Augmentmaxxing ARAM: Mayhem - A Deep Dive into the Future of the Game
The ARAM: Mayhem team has been hard at work, and with Season 2 Act 2, they're introducing a host of exciting changes that will keep the game fresh and engaging. From Traits to Augments, and now Ability Augments and Quest Augments, the game is evolving to offer a more dynamic and rewarding experience.
Traits: Evolving the Experience
Traits, introduced in the past season, aimed to add depth to Augment selection and help players discover exciting combinations. However, the team learned valuable lessons from this system, leading to its phase-out in favor of other innovative mechanics.
One of the key issues with Traits was the homogenization of gameplay experiences. Augments within the same Trait set often resulted in similar 'experiential fantasies,' reducing game variance. For instance, the 'Firecracker' Trait set led to a predictable gameplay style, as players would fire a bunch of firecrackers at the enemy. This contradicted the team's vision of Mayhem as a 'champion-first' mode, where Augments should enhance the unique feel of each champion.
To address this, the team is reintroducing some Traits as standalone Augments. The 'Stackasaurus' Trait, for example, is now an Augment that unlocks stack-scaling potential, allowing players to build upon its powerful late-game scaling. This approach ensures that players can still access these powerful traits without feeling frustrated by the lack of a second Augment.
Augments: Enhancing Champion Fantasy
The focus of this update is to refine Augments, ensuring they directly enhance the core champion fantasy. The team has learned that Augments providing universal effects, like 'Bounce of the Poro King,' can become stale over time. Instead, they aim to create Augments that offer unique and champion-specific enhancements.
This season, the team is doubling down on Augments that provide structure to the game plan. They want each game to feel distinct, even with the same champion. By encouraging diverse build paths, the team aims to create a more engaging and innovative gameplay experience.
Ability Augments: Unleashing New Possibilities
Ability Augments are a new class of Augments that significantly enhance a single ability for a champion. These Augments offer a unique gameplay experience, allowing players to modify their champion's abilities in unexpected ways.
For instance, 'Multishot' fires additional spell bolts at up to two enemies in front of the champion, enabling Lux's Q ability to snare the entire enemy team. 'Chain Reaction' knocks up enemy champions, causing them to take damage when they collide with each other or terrain, creating chaotic and exciting situations.
The team is exploring a wide range of Ability Augments, and they're excited to continue pushing the boundaries of this design space.
Quest Augments: Rewarding Unique Playstyles
Quest Augments are another new addition, offering meaningful rewards for different champions. 'Tooth Fairy' rewards players for dealing damage within a short window, causing enemies to drop teeth, granting Lethality and Magic Pen. This Augment encourages aggressive play and rewards players for their damage output.
'Support Main' is designed for supportive players, granting additional Health Regen as a percentage of the value of Heal or Shield on allies. This Augment incentivizes players to focus on healing and shielding their teammates, adding a layer of strategy to the game.
Balance and Future Directions
The team acknowledges that some Augments may not be perfectly balanced, but their philosophy revolves around creating a fun and fresh experience. They view balance as a means to achieve this, rather than a strict state to maintain.
To ensure a fair game, the team checks against three core tenets: every champion should have a strong build, no champion should always achieve a strong build, and strong builds shouldn't be the sole determinant of victory. They plan to rotate Augments that break this experience and add new Augments to support underserved champion classes.
The team is also committed to maintaining a fun and fresh experience without forcing new mechanics. They aim to strike a balance between innovation and accessibility, ensuring that each update feels exciting without overwhelming players.
Future of Mayhem
Despite the changes, the team reassures players that the future of ARAM: Mayhem is bright. They're already planning future content for this year and beyond, and they're eager to continue experimenting with new systems and mechanics.
In conclusion, the ARAM: Mayhem team is dedicated to delivering a dynamic and engaging experience. With the introduction of Ability Augments and Quest Augments, along with the refinement of Augments and Traits, the game is set to evolve and offer a fresh and exciting experience for players.
