pirates giving 0 gold is annoying and useless.

I agreed at first, but then I did some calculations.

Now some might argue that removing 0 from the possible drops could be overpowered, since that would be a net buff for Pirates and they were nerfed last patch. However, that's not true. What really indicates the strength of pirates is the average gold gained, not the maximum or minimum. I think thought it's possible to solve this by adjusting the drop rates for all other outcomes, resulting in a power-neutral, but overall positive-feeling change.

Before this patch, the average was also the median. That makes this calculation a lot easier, you can have equal probabilities for all possible results or just equal probabilities for the mirror ( P(0) = P(4) = 0.1; P(1) = P(3) = 0.2; P(2) = 0.4 still results in an average of 2, with the #cleannumbers Riot likes). Since the current average is 1.6 (as of Patch 9.14 last Tuesday) with possible drops being 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 gold; it's a little more skewed towards the left side.

It's definitely possible to remove 0, but then the majority of the drops would be 1 (51.2%). You'd have 38.4% to hit 2 gold, 9.6% for 3 gold and around 0.8% for 4 gold. (Based on a binomial distribution with n = 3, p = 0.2, add 1 to translate it to the right because we want 1-4 instead of 0-3. ) Is that what you want? Is that what Riot wants?

Seriously, now that I calculated that I'm not even sure it would be better. As I said, this change would be power-neutral in the long run and supposedly make you feel better because you always get at least 1 gold. But is it really better than getting nothing in 13% of all your chests; 34.6% for both 1 and 2 gold; 15.3% for 3 gold and 2.6% for 4 gold? (Binomial distribution with n = 4, p = 0.4. I don't think Riot uses these numbers, but they give a good approximation.) Unless they buff pirates back to 2 gold or maybe 1.8 average gold, I think I prefer this system.

i think that it should always give at least 1 gold. if they have to lower the chances of getting 4 gold in order to keep the average gold gain the same, thats fine. you still can totally get lucky and get two 4g in a row before selling/swapping, but at least this way you cant get unlucky and get 3 rounds of 0g (or ANY rounds of 0g) and feel awful.

riot will never understand... GET ZERO OF ANYTHING IS NOT FUN... NOT FUN AT ALL (CHANGE YOUR PILLAR RIOT, PUT THERE "PLAYER ALWAYS GET SOMETHING, ZERO IS NOT FUN")

THANKYOU!! I was just talking to my discord about this. What's the point of a gold buff if it never happens?? Every other buff has a decent chance, but pirates almost NEVER happens.

edit: I was told this is supposed to be an early game buff, which is understandable, but even early game I personally haven't gotten a mass amount of coins ( I think it's like 5 at most) the most average result i've received that seems to be the most consistent is just one singular gold (and of course nothing as said above). Which again I state is USELESS

I agree. The game would be much less frustrating if they would remove some of the rng. Same with the items

what upsets me is when i get a boot and in the following matches i get nothing but gold/fish bones.

one boot is worthless, where is my other boot at?

and even on the rare occasion i get my boot they keep throwing boots at me, how many feet do i have rito?

I agree

you talk pirates i double dare you to try stupid wild team comp and then come and see whats BS

i think having 3 pirates should drop 0-4 gold but having 4 should drop 1-4 and possibly 5 should drop 2-4.

I would like to see pirate steal the opponent's interest :P

Easy solution, make pirates give 1-3 gold instead of 0-4. This results in still getting the same avg gold overall (2), but results in less frustration from seeing 0 gold.