Article index:

Players as flavour of the week
Contracts: possible solution
"Transfer window" - Riot Ex Machina - Conclusion

Transfer-windows

Let's take the international soccerscene as an example. FIFA regulates that there are two so-called “transfer windows”: a longer one (maximum twelve weeks) in the break between two seasons and a shorter one (maximum one month) in the middle of a season. A similar timing could apply to League of Legends: a “transfer window” in the pre-season before the new season and perhaps a two month window in spring. Of course this timeframe can be discussed.

Riot ex machina?

But here comes the kicker: who would implement such a rule, be it contracts or a transfer period? For the ruling to become “global” without a sort of governing instance, all tournaments and circuits, like OGN, RoG, IEM, ESL would have to implement it independently from eachother.

As a possible governing instance, of course “Riot” immediately comes to mind. Counterstrike or StarCraft 2 don't have a developer that's as involved with and in the community as is Riot. So if they wanted to, they could implement transferperiods on all events and tournaments they're involved in or co-sponsor. Seeing how Riot is involved in a massive amount of online and offline tournaments, this would cover a great deal of the scene and would be a great step forward.

Alexander Mueller agrees on Riots responsibility in the matter:



Conclusion

In conclusion I think the implementation of transfer periods or obligitary use of contracts would benefit the professionalism of the League of Legends scene as a whole. And that is one of the changes we need to keep League on top of eSports. Question remains if everyone would enjoy this restriction of clanhopping. After all, drama is part of the scene and keeps us occupied. But at what price?