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"Meta is a SUGGESTION, Not a RULEBOOK" (Aka "The Cult Of Meta")

HavokDash·3/8/2018, 2:13:50 AM·8 votes·664 views

Meta is a suggestion, Not a rulebook!

This was the best way to describe the "Meta" enforcement However I am noticing more and more people are treating "Meta" like a fundamentalist cult. They will not suggest, but Dictate what the rest of thier team played as.

Got into a match and thankfully did not disclose my pick intent. instantly went off and banned Supports pick intent. When asked why she did that. Went on and on about how The pick intent was "not a support" I went Top lane and spent the entire game degrading and harrassing teammates because "this is how its supposed to be. Top has to play tank, Mid has to play mage, then jungle is an assassin, and Adc and support". She was especiously demeaning and degrading to Me and support for our "off meta" picks. Repeatedly telling me how "You went soraka top lane, you arent allowed to talk"

and she spent the entire game dictating her subjective view of the "meta" or "how things supposed to be" to the rest of her team. Shooting down anyone who dared suggest playing off meta as "a fucking idiot" Even when the other team in post game was telling her that there is nothing wrong with off meta, she would just dismiss them as "idiots" and repeat how "No you idiot, Thats not how the game is played"

This is why I cant stand meta players, they become Mindless sheep, fundamentalist cultists. Anyone who doesnt play according to -their own- subjective view of "current meta" is treated like they need to be permabanned from league, hunted down, and burned at the stake. I dont care how badly you idolize the meta, It is not your place to dictate and enforce it on everyone else. Especially when you talk down to your team and call them idiots for not playing WHO and HOW you want.

If you go out of your way to intentionally tilt your teammates because YOU see their choices as "beneath" you, then the loss is on you, because you have already thrown the first punch, lit the first flame and started the first toxicity before the match had even started.

35 Comments

Oxyrotten3/8/2018, 6:13:50 AM5 votes

While I agree with you (and personally play plenty of off-meta picks), it needs to be pointed out that your wrong about it being a suggestion.

Meta is not a suggestion, meta is what is found to be optimal. The champions at the forefront of the meta are there because they are found to be the strongest picks in their class. The positions that are meta (ap mid, ranged/support bot, etc) are meta because they are optimal for laning and for team comp.

It's not about a suggestion or expectation, it's about what competitive play has found to offer the best performance. To play something off-meta isn't necessarily trolling no, but it is handicapping the potential of your team. And it's handicapping it intentionally, which is next to trolling.

hi ìm groot3/8/2018, 5:39:41 AM2 votes

Aight, stop. If you wanna troll your teammates, whatever. But there are people who got put in a game with you that wanted to play a real game, and you took that. So they're stuck in a game with you for a minimum for 15 minutes suffering for your "cute" lane pick. If you're with your friends it's different, but you didnt. And to turn around and make a post depicting your view as a VICTIM in all this, is fairly ridiculous. META doesnt mean shit, it isnt about going to meta. Meta is don't play lucian because he sucks and trist is better. Going something that does not work to fulfill the role YOU QUED FOR, is trolling.

And honestly if you wanna troll people in league, kay, we've all done it, dont care. What I find insufferable about this post, is that you can victimize yourself out of this. You fk'd people dude, own it.

fatherdarius3/8/2018, 2:37:38 AM1 votes

The funny thing is the "rulebook" is coded into the game:

1 - You can't take clarity on summoner's rift. 2 - You can't take Baron before 20 minutes. 3 - A longsword costs 350gp. 4 - Sion can't ult like Ezreal.

Inspiration lets you 'bend' some rules, but there are some rules you can't break.

I compare it to the rules of classical chess. The rules determine how pieces can move, how pieces can be captured, etc. It's against the rules for a pawn to move diagonally unless capturing a piece, or the King to move more than one square. But there are exceptions (Castling for the king, En Passant for pawns).

Now, as for the meta... that's like a person's chess opening. They are as varied as the people who play, from tactical to wild to defensive.

There many different methods and styles of opening and controlling objectives - gambits, sacrifices, offense, defense, different modes of attack and different systems.

You can be 'off meta' but it isn't a violation of the rules.

Also, every chess piece has a start spot on the board, much like summoner rift roles. But the pieces don't STAY there. They move about. Just like champions on the map.

And in different 'versions' of chess, there might be different starting arrangements (just like there are different positions for Twisted Treeline, or the ARAM free-for alls).

Unlike in Chess, in league you don't have to consult a rulebook.

"Can I buy Cinderhulk if I didn't take smite?" = No. It's in the rules.

Silly Neeko3/8/2018, 2:43:16 AM1 votes

Yeah, especially in normals i may suggest that jung or top play a tankier champ, but tbh if they dont, i dont care. Tanks are not NEEDED, they are PREFERED. If others do not want to play a tanky champ, then oh well. The only role that does not have a tankier champ is ADC.... and if they are good, then Sion or Jarvan or Yasuo would work fine still. Or Mordekaiser in case there is a lot of AD.... ive been vs some of those and got my butt handed to me. Ive also done it against others and beat them up.

Meta changes, it is not set in stone, and should not be enforced in any way shape or form by the same means as the person in your game tried. Nothing should be. They should be reported.

Figure it out people. There was APC before there was ADC, and double jungle before there was ADC and support, etc.

YerroFever3/8/2018, 6:39:55 PM1 votes

Meta changes with time and mechanics. Who remembers ADC mid and mage/support bottom?

TattooedOni3/9/2018, 1:53:51 AM1 votes

Wait, what is the point of this? Is it a rant to vent?

Maybe you like to play off-meta stuff, but you should know that other players will see it as selfishly putting the team at a disadvantage because its not an optimal pick for that position this patch. That goes double if you are doing so in ranked games.

As far as your example games go the initial friction seems like it can be expected from trying to cooperate with strangers. The further bad behavior (really simplifying) in the game itself can be muted, and if they are harassing you its a report you can make.