Before I start posting my thoughts and advice about League of Legends, I thought I should probably make a general introduction of myself in relation to LoL so that you know where the thoughts and advice are coming from, so that you can more accurately determine the number of grains of salt that you'd like to take with what I write. So, here goes:
What is your ranking?
EDIT: I'm currently Diamond V, possibly still rising, in early season 5. Below is what I wrote when I was Plat V, at the end of season 4.
Short answer: Plat V, but I think I could make it to Plat III or so before I plateau.
Longer answer: I'm not really sure yet where I should be ranked. I was Silver in season 2 (around 1400 ELO, if I remember correctly, which I might not), and I didn't play much ranked in season 3 because of a chronically unstable internet connection - I didn't want to make my ranked teammates lose because of it. I started playing ranked again midway through season 4 with much more knowledge and skill, and climbed pretty steadily to Plat V - I only found that the games got more challenging around Gold I. I stopped playing ranked on my main after I hit Plat, since it was near the end of the season and I didn't want to have to requalify in case I dropped out. I can't say for certain, but I don't think I had hit my peak yet, and estimate that I would have made it to around Plat III before I plateaued, based on the rate at which difficulty was increasing.
How long have you been playing?
Since Season One (2010). Irelia was the first new champion to be released after I started playing.
What roles do you play/main?
I play all of the roles, but mid and support are my best roles, followed by marksman and top, then jungle. The first role that I learned was mid, and I'm much better at mages than assassins.
What champions do you play?
I certainly have my go-to champions, but I also have a very deep pool and can often pull out champions that I don't normally play if the situation warrants it - you can find a lot of champions that I've only played in one game if you look up my ranked stats (here's my smurf). Here's a list of the champions that I feel most comfortable on, by role:
Mid: Malzahar (my first main), Ziggs, Viktor, Brand, Orianna, Lux, Ahri, pre-rework Sion (T.T)
Support: Thresh, Vel'koz, Leona, Sona, Blitzcrank, Veigar
Marksman: Ashe, Sivir, Tristana, Varus, Caitlyn, Ezreal, Twitch, Jinx, Miss Fortune
Top: Viktor, Malzahar, Cho'Gath, Rammus, Nasus, Ryze, Nidalee, Sion (I used to be very good at AP Nid, though I haven't played her much since the rework).
Jungle: Poppy, Sion, Nunu, Nocturne, Amumu, Teemo, Warwick
Please note that the less comfortable I am with the role, the lower my standards are as far as "what I feel comfortable on". For mid and support, for instance, I know a lot about matchups and have a lot of experience with those champions. For jungle, it's a matter of the fact that I have played multiple games with those champions and am confident that, at the very least, I probably won't be a detriment to my team.
Why should I listen to your advice?
I might not be Challenger, but I do know a lot about the game. I've never been one to strictly adhere to the meta, and I have a lot of insight into things that aren't often talked about. I'm confident that even if you're Diamond like me, there's a good chance that what I write will be useful to you - even if you disagree with or find faults in what I'm saying, my opinion will provide you with a different perspective on the game, which may open up new ways of understanding the game for yourself.
What is your ranking?
EDIT: I'm currently Diamond V, possibly still rising, in early season 5. Below is what I wrote when I was Plat V, at the end of season 4.
Short answer: Plat V, but I think I could make it to Plat III or so before I plateau.
Longer answer: I'm not really sure yet where I should be ranked. I was Silver in season 2 (around 1400 ELO, if I remember correctly, which I might not), and I didn't play much ranked in season 3 because of a chronically unstable internet connection - I didn't want to make my ranked teammates lose because of it. I started playing ranked again midway through season 4 with much more knowledge and skill, and climbed pretty steadily to Plat V - I only found that the games got more challenging around Gold I. I stopped playing ranked on my main after I hit Plat, since it was near the end of the season and I didn't want to have to requalify in case I dropped out. I can't say for certain, but I don't think I had hit my peak yet, and estimate that I would have made it to around Plat III before I plateaued, based on the rate at which difficulty was increasing.
How long have you been playing?
Since Season One (2010). Irelia was the first new champion to be released after I started playing.
What roles do you play/main?
I play all of the roles, but mid and support are my best roles, followed by marksman and top, then jungle. The first role that I learned was mid, and I'm much better at mages than assassins.
What champions do you play?
I certainly have my go-to champions, but I also have a very deep pool and can often pull out champions that I don't normally play if the situation warrants it - you can find a lot of champions that I've only played in one game if you look up my ranked stats (here's my smurf). Here's a list of the champions that I feel most comfortable on, by role:
Mid: Malzahar (my first main), Ziggs, Viktor, Brand, Orianna, Lux, Ahri, pre-rework Sion (T.T)
Support: Thresh, Vel'koz, Leona, Sona, Blitzcrank, Veigar
Marksman: Ashe, Sivir, Tristana, Varus, Caitlyn, Ezreal, Twitch, Jinx, Miss Fortune
Top: Viktor, Malzahar, Cho'Gath, Rammus, Nasus, Ryze, Nidalee, Sion (I used to be very good at AP Nid, though I haven't played her much since the rework).
Jungle: Poppy, Sion, Nunu, Nocturne, Amumu, Teemo, Warwick
Please note that the less comfortable I am with the role, the lower my standards are as far as "what I feel comfortable on". For mid and support, for instance, I know a lot about matchups and have a lot of experience with those champions. For jungle, it's a matter of the fact that I have played multiple games with those champions and am confident that, at the very least, I probably won't be a detriment to my team.
Why should I listen to your advice?
I might not be Challenger, but I do know a lot about the game. I've never been one to strictly adhere to the meta, and I have a lot of insight into things that aren't often talked about. I'm confident that even if you're Diamond like me, there's a good chance that what I write will be useful to you - even if you disagree with or find faults in what I'm saying, my opinion will provide you with a different perspective on the game, which may open up new ways of understanding the game for yourself.