Building a better Team Builder

Riot·Jul 1, 2014·2 votes·152,372 views

With significant improvements coming to the Team Builder experience, we’re re-inviting you to give the new queue a try. We’ve listened to the feedback throughout the live beta test and launch, and we continue to tinker with ways to improve Team Builder. Some of the changes we’ve implemented relate to matchmaking, others combat long queue times. In at least one case, we’re making it easier to find friends to play a Team Builder match.

“Demand Board” -- A new feature showing which roles are in highest demand, allowing players to “fill” if they want
“Enhanced Play Again” -- Captains can choose from a “Recently Played” list filled with players they can one-click invite to the next game
“Smarter Matchmaking” -- The system that recognizes your familiarity with each role, position and champion, adjusting your MMR based on your experience. Smarter Matchmaking’s improved the way the system finds appropriate opponents, using this new, more accurate gauge of skill

To make sure you’re getting into game fast enough to feel these changes, we also overhauled the rules for adding solo players to teams. We’ve seen improved queue times across the board, and if you want to read more, check out my deep dive into all of the changes in this update.

With new reasons to start using Team Builder, we’ve designed a series of new summoner icon rewards for playing the queue. Because Team Builder’s champion select accounts for role, the new rewards are earned by playing your way. After you play five games as one role, tracked in-client, you’ll unlock the icon of that role instantly. And yes, if you’re more of a generalist (or a completionist), you can unlock all six icons.

So join us in the revamped Team Builder, and show off your favorite role with your new icons!

1,693 Comments

DukeTorusJul 30, 2014328 votes

These are cool icons. I'm a completionist, so I'll be looking to get all 6 ASAP.

I really like the idea of adjusting MMR based on experience with a champion because I often use Team Builder to practice a champion that's new to me without having to worry about call or pick order.

CommandShockwaveJul 30, 201463 votes

I'm kinda disappointed that it's only 5 games for 1 icon... I was hoping for a goal to work towards over time, rather than just a gimmick to get people to try it out more than once. :(

Edit: Oh god lmao, the hate is real. Didn't mean to offend anyone lol, I suppose it was a selfish thing to say though. It's just that I have no real goals to work towards in this game at the moment, and I thought it would have been cool to have a sort of "play X amount of this champ to earn their icon for your profile" type of achievement. I suppose I was projecting that desire onto this though. My bad?

xoxoxoxoJul 30, 201410 votes

I mean I never use team builder (Only when I get spam invited) but 5 games for 1 icon is around 30 games for all of them xD I think that's pretty reasonable otherwise it could get incredibly grindy and i'm pretty sure a ton of people would lose interest. (Some roles have 15 minute q's atm)

THE BrillopadJul 30, 201420 votes

How is it around 30 games? it IS 30 games

MinotaurasaurusJul 30, 201441 votes

30 is around 30. Simple people these days. summoner 3

ChilroyJul 30, 201498 votes

Well a completionist would have to 30 games, 5 for each role. So, after thirty games in Teambuilder I'm sure someone will form an opinion about the mode.

Plus if each match is 30 minutes, it will take 15 hours to earn every icon.

Informa1 GluttonJul 30, 201429 votes

It's actually five total games. I just did two different games, one as support and one as marksman, and I just unlocked the respective icons. So the whole "five game thing", I think, never ended up making it into the code. >_>

AbeziiJul 30, 201411 votes

I believe it's traking some older games cause I just did one game as teemo mid and I got the marksman one. so yeah

NeuroticPlatypusJul 30, 201443 votes

"After you play five games as one role, tracked in-client, you’ll unlock the icon of that role instantly." Emphasis on the "in client" bit. It's not tracking them based on how many games you play after the update only, it's tracking based on how many you've played since Teambuilder was implemented.

RaexesJul 30, 2014148 votes

I think what might be really cool is that you can still unlock each icon at 5 games per role, but if you play more and more of that role the icon becomes 'better'. Sort of like a ranking system with the icon maybe have the icon look slightly more badass and have roman numerals up to 5 to dictate rank with each role.

TableclothsJul 30, 201479 votes

I really like that idea. But, I'm scared to think that there would be some toxic behavior because of it. "You're only a level one jungler? Noob. gtfo. you suck."

VynianyxJul 31, 201429 votes

You don't "have" to use the icon until it is a higher level either. Honestly I could have a level 5 support icon and que into teambuilder as nocturn jungle. You would have no idea if I have played it. Like wise, I could have a level 1 ADC icon and que as ADC, you don't know my ADC blind history or ranked or if I am good/bad at the game.

There are probably toxic people that would hate on the "level 1" icons, but honestly the icon cant really judge anything lol.

I love the idea :D

VaynespottedJul 30, 201495 votes

Guys, help me out here. Riot needs to add in Ranked Team Builder. just so that way no one will be fussing about what roles to get and jazz about call order and what not

NightDoomDKJul 30, 20146 votes

Hell yes they should

RenodhalJul 30, 201448 votes

They already talked about why they won't do that. The pick and ban phase of champ select is important to ranked, and there isn't a reasonable way to do that in Team Builder.

AceInUrHoleJul 30, 201416 votes

Well they have some smart guys over there at Riot. I have faith in their ability to figure out some way to please fans in this regard.

DelosJul 30, 201498 votes

Actually, there is, You would pick your role so that everybody knows what role they've got, after the roles have been decided you go into draft Q. Ban champs, pick champs, stick with your role.

Aeolian MelodiesJul 30, 201424 votes

The problem with your concept is that you have no control over whether or not people will pick or perform the roles they queue'd for. With current team builder the roles and champions are pre-locked in so it isn't an issue, but with your idea I can queue for support to get a MUCH faster queue then pick Orianna and go mid, screwing over the guy who went through a 30 min mid laner queue.

KeshaJul 30, 201435 votes

There could be a special reporting system for said instance. Rito would be able to see what position they said the would take then see where they actually went. Then they can be punished.

Autrah FangJul 30, 201410 votes

funny part is, people used this exact argument to disagree with Team Builder in the first place. "someone could say they want to be support for faster queue, then screw over the person that actually queued for mid/top/adc by going to their role, rather than the one they chose"

same exact argument.. but how many times have you actually seen it in the current Team Builder?

EloHellDotNetJul 30, 201412 votes

maybe rito could try to make a new ranked system for this queue. Say like the leader for each team picks 3 champion bans. Then the champion select would be made available. Of course they would have to make it so that each team can see one another, for counter picking.

On another note, i wish they would make it somehow where there's a mode where each team only has 10 different champs to choose from. Each week will be random, and actually make some kind of achievement for doing well. Something different then ranked but still requires skill to accomplish.

Eiko CarolJul 30, 201419 votes

Maybe not necessarily team builder, but instead you que for your preferred roles. and it would place you into a team that is looking for one of these roles. once you get into que with your team you will get matched against another team in a draft pick to do the pick/ban phase. I mean that's how I would implement it.

Nightbringer YiJul 30, 201435 votes

I think ranked team builder would stop ALOT of Trolling, the only way to make it work is to que up for a certain role, not a champion. That way everyone joins in the role they want and then you ban and pick. Its very simple and quit dumb not to implement this, why let people join a game and figure out and fight over what role they want, when the system can do it for you and prevent trolls and afks. It will improve the communities attitude as well. "Told you I should have jungled" "This adc is bad, yet I had to support" "Having me support is a big waste of my talents" "gg this team is bad;" Says the 0-10-3 Support.

CDMarcoJul 30, 20146 votes

Well who's to say that just because a champ is listed in one bracket they can't be played elsewhere? I call top, now who do i feel like playing, the tried and true Renekton or will i put some spin on the ball and go Morgana . I'm still going top, just one doesn't look like much of a top.

IlandriaJul 30, 20148 votes

I think they should just allow any champ in any role, and just have a role queue - if people queue for support then auto lock mid there would be a report option right there (plus it's no different than current draft where people that don't get what they want already troll - I'm pretty sure it would be a strict improvement overall).

And I'm never going to report someone for going say... renekton support as long as they legitimately want to play renek support (ie, vision control, peel, set up plays, etc.). Like I said though, I don't feel like champion picks would be any more of an issue than they already are.

MindfuccJul 30, 201452 votes

Now if only the NA server would stop crashing every other hour.....

NostalgicPotatoJul 30, 201431 votes

How about a feature that prevents mirror match-making? Team Builder allows you to explore your skill with a certain champion, not the enemy's skill with the same champion. Please allow captains to toggle this off.

Katy chan DragonJul 30, 201413 votes

I second this. Having the same champ play against eachother gets annoying and kinda boring. Whoever gets the first kill/assist pretty much wins, as long as both players have a vague idea of how to play the champion.

Best Lolicon NAJul 30, 201427 votes

I hope more people use team builder now...I find the games so much more pleasant.

XFortuityJul 30, 201427 votes

Ummm.... LISSANDRA IS HOTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!

F1F6iZjkFSJul 30, 2014175 votes

No she's cold

RobAvaliJul 30, 201430 votes

Could say she's frozen.

ArcanomosJul 30, 201465 votes

Just let it go...LET IT GOOOO!

AngesehenJul 30, 201451 votes

you had to be that guy aye?

ZeagaX13Jul 30, 2014153 votes

Icey what you did there.

Random TaskJul 30, 201415 votes

I didn't see what you did there LeeSin Lissandra

Keido desuJul 30, 201411 votes

stop.

FaladaeJul 30, 201427 votes

Waiting for a support in team builder.

30 minutes later . . . still waiting.

firejake308Jul 30, 201438 votes

Then play support yourself. I hear you get instant games.

Meanie40Jul 30, 201414 votes

Pretty much. It's an odd time of the day where I wait more than 10 seconds for the "team found" message as a support.

DrejerJul 30, 201420 votes

Error 404 on the "deep dive" link.

BeauJul 30, 201419 votes

item 3270 omw to team builder

5301Jul 30, 201411 votes

Add summoner 6 to be faster... Kinda

Virus RexJul 30, 20147 votes

not as fast as summoner 12

Emperor CynricJul 30, 201429 votes

Bitch please. Rammus item 3270 summoner 6 Revive

Aximus MaximusJul 30, 201418 votes

GET REKT Rammus Revive summoner 6 item 3069 item 3142 item 3172 item 3270 Zilean

Riven YasuoJul 30, 201424 votes

Sonic would be ashamed XD

iWyldJul 30, 201439 votes

Ultimate: Rammus summoner 12 summoner 6 item 3270 item 3069 item 3078 item 3172 item 3142 item 3046 + Zilean + Karma + Orianna + Lulu

A Dose Of IncestJul 30, 20141 votes

i noticed they are 6 icons in choice are ap/ad mage going to be different then having a ad or ap assasin since they are generally mid and supports can be tank like leona or a sona going to be considered the same thing are they going to have the same icon or a different one for each sub roll per that lane