Teamfight Tactics: Randomness will always be part of the game

How much skill and knowledge is important for a good strategy game? And how much randomness can it have without making ability expendable for this game? Well, for the team of Teamfight Tactics, from Riot Games, the answer may not be so simple, not so black and white, but yes, randomness, also known as the luck factor, will always be part of the game.

“Randomness [luck factor] will always be part of the game,” said Geoff Virtue, in an interview with Gamohol during a visit to Riot Games headquarters in Los Angeles. “We cannot eliminate randomness from Teamfight Tactics, as it is what allows new players to have a chance to beat more experienced ones,” concluded the executive producer.

Despite the certainty of keeping randomness as an ever-present factor in the game, the Teamfight Tactics team is always talking about how to adjust this “luck factor” to the strategic gameplay, but without hurting the game’s principles.

“Not just luck, nor just strategic knowledge,” said Travis Boese, one of TFT’s directors. “Developers are always talking about randomness in Teamfight Tactics, but there is a consensus: if we take away randomness, the game becomes predictable, just like in Chess, where the best and most experienced player always wins”, added Travis.

Different game modes in Teamfight Tactics

Teamfight Tactics Fortune's Favor — Picture: Riot Games

With randomness in mind, the Teamfight Tactics team is always thinking about new game modes, where luck can be more important, as in the Fortune’s Favor event, or where strategic knowledge is the main thing to win the match.

“It’s important to us that a novice player doesn’t get discouraged with TFT after losing several matches due to not having full knowledge of the game’s strategies”, said Geoff. “Randomness is a factor that levels players, but of course, having strategic knowledge of the game can help you win,” he added.

Teamfight Tactics is currently available for PC and mobile devices (iOS and Android), with cross-play and cross-progression.