Red Post Collection: Gameplay Thoughts for 9/8, Ask Riot, LoLEsports Worlds Coverage & More

Posted on at 12:33 PM by Moobeat
Today's red post collection includes a new gameplay thoughts from Meddler, a new Ask Riot, a look at the Worlds coverage from LoLEsports, and more.
Continue reading for more info!


Table of Contents


Quick Gameplay Thoughts: September 8 

Here's Meddler's quick gameplay thoughts for September 8th, covering anti shield tools, possible item and champion changes
"Hi folks, 
Usual Disclaimers 
These posts will often contain talk about future work we're doing, or planning to do, that isn't yet guaranteed to ship. The nature of the work could change or, depending on what we discover, projects mentioned may get put delayed or even stopped.
If you'd like to see a Tweet whenever a new one of these posts goes up: https://twitter.com/RiotMeddler 
Anti Shield Tools 
We've mentioned this previously, but not particularly visibly. At some point post pre-season we'll likely get some anti shield items into the game, intended to be responses to enemy teams stacking shields really heavily. We're planning to use items, rather than things like Runes or Champion abilities that you have to commit to as part of the game, because such effects are intended to be more like safety valves you opt into when needed, rather than things to run purely based off the enemy comp at game start. 
Not yet certain whether how many items we'll do, suspect a couple is likely, with the mechanic on them probably something along the lines of 'deals X damage when Y happens (AA? spell?). This damage is doubled against shields'. Something to bring shield heavy teams down a notch, not serve as a hard counter, hence not going with something like 'removes all shields'. 
Possible Item changes in 7.19 
In addition to the champ changes coming in 7.19 we're also going to be looking at some items for balance adjustments. Likely candidates there include:
  • Sterak's gage: Buff, potentially with a melee/ranged split if needed.
  • Zeke's: Buff, details TBD.
  • Edge of Night: Buff, details also TBD.
  • Stoneplate: Investigation, looking in particular at whether it's too attractive an item on fighters (is the trade off they're making for it meaningful enoguh?)
  • Righteous Glory: Investigation, looking at whether it's too strong when rushed especially
  • Ardent Censer: Nerf, potentially including removing one of the three benefits it gives (AS, heal on AA, damage on AA) with a portion of the removed power being then put into the remaining effects. 
A few more champ changes likely in 7.19 
In addition to the previously mentioned Azir and Xin Zhao updates, plus possible Janna changes being explored, we've got some other changes coming, many of which were previously also tested on the PBE in some form: 
  • Malphite: Significantly increased armor while his passive's up, with some power pulled elsewhere. Likely hitting Q less than previous version tested.
  • Aatrox: Second half of Q being non uninterruptible, with a likely buff elsewhere as well (still determining what)
  • Vayne: Buffs and game health, with Q bonus damage no longer able to crit, Q AD ratio up, W minimum damage up, W starting % down (same at max) and R duration extending on takedown. 
Notably missing there is Udyr, despite some changes being tested a while back that got put on hold for other work in 7.17 and 7.18. We need to take another look at those, assess if they're on track to do what's needed or if we should look for a different approach."

Meddler commented more on adding shield items:
"Quote:
Why are you making an anti shield item instead of nerfing shields?
Because the individual shields in question are generally quite appropriate. Anti shield items, that aren't just a default part of your build, then serve as soft counters against teams stacking a lot of shields or particular shield users doing extremely well, in the same way that MR for example can serve as a soft counter to a team stacking magic damage or a runaway mage."

When asked about what champs may see power spikes when the new rune system, Meddler commented:
"Quote:
Kinda thinking ahead to pre season and the Runes are there any champs you might be concerned about becoming really strong with some of the runes?
Such as Lux with free 40% CDR on her ult right away?
I'm personally cautious about some champs who are decent duelists who often split push. There are a couple of runes we haven't revealed yet, one of which gives good dueling power, the other of which helps with tower taking as melee. Probably ok, hence the plan to release those runes without changes to champs like Jax, Trynd, Darius etc, definitely going to want to watch those cases in particular though. 
Would disagree that Lux gets 40% free CDR right away. Ultimore and Overcharger could get you to 30% eventually, and in some cirucmstances that'll stack with refund on kill on the ult certainly. It'll take a while though and there's a cost in there (you're giving up two rune slots that could be offering other significant power)."

Meddler continued:
"Quote:
I thought Ultimore gave you max CDR on your ult? Did I read it wrong possibly? Or was it changed?
Ultimore does. Distinction I'd draw is that it's not free (you're giving up other runes) and it's not right away (takes a while to stack, even on someone like Lux).

Meddler commented on some of the proposed changes for Malphite:
"Quote:
that's kind of a weird effect since the armor doesn't really apply to his regular health making it functionally very similar to just giving him a bigger shield, albeit one that only works against physical damage.
Yeah, that'll be it's most common impact. Also worth looking at some of the other ways increased armor affects Malph though too (e.g. damage on his W/E, scaling on Thornmail or Iceborn)."

On Cassiopeia, Meddler replied:
"Quote:
How do you feel Cassiopeia is going to do with her most recent changes during worlds and after season 7? Are there any planned follow up changes?
I think she's probably in a reasonable spot. Expect we'll leave her untouched until pre-season since like most other champs that'll shake up her exact state of balance a bit and we'll then need to reassess anyway."

When asked about LeBlanc, Meddler commented:
"Quote:
How can you convince people that your going to update Leblanc in season 8, when your going to use alot of your time on the new runes system, when it is out? Since people think, that you will just forget about her and do nothing to her like Azir.
I expect the best way to convince people we'll update LB is by updating LB. Runes will certainly take a lot of time, as will pre-season follow up in general, we're not going to stop all other work though. Will mention LB updates whenever there's something concrete enough to share. 
Azir wise his changes come in 7.19. They've taken a while but, fingers crossed, should leave him in a much better place for the long term."

Meddler continued:
"Quote:
You mentioned a few threads back that the LB rework was being delayed because the idea for the rework had fallen apart. 
Does this mean that you guys will have upgrade the scale of her rework, given the issues her current kit has and the how the original rework intent didn't make the cut? This does seem to imply that LB's kit and balance issues are more deep-rooted than what a Rek'Sai/Alistar mini-rework can alleviate. 
I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Having to increase scope's possible, though for now we're having another go at something smaller. 
Would agree her issues are larger than those of someone like Rek'Sai."

When asked about the shield items and how they might affect Mordekaiser, Meddler replied:
"Our design approach doesn't go '1. Think about how something might impact Morde, 2. Then consider how it might impact the game as a whole'. If anti shield items are right for the game we'll get them in and then, if individual champs like Morde or Tahm Kench get hit too hard by it we'll make adjustments to them."

Meddler continued:
"Quote:
But '200% damage to shields' isn't 200% damage to shielded targets, just to the shield. If Morde has 1000 hp and 100 shield, and gets hit for 500 that does 'double damage to shields' he isn't taking 1000 damage, he's taking 100 to the shield and 450 to his health, because only the shield takes double damage.
Something like that would be the intent yeah. Could also be something like 'Unique Passive: Your basic attacks deal 42 bonus magic damage, increased to 84 against shields' rather than a single burst of damage or a modifier to all your damage."

On Aatrox, Meddler commented:
"Quote:
For Aatrox, the buffs will not be necessarily on the AA range on R ? other choice open ?
We're testing buffing AA range bonus during R, it's not guaranteed that'll be one of the changes yet though.

Ask Riot: Shields and Guardians

A new Ask Riot is now available, covering Star Guardians and whether they are connected to Dark Star, adding a counter to shields and heals, who repairs turrets after the game ends, and more:
"Let’s talk about countering shields, repairing the maps’ turrets after games, and if Star Guardians and Dark Star exist in the same universe.

Are the Star Guardians related to Dark Star? Are they in the same world?

We talked about this a bit in a recent interview, but in case you haven’t seen it: Star Guardian and Dark Star skins were conceived as part of their own individual universes—there isn’t currently an overlap. 
That said we’ve talked internally about doing crossovers with thematics in the past, so if there is an exciting idea to make something like this work, we might consider. It’s not something we’d want to force just for the sake of doing it, but are open to if the idea is really great and opens up new alt-universe storytelling opportunities. 
THERMAL KITTEN
Senior Narrative Writer

Have you thought about adding a counter to shields and heals?

We have thought about it. 
The situation we want to avoid is to have an endless arms race, where damage becomes so potent that we add shields, then shields are so potent that we add a shield breaking mechanic, and then a counter to that mechanic and so on. If shields overall are too strong, we’d rather ease up the shields or increase the damage that shields are intended to counter. 
That said, we do have mechanics like grievous wounds in the game, and we have mentioned recently that we might explore say an item with an active shield break mechanic. 
Design Director, League of Legends

Who repairs the turrets on the map when the game ends?

Many speculate as to what happens after bloody warfare ends and the fields of justice are emptied. Some believe the stalwart minions do not pause to rest, even after a hard fought battle. Each day, they harvest stone blocks from the foothills of Mount Targon, where it is said that the rock itself is infused with magic, and painstakingly carve them into the stone guardians of Summoner’s Rift in time for the next fighters to enter the fray. 
Others are certain that the statues themselves were once men who waged endless war against one another. Now cursed, each day they must stand with staunch honor, protecting the realms of their enemies in battle. 
A select few know a forbidden truth, and whisper that when the map is devoid of all remaining fighters, and silence befalls the land, the pixels get lonely and can’t help but multiply. 
JELLBUG
Associate Writer, Worldbuilding

Thanks for reading this week’s Ask Riot. Have a question? 
Head over to Ask Riot and sign into your League account. Check out the Pro Tips, then ask away. 
We promise to read every question, but we can’t guarantee they’ll all get answers. Some questions may already be answered elsewhere, and some won’t be right for Ask Riot. This isn’t the best place to announce new features, for example, and we might skip conversations on issues we’ve talked about in depth before (though we can clarify individual points). 
We are listening, though, so keep asking. We’ll make sure your questions are heard by the Rioters working on the stuff you’re curious about."


LoLEsports Worlds Coverage

As Worlds creeps ever closer, the LoLEsports page is filled with all the juicy Worlds info you could want! Check out the most recent articles:
"A procedural guide to the Group Draw for the 2017 League of Legends World Championship. 
As we previously announced, the Worlds 2017 Group Draw Pools are based on MSI 2017’s results. In this article, we’ll be going into greater detail on how the groups are drawn from a procedural standpoint. In the Play-In Draw Show and Group Draw Show on Tuesday, September 12 at 5:00 AM PT (8:00 PM local time in China), we’ll be holding the two draws, one after the other, according to the rules and structure described below. 
This post is designed to give you a solid understanding of the mechanics of the draw process and a clear idea of what to expect during the live draws."
"The 2017 World Championship is finally here! Spells will fly, towers will crumble, and Nexuses will fall as teams fight to be crowned as victors. 
With all the action going on you’re going to need the best of the best to break it down live. So without further ado, let’s introduce you to the Worlds 2017 English on-air team:"

Quick Hits


Reminders

Last up, a few reminders on upcoming and ending soon promotions and sales!
  • The Star Guardian content is now available! Check out our coverage of the release, and make sure to get in a game of Invasion, the newest game mode released. It will be available through 9/25 at 11:59 PT!
[BACK TO TOP]

No comments

Post a Comment