Q&A with Greg Street from League of Legends – Insights on Buffs and Nerfs, Champion Reworks, and Toxic Behavior

Summary

In this Q&A session, Greg Street, lead game designer at Riot Games, shares his insights on various topics related to League of Legends. From discussing the process of deciding on buffs and nerfs, to plans for new non-Marksman bot laners, and dealing with toxic behavior, Greg shares his thoughts and advice on these issues. The writer highlights other interesting topics discussed during the session, including autofill penalties, old champions, announcer packs, Gangplank’s ultimate minimum CD, and lost passwords. They also provide useful tips for those who aspire to work at Riot Games.

Table of Contents

• Combination of Data Analysis and Judgment for Deciding on Buffs and Nerfs
• Plans for Non-Marksman Bot Laners
• Ryze Champion Reworks
• Dealing with Toxic Behavior
• Autofill Penalties
• Old Champions
• Announcer Packs
• Gangplank’s Ultimate Minimum CD
• Lost Passwords
• Tips for Getting a Job at Riot Games

Introduction

League of Legends is one of the most popular online games in the world, with millions of players logging in every day. As with any game, there are always questions and concerns from players, and who better to answer them than one of the lead game designers at Riot Games? Greg Street, also known as Ghostcrawler, takes on players’ queries and provides his expertise in this insightful Q&A session.

Combination of Data Analysis and Judgment for Deciding on Buffs and Nerfs

The balance of any game is crucial to the enjoyment of its players, and League of Legends is no exception. Buffs and nerfs to champions are an essential aspect of maintaining that balance over time. To decide on a buff or nerf, Greg explains that it is a combination of data analysis and judgment. The data analysis is based on champion win rates, as well as their performance in different regions and skill tiers. However, data alone is not enough, and judgment is crucial in interpreting the data and deciding how significant it is. In addition, Riot Games also takes into consideration player frustration levels when deciding on a buff or nerf.

Plans for Non-Marksman Bot Laners

The League of Legends community is always eager for new champions to play, and many have been calling for more non-Marksman bot laners. Greg agrees that this is something Riot Games would love to do, but it has to be the right champion. It is important to ensure that the new champion does not disrupt the balance of the game or make any other champions obsolete.

Ryze Champion Reworks

Ryze is a champion that has had multiple reworks over the years, with some players still feeling unsatisfied with his current state. However, Greg shares that there are currently no plans for another update to Ryze. The team at Riot Games wants to let the champion “settle” for a while and see how he performs in the current meta.

Dealing with Toxic Behavior

Toxic behavior in League of Legends has been an ongoing issue, with some players being permanently banned from the game for consistently exhibiting bad behavior. Greg suggests that the best way to deal with toxic behavior is to talk directly with the individual themselves. This approach can help to resolve the issue and reduce the chances of it happening again in the future.

Autofill Penalties

Autofill is a feature in League of Legends that forces players to play a role other than their preferred choice. Some players have expressed frustration with autofill and have asked if there are any plans to remove or reduce its usage. However, Greg explains that autofill is necessary to keep queue times reasonable, especially for less popular roles like support. To incentivize players to accept autofill, Riot Games has introduced autofill penalties, which reduce the LP gained from games when a player declines an autofill role.

Old Champions

Some players have asked about the status of older champions in the game, and whether they will receive updates or changes to make them more viable in the current meta. Greg explains that while Riot Games does want to keep all champions viable, some champions are intentionally designed to be niche picks. However, the team at Riot Games is always monitoring champion performance and looking for opportunities to make changes when necessary.

Announcer Packs

Announcer packs are a popular feature in League of Legends, with several different options available for players to purchase. However, one player has noticed that an older announcer pack is no longer available in the store and has asked if it will be returning. Greg shares that while he is not sure about the specific announcer pack in question, sometimes packs are removed from the store due to licensing agreements. However, Riot Games is always looking for new opportunities to bring back old content or release new content.

Gangplank’s Ultimate Minimum CD

One player has a question about the minimum cooldown for Gangplank’s ultimate ability, as they believe it should be higher than it currently is. Greg explains that the cooldown is intentionally set low, as it encourages players to use the ult offensively instead of saving it for long periods. However, the team at Riot Games is always monitoring champion performance and is open to making changes when necessary.

Lost Passwords

Finally, one player is asking for advice on how to regain access to their account after forgetting their password. Greg suggests going through Riot Games’ account recovery process, which involves providing some personal information to verify account ownership. He also recommends keeping account information safe and secure by using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication.

Tips for Getting a Job at Riot Games

As a final note, the writer provides some useful advice for those who wish to work at Riot Games. They suggest that having a degree in graphic design, computer science, or a related field is a great start, but passion for the game is equally important. Even if there are no open positions available, the writer encourages people to send their resume and explain why they should be hired. It is important to highlight any relevant skills or experience and express genuine interest in the company and its values.

Conclusion

Greg Street’s insights provide a valuable look into the game design and development process at Riot Games. From balancing individual champions to addressing toxic behavior, it is clear that Riot Games is always striving to create the best experience possible for League of Legends players. The writer’s compilation of interesting queries from the session offers more insights for players and even potential job applicants.