Riot fixed Griefing, and Phreak is excited about it

Summary

The ongoing battle between the League of Legends community and toxic players is a complex issue, with behaviors like 'soft inting' making detection difficult. Riot Games is tackling this with a more robust griefing detection system that includes reporting changes, position binding adjustments, and automatic support item allocation. These efforts aim to prevent players from ruining the game through subtle griefing tactics. The recent updates also help to protect players from ruining their own games by misusing mechanics, aiming to improve overall game quality and make League more enjoyable for all players.

Takeaways

• 😀 The battle between the League of Legends player base and toxicity is ongoing, and Riot Games struggles to fully address it due to the complexity of toxic behaviors.
• 😀 Initially, toxicity in League was easily detected via in-game chat, but it has since evolved into more complex forms like 'soft inting' where players deliberately sabotage games without directly breaking rules.
• 😀 'Soft inting' refers to subtle griefing tactics, like stealing jungle camps, hindering teammates' XP by laning against them, or abandoning the ADC, which are difficult for Riot to detect with standard reporting systems.
• 😀 Players engaged in soft inting often don't display overtly negative behaviors, making their actions harder to identify as punishable offenses.
• 😀 Riot has implemented a new griefing detection system that aims to better identify and address these subtler forms of toxic behavior.
• 😀 Reports in League now directly inform players when their reported target has been penalized, allowing for more transparency in the process.
• 😀 The new system encourages players to report toxic behavior more actively and assures that their reports are meaningful and effective.
• 😀 Freak, a League designer, highlights the importance of using the in-game reporting system and believes the updated griefing detection will significantly improve player experience.
• 😀 Changes to position binding in League, such as preventing smite use outside the jungle and automatic support item allocation, are part of efforts to ensure players play their roles properly and to prevent griefing.
• 😀 Riot has updated position binding to avoid meta-breaking behaviors like double support items, which disrupted gameplay and made it less enjoyable for players.
• 😀 Recent updates in League aim to protect players from having their games ruined by griefers and to improve overall game quality, promising that League will soon be in its best state yet.

Q & A

What is soft inting in *League of Legends*?

Soft inting is a form of griefing where players subtly sabotage their own team’s chances of winning without directly violating game rules, like intentionally dying or ruining team strategy. It involves tactics like stealing jungle camps or isolating teammates.

Why is soft inting difficult to detect?

Soft inting is hard to detect because it doesn't involve blatant rule-breaking, such as excessive feeding or abusive behavior. The player's in-game stats, such as deaths or low farm, might appear as part of a bad game, making it difficult for Riot's detection systems to identify the issue.

What steps has Riot Games taken to address soft inting and griefing?

Riot Games has introduced a more robust griefing detection system, revamped the reporting feature to show which reports led to penalties, and made gameplay changes such as restricting role assignments and enforcing position binding to prevent sabotage.

How has the reporting system in *League of Legends* changed?

The reporting system now provides feedback to players about which report resulted in a penalty, offering more transparency and reassurance that the system is effectively penalizing toxic behavior.

What is Riot's approach to detecting griefing behaviors in *League of Legends*?

Riot's new griefing detection system is designed to catch more subtle forms of sabotage, like stealing jungle camps or ignoring teammates. This system analyzes reports and in-game behaviors to identify potential griefing, even when not immediately obvious from a player's performance stats.

What changes have been made to prevent players from griefing through role-swapping?

Riot has introduced position binding and anti-lane swap changes. For example, only the designated jungler can use Smite, and support players must now have a support item that cannot be sold, preventing players from intentionally disrupting team composition by playing outside their role.

What is the significance of the new support item rules?

The new rules force support players to use a mandatory support item, which cannot be sold. This ensures that players are fulfilling their intended role, preventing them from griefing by using the item for other purposes, as seen in past metas where players exploited the system.

How do the position-binding changes help Riot's detection system?

Position-binding changes make it easier for Riot to identify players who are not fulfilling their designated roles. If a player deviates from their role in a way that could affect the team's performance (e.g., a support playing mid or top lane), it becomes more apparent, aiding the detection of griefing.

What is Riot's stance on players using the in-game reporting system?

Riot emphasizes that players should use the in-game reporting system whenever they encounter griefing or toxic behavior. Reporting not only helps the system identify issues but also ensures that players are penalized for their actions, as players will receive notifications when a reported individual is penalized.

How does the new detection system benefit players in *League of Legends*?

The new detection system is designed to make *League of Legends* more enjoyable by reducing the impact of griefing and toxic behavior. It helps identify players who subtly sabotage their teams and provides more transparency and accountability in the reporting process.