With the preseason well underway, we thought it would be a good time to check in with the devs.
Join us tomorrow, November 17, 2015 at 12 PM PST on the newly formed Developer Corner to chat about how the preseason is faring and what our plans are for the next few patches.
John Berserk44 votesFor real though, I hope they get enough substantial questions to actually answer as opposed to just getting nothing but shit like "Why did you guys think making everything so fucking broken was a good idea???" or "How come you want your playerbase to quit ur game???".
Seriously folks, please, keep a leveled head, and your questions will (hopefully) be answered.
mvmlego8 votesAs much as I would like to believe that Riot is responsive to players when the're polite and well-reasoned, it doesn't seem to be the case. On the Poppy update podcast page, I posted a comment asking about the Taric rework. I wasn't being confrontational or even passive-aggressive, and the comment was well-articulated and reasonably relevant. That was four days ago. The comment thread is the fourth most-liked of the article, and Riot has responded to comments both above and below mine in popularity and posting order (within a day of the comments being posted, to boot), but I've still gotten no response from them, and I suspect that I won't.
TurquoiseYoshi11 votesMaybe it's because they don't yet have a definitive answer to your question.
John Berserk8 votesLooking at the thread you mentioned, they seem to only have replied to comments particularly about the podcast, which is the topic of the thread. Your comment was well-articulated and deserves a response, but it was just asked in the wrong place. I understand why they decided not to respond.
I say save it for later when a good opportunity pops up dealing specifically with Taric, or with champion updates in general. Riot is really good when it comes to player communication, despite what others would have you believe, especially during dedicated Q&A's such as this one.
I dont know if this particular Q&A will be a good place to talk about Taric tho, as he hasn't received any real substantial changes during the preseason. This would be the best possible time to ask about things such as the Marksmen changes, the Mastery changes, the new items and old item's changes, etc.
mvmlego1 votesI realize that my post wasn't perfectly relevant to the podcast. However, they did spend some time talking about reworks in general, and they did specifically mention Taric and the rework poll. The reason that I'm bringing up the Taric rework preemptively is that, usually, by the time Riot releases an article specifically on a project like a full-scale rework, they've already completed 95% of the work involved, and no power on earth or Runeterra is going to convince them to scrap it, or even modify it significantly. I don't recall seeing a Q&A for Sion (or Poppy, for that matter, and her rework seems nearly finalized), so I didn't think that there would be any opportunity like that for Taric, either.
P.S. The original comment came off as a bit more cynical than I intended it to be. Particularly in light of that, thank you for the courteous response.
John Berserk1 votesI understand wanting to get your point of view and message across to the ChampUp team before they make any "permanent" changes to one of your favorite champions. However, in the cases of full relaunches like Sion and Poppy, which should be differentiated by sheer scope from other champion updates, player feedback isn't all that essential.
Maybe that's not the best way to put it, but forgive me I can't think of the right words to use. Basically, a full relaunch of this magnitude is treated more or less as designing and releasing a brand new champion with very little in common with the previous version. The Taric update, assuming it is on the same level as Sion and Poppy, will essentially have very little in common with the Taric we have now. I can understand how one would be sad about that, but I believe Riot (and most other players honestly) sees the good far outweighing the bad in this case.
Taric is an old enough champion with a large and loud enough fanbase for Riot to properly gauge what it is people love about him and see as part of his identity, both lore-wise and gameplay-wise. I dont know if you've noticed, but over the course of the year (past couple of years?), Riot has been talking about and asking in various threads what people like and love and hate about Taric. That information they gather is then passed on to the ChampUp team (im assuming) and they use that info to give themselves a general direction, a sort of general "mold" in which they can start forming their brand new version of Taric in, one that's more of what people love about him and less of what people hate.
mvmlego1 votesWhat I find essential is that they establish a valid reason why he needs to be updated. If they can do that in a way that's intellectually honest (which means, among other things, consistent with their overall design philosophy), then I would be satisfied. At least with Poppy, they identified her ultimate as being unhealthy for gameplay, in that it has essentially turned into an exploit. There have been no such statements regarding Taric.
I understand that they're basically creating a new champion--that's what's concerning to me. I agree that his visuals (aside from the splash art, IMO), voice-over, and lore don't meet League's current quality standards in some way or another. However, that doesn't justify overhauling his gameplay as well.
I have been keeping an eye on the boards, beginning a year ago when the Dev Blog released their article on champion updates and Taric was mentioned by IronStylus. All of the posts with Red responses that I've seen regarding Taric's rework have either been solely concerned about his aesthetics or the rework's release date, not gameplay, and asking about his gameplay on a post about his aesthetics is no more relevant than asking about his gameplay in the context that I did.
Ralanr3 votesI want to give you so many upvotes, but all I have is one to give. Which I already gave.
Ralanr18 votesGrab an umbrella.
DeadJokr4 votesbrace your selves a sht storm is comig
staticX261 votesGrab a shovel.
Ka0s Kontrol5 votesAlready have mine ready 
Xavkul4 votesWho are you?
Nikola18 votesrandomgamer123: First question , will graves get his cigar back ? devs: no ,next question. Killerslayer: Why can kata be almost nude but graves cant have a cigar ? devs: Next question please! pro1gamer: So do you guys think graves game play will improve if you give him his cigar back ? Devs:NO! NEXT QUESTION ! Kittyteam6:How will the new masteries affect gameplay and will graves get his cigar back ? *Devs end Q&A *
Freshi7 votesCan we buff Yasuo?
John Berserk14 votesOh man, I hope they're ready for a shitstorm.
KaylaDaBamf10 votesSo, about this 
100% critical strike chance, man. A moment of silence for every game that was lost to an extremely obnoxious Yasuo in under twenty minutes.
soulslayer4131 votesits always been easy to hit 100% crit chance on yas.
KaylaDaBamf1 votesits always been easy to hit 100% crit chance on yas.
Yes but now it's 100% at about ten to twelve minutes in.
TownDrunk789 votesIs it me or with these changes did they make jungle harder. I mean I know that if bad had a face it would be mine, but before the new items I could clear my jungle before I had to b and now it seems like I can't get out of the first couple camps with out almost dying.
KaylaDaBamf3 votesI'd say AD junglers have become easier but AP junglers are near impossible.
7ha7guy7776 votesPlot twist, AP junglers are now AD junglers.
Redaga9 voteswhen will Yasuo get nerfed?
LuluTong7 votesok.
crazyclay97 votesI wonder when they are adding new champ select and the chest system
FTMHukY4Ps7 votesI know what the top question on this Q&A should be.
"Why?"
IAMtheARNOLD7 votesI have been finding that it is anyones game at any point of the game. I've come back from what should have been a loss because of properly executed team fights. It would be nice to see more AP as it has kind of lost all power in game. Basically crit healing is really cool but something should be done with champs that have preexisting crit abilities if the mastery system stays the same. However this much is true. It feels more like the old league where glass cannons are glass cannons and tanks are tanks. Not tanks the rekt your face. Hence the garen, mord update.
DrEhClOnYs2 votesGaren is still walking through teams like it is nothing and if you ignore him he will kill 2-3 people. Unless your team knows how to play, but let us be real here haha
Black Jesus lV7 votesThis is a book, so put your glasses on.
Riot you used to run in circles. I understand how the game needs change and most people like change, I for one DO. However, the current pre-season is ridiculous. The new masteries are granting people to snowball which back in S4 "You didn't want SNOWBALLS to win games." this however is false, with the new masteries alone you put every champ at garbage except the snowballers: (Xin, WW, Yi, irelia, jax, nasus, akali, katarina ETC) I could go on forever about how bad the new masteries are IMO - The concept behind them is great it truly is, but you went overboard/gave too much or too little to some champions. Vladimir for instants is trash now... You gave him 2% more lifesteal through the damage tree but starting out you have 13 AP? The starting item
is rendered useless due to the lack of AP champions being able to do anything, a mere starting 13 AP WITH a full AP runepage will still only take you to 25 starting AP. AD assassins are at large because of this. Devourer is stupid amounts of strong cause the failure to recognize the mastery fervor and deathfire touch. Jax with guinsoos rageblade and that mastery, oh man surrender at 1 item right? Sorakaa another pest, 10% increased healing and resistances FOR A MASTERY?
To put this into simpleton terms, THE CHAMPIONS THAT WORK BEST WITH THE MASTERIES ARE THE META. We used to be able to ban the few 1-6 op'est champions in the meta and still have a stronger game. This season is going to be so messed up it will be beyond repairable. AP champions = trash, Ad champions =gods, Hybrid champions = legendary gods.
Itemization - I understand that you guys wanted to create a more diverse game with the masteries and how to play, especially with marksmen... you say that^ and then... YOU BUFF STATIKK SHIV TO 1 SHOT MAGE CREEPS THROUGH ITS PASSIVE? kay, blatantly said, that item is going to be picked up by EVERY ADC no matter what, there's no diversity.
I THOUGHT WE HAD A PBE, WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO ON PBE? Looks like you guys are just letting people try things out and without any thoughts launch it to live because it's normal... In PBE you you should KNOW what's strong and whats weaker. You're ruining league of legends.
Bl00dLush3 votesSadly you're correct. I used to play league a lot, i always see what updates are coming and play every once in a while now. The game just isn't as fun when they make big time changes like this without considering every champion. Looks like they focused on the AD side of things 200% and the AP's 1%. I play syndra lots, with that being said I can't start out with 10 AP and still come out of lane with kills. It's pathetic
Budzilla6 votesive played since 09 and these masteries make me wanna quit (T_T) however im not a quiter so i will continue to struggle with them until i get used to them i really dont get why they have the ap and ad per level together i think it might make a little more sense to put the ad with the 2% lifesteal and the ap with 2% spellvamp but thats just my thoughts
MeatThrottle5 votesInb4 "What the fuck were you thinking?"
Tendo J5 votesI missed my S5 masteries.
Sexy Man Child5 votes
needs a buff
Flash443 votesGraves needs a cigar.
Cripple Oracle4 votesThe jungle meta, and I main Jungle. I'm so confused.
Where will I be? 
IS1729af1551c5ce7b67f3c4 votesAs a long standing player the one change I see that isn't consistent with prior Riot MVV's (Mission, Vision, and Values) is the Mastery Tree makeover. Not from an issue with any of the individual options or lack there of. The issue I see is that rather than giving the players empowerment options and difficult and viable options at each level to differentiate and make for unique gameplay the new Mastery Tree builds feel very binary and un-compelling. For Ex: Are you AD based or AP based? If AD left side blue pill. If AP red pill for you. There isn't a lot of room for hybrid champs that I see unless you want to fully commit to Cunning which I don't see it for most.
It seems like there are few interesting choices to make until the last level to complete the tree that there miss well not even be trees, rather simply having pre-loaded kits based upon general characteristics. AD crit build platform (Door #1). AP Caster Door #2, Tank Door #3 and so on. All of the choices prior to the last option of three feel very irrelevant as there isn't a lot of build path variety available. I'm not advocating that, just stating that variety is less not more with these changes.
And the reason this disagrees with Riot's philosophy is that previously I've read a lot that Riot values empowering not dumming down and making everything the same and generic. Riot wanted kits and players to feel strong and unique for a gaming experience. It doesn't feel dynamic right now. Either your champ really capitalizes on the offerings or they don't.
Can we take a look at Ashe's Q ability and differentiate it from that of Lulu's harassing skill? It doesn't have to be a completely different graphic, but at least lets agree that they don't sound like arrows going whiz and thud! and much too similar to pixie dust spam attack. I like Ashe, but I don't play ADC much, and when I do I don't want to feel like a slap and tickle support Lulu, just saying.
Congrats on the innovative direction Riot took with Corki, Graves, Quinn, MF. I applaud the very unique and fun attributes they received in their kits. All are pretty darn cool. I trust that you'll tone down Graves' early wave clear spam in time. Stylistically Graves is very well done when watching on screen as with a buffing janna, etc. I think we will find that in a skill players hand there isn't going to be a lot of direct counter play outside of your junglier coming to the rescue.
Any change to WW's E coming? He's kind of in the same spot Ashe was in for years prior to hawkshot. Possibly a smell based warning of enemy champions in bushes or unseen within a large radius and some sort of smell trail with MS buff when running in that direction passively? That would fit with his kit and model and not give him an overwhelming change in power. His current skill feels like a void, not that it doesn't have uses. There's just something missing in its execution. It would be cool if a change was made in the same vain as these ADC's that could make the champ come alive a bit more and more animate.
Thanks, the changes overall are a positive for me. Biggest negative would be the Masteries. I'd rather just buff champs than have these trees at this time as then they'd get what's unique to them only better where some champs are missing out on benefiting significantly as are others in this current version.
I do really like the Resolute tree Support sharing damage end attribute though. That's a keeper! Go Braum Go
Worthless Tripod4 votesI wish I could be there for the Q&A, but I'm a working man and am unable to.
Hopefully I can still contribute a question. With the changes to minion strength and the turrets being made weaker, games have become shorter. My question is, will RIOT be satisfied with this new baseline game length, or are they going to try ways to make games around 40 minutes long again?
I personally think the new and shorter game phases are harder to work around (laning phase now lasting less than 10 minutes most games) and I wanted Riots opinion on the matter.
Timekiller113 votes1- Will Grave get his cigar back? (Mandatory question) 2- You have changed a lot Jungle during the past seasons, recently revamped Bruisers (Sorry, Jaugernauth) and revamped ADC, will AP carries recieve the same kind of love eventually? 3- Will I be able to keep my champ select secret with the upcoming new "Draft mode"? I like to play different champions, I try them in custom, then in blind and eventually in Draft. The issue is the amount of kiddies who decide that my picks are "Trolls" and refuse to let me do my stuff... I tried going in Team Builder but games takes about 20 minutes to go if you attempt something different. 4- Will Graves get his cigar back? (Oops, repeating myself) 5- Can you guys offer a huge poro in the shop? Like 1m tall poro? Would be awesome... (Not really pre-season... ) 6- Ok I stop... My questions are getting off topic.
sugam492 votesthis is about a upcoming champion update. poppy has not gotten a update yet. what will be the next champion type to get a update? tank or assassins? if poppy is built to be more like a assassin that would be cool with me.
https://support.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/202294884-Champion-Update-Schedule
QcB3ats2 votesnew select champ
KANUCK2 votesThe new items are based on crit great for crit champions ie yi yasuo an really most adc/melee champs. But what im seeing is nothing really good for movement speed for ability champs. nothing really stacks up.
ICEEWIENR2 votesWheres my yorick rework wtf
Tender Heart2 votesI dare you to play a game with fiddlestick jungle and win. This new season fk up fiddlestick hard.
LordGeovanni2 votesHope some one asks why ad items alot of ad fighter items were converted to ad crit items and left items like 
without other items they can still go good with. unless you choose to essence reaver jayce of course
MasterRabbit6662 votesAD overpowered AP f... up, sry that's not very eloquent but I think to the point... and the Masteries - just feel like on a smartphone game! either option A or B - not enough variables anymore...
00Shante2 votesBring back my old 
this new one u made with his new w is worthless. I am a and he used to be one of my favorite adcs until u hurt his kit sure he dosent have a atk speed cap anymore but its worthless if theres no damage behind it. They were trying to make games longer when in fact most of the games ive played have now been shorter thanks to these changes plz bring back kogs old w back
GaramisX2 votesDeep breaths. It's the preseason, which is probably the best time for them to try new ideas instead of during the climb to Gold. I'm sure many things they've implemented will be adjusted, added upon, refined, and removed by the time regular season starts again. They need to have some time to try new ideas from time to time to help keep things interesting. Keep everyone on their toes. Happy experimenting :)
