User blog comment:Fistful of Force/Why ELO and Meta is god at low to mid elo/@comment-4881935-20120606031310/@comment-98.232.42.95-20120825214231

Hey. I agree with what you said about the meta and its value in the game. Essentially, the meta exists because it works, and because nobody else has come up with anything better. It's like when i'm playing a dungeon-based mmorpg; the tank soaks damage and gets aggro, the healer heals whoever needs it, and the various carries/dps deal with the enemies. That's almost a meta, but it's so essential that nobody treats it like a meta in a MOBA.

I also agree with you on the point that SOME people get flack when they don't follow the meta just because they don't follow the meta. I read an article on this one guy's jungle TF strategy, and how nicely it worked, and he mentioned that he still gets flack from all of this teammates no matter how well he does. Following the meta is, at some point, a setback and an excuse.

BUT. It sounded a bit like you were defending the j4 in the OP post. That loss was specifically the j4's fault. Meta or not, a team needs a composition that allows them to accomplish what they need to. The meta's composition is very important in that because of how balanced it is. Because that support decided to be a douche and j4 after they had all agreed, officially or not, on what his role was, there was no good reason for him to switch. That douchebag didn't get the blame because he didn't follow the meta; he got the blame (and deserved it) because he threw the game by intentionally screwing up the teamcomp. Having a support to aid the carry was obviously what the team was intent on doing. I agree with the blog author that following the meta is really the best idea UNLESS the WHOLE TEAM discusses it beforehand, or if (like TF jungle) it doesn't affect other players directly. TF jungle worked, and his ganks worked, so it's k, but just abandoning the support position loses a lot for a team.

Sorry that got kinda long. Most of that you all probably knew already.