1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Not entirely

We really need to work on our release balance - it's been challenging since we've been going outside the box more on Champ Design. This one is really overnerfed.

Did it have to do with the upcoming finals?

You guys should leave champs on PBE for a little longer to get a bigger picture of where they stand. The longer they're on there the longer you can tweak them. Obviously they'll still need buffs and nerfs because of player skill discrepancies but at least it gives you more of an idea.

Are there plans to make the balls do something on the field aside from sitting there looking pretty (or looking ungodly hideous in the case of Justicar)?

Problem with that is, the table flipping starts, and GD is ambushed with limitless threads XXXX champ where !!?!

But I do agree with you.

In my opinion, if you're unsure about how much power a champion that you're about to release might have on release, it's best to start them out weaker (lower base stats etc.) and only buff them if people respond to the champ. as being weak or pathetic.

Thanks for the reply, I look forward to seeing what you do to improve her.

Was she released on the live servers as is in regards to her PBE numbers because there was frequent, frequent threads about how underpowered she is yet, poof, here we are

does the live balance team look at upcoming champ releases at all? Or just bug testers?

because a whoooole lot of champions come out mega busted OP...vayne, graves, zyra, diana, leblanc, shen remake...

and others are, well, Yorick, so ridiculously bad Phreak had to flat out lie about what was happening in the champion spotlight.

Other not-as-bad but still underwhelming releases include Sejuani, Karma, Lux, Cait...

Some of these still need work (Sej, Karma) and some have been steadily and repeatedly buffed into playability (Lux, Cait).

But rarest of all is the Trundle.

The champ that gets released, is pretty balanced, and is never touched again.

The problem with these guys, however, is that as the game evolves, they might lose ground. Trundle got nerfed suuuper hard by the jungle change, and then nerfed again when he couldn't ult dragon to steal its armor.

Anyway, I disgress. What I'm saying is that it doesn't seem like anyone with a critical eye for balance takes a look at champions before they are released. Confirm/deny?

isee