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Red Post Collection: QGT: July 12 & 19, Mid-Patch Updates & More

Today's red post collection includes Meddler's quick gameplay thoughts for July 12 and 19, mid-patch updates that went out this week, TFT Patch notes & Beta pass updates, & more!
Continue reading for more information!


Table of Contents


Quick Gameplay Thoughts: July 12th & 19th

Here's Meddler's quick gameplay thoughts for July 12th, including the patch schedule for the rest of the year, TFT change sin 9.14, and more:
"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 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 
Patch schedule for the rest of the year 
Haven't done one of these in a bit so figured it was a good time to talk about our approach to patches through 2019. (For those who haven't seen, we have a schedule of this year's patch dates published on the support site: https://support.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018987893-League-of-Legends-patch-schedule) First up, the standard LoL side of things (SR etc). This is all from the perspective of balance/widespread meta impacting work. New content like skins, champs etc will continue to release as usual. 
9.14 - A pretty large patch with a lot of different champs getting work. Expectation is we'll probably do a small follow up micropatch a few days after 9.14 releases since with around 30 champs getting changed odds are there'll be at least one who needs some quick correction afterwards. 
9.15 - 9.18 - Smaller patches, focused on stability and lower scope balance work. We'll be looking to avoid things with big systemic impacts here in particular (e.g. reworking items, changing strength of different positions significantly relative to each other, changes to objectives etc). 
9.19 - Worlds patch. Focus here is on stable, reliable. 
9.20 - 9.22 - Patches between Worlds and Preseason. Some work, including some behind the scenes technical stuff that's a bit risky to put in the Worlds patch, goes here. Generally we try not to get the Worlds patch and the state of the regular game get too out of sync though, so large work will be usually held for preseason. 
9.23 - Preseason. This should be mid November. We'll start talking details about what's in it before though, probably sometime late September or early October. 
TFT Patching 
On the TFT side of things by contrast we've got a lot of plans for both balance and ongoing feature development in the 9.15-9.19 sort of range (and onwards of course). During the mode's initial release we've been doing a lot of balance through micropatches as we get things generally into an ok state. Going forward plan is to do more balance through regular patches, including with patch notes so it's much easier to track what's going on. Still expecting we'll hotfix extremely out of line things quickly though of course, especially where they're warping the whole meta around themselves. 
As a quick recap in terms of TFT in 9.14 we’re expecting we’ll ship:
  • DPS meters
  • A new unit (Twisted Fate, 2 cost Pirate Sorcerer with Pick a Card)
  • A lot more visible stats when you inspect a unit
  • A lot of balance changes
  • A lot of bug fixes
  • Changes to how PVE rounds drop rewards
  • Reworks of some items
  • Win/loss streak UI improvements
  • And more 
Looking at Irelia in 9.15 
We're putting most of our 9.15 time aside for follow up on 9.14 and longer term work on preseason projects. It's likely we'll at least look at Irelia from the angle of her being too dominant in pro play in particular. Not sure yet what changes that might or might not result in though."
Here's Meddler's quick gameplay thoughts for July 19th,  with thoughts on patch 9.14 issues, Ryze, and more:
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 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 
9.14 
As you've likely seen 9.14 has been pretty buggy, especially because we've had a couple of underlying issues that have caused issues with a range of champs, runes etc. We've got a lot of those dealt with at this point and are prioritizing hitting the rest. Apologies for how messy patch day especially was. 
Bugs aside, we also knew this patch would be more volatile on the balance front given how many changes we made. We released a balance micropatch last night, details should be in the updated patch notes. 
https://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/news/game-updates/patch/patch-914-notes 
Ryze 
Ryze's changes have been out for a bit now, have had some exposure to pro play and have had some follow up balance. Some thoughts below on how we're feeling about him as a result:
  • Statistically we're cautiously optimistic this version of Ryze will be easier to keep in an ok spot for both pro and regular play at once. He's performing better in solo queue than previously without being overly dominant so far at least in pro.
  • We're taking a cautious approach to buffs to him, given how challenging he's been in the past to balance. Might still have some room for a bit more power, really don't want to swing to hard though.
  • We're seeing some frustration from people who liked Ryze's mechanical optimizations pre 9.12 at the degree they've been diminished. We do think this version of the kit should be one we can more consistently keep balanced, so so far think that removing some of those optimizations was an appropriate trade off to make. Do want to acknowledge that it came at a cost though and that that's tough for players who preferred his previous state.
  • We discussed changes to Ryze's ult pre 9.12, given it heavily rewards coordination between team members in a way that's usually more accessible in pro/organized play. Our conclusion was that while it added some cost to balancing for different contexts it wasn't the primary cause of problems there. It also generates many of his high moments and adds a lot of distinctiveness relative to other champions. 
Looking at Prestige Points 
We’ve been seeing a lot more feedback about some of the details of how Prestige Points and Prestige Skins work recently. We’re digging through that feedback and looking at possible plans to address it right now. We should have an update to share by the end of next week on what we’ll be doing."

On Ryze, he added:
"It's possible he'll get buffed in the next couple of months, taking it slowly and carefully though. 
No plans for changes to his Q passive at present."

He also noted hover tooltips on the minimap would be removed in 9.15:
"Yeah, we're on a similar page now. Plan is to disable tooltips like that on minimap hover in the next patch."

Mid-Patch Updates

A handful of mid-patch updates went out this week! The Patch 9.14 Notes were updated with the details:
7/18/2019 Balance Changes 
Akali
  • BASE HEALTH 550 ⇒ 575
  • BASE HEALTH REGEN 6 ⇒ 8
Cassiopeia
  • W - MIASMA COOLDOWN 24/21/18/15/12 seconds ⇒ 24/22/20/18/16 seconds
  • E - TWIN FANG HEALING 13/16/19/22/25% of her ability power ⇒ 12/14/16/18/20% of her ability power
Fizz

  • PASSIVE - NIMBLE FIGHTER DAMAGE REDUCTION 4 (+0.01 ability power) against all sources of damage (maximum of 50% reduction) ⇒ 3 (+0.01 ability power) against all sources of damage (maximum of 50% reduction)
Galio
  • Q - WINDS OF WAR COST 80/85/90/95/100 mana ⇒ 70/75/80/85/90 mana
  • PASSIVE - COLOSSAL SMASH BASE DAMAGE 15-160 (levels 1-18) ⇒ 15-180 (levels 1-18)
Tahm Kench
  • PASSIVE - AN ACQUIRED TASTE ON-HIT DAMAGE 2.5% of Tahm Kench's maximum health ⇒4% of Tahm Kench's maximum health
  • Q - TONGUE LASH COOLDOWN 8/7.5/7/6.5/6 seconds ⇒ 5 seconds
  • Q - TONGUE LASH SLOW 30/35/40/45/50% ⇒ 30/40/50/60/70%
Singed
  • Q - POISON TRAIL RECAST TIMER 0.5 seconds ⇒ 0 seconds 
7/18/2019 Kalista Bugfix 
Kalista
  • BASIC ATTACK BUGFIX Kalista is no longer able to hit multiple enemies if she targets them during her attack animation wind-up  
7/17/2019 Update 
BUGFIX Fixed an issue causing multiple champions and Runes to not function properly. 
Akali
  • R - PERFECT EXECUTION BUGFIX Akali's travel speed when casting R - Perfect Execution is no longer slower than intended
Lux
  • PASSIVE - ILLUMINATION STACKING BUGFIX Lux no longer gets additional Keystone Runes stacks when proccing Illumination on a target
Ryze
  • BUFFERING Ryze can now buffer his ability casts properly
Udyr
  • SPIRIT GUARD UDYR E BUGFIX Spirit Guard Udyr now properly has a cooldown on his E - Bear Stance"

Teamfight Tactics Patch 9.14 notes 

Here's the TFT patch notes for 9.14:
"Hey Tacticians, welcome to the first official Teamfight Tactics patch notes! 
From now on, you can expect TFT patch notes almost every week. For those accustomed to League of Legends' schedule, note that TFT will be patching in a weekly cadence, split between the regularly scheduled League of Legends patch with larger changes and a B-side one on the second week of that patch limited to balance changes and emergent bugfixes. The format of the patch notes will be a little different in light of the weekly cadence. 
This first official patch week we have a whole host of changes. First, Twisted Fate is warping in to the Convergence for all your piracy and spell-slinging needs. Then, if you're the competitive type, get ready to start climbing because the ranked Beta Season is coming and as they say, "RNG is a ladder." Finally, a minion or monster will now drop gold in the event that you do not get any items from a PvE round. 
We made a boatload of balance changes and bugfixes, and amidst the chaos a few themes should emerge. Many tier 3 champions felt underpowered and not worth picking up given their price, so we're buffing a number of them to make them worth considering even at a single star. Conversely, many tier 4 champions have been nerfed as they were proving to be powerhouses sometimes even without the need for synergies or additional stars. 
Got lost looking for League of Legends patch notes? Take this magical journey. 
Blake "Riot Beernana" Edwards


Teamfight Tactics Beta Pass Update 

Here's Riot Beernana with an update on the TFT beta pass:
"Hey everyone,
The first chapter of the Beta Pass is coming to an end. While the pass was active in some regions with Teamfight Tactic's launch, other regions had their pass and mission system delayed in order to preserve server stability. The end date for the pass is different in each region so that, in the end, everyone will have had the pass for four weeks. Quick disclaimer here: You won't be able to complete missions or claim rewards once the pass is turned off, even if you were in a game or waiting for a game to complete when the pass turns off. The following dates and times are the official end points: 
ALL TIMES PDT 
The second chapter of the Beta Pass will start on patch 9.16 for all regions! It'll contain similar missions and prizes to the first, but we'll probably shake things up a bit after that. We're stoked about the passion and excitement you've shown during the launch of TFT and we want to continue celebrating by giving out more free stuff. We're still figuring out the longer-term progression system in TFT, so keep sending us your feedback on the Beta Pass. 
That's it for now, see you in the Convergence."

9.14: Lore Update 

Here's Riot Ashekandi with a Lore update for patch 9.13 and 9.14:
"Hey everyone! 
With this week’s Lore Update we’re covering both our 9.13 and 9.14 content as we continue to flesh out the region of Ixtal with new color stories for both Qiyana and Malphite. 
Alongside those, the third issue of League of Legends: Lux is now available, so if you haven’t checked it out, be sure to do so as we continue to follow Lux in her encounters with Sylas! 
As always, we love to hear your thoughts and theories, so make sure to share them in the comments. 
Let’s dive in! 
Bret "Ashekandi" Forbus

Color Story
Qiyana, Empress of Elements
Fit to Rule
- by John O’Bryan 
"She began to swivel her ohmlatl slowly around her body, causing the jungle thicket to bend and part with each rotation of the ring-blade. Roots and stems popped, tossing up bits of soil until, at last, a narrow trail revealed itself in the brush."
Qiyana, Ixtal, Color Story
Malphite, Shard of the Monolith
Roots of a Poisoned Tree
- by Graham McNeill 
"A SHARD OF A GREATER WHOLE. A SERVANT OF ORDER SEEKING PURPOSE. CALL ME… MALPHITE."
Malphite, Ixtal, Zaun, Color Story
Bio Updates 
Malphite, Shard of the Monolith
"Beware, minions of chaos! The Shard of the Monolith has come."
Malphite, Ixtal, Bio 
Skarner, the Crystal Vanguard
"We are one. We cannot be shattered."
Skarner, Shurima, Bio 
Vi, the Piltover Enforcer
"We can either do this the hard way or… Oh wait, no. There’s just the hard way."
Vi, Piltover, Bio 
Zilean, the Chronokeeper
"There is no greater grief than for a loss that is yet to come."
Zilean, Icathia, Bio

Comics
Lux
League of Legends: Lux – Issue 3
- by John O’Bryan 
"A secret exposed! Sylas and Lux’s secret meetings are uncovered by Garen and her Aunt Tianna. For the good of Demacia, Lux’s marriage is arranged and Sylas is sentenced to death! But if saving Sylas means exposing her powers, will Lux dare risk her own future to save a criminal?"
In case you missed it, the third issue of League of Legends: Lux is available now! Read through the first and second issues of Lux on the comics Universe hub, then jump in to issue #3 to see what dramatic turns are in store.
Lux, Garen, Sylas, Demacia, Comic

Miscellaneous

"LCS Summer Finals presented by Rocket Mortgage is right around the corner, and this year we’re bringing sick ults, gallons of salt, and incredible League of Legends action to the one and only Motor City, Detroit, Michigan. But that’s not all! 
Riot is also partnering with State Farm to host the very first LCS Summer Finals Cosplay Contest! 5 talented cosplayers will get flown out to experience the LCS Summer Finals live in Detroit. They will also be featured as Cosplay Guests onsite, with tickets provided for them and one handler. All of this will be fully integrated as a part of our LCS Fan Event, so keep your eyes peeled for our finalists onsite and on broadcast. 
And there’s more! While at the LCS Finals, the 5 cosplay finalists will compete for the grand prize: round trip tickets to the 2019 World Championship Finals for them and one friend, and a cash prize of $5,000! 
Runners up will receive prizes as well! 2nd place will receive $2,000, with 3rd place being awarded $1,000. For those of you not at LCS Finals, you’ll also be able to vote on social for your favorite finalist. The fan favorite award will win an extra $500."
"The comics contest closed submissions a couple weeks ago, and we have spent the better part of the past two weeks lol-ing, awww-ing, and wtf-ing at the incredible comics you all submitted! Speaking as certified comic lovers, we were insanely impressed with how much awesome you packed into just 3 square boxes! 
As always, choosing finalists was tough, but after much debate we're proud to present the 2019 League of Legends Comic Contest Winners!"
"Your semi-weekly dose of server problem-os, NA League news, and other! 
9.14 will be here shortly, with a bunch of changes to some of your favorite champions. Arcade pass is still live for a few weeks, TFT is still fun, and there was a bunch of server burps over the last two weeks. 
Follow-Ups:
  • Mac voice still not working properly Bug assigned to a specialist. (Core bug is still being worked on).
Ongoing
  • Stuck in Spectator (7/2, ~ongoing) NOC is notified by PS that players are still getting stuck in spectator after a change that was supposed to fix the problem. Problem ain’t fixed, possibly resolved with the upcoming 9.14 patch.
Server Stuff:
  • Delay with Missions (6/28, ~54 hours) Automated monitoring flags an alert that the missions system is being overloaded. NOC pings and starts triaging with the proper product team. Draining the backlog will take time, but no stats are lost. Over the next two days, the large backlog is properly stored and the alert stops.
  • Payment system erroring out (6/29, ~10 minutes) Automated alerting notices that errors are too high for one payment system. Before the NOC could dig into what’s going on, the errors drop back to normal levels.
  • Login Queue increased in LAX area (6/29, ~68 minutes) NOC is notified that there’s a login queue for players early in the morning. Investigation leads to discovering affected players are within the LAX area and only there. Further looking finds a single router that ran out of memory, causing the delay. Rebooting the router fixed the memory issue, and the login queue disappeared.
  • League web content links in Japanese (7/1, ~31 minutes) Templates used with the client are updated, and shortly afterwards the NOC is notified that na.leagueoflegends.com is in Japanese as the default language. NOC also confirms the issue exists on all other regions. NOC reverts the template change, and all languages reset appropriately.
  • Arcade Tokens aren’t being rewarded (7/1, ~16 hours) NOC is notified (after the first set of missions were active) that there’s problems with the Arcade Missions. Triaging the issue identifies an incorrect start date, the root cause of the problem. The missions are corrected server side and redeployed.
  • Delay with Missions (7/5, ~90 minutes) Automated monitoring flags an alert that the missions system is being overloaded. NOC pings the associated teams and starts an investigation to ensure the dependent services aren’t overloaded with data again in the future, causing client systems to lag or fail.
  • High Error Rate (7/9, ~33 minutes) Automated monitoring flags an alert that errors for a dedicated system is exceeding critical levels. Error rate then drops back to 0% after 30 minutes. NOC investigates, finding a single server was the source of the errors, but are unable to discover why without associated product teams digging into the problem. NOC hands off the issue to that team.
Game Stuff:
  • Emergency Micropatch breaks TFT (6/27, ~27 minutes) A micropatch to TFT to adjust item drops on PVE rounds is rolled out. Right afterwards, reconnections spike across all TFT regions. Coincidence? We think so, so the micropatch is rolled back and reconnections drop back to normal levels. Micropatch was analyzed to find why that occured.
  • Game start latency increased (6/27, ~4 hours) NOC notices that game latency starts to increase to non-ideal levels. NOC responds by adjusting the TFT queue throttle to 5 minutes, which lowers the game latency back to acceptable levels. Over the next few hours, the throttle is reduced back down and removed.
  • 3rd Party System Issues (7/2, ~45 minutes) NOC is notified that a 3rd party system is having issues world-wide. NOC can only watch as the associated system impacts other systems that interface with it. Compensation mode is enabled and tickers are updated. Games start to disconnect, login issues appear, dogs start living with cats, and then the service starts to recover. Everything gets back to normal within a dozen minutes or so.
  • Qiyana disabled due to bug (7/5, ~19 hours) NOC is notified that Qiyana has a large bug and may need to be disabled (thanks Q + Liandry’s). Live Producers approve the disable, and Qiyana is turned off while a hotfix is created. Hotfix is made, tested, and deployed, and then Qiyana is re-enabled on all servers.
Player Support Issues: 
Morgageddon"

Reminders

To round out this red post collection, here are a few reminders on current promotions or limited time events!
  • Make sure to check out the LoL Twitch Prime rewards! - "Get up to 3 Legendary Shards, a full Legendary Skin, 7 Skin Shards, and 4 Exclusive Emotes as long as you stay a Twitch Prime member."

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