If Kabam decides to nerf a champion via the buff program, should we expect rank down tickets?

Not saying it’ll happen often. But it would suck to awaken and max a good champ only for Kabam to slap a nerf on right after. Does Kabam have a way to *refund* players when this happens?

Comments

AMS94

The whole point of them giving prior intimation regarding the rebalance program was to ensure that they won't be liable to give any RDTs or even any justifiable explanations while nerfing a champ

GinjabredMonsta

I don’t like RTDs and even the mention of them triggers and eye roll, however yes, if a champ gets nerfed hard due to a rebalance and NOT due to a known and confirmed but, then sure

Lpoo

They have every right to do so. But because of this, I won’t spend a dime on any new champs until their “buff” period ends.

BitterSteel

This was a concern I had before, so I’ll copy my response and paste it below:

I think the main thing for me right now is about what is the process for when a champion gets balanced in a downward trajectory.

Let’s say for arguments sake that Quicksilver is deemed too powerful, and his whiplash debuffs are changed to do half as much damage. (I don’t think this is necessary or likely, but it’s just for this hypothetical)

By now, plenty of people have rank 3 and rank 4 Quicksilver’s. Do all of those people get QS rank down tickets? I feel that they should, they clearly ranked a champion up that was different to how they are post balancing.

What about sig stones? I can understand why Moleman didn’t have the extra effort in of returning sig stones because this was theoretically a one off, no other champ has an 18 month outstanding bug.

But with this balancing program there’s a chance that balancing could become a regular thing, and champions could see nerfs potentially twice a month. I think there needs to be a look into tech to allow sig stones to be quickly compensated should a champion be nerfed.

Clearly we are 0/4 for any champ changing so far, and we don’t know what nerfs would look like, but surely there needs to be more communication about what the process will be unless you want nobody touching a champion for 6 months until they’re given the green light.

If a champion is balanced down, it should be up to the player if they still want the champion invested in. I don’t particularly like the idea of RDTs becoming a regular part of the game, but with Kabam opening the door for regular nerfs/buffs - for every nerf that this program has (hopefully as few as possible), there needs to be an equal number of RDTs that give back sig stones, cats, iso etc. Otherwise this program will be an unmitigated disaster.

We cannot plan for or be hyped for new champions if there’s a chance we invest in them and then they’re nerfed 6 months later without any mitigation for the player who ranked them. New champions that are really good will just not be ranked out of fear.

I love the opportunity that this program gives to designers to be braver with designs, try new things in the hopes that it works, but if it’s too OP then they can be toned down later. I think it’s great to bring underwhelming champs up to a level as well and I can’t wait to see what they do with Gorr. But there needs to be a bump in communication about what the process is, and what happens if there is a nerf.

TheLightBringer

Actually the whole rebalancing program is just a safety measure in case a new kitty or herc has been created by mistake, so I don't expect any RDT will be given in this scenario

Foster04

Yep, they're only going to nerf to make the champion go from absolutely broken op to just op, so I don't think rank down tickets are necessary.

Pikolu

I'd say it depends. If it is a small tweak but the champ is still great, then no. But if they nerf valkyrie and QS and it causes them to fall from top 5 prestige, then they better be giving RDT and refund sig stones because people will have put tons of resources into them for just top 5 prestige no matter their use.

danielmath

I'd say it depends. If it is a small tweak but the champ is still great, then no. But if they nerf valkyrie and QS and it causes them to fall from top 5 prestige, then they better be giving RDT and refund sig stones because people will have put tons of resources into them for just top 5 prestige no matter their use.

Prestige wouldn’t change with a nerf or buff to a new champ

Aomine_Daiki10

Rank up at your own risk.

SandeepS

If they wont give back things like awakening games and sig stones then I'm not going for any new champ. Was impacted with Moleman.

Giuliameij

I would ultimately say no. HOWEVER.
It does really depend on the kind of adjustment they make. Is it a change that slightly lowers the damage a champ does. Or the healing or what have you. No, we should not get rank down tickets.
But if they remove a very big portion of the champs utility. And that utility is one of the main reasons people use the champ. It should atleast be considered.

Davidn281

Kabam won’t have to give jack cause they covered their butts. If you spend the money, too bad too sad!

unknown

This content has been removed.

GroundedWisdom

They have every right to do so. But because of this, I won’t spend a dime on any new champs until their “buff” period ends.

Their "buff" period has been the entire duration of the game. Champions have always been subject to review. Their methods have changed.

Master_mischief69

They have to give RDT, because I update a champ for their abilities, if they removed it in the name of rebalance, literally my update materials are waste, and I have no longer need that champion.

Shadowstrike

But if they remove a very big portion of the champs utility. And that utility is one of the main reasons people use the champ. It should atleast be considered.

Which is the primary reason they issue out rank down tickets currently, so really nothing would change.

Demonzfyre

They have to give RDT, because I update a champ for their abilities, if they removed it in the name of rebalance, literally my update materials are waste, and I have no longer need that champion.

Nah. You're wrong.

AmaadAkira

They literally announced the balancing program to be able to tell you that you knew that the champ may get nerfed within a specific time period

Think about it, they always had the ability to buff/ nerf anybody they didn't need to announce nothing

So no, if you get a new champ and rank him up then it's your responsibility

I would say that the 6 months "safe" period is too much
2 or 3 months since release ought to be enough

Saying it's 'your responsibility' is a pretty dangerous take. We're talking about real money here a lot of the time. This is taking gambling to some insanely ridiculous level. Not only should you now be expected to gamble to acquire the champ, but now you're also expected to gamble on that champ being the same one that you spent money for?

It's blatantly unethical at that point. If you're still defending it, you're just siding with the business over the consumer for no legitimate reason.

Searmenis

Of course not, this is out of question! A rank down ticket will cancel the very purpose of the whole balancing program!

willrun4adonut

Luckily, I'm going to have Infamous Iron Man cast his Aura of Iron right before they nerf him, granting him immunity to all nerf changes, so I don't have to worry about it.

unknown

This content has been removed.

unknown

This content has been removed.

unknown

This content has been removed.

K00shMaan

Unless they completely gut the champion, then no I don't think so. I also can't imagine they are so far off on a champions effectiveness that this happens. Could be wrong though.

Vance2_jr

I seriously doubt there will be RDTs for anything for a very long time. Kabam covered themselves by telling us things can (i.e. will) change/be rebalanced. It’ll be interesting to see how many players (myself included) now no longer go gangbusters on newly released champs and instead wait out the six month “lab” period before ranking up new champs. The onus is now on us, so we won’t be able to say “but….but…but” any more.