kind of in the same boat.  I like the itemization changes they are coming up with at least, but I really don't feel like they've changed a single meaningful thing at this point.  Hopefully additional changes are in bound...

I'm in a very weird place with my alt account.  I have like 5 min queue times for normal drafts - and most of those games have been troll babies.  So, kinda weird.  I'm like right on the edge of level 29.  It's where the game wants to put me with folks of similar level, but there just don't see to be alot of them. 

I agree that cho can counter the crap out of kat, but its typically means that our mid (cho) won't be ganking any lanes.  Or at least that's been my experience with chog v kat games.  So, on one hand its great that you shut her down and she doesn't run around like an ass all game - but you are counting on your jungler or bot/top to get an adv.  I like the roaming mid a bit more than the shut down. 

streaming my low level alt account nonsense.

http://www.twitch.tv/1pacov1

a few of stonewall's thoughts on season 3.

"I also am suggesting Kayle out of all things. For starters, aside from the fact that she can go support if she gets utterly crushed, she benefits from the new jungle in that the machete just makes her melt monsters. The increased gold helps and her versatility is much beloved but her dueling in the jungle (Line of Sight issues) and her ganking are still rather weak. That said at best she can achieve semi-carry status and at worst she can be a support with a game breaking ultimate. Gangplank is a jungler that is just instilling some crazy amounts of hope. He didn't get faster or more sustained or anything like that. He stayed basically the same but the machete is just amazing on him. If you never played Gangplank then you may not know that madred's and the lantern were so counter intuitive on him because they'd screw up his Q executions randomly so he'd avoid purchasing it. This though ended up slowing him down as the game went and you could really feel that strain. However the machete line isn't anything random and it actually allows him to make ridiculous use of his Q. Now all he has to do is auto attack a monster once and then shoot it in the head. Just two hits and he collects bonus gold from them. He can just attack the main monster with auto attacks and when his Q is off cooldown just switch and collect extra gold. This is such a big change and, if done perfectly, Gangplank may have a full item advantage over his opposing jungler (ignoring if either got any advantages through ganks)."

Whole article is over here: http://www.reignofgaming.net/blogs/stonewall/22464-preparing-for-season-3-some-suggestions

should really try out pbe sometime.  You get machete - it builds into a tier 2 item for 500 gold that gives hp and mana regen + extra dmg to jungle creeps.  After that, you build that item into a tier 3 that gives dmg, ap, or tankiness.  It should lend itself nicely for jungles.  BUT - there is a cost premium on the tier 3 (and a DUH I buy the tier 2 upgrade). 

re kayle - i dont know how counterable she will be.  We'll see.  Her slow should be enough to get out if she gets fugged over.  Her ranged attack should clear the jungle VERY, VERY fast with machete.

Oh I know all that.  I'm saying that I don't know the tier 3 item to build into (or even into Wriggles still, which might be the best option).  The AP options is mostly useless for WW, the tanky option is nice but you are going to be damage short, and the damage option will make you kind of squishy and you don't get the full benefit of the pseudo red buff passive.

I honestly feel like those 3rd tier items might be effectively a stealth nerf to junglers.  The items have at least 3 stats which are mostly useless in a teamfight.  That's a lot of gold sunk into something that is only at half power in a late game teamfight.  Previously you would have at most 1 stat on one item that was wasted in a teamfight (the Wriggles proc), and that wasn't even built in a lot of junglers.

Items like Philo Stone at least get you out of the worthless late game regen stats by having the passive gold gain.  They effectively pay you back for investing in early game only stats.  But those items just stick you with them.

Although I do think the tanky Spirit of the Ancient Golem tier 3 item is good on Udyr.  It lets him take the new Boots of Swiftness which make him even faster, have slow resist, and he still has the normal max tenacity.  I'm thinking that Boots of Speed/Spirit of Ancient Golem/Blade of Ruined King is the new Udyr build (tiger stance obviously).

Kayle can probably get away from an early counter jungle, but she will get roughed up and have to back.  Basically, any of the strong early junglers should be able to push her off anything they want and her sustain is REAL weak early.

some interesting thoughts about the season 3 changes. Worth a read or at least a skim

http://www.mobafire.com/esports/news/austin-link-shin-talks-about-upcoming-changes-for-season-3-150

also worth a look - season 3 item builder thingus

http://s3.microtony.com/

in case you guys didn't see this yet:

When Patch 1.73 arrives in mid-December (the 11th at the earliest), we’ll be rounding up inactive accounts to make those summoner names available to players. To make it easier for you to pick up a new summoner name, we’re also putting name changes on sale for 50% off.

An inactive account is any account under level 6 that hasn’t played a game since January 1, 2012. To keep those accounts’ names, you’ll have to log on and play at least one game between now and Sunday, December 9, at 11:59 PM PST. If you miss the deadline, don’t worry – your account is still active, but you’ll be prompted to choose a new summoner name when you log in next time. Only inactive accounts are at risk to lose their summoner names.

From the release of Patch 1.73 through December 26, summoner name changes will cost 650 RP, down from their normal 1300 RP price. As part of your Season Three prep, why not upgrade your summoner name to one that foreshadows your impending domination?

We look forward to seeing your creative new aliases on the Fields of Justice soon!

Here's a pic that shows all of the skins that will be back on sale jan 11th.

http://imgur.com/a/HP3SA#0

anyone else been watching ipl?  Quite a few good games and production qualities been pretty great this time around.

Broke the 1700 barrier. Decided to play a ranked game without my Duo buddy rawrrr today. That make me 5-0 for solo and 5-2 with duoing. Hopefully this trend keeps going 8D

Rawrr has come down with a serious Civ 5 addiction. I don't know if he will snap out of it  

This is more of a quick general question. I used to play Demigod way back when it first came out and I really liked it, though I wasn't that good at it. I started getting better, but then I got busy in life and was not able to continue with it as much as I originally did; during which time it seems to have declined into virtual non-existence. At the moment, though I have a bit more time and, since I enjoy Demigod's gameplay, I'm considering getting re-involved in something similar, but I don't know how much time I can commit farther in the future. Is LoL the best option, both because it's free and has a substantial tutorial (thus I can invest minimally and at my own pace)? Thanks a bunch

okay fellas.  Tonight things are going to change in a big (LIKELY UNBALANCED) way in LoL.  For those that don't know, the mastery, item, and ui changes are going live tonight.  For people like me, if they don't utterly break their game (I don't think they will), that means you can pick up playing after work. 

Here's what I suggest.  If you have not played with the season 3 changes on pbe (Pbe = the public beta environment which is a just a staging area for riot that folks can access to check things out), as soon as you are updated, launch a custom game -  just do you vs an ai.  Take some time and familiarize yourself with the item changes and shop layout changes.  I think everyone will get used to the UI very quickly.  A quick summary is that there are a bunch of new items for the jungler and support.  There are items that are cross over, but those are the 2 roles that will have their itemization changed quite a bit.  There are more than a few items that can change the flow of things. 

All of that said, I think it is an EXCEPTIONALLY good time for anyone that can duo as a support/adc in ranked to climb.  You can play your adc pretty much like you always did with minimal issues.  Your support will want to adapt a little, but it should be a really, really good time to gain elo in placement matches.  Suggest you give it a go soon if you've been on the fence.  BUT - make sure your support knows exactly what they are going to build level 1.  This means they must have read up a little or played on PBE or played a few customs to get the idea.  I really think that the changes will make support a more fun role to play as you won't be saddled with buying wards like a maniac anymore.  Anyway, I think there will be a nice window for adc/support duo queues of reasonable skill to climb pretty easily for the next week or so.  I'd be nervous if you are solo queue and floating around 1200-1400 elo, though.  Lots of folks will be trying out stuff in ranked without having ever played it, etc.  Folks will be playing like idiots, imo, buying items that are not good for them, just to try them out.  This is why I believe the adc/support setup will be great as duo as it allows 1 guy (adc) to play like season 2 and destroy. 

Other stuff - karl - all you need to do is ask me to come add damage to blue after I steal wraiths.  In the past, I'd take big wraith, base, then come back as jayce and then help you kill blue smiteless.  The variable that changed is that bryff gives us the dance on blue while jona 1 hits or whatever and backs.  I should have adapted based on jona and you should have said something when i did not.  Anyway, if I steal big wraith, I can just forgo basing.  Most of the time me being slightly behind in lane top is a non issue as long as I grab a ward.  There will be no skip stealing big wraith.  That said - I think there will be no stealing big wraith on most of my top characters after the new jungle goes live.  I could still base pretty easy after taking it, but I would def not be in condition to go top without blowing 1-2 pots. 

World changes in nerd town tomorrow folks.  Side note - biggest change imo, although strange, is the base speed increase. All of the champs will be much faster without boots.  And boots give less of a speed increase as a result.  This means going boots won't necessarily be needed at start.