Low Level Play: how do you expect any new player to stick?
For all the whine about toxicity and afk's in max-level, ranked games, it honestly does not even begin to compare to what games look like during the leveling "experience".
Having recently created a new account with a friend (I am now level 18, so I saw a LOT of things), I can say these things are all true:
- 1 out of 2 games will involve something like a double jungler, an AFK or a maximum troll (I know this sounds exaggerated, but I actually kept track). For example, In the last 3 days, I played 4 games on this account and not a single one was without a griefer (such as a guy afk near topturret to leech exp spamming /laugh and then inting all game) or afk.
- Playing without a friend, hence reducing your chances of such players, is really ill-advised. Despite having a friend by your side, such games still occur at alarming frequencies. Of those last 4 games, 3 of them were with my friend.
Like I said, I kept track, I could open my match history and of at least half the games will be able to indicate something punishable (grief, afk) happened to at the best lose us the game, but more often than not completely sap our will to play. If I didn't know it "gets better", I'd quit. On the spot.
I honestly for the life of me cannot remember how I did not quit permanently when I started playing. I had a lot of friends to play with, no doubt that helped a lot back then, but I know I had several "extended breaks" even back then until coaxed back by said friends.
I really would like a way to get out of those games, since I understand Riot can't look at and ban every single one of those players, unfortunately, at least not in a timely fashion. A way to get out, without AFKing myself, of those games would be nice. Those special rules could only apply in Blind Pick for all I care, such as Surrender from 10 minutes onwards, or a /remake option that works for ANY AFK person at any point of the game, not just from the start.
Also, I really think a report-in-game feature would be great, it also gives on the spot feedback to the offending players. Let's say I report an offending Yasuo, he will get a small mark next to his name in the Tab screen. For every additional player who reports him, he gets an additional mark. He could change his behaviour on the fly and reports could be removed, or if they get worse, strengthened by an additional after-game report. JUST those AFTER game reports feel a bit.. well, mustard after dinner, as we say in Dutch. It doesn't change ANYTHING for any of us during our games.
