The Hidden Gold in Levels and Base Stats

You've got a lot of gold.

When teaching my friends who are new to MOBAs the basics of League of Legends, I always make sure to drill the importance of three things:

1. Last hit.
2. It's a strategy game. Have a motive for any action- don't wander aimlessly.
3. Forcing someone to recall is often better than getting a kill and having to do the same.

My goals with these core concepts is to teach where power comes from- gold. These three things emphasize high gold income behaviors. The third bit is when the confusion starts to settle in. How can you get more gold by not getting a kill?

The answer is levels.

League is Mario Party and Why Luigi is Diamond

Growing up in the 90s, one of the most simultaneously entertaining and frustrating games I played was Mario Party. In a nutshell, it is a multiplayer party game designed to ruin your friendships with cruel twists of fate in the process of deciding a winner. It was only recently when I realized the astounding similarities between ranked League of Legends and Mario Party. Following this connection, I hypothesize that Luigi could easily be a diamond-ranked player.

Why Jungle Morgana may be the next big thing

She's one with the trees now, let her have her Disney moment.

Morgana is, and has always been, one of the strongest champions in League of Legends. One of the things that continually baffles me is why she ever fell out of favor. She's a CC machine with the longest root in the game and an AoE slow into stun. Her Black Shield can completely turn the tide of a battle and make an initiator or carry effectively CC immune. She wave clears like a boss, and still puts out hefty damage. 

Despite all this, the last time I saw her picked regularly was back in Season 2. What changed?