There is a fucking camille support right now

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Well, I would start by saying that there's more than one way to skin a cat. I have confidence that the team at Riot could do better than I could by myself. Having said that....

I think utility needs scaling of some kind, other than AP. The problem is that when supports have the same kind of scaling as other roles, they need access to similar amounts of gold as other roles, because they are working with the same item pool. Riot has already started down that road, but the problem remains that when you tie it ONLY to items, you get non-supports crowding out the space.

I know Camille is OP anyway, but to me it's VERY telling that LCS players would rather have her than a real support. It tells me that the problem is systemic, not just a few champs or a few items. The utility that traditional supports bring isn't enough to justify having them over someone that just brings more damage and can build their items.

I didn't actually watch any LCS this weekend, but one of my friends who does said basically NO traditional supports got played (if you count Karma, she did). He's probably missing a few games, but that isn't the point. The point is, more damage is more valuable in most cases.

That's why I pointed out scaling. The only way to fix this is to give support power in items that other roles DO NOT WANT. Much like how junglers get items that other classes just simply don't want. And again, Riot started down that path by giving shield/healing %, but I don't think that's enough. What about Braum and Leona, for instance? Furthermore, if Camille can just get heals/shielding and take advantage of that, it won't work. And we have seen that.

It's a tricky problem; I'm not saying the solution is obvious or easy. I would, as others have suggested, include some type of new stat that scales with support abilities. That way, a champ has to choose between their AP/health/armor scalings OR items with UP (for any given item slot). And we can put two scalings on single abilities. Lulu can balance around EITHER AP or the new stat. I think that would be a crap-load of work, and I think it would be very effective at bringing traditional supports, with all their utility, back to the forefront.

Thinking back, in previous years we have had some where the team could best be described as the ADHC and 4 toadies. Everything the team did was to build that ADC into a monster and have that ADC carry. Hence supports were popular that served that particular purpose. You didn't need any damage from the support position because the ADC took care of it. Now we really don't have hyper carries from the ADC position any more unless we're playing a vastly inferior team. Just look at the most popular Bot lane champions at the pro level. We have Ashe, and Varus and Jihn, all of which have utility and all of which have long range. Both are necessities in today's game. The days of the hyper carry are indeed over for now. This necessitates a support that can deal some damage. Enter Zyra. Karma can still do damage, so she's in too. And now we have Malzahar. Lulu is making a comeback specifically because she can deal with Malzahar's voidlings and she can deal with jungle Rengar. Aha I've got you. E R No you don't. Oh and you're a squirrel too W.

You make some great points!

Food for thought;

• For the reasons that you've stated, do you think the problem could lie more with the current state of ADCs rather than Supports?

• Also, could it be that the comfortability afforded in routine over recent season(s) has created a stubbornness towards shifting the META in regards to (taking advantage of / adapting to) the recent and future larger scale changes to the game itself?

When you tie "it"(scaling) ONLY to items, you get non-supports crowding out the space. The only way to fix this is to give support power in items that other roles DO NOT WANT. Riot started down that path by giving shield/healing %, but I don't think that's enough if Camille can just get heals/shielding and take advantage of that, it won't work."

Here lies the sticky slope. How do you buff a class without having other classes abuse the benefits as well?

(Unfortunately, it's impossible and niche items are the easiest to balance around.) So with that in mind, let's see if we can't brainstorm around this idea together?!!

_The reason jungle items work is because they are stipulated around having to run smite which is a sub par spell choice for any laner that is not going to roam the jungles. _ **Perhaps, introducing a new summoner spell that appeals to only support champions would work as well? ** In which case, what kind/type of summoner spell do you think would be a good global fit for the class without becoming too viable of an option for others?

If the summoner spell is an achievable solution let's postulate potential item abilities:

1. How about an item with a charge system? Every X amount shield/heal (On an ally other than yourself) boosts the ability (and/or) grants the spell caster (and/or) target a buff for X sec.

2. How about an item thats egregiously powerful active can only be accessed after X amount of DMG is absorbed through shields placed on allies, (and/or) simply taken by your nearest Bonded ally? Think of a more defensive

3. How about a type of item that either; puts an enemy in a very short stasis (Mini Bard Ult) or, grants an ally a second to accept a stasis?

Give it some thought. Elaborative criticism welcome. (WHY Yes? WHY No?)

What would you do differently?

I know did but didn't.

Gap closer, Slow, CC, Lockdown and control. And you call it worse than MF support. What I'm saying is think beyond what you know about the pick before sounding like you don't know or get why something is picked. Cause I was sure surprised until about 5 mins into the game when it just clicked.

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Camille brings her ult and some cc Meanwhile someone like Braum has a bunch of hard cc, his game changing ult, and shield. Lulu turns squishies into tanks, and makes engagers useless.

You forgot, Camille also brings damage and high mobility.