League of Legends & Relationships Part 2: How to Maintain your Relationship

In a previous article, I wrote about how to potentially get your significant other into League of Legends. Although this may or may not be a foolproof method, it was a method that got me hooked onto League. My interest and love for the game itself have kept me playing since day 1 but without the initial exposure, none of this would have ever happened. In part 2, I want to touch upon some tips on how to maintain your relationship (if you are successful in getting your significant other into League) while playing League.

Tip 1) After your significant other has gotten the hang of League and starts playing, make sure that you two don't play together all of the time.  Distance DOES make the heart grow fonder.  Always playing with the same champion or role can be tedious. Sometimes, always playing with the same person can be exhausting.  It's good to play your own games and then play some together - however, monopolizing each other's time can be very over bearing.

Tip 2) Continue League of Legends date nights.  There is nothing more entertaining and comforting than participating in a hobby that both me and my significant other enjoy.  Just because two people have been dating for a while or have been playing League for a while doesn't mean that the relationship or the game should just become part of a banal routine.  Spice it up a bit, take a few risks or make a bet or two - both the relationship and League need to be interesting.

Tip 3) Control any and all rage or anger as much as possible.  Rage or anger with or without League of Legends can be detrimental to any relationship whether it is romantic or not.  No one likes being called cruel words or demoralized by another person's actions.  Words can be poisonous.  If you do feel the need to correct something or to give advice, do so in a calm manner and give constructive criticism.  Whether you're a beginner or an expert, League is constantly changing.  Learning is a huge component of League so keep that in mind before you get angry that your significant other forget to CS a creep wave.  Mistakes happen and there's sometimes n0thing you can do about it.

Tip 4) Allocate only a certain amount of time to League of Legends.  Just because your significant other plays League does not mean he or she wants to do 24/7.  Make time for both League of Legends and what other responsibilities you may have.  Balance is key in both your romantic and personal life.

Tip 5) Don't get tunnel vision or become overly competitive.  Competition in moderation is healthy.  However, getting overly pompous because you beat your significant other in CS or because you KS'ed him or her does not give you permission to gloat about it for hours on end.  Being proud or excited about an achievement is very different from gloating.  Avoid gloating.  Don't turn League into a game that one or both of you start to dislike because of the dynamic it adds to the relationship. 

I don't think I can reiterate how important it is to maintain that League of Legends is indeed a game.  Although you may be on a really depressing losing streak or be trolled every game, at the end of the day, it's not the end of the world.  There will be more games, more victories and more losses.  If League is incorporated in your relationship, then it should only be a part of it, not the entirety of it.  Remember to try to have fun while playing League, whether it's competitively or casually.  I wish you the best of luck with League and your relationships.  Hopefully, League be a fun component of it.