"I used to main Karma", it's still a poem, but kind of a discussion (?)

SilverSquid··39 votes·5,539 views

Aparrantly, this is too artsy for the gameplay section. Even though I am trying to make a point about gameplay. And whoever deleted this.... couldn't you've just moved the whole discussion here?

http://img01.deviantart.net/7fdf/i/2014/266/7/9/karma__the_enlightened_one_by_monorirogue-d808sfc.jpg

Hey there, forum dwellers, hey there my friends, I used to main Karma, from start till the end. I want to tell a story, from how I fell in love, with the champion that is shown in the picture above But also from problems, from hardship and hate, from updates and quarrels and her current state.

It all began over 4 years ago, when I was still new, in this newcomer game that was in season two. I was searching a main, I was searching a role, I was searching a champion, that would fit me as a whole.

A mage it should be, a versatile one, a support maybe even, with which that I can, make up for my team's lacks and shortcomings, in top or in midlane, and sometimes in botlanes.


I tried Orianna, Lux, Ryze and Morgana, Sona, 'raka and Nidalee, but no killing spree.

I tried Taric toplane, I tried Ezreal mid, but on all of those champions, I felt like a kid, that is lost, confused and helpless, empty without a goal, no single champion, that would fit me as a whole.

Even though that I felt like it, I still wasn't through, all of the supports, that existed in season two, a support and a mage, underplayed, it was true, her name it was Karma...wait, Karma? Who?

It was love at first game, instead of first sight, I could all do the stuff, that I dreamed off I might: I could deal tons of damage, I could help my friends in need, I could bait under tower, and heal who I pleased. I could fill all the positions, I could support, or I could carry, so I ended up thinking. It's this champion, that I would marry.


But low and behold! Riot wanted change, to rework the champion that had captured my gaze. In nearly no time, a new champion was here, all sparkly and awesome, I cried a single tear.

She was a lot easier and fairer and fitting, but I heard from the forum side, some crying and spitting. The Karma fanbase, for once, was not really pleased, with how this supposed rework her identity would treat.

I kind of ignored it, for I was still in love, I could play my support mage in botlane and above, in mid or in toplane and still be versatile, be all over my teammates or play "lonely isle".

For nearly two years, I played her all the time, until something weird would cross Riot's mind. Another update would surely do well, on Karma's kit, and boy could you tell, that I was so excited, all over again, I checked all websites daily, until patch 5.10


I read through the patchnotes as struck by thunder and awe, but also confusion because of what I saw, "They removed her shieldbomb and duality on her tether? I can't see how increased values are supposed to be better...."

But I gave it a shot, tried and tested all the changes, and ended contacting a friend "I will tell you what strange is: I usually agree with Riot's policies and design, but removing her shieldbomb doesn't seem that benign. She now lacks identity, which she had for 4 years" And suddenly, with those changes, to me it became clear, what the Karma fans, 2 years ago, in the forums had said, why they complained and they thought that this update was bad.

An improvement in gameplay and fairness is fine, as long as those changes at the bottom line, don't infringe on a champions character and theme, because doing so, to the fans, feels incredibly mean.

So I joined the forums, or now called "the boards", and wrote many posts in an attempt to be heard, but I felt so ignored and unnoticed on EU west, so I thought, switching to the NA boards will be the best.


So now I am here, writing posts every week, complaining and highlighting why Karma (to me) feels bleak, I don't want to be mean, so I try to be constructive, and write in form of analysis, reworks and updates.

However, during all the time, I don't mind being ignored, but reading through the patchnotes is incredibly hard, The Karma community, as far as I've seen, insists on thematics and on identity is keen, but the patchnotes for months just seem to buff her in power, and to us, this pill just tastes awfully sour.

We don't want the champion to be OP or strong, we just want a Karma with which we feel at home, a reason to pick her other than "FotM", and identity, a character, would already please her fans.

We don't ask for much, we just wanna know: Was removing her shieldbomb really the way to go? Do you want her niche to be an RQ-/shieldbot, was versatility and duality not sexy and hot? Is a mantra, that just gives you more of the same, not only straightforward, but also just lame?

Please Riot, please Meddler, just give it a shot, I know for the Mage update, Karma is out, but could you at least, at least tell us about, what plans for our Karma in the future you have got?

Can at least you understand what about Karma we love, and that we dislike to just see her buffed?


Thanks for reading, SilverSquid

PS: Sorry if some rhymes or words feel off, I am not a native speaker and this is like my second serious poem in English. I hope you don't mind too much.

32 Comments

TNHA Baritone12 votes

Oh my LORD. That shit was STRAIGHT FIRE.

Like I legit feel THE SAME ... It's like you were diggin' deep in my brain.

SilverSquid1 votes

I swear by the holy tether of Karma that I didn't crawl under your bed last night when you were having this argument with your mother, so I could get up when you were asleep and do an inception thing with your brain. I don't even know how to do that and there is no way I could've bought that stuff from Leo that he stole from the set after the movies were done.

######I swear for reals!

TNHA Baritone1 votes

:( That narrative turned me on.

Doctor Dyment8 votes

Ah son. I never played Karma back in those days, but I was around then mind you. Back then, things might have been unbalanced sure, but everyone had a sense of identity. I still love Riot, and I love this game, but it just about breaks my god damn heart every time I get to see any of you extremely dedicated Karma players just get shut down or just ignored. It may be small constellation, but I've been supporting you guys for years. Sorry things have turned out so badly for you.

Rico Nasty5 votes

THE ANTHEM TO MY LIFE!! ANGRY KARMA FANS UNITE

Tapu Fini4 votes

I've been on this train from the start, and the issue is only getting worse with time.

There is no Karma any more. This champion is someone else.

Ariel the Cruel3 votes

We don't want the champion to be OP or strong, we just want a Karma with which we feel at home, a reason to pick her other than "FotM", and identity, a character, would already please her fans.

Nothing more need be said.

Ludovico2 votes

If only it were enough for me, to simply support your posts with comments and likes.

But let´s be honest, do you still believe in a positive change? Riot´ll never go back on their changes. And, at least gameplaywise, there are way bigger offenders than Karma...

SilverSquid3 votes

But let´s be honest, do you still believe in a positive change?

Whenever Meddler writes something, I usually agree with him. It's Ricklessabandond that I disagree with. It's not that Meddler wouldn't want Karma to be less bland, but that he believes that using the resources of his team is more efficient otherwise. This hurts me as a Karma player, but makes sense for the game as a whole.

Riot doesn't undo major changes, but they sometimes revert values. 5.10 was done by Rick in the Life Balance Team, which mainly adresses values. So to me, there is still hope.

But either way, I just can't stop trying. I am working with the most dedicated Karma fans on the forum to give Karma a voice, to get attention, to highlight problems, misstakes and to achieve a conversation.

Vistha Kai1 votes

They rarely revert even the values. How many times was a champion nerfed because of an item, then the item nerfed/removed and champion unchanged.

Since I started playing four years ago, there were maybe two occurences of anything else being reverted and even that was beating around the brush.

First would be the Fizz "rework". He was AP assassin turned into AD bruiser turned into AP assassin with nearly exactly same kit.

The other would be Ahri Charm revert, but the way it was handled it barely counts, since that was only one out of six changes she got because of DFG.

TheHobbits2 votes

That was a good read.

I too was one of the few early karma mains, but I am one of the fewer still that feel that karma is better off now. One thing I miss is ally tether, but oh well.

In the words of Khazix "Change is... Good."

SilverSquid2 votes

I kind of agree. In terms of gameplay the rework was a straight upgrade. In terms of thematics and uniqueness she lost a bit too much. I pretty much agree with Meddler here, that she feels a bit bland and too many parts of her kit feel like things you have seen before. I didn't mind that too much though, until they removed the shieldbomb in 5.10.

What do you think about those changes?

TheHobbits2 votes

It is true that shield bomb was, well, the bomb. I personally loved getting banner of command and I think you can figure out the rest.

But yes. She is a bit 'samey'.

I also miss leveling QWE to 5 and R leveled on its own.

Imortal Dragon1 votes

[slayer-jinx-catface] [slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

Lady Donatella1 votes

Marry me.

CarameI Frappe1 votes

.. So deep .. god I loved your poem dude.

[slayer-pantheon-rainbows]

Ariel the Cruel1 votes

And whoever deleted this.... couldn't you've just moved the whole discussion here?

This was brought up back when the boards were new. They can't. The boards literally lack that functionality.

SilverSquid1 votes

Thanks for letting me know. The boards are still in beta after all!

I am just wondering; are the boards gonna leave beta stage before or after we get the replay system?

Ariel the Cruel3 votes

Boards will probably be in unending Beta.

Seems to be the new trend these days.

Pokku2 votes

I have noticed the same thing, and that's what I thought when I realized today that the Boards are still in beta.

rinsujo2 votes

Before the replay system, but after achievements.

Ńord1 votes

may your voice be heard.

Mhihnj1 votes

The woods are lovely,dark and deep but i have promises to keep miles to go before i sleep miles to go before i sleep

Nature's first green is gold Her Hardest hue to hold. her early leaf is a flower but only so an hour then leaf subsides to leaf so eden sank to grief so dawn goes down to day nothing gold can stay

SilverSquid1 votes

I don't think I get it. Where is this from?

rinsujo1 votes

Robert Frost, an American poet from the late 1800's to 1970s

rtbf2256182411 votes

Jhin Perfection is not good enough.

Pokku1 votes

Karma Always trust your spirit! (My first champion when I got 3150 IP, and still my favorite.)

DemoGuide1 votes

Only thing didnt change since old forum is karma threads. Good old times :3

Dengeden1 votes

The first Karma was too strong on paper AP hyperscales, I hate haikus I conjunction with HP? Heck no Her second form was far too similar What will you do but spam R-E Against multiple enemies? Screw haikus

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