Report Feature: Time to Take Out the Trash.

I'd like to take a good bit of time to talk about the Report Feature, and what it's REALLY supposed to be used for - since nobody seems to get it.

Now, if you thought I was going to start bashing the "trash" players and telling everybody to report all the "trolls" and the "feeders" because of the title of this, then you're probably going to hate what I'm going to actually talk about. But, if that is the case, I ask of you to hear me out and not take offense - none is intended. This is strictly informational. THERE ARE NO OPINIONS IN THIS ARTICLE. I will be quoting and referencing Riot ONLY.

First thing's first, I will be taking information from these two official pages about reporting.

http://leagueoflegends.wikia.com/wiki/Report_function

https://support.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/201752884-Reporting-a-Player

You would think that I wouldn't have to write about this if Riot already has, but people don't seem to have gotten the memo at all, so I figure what the hell I might as well.

Let's start with a common misconception:

You can report anybody for leaving the game for any reason.

This is NOT true. Intentional action to leave/not participate in the game has to be taken to make it a valid report. If everybody was reported when they got disconnected or lagged out then every friggin account in League would be banned. It's a judgement call for the most part, if you have reason to believe that the person left/refused to play on purpose, then go ahead and use the Leaving the Game/AFK report function.

Here's another misconception, and this one really pisses me off personally (okay sorry, there will be ONE opinion in this article):

You can report someone for "trolling".

There are SO many things wrong with this belief. First of all, there is no report function that mentions "trolling" anywhere. Second of all, the definition of "trolling" isn't clear. If by trolling, you mean just not following the meta, then you're gonna hate Riot for this one (don't hate me plz, I'm just the messenger). To directly quote Riot: "DO NOT REPORT A SUMMONER FOR NOT STICKING TO THE METAGAME". Boom. The reason behind this is because the meta is constantly changing and, as much as people tend to not see it as such, it is a game. Riot wants to give a little leeway (for things like support Lee way down bot) so that we can still change things up a bit and have fun with the champs. Now, on the other hand, if by trolling you mean trying to hurt the team, then that's a different report entirely - "trolling" just isn't a good name to use.

While we're on this subject, there is something else I want to make more clear. One of the thing I hear commonly is "Yes there is a report for trolling, it's unskilled". Let me just clarify something, or better yet, let me let Riot clarify it: "When players are reported for 'Unskilled Player', no tribunal case is made and the report doesn't count against them if a case is made for another reason . . . . This option is mainly used as a placebo for players that are acting negatively towards their teammates." KABOOM! Amazing what a little research can tell you eh?

P.S. Oh, and by the way, don't try to use Assisting Enemy Team either when mad at meta-breakers, it's only use is if the player is giving the enemy team information, or intentionally wasting spells/important abilities with the purpose of detrimenting the team.

Which brings me to my next most misused report feature: Intentionally Feeding.

*Deep breath*. Oh how to start this. Well, first of all, you see the word "Intentional" in the title of the report? Yeah, it's there for a reason. (Sorry for the sarcasm, but I feel it is needed in this case.) If you don't have a reason, (a REAL reason, not just that you hate the dude *or gal*) then, please, just let the little red button be. What I mean by this is that you shouldn't be reporting just because you feel like the person did bad. For example, if someone is "trolling" (say, breaking the meta) and doesn't do well, that in itself is NO REASON to report. Get ready, here's a quote: "DO NOT REPORT A SUMMONER FOR MAKING MISTAKES OR POOR JUDGMENT CALLS DURING THE GAME". BOOM. They are entitled to bad games no matter who/what/where they're playing. Leave 'em alone!

At this point, you might be thinking "Well I can report whoever I want, I don't care, nothing can happen to me." Wrong again: "Please bear in mind that constantly reporting Summoners for violations of the code that they did not commit could result in your account being suspended due to the abuse of the reporting system." BOOM. AGAIN.

I will just mention briefly some other basic things that aren't valid reports that people may falsely believe to be valid:

Not valid:

Speaking a different language

Disagreeing about tactics

Killstealing (Even if it's intentional)

Jungler deciding not to give a buff to a laner

-It is the jungler's choice, and even if it is a bad choice, it in and of itself not reportable and not worth starting a huge argument that lasts the rest of the game.

#report #LeagueOfLegends #reporting