Boards›Maps & Modes

@Riot: Master tier is all well and good but here's what's really needed.

MrSc0tty·8/12/2014, 1:06:00 PM·1 votes·380 views

Think of lol's ranked population as a bell curve. Gold+ is the top 20%. Bronze and Silver then should be the "average" tiers, comprising 60% of the population, the bulk of the bell curve.

Below that, introduce "Acolyte" tier. Not wood, not cardboard, or anything stupid and demeaning-this is for the people who want to start to learn the real complexities and intricacies of league's ranked system but are starting from the bottom. Leverage the new match history system to make this tier a place where help is always available and suggestions for improvement are given after each match.

I would suggest an automated post game breakdown for the player, telling them things like

"Your CS is below average on this champion. Try practicing last hitting in a custom game!" Use the system to check the times and locations of deaths and give advice like "a large number of deaths before the 15 minute mark indicate that you should try playing more cautiously in early laning" or "you died frequently near enemy mid turrets-try watching your positioning during sieges" Look at what kind of champions they had trouble with "You were killed by Riven four times. Try building armor early to avoid her all-in."

And then keep a special chat room specifically for players in the acolyte tier to get advice from gold+ players on their climb progress.

Ranked should be a journey, not a frustrating quagmire. Currently bronze players are eternally frustrated by what they feel is an unbearable "Elo hell" and they don't understand what they need to do to improve. Adding a tier built for learning is the first step towards a more healthy environment for low ranked players.

9 Comments

MrSc0tty8/12/2014, 1:08:56 PM2 votes

(Additionally, in order to ease the phenomenon of 'Elo hell' in Acolyte tier, relax the progression requirements a bit. I would start with either removing entirely or relaxing the requirements of the promo series within Acolyte to winning 2 of 4 for a regular promo or 3 of 6 for the promo to bronze. That way even if a player has a 51% winrate, they'll rise.)

Omnipherious8/12/2014, 5:02:07 PM2 votes

You know what would be great? If people could sign up to coach those in this "Acolyte" tier.

Limitations

  • A Mentor can spectate an Acolyte's match live but only from a locked-camera of the student's perspective
  • Ping the map/minimap (different colour to prevent confusion)
  • Highlight elements of the HUD
  • Indicate mouse-clicks
  • Limited only to Custom and Normal games
Hoi Im Temmo8/12/2014, 5:14:55 PM1 votes

What I would say: Acolyte tier would be an initial tier - BEFORE provisional.

Any player who has not played ranked before starts here. They play, and when they reach promotion, the go to provisionals to be placed in a division.

During their time in Acolyte, they would receive the help you suggested, and I would DEFINITELY support the suggestion made by Omnipherious for Mentors - and I would even say that being a mentor can earn ip or something . The acolyte would be matched with a random mentor, who would then be rated by the acolyte after game.

Finally, I would suggest that a player who feels they are in over their head in ranked, should be able to CHOOSE to go back to Acolyte, and learn again in a less stressful environment. Perhaps limit this to once/twice per season?

Sir ArmaMalum8/12/2014, 5:35:55 PM1 votes

The main issue with having a rank below bronze is that it won't solve the problems of bronze, it will simply move them to the new rank floor. Stretching isn't the problem, it's the simple fact that it is the lowest area, similar to the issues of Diamond being on the other end of the spectrum. People just clump there.

That being said a 'rank' where one can be coached is a great idea that I've seen before and will always support. I myself would use the hell out of a supported coaching feature to help people out where I could.

Honestly I believe this tier shouldn't be below bronze, but in fact be voluntary. What I mean is that if someone is frustrated with their bronze/silver matches of late they can choose to enter the Acolyte rank, wiping their current rank and forcing them to play a certain amount of Acolyte games before they can re-try their placements (So as to mitigate abuse for new placements). During these matches they can be assigned a coach who can give them tips at the end of the match, a "let's talk about that last game" kid of deal. (The biggest issue with real-time coaching is that that's a legitimate advantage, second pair if eyes and all.) After the talk, both the coach and Acolyte can rate each other (report if necessary, Acolyte's for system/verbal abuse/intentional feeding, Coaches for verbal abuse/bad coaching)