Quote Originally Posted by Bunny View Post
I've heard that Riot had been trying to fix the problems with the hostile community, but I hadn't really heard of any success that they had. And it was an extremely widespread problem, even when I was just doing bot games.
They have done some great work in attempting to clean the community up. The things that Aulayne mentioned have done a great job in moving in the right direction. No community will be 100% perfect, but Riot has done a pretty good job so far. The complaints mainly stem from the fact that when you get a toxic player, they are typically really toxic and that is what sticks with you. When you lose a game because of an AFK it stands out more than winning a game because the other team has an AFK or just simply a win. We typically focus on the bad over the good.
This is true. But I do know that I was coming across a large portion (about 20% of the people I played with) of hostile community members, and was also noticing a trend where the higher level I reached, the higher the percentage was.

I also don't like how seriously people take it. I played Ashe as my main (whenever I could, I hated that she was one of the most common free characters and someone would grab her first half the time), and I like working up my build and taking time in a match. Too many of the players just focused on winning, instead of having fun. I mean, I know that's kind of the point of the game, but at the same time, it's not what I find fun.
There are people who take it too seriously but there are also people that do not seem to grasp that while, yes, this is a game, winning matters significantly more than losing. There is a time and a place for messing around: ranked games should always be taken seriously because there is more to it than simply playing the game. You are playing for rank, status, and a position in the upper echelon of the community.
One of the many reasons why I don't play ranked games.

Normals, while less serious, should still be taken seriously to a certain point. There are people who play only Normals because they are either afraid or do not care about the perils of ranked play. Trying out a stupid build for the first time, or learning a champion from the very ground up, is probably not something you should do in a normal because it effects 4 other people on your team if you are less effect than you should be. Also, winning is very fun.
Winning may be fun to some people. Personally, I prefer playing the actual game way over the result. I have way more fun losing a forty five minute good fight than winning a ten minute face-stomp battle.

In fact, longer fights in general are way more fun.

But, again, not really a problem for me, because I play bot battles almost exclusively (which is part of why I was so shocked that the community was so hostile).

Familiarizing yourself with a champion and build can, and should, be done in Bot games (or custom) before entering PvP.
Eh, I really have no interest in PvP. So I like bot games, and play them pretty much all the time. The main problem, though, is that the matches are way, way too short. Again, the entire community seems just focused on winning as quickly as possible, which is not the most fun way to play.

Although I tried out the Domination mode last night, for my first game in a couple years. And, geez, is it different. You don't really have a choice except to press for a win in that one because of the constantly ticking counters (I was trying to win anyway, since I was so out of practice, but we came really close to losing, which never happened in straight 5v5 Nexus fights).

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I really, really wish that maps were about twice as long as they tend to be. I want more mid point objectives that will stretch the fights out, and more health for the Nexus on Domination mode. Longer games are better!


ARAM (All Random, All Mid) is a free-for-all fun fest and nobody should take it seriously. You still get people who do it from time-to-time, and those cannot be escaped, but for the most part ARAM is a place for silliness to occur.
Yeah, I think this is a "no" for me. All random is problematic because I have enough trouble getting the heroes I want, I'd never get one I enjoyed playing with random selection.

And forcing everyone to the mid would probably just make things go faster, which I am against.

They are, potentially, adding a 1v1/2v2 map with objective-based winning beyond destroying the enemy Nexus: first team to 100 CS, First Blood (1v1) and 2 kills (2v2), and first to destroy a tower. It seems like it would be more laid back and fun, but it is not released yet so who knows what the community will do when they get their hands on it.
Those options sound a lot better, as long as they're compatible with bots. At least in a 1v1 I could set my own pace.

Although, while I'm at it, why are there no solo play options? I tried setting up to invite my own party members, didn't invite anyone, and started the game... And it matched me with four others anyway. Why? The most fun I remember having with this game was when a player dropped anyway (actually, an hour long 2v5 battle where we lost three players was the most fun). If it's not PvP, you don't need balanced sides.

I'd love an option to solo queue for 1v3 and actually queue solo.

Overall, the community is not as bad as some people, including myself, characterize it as but it still could use some work on behalf of the non-toxic members and Riot as a whole. Some of the best advice I have been given, and given to others, is that when you start to feel angry or upset at your team for no reason you should stop talking in All Chat, give only basic information to your team, and then once the game is over get up and go do something else. Do not queue for a game if your last one was enough to make you angry or upset. Toxic behavior breeds toxic behavior.
If I'm in chat, it's to ask for advice or compliment someone. We're fighting bots, who cares if you're not perfect?