading top to defend tower, TP up in 30 seconds, etc.) Through these 125+ games where I have strong reason to believe that I have not gotten validly reported, and have received an average of 1+ honor per game, I still have not achieved checkpoint 3.

Is progressing and reforming via the honor system too difficult? I can't imagine how difficult it will be to get back to Honor Level 2. Does anyone have any advice on how to work towards this goal?

31 Comments

FAT AMERlCAN9 votes

Honor system is busted

9R54dfWJwJ1 votes

what isnt in this wonderful game made by a studio that had like 2-3 no name games before this one hit wonder in which theyll baby back bitch ride it for the next 10 yrs only releasing a champ and minor tweaks every few months. sure they made a winter map and aram and some new items but lets be honest a company making money hand over fist for 10 yrs and only this much to show for it?

riot is a fucking joke

Brutalitops013 votes

I get honored all the time and am almost never reported, and even when I am, it's by a teammate angry that I had a bad game and nothing else, so not even a legitimate report. I'm still, 5 months into the season, with a lot of games played, at honor level 3 checkpoint 3. I do agree that it takes too long to progress, but beforehand, it didn't take long enough to progress. I'm also pretty sure that they give bonus honor level progression when you're below honor level 2 so that you progress faster. While I do prefer the current system to the old one, I also do think it should take less time to go between the checkpoints, and about the same amount of time, maybe even a little more, to go between levels.

CuddIe Bug1 votes

Thanks, that's helpful. Any advice on how to progress?

Is it purely based on volume of games played?

Brutalitops012 votes

[{quoted}](name=CuddIe Bug,realm=NA,application-id=ZGEFLEUQ,discussion-id=PVbeJWpc,comment-id=00020000,timestamp=2018-05-23T19:36:42.506+0000)

Thanks, that's helpful. Any advice on how to progress?

Is it purely based on volume of games played?

Don't talk in chat, basically at all. Alt click your buttons to show cooldown timers, ping "On my way" when you want to tell your team where you're going, and just don't talk in chat. If you can't control your emotions, there is a /mute all that you can do to mute everyone's chat.

Edit: correction on just never say anything. It's perfectly alright to type "gj" when someone does something good, or "gg" at the end of games. In fact, it may influence people to honor you more. But keep it to 2-3 letter things like that. Simple stuff that basically can't ever be misconstrued as toxic.

CuddIe Bug1 votes

Thanks, any clue if volume of games matters? And if bots count towards honor progress?

Brutalitops011 votes

[{quoted}](name=CuddIe Bug,realm=NA,application-id=ZGEFLEUQ,discussion-id=PVbeJWpc,comment-id=0002000000010000,timestamp=2018-05-23T20:08:07.526+0000)

Thanks, any clue if volume of games matters? And if bots count towards honor progress?

I'm pretty sure it's indiscriminate as to what game type, but regarding volume of games, yeah, more games = more potential honors. I would think, but don't quote me on this, that the system gives an increased return on multiple honors. In other words, if you get honored 5 times in 1 game, you may end up with more honor experience than you would have if you got 1 honor each game for 5 games. I know the old old system, where it was you could honor anyone and as many people as you wanted after the game just the same way as reporting, that you would get the badges that that system gave based on % of honors you got, but now I think it works more on a hidden experience system - exactly like your account EXP, though you only get some when you get honored.

Karunamon3 votes

Let's break this down logically. Your testing has a number of holes in it:

  • For the last two weeks, I've played a minimum of 4 bot games per day (~50+ games) where I've received at least one honor per game.

Bot games are nigh-on worthless. They give lessened rewards in every other category, so it wouldn't be a stretch to assume they give reduced honor rewards as well. (Not hard to farm honor when you have to play blindfolded to lose). FWIW I noticed something similar, I used to play a lot of damn bot games in the early days of the honor system, but it took PVP to actually start climbing levels.

  • In my pvp matches (another ~50+ games) and ARAM games (another ~25+ games), I no longer talk in team or all chat, aside to give team information or shotcall

I used to have a theory that it took time and games to get out of dishonorable status, but then there were reports on the board that people were climbing back out in under a month. Since the only two variables that affect climb rate are getting honored, and not getting validly reported, and the first one is easily verified, that tells me that the hole must be in the second one. Since we can only speculate here, that leaves the option of opening a ticket with support - they've been quite helpful at telling people what they're doing to get flagged.

My gut feeling is that what you call "shotcalling" is what other people call LCS coaching (i.e. bossy and demanding), and this is strengthened by the fact that you went all the way down to honor 0, but again, I can only speculate. You should really try opening a ticket for more info. In any case, please report back what you find!

Arikong1 votes

FYI - There's multiple posts that say bot games have the same value as any other game mode with regards to honor.

Karunamon1 votes

Official posts, though? Keeping tabs on your honor rate is extremely difficult to do accurately, and this is by design.

CuddIe Bug1 votes

Thanks for taking the time to post this, this is helpful.

Point 1 - I've heard that bot games are the same as PVP for honor.

Point 2 - I haven't heard of anyone climbing out in under a month, but I've increased my volume of games these last two weeks (wasn't playing as much previously and wasn't actively trying to climb honor).

But will send in a ticket, thanks for the suggestion.

The Nocturne God2 votes

It takes a very very long time. Might not have enough time before season ends to get rewards.

CuddIe Bug2 votes

Does that seem absurd that I get punished in February and can't get back to Honor Level 2 by November despite playing an active role in my reformation?

Oleandervine1 votes

{quoted}

It takes a very very long time. Might not have enough time before season ends to get rewards.

Season ends in like October or November. That's like 5-6 months away.

420 grams2 votes

I haven't ever been punished and I'm struggling to reach the next checkpoint in my honor level after months of playing and consistently getting honored/honoring teammates. I think honor level is just crazy hard to level up in general, not just honor 0.

CuddIe Bug1 votes

Thanks. Anecdotally, this is what I've heard from everyone I've talked to about it.

Kei1431 votes

Well yea, h5 is a seasonal goal and not something you can reach that easily.

I started the season in h2-3 and I hit h4 around a week ago. These are the things i do:

  • play around 10 games per week
  • Always honor someone (unless the whole team is toxic) to try to get team honor bonus
  • I always ask permission before giving advice/tip, if they say no, I won't say anything
  • warn others that Certain behaviors like report calling is punishable and tell them to stop ( once per game at max only, if they don't listen, their fault)
  • my shot calling is typically 1 liners, "hard push, freeze, crash wave and dive, baron, focus tower, take their jg" but that is what you expect in lower elos. Sometimes I'll say things like "IF morg uses her shield, I'm going all in", but if they don't listen, I adapt my on the fly decision, no blame game there.
  • if I see some mistakes by my team and they didn't follow up on the opportunity, I just say "hmmmmmm". And I adjust my play style to their levels, that includes more communication and pings to say when I'm going in
  • admit to the faults I did
VoraciousX2 votes

I'd say I've been honored quite a bit in normal games and have yet to get to honor checkpoint 2 on honor level 3. I also think I hit honor checkpoint 1 twice somehow. I think they broke it.

CuddIe Bug1 votes

haha the struggle is real

Kei1432 votes

Sounds like you just need a few more games before you move to the next checkpoint.

Also, don't forget to honor some one as well to get the team honor bonus.

Nanolathe112 votes

i used to be honor level 4 last season, had a couple bad games which resulted in a chat ban, not ever a game ban... and got dropped to 0 with honor level locked. ive reformed since and learned the reports and punishments are no joke. like you i play roughly 5 games a day, and average about 1 honor a game. its been about 6 months since then and im now sitting on honor level 1 - checkpoint 3/3. whats really lame now is that im on my last checkpoint before level 2 and clash games start in 3 days.... so ill have to miss it...AGAIN>

i really should start a log, documenting how many games i played and how many honors i received per game. id really like to be able to see how many honors are in each checkpoint and how long it takes me to get to each one.

[slayer-pantheon-popcorn] as a matter of fact im going to create this document tonight, and although im already level 1 checkpoint 3, it will still be nice to just have some sort of documentation on how long this climb actually takes. saying how many days/weeks/months it takes is too subjective based on how much you play so i will go by the sheer # of games played and # of honors per game.

CuddIe Bug1 votes

Thanks. You know how real the struggle is, haha.

Any suggestions on how to progress? Seems you've been moving a little faster than I have.

Nanolathe111 votes

[{quoted}](name=CuddIe Bug,realm=NA,application-id=ZGEFLEUQ,discussion-id=PVbeJWpc,comment-id=00070000,timestamp=2018-05-23T21:46:30.316+0000)

Thanks. You know how real the struggle is, haha.

Any suggestions on how to progress? Seems you've been moving a little faster than I have.

ive been trying to figure it out myself. like if saying positive things like gg, gj, glhf actually speeds up honor progress or not. some things ive done since reform....

  1. mute someone the INSTANT things start going south. if someone gets mouthy or starts micromanaging my play i simply say "muted", then mute them. and then move on. that way theyre not sitting there typing to me still arguing while they get tower dove and die again. i dont like the idea of muting all as soon as the game starts because some people are actually cool and fun to play with and know what theyre doing.

  2. i try not to say anything more than positive messages, and when i have something bad to say i try to word it as nice as possible. "hey adc, you should try to engage with me instead of running away with 3/4 life bar."

  3. i ALWAYS honor someone after the match. sometimes when you have a pure crap team its hard, but i try to pick someone who at least made the most effort. unless your honor level 5, i have no clue why you would go matches without honoring anyone... because if everyone on your team honors somebody else, you get bonus honor. so again, no clue why some players dont give honors other than that theyre being jerks.

just hang in there and keep on grinding, stay positive. just wait til you get to level 1 again and actually get key frags from matches lol i still have over 13 chests to open up that ive accumulated from last season yet but havent had the key frags to open them. ill tell you this also, everytime i actually reach a new level or checkpoint i get super pumped. in a way it gave me something to strive for and be excited about again. try playing this game for 3 months without even the possibility of getting key frags and you will rejoice the day you get to earn them again too

Chermorg2 votes

So, there's a few things about honor that you may not know:

  1. Any valid reports will slow your honor progress. They won't ever set you back, but they'll make the road forward longer.

  2. You get honor at a very slow rate naturally, even if you say literally nothing in chat.

  3. You get honor faster multiple ways - by honoring others, by your entire team honoring each other, and by getting honors from non-premades.

I strongly disagree that you receive an average of 1+ honor per game. I'm honor level 4 now, and I have multiple friends in 4 (or 4+ checkpoints) who don't even get 1 honor per game on average. I get at least one per two games usually though - but even then I doubt you're that high, because you're overestimating. This is referring to normals - not bots.

I am unsure if bots have any restrictions to honor. I suspect and would not be surprised if higher leveled accounts cannot use bot games to "farm honor" - meaning it is either slowed or nonexistent in bot games for higher level accounts.

You may have strong reason to believe you were not validly reported, but the only way to know for sure is to contact support.

Now, onto the opinion:

You have to show that you are honorable to regain your honorable status. This means that in a PVP environment you must show that you're not only able to avoid toxicity, but to use chat honorably. Sometimes this may mean not talking at all if there's no reason to - some games pings are working so well and I don't feel compelled to say anything. However, if you're not talking in game, others have very little evidence by which to honor you - so you're likely getting much less honors. Furthermore, if you're just putting a "bandaid" on your attitude by not chatting, it doesn't show you're honorable - it just shows you're avoiding the problem - not that it's fixed. Riot has neither confirmed nor denied that using chat appropriately speeds up your honor progress, but I wouldn't be surprised if faster progress was contingent on using chat appropriately.

CuddIe Bug1 votes

Thanks Chermorg.

1 - Yes, understood. 2 - That's part of what we're trying to figure out. 3 - Yes, understood.

Given almost 50% of my games in this two week test period have been bots, I've easily exceeded 2+ (non-premade) honors in those games. If bot games don't count towards honor, then that's obviously a different conversation / estimated average honor.

Opinion - I gave examples above of how I use chat (i.e. rotating top, summoner cooldown, etc.). Not sure if that qualifies as honorable chat in your opinion, or if I need to give out compliments to my team (probably don't do much of the latter).

If it were the case that you also needed to chat honorably, how would they even measure that?

Chermorg1 votes

Riot can detect bots easily. I would not be surprised if honor from bot accounts (i.e. "players" who are botted) is thrown out - thus making many of your honors thrown out.

There's no need for compliments, but they certainly won't hurt. Riot can detect negativity in chat - it's not out of the question they could also detect positivity.

Banuvan2 votes

Until Riot actually comes forward and tells us how honor really works everything is conjecture. I doubt Riot will ever tell us because it's a shit system in it's current state.

9R54dfWJwJ2 votes

i have honor lvl 0 on my main and have a spotty record, yesterday i got matched with 2 riot players. everything riot makes is shotty and weird af

vaargtuy0le2 votes

what a wonderful game and system where literally the best option is don't talk to your team at all. I swear despite all their attempts to show otherwise Riot loves its exceptional level of toxicity.

Modl Ryden l1 votes

It takes a long time for any honor level. It takes about as much time to progress from Honor 3 to Honor 3.1 as it would for Honor 0 to Honor 0.1.

Like any hard-ass like myself would say, it's not hard to prevent yourself from getting Honor 0. Just don't be an ass. Albeit, some cases have shown some mistakes in the system but the best strategy is just to not make an ass of yourself. Focus on yourself and don't point fingers. It's that easy.

Players are more likely, I think, to honor players that make selfless gestures and play as a teammate than a person who will make selfish flashy plays. Additionally, those who just keep a positive vibe (those who use the free thumbs up emote positively, and acknowledging that other teammates have done a good job, using gj or nj) are likely to receive honor.

We've all heard that no one likes to watch a Mastery 7 Yasuo try to make dumb solo 1v3 plays, and that can be applied to anybody from mages to tanks. Players who play smart don't stress out their teams and keep the team calm and collective.

I hope this helps, gl getting your honor back!

Edit:

If you really want to keep track of your progress you can get a Plays.tv account to record your voice and chats in game. Keep working on your positive attitude then come back to the old videos to see how far you've come. You'd be surprised in the difference in attitude. Just know it won't happen overnight.

But man, if you had seen my attitude back then in season 5 and 6. I have VoDs of me just shit-talking on champs design like AurelionSol. I'd say things like, "Wow look at me! I'm a fucking stupid shit eating dragon that makes fucking stars. All I talk about are fucking stars! HURRR HERE'S SOME FKN STAAAAAAARDUST!" And many, many, many, many games of me making fun of players names on voice chat. Honestly, really cringey stuff.

Like it was so bad, in between each "comical" jest I could hear the dead silence of my Teamspeak/Discord as if my friends were thinking, "Ryden? Ya done?"

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