LCS: Why the Addition of 100 Thieves Next is a Step Forward
By s. samek
Make Scouting Grounds Great Again
Scouting grounds is one of the main LCS events of the year. However just because a player is selected at the event doesn’t mean they get on an academy roster or spot with an LCS team.
Having the extra team in the organization gives teams a chance to draft players at the event and develop them without losing players already on an academy roster. This also works well with teams that hold their own scouting events like TSM, so they can find players to sign and teach at these events.
The trouble is Scouting Grounds isn’t without its own problems. The selection of players invited is often called into question because we see the same players invited year after year to play in the event, since no team drafted, or signed them. Having these recycled players that have already seen time on academy rosters being invited to the event kind of defeats the whole purpose of seeking out new talent from solo queue to bring into the academy system.
Scouting Ground should work like the NFL combine. It’s a series of tests to see which players will get drafted and in which round they will be selected and it gives brand new players their first look at professional play. LCS Scouting Grounds needs to model after the NFL and only allow players, who haven’t played professionally before.
With a large minor league system having slots for those veterans, that would allow Scouting Grounds to be a purely amateur event. That would also make it so the draft itself is worth being excited about because you’ll want your favorite team to draft the hotshot guy you’ve seen on your favorite high-elo stream!
Make being invited to Scouting Grounds mean something to the players that are invited, so players want to work hard in solo queue to get an invite. Make sure that orgs have enough spots available so they can sign those promising players and they aren’t going home from Scouting Grounds empty-handed. If the minor league system was implemented you could have teams just for players from Scouting Grounds and make it so players work hard to get the invite to get a spot on a team.
Extending the player pool for Scouting Grounds and its draft would be worthwhile too. Why not have each LCS team get a full team to scout instead of just four drake teams as it is now? Instead of 20 players you have 50.
More opportunities to find players you may have missed before because they didn’t get invited due to a lack of spots. Keep the requirements for invitation high though, so players have to work for it, but it is an achievement to be invited and not an afterthought.
That would also make the draft more exciting if there were more rounds. Teams can generate excitement for their new additions just like any sport with a draft. Imagine a world where analysts are making mock draft boards for Junglers and ADC’s. That might seem a bit ridiculous now, but it would be fun to follow your favorite teams as they try to compete for the best draft talent.
More teams also allows for more non-player talent to make its way into organizations. Teams can give spots to coaches, analysts, shout casters, media and support staff. It creates jobs and grows the business of esports.
Next. Ranking the 50 greatest LCS players of all time. dark
100Thivesx is a step in the right direction toward improving the competition in North American League of Legends. If other teams follow their lead it could improve the region for the better. Developing home-grown talent would help to close the gap between the LCS and the other Major regions like the LPL and LCK. Teams just have to be willing to improve the system and this is a great first step in doing so.