Guide: Not Getting Yourself Banned
Alright.
I began my League of Legends journey during Open Beta, and the game and community has evolved a few dozen times over the years. There are entire websites dedicated to the modern LoL community - and, sadly, how absolutely dreadful it can be at times. Here are some tips to keep yourself having fun in the game, and to never getting banned (as I have for years.).
1: Nuances of Chat Behavior
Cussing is not, explicitly, against the Rules. While, of course, you will get chat banned, and eventually banned, for excessive cussing, you can use the occasional swear word. However here is the interesting tidbit - You are more likely to be banned, or chat banned, for bashing on other people for chatting. Isn't it so annoying when someone enters the game, goes 41-11, and has spent the entire game cracking jokes, chatting about the weather, and not taking this game seriously enough? I'm using a game of my own as an example (Varus game yesterday), though I watch players do it constantly. They begin to verbally abuse people because they 'chat too much' or should 'chat less and play more.'
That being said it is also unwise to begin to slam on someone merely because they are unhappy. While their complaints may seem silly to you, or have no bearing on reality as is generally the case, you are the one that is going to be punished (and look like a jerk) for spamming things at them. While I find most references to calling someone 'salty' to be strange (I am in the older tiers of player, so I just don't get the reference) using that same statement, and term, repeatedly to a single player in a single game is Harassment. Let their complaints go, block them if you must, and continue on with you having a fun day in League.
TIP Some can chat and play without any detriment to their gameplay, some can not. You have the capability to turn off your chat all together, or merely block annoying players (Hold Tab - Click the Mic Icon next to their name). This is better than you yourself being penalized for Verbal Abuse or Harassment.
2: Alternative Game Modes
To me, due to when I started League, Normal Blind Pick is the game. Ranked, Draft Pick, ARAM, etc etc are all Alternative Game Modes, as the foundation of LoL is Normals. While Ranked is seen as the 'most serious' of these modes, followed by Normals, players in the rest of the game modes still must follow the Rules and Terms of Service of League of Legends. It amazes me how many posts on the forums I have seen over the years asking why someone has been banned for their actions in ARAM, Urf, Ascension, etc. While builds and play styles can vary wildly in these modes, as well as general seriousness... Intentional Feeding, Griefing, Third Party Botting Programs, etc are all still against the rules and will get you banned.
These Game modes also still follow the chat rules - meaning that just because the game mode is for fun, you cannot start cussing out players and such. This behavior will also get you banned.
TIP Fun Modes do not mean Lawless Modes. Click on Report and look over the various things a player can be reported for. You yourself can be reported and penalized for all of these reasons yourself, should you decide to act in such ways, even in these less serious modes. There is never a time for this kind of behavior. "It's Just XXXXX Mode" does not protect you from a ban.
3: Leaving
This one seems more obvious than it apparently is, having watched the forums for a good number of years. Many people appear to believe that the time delay for leaving a game is the only penalty that they may suffer... until that time delay becomes months or permanent. You will be banned for leaving enough games, no matter what game mode it is. Even Urf.
TIP Even if you are going to be completely obliterated - do that instead. You are not going to be allowed to join a new game until the one you are in is over any way, so up and leaving the game will not fix the issue of you having to sit and wait for the game to end. Leaving only does one thing - gets you in trouble.
I will add more as I go along, and if anyone has any questions, or would like clarifications on what is and is not permissible in League of Legends, let me know. Enjoy your day, happy hunting, and remember it is more fun to be allowed to play the game, than to be 'Big on the internet' and not be welcome here any longer.
