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Support-Specific Summoner Spell

Griffinomp·11/29/2016, 10:22:13 PM·1 votes·666 views

SO As you've likely gathered from the title, this post is about an idea I had for a summoner spell (I'm tentatively calling it "Guardian" until I can think of a better name) that would be a support's equivalent to Smite. Just as a Jungler NEEDS Smite to thrive in the jungle and get their unique items, supports would NEED this summoner spell to access their special, unique items.

"But Griff, what unique items are you referring to? Frost Queen's? Sightstone?" Not really. If this spell got added, the old support items would get major reworks. Some might get cut, and some might be unrecognizable. I imagined support items becoming structured like Jungle items- the different passive gold items would be like the hunter's machete and talisman, and could be given buffs (so that supports can have decent gold income) without being abused by any old laner who feels like it. After your basic item, you could upgrade into a different type of Guardian summoner spell, which could work as an exhaust on enemies, or a ghost targeted at an ally, or a QSS effect (Mikael's Guardian), or a damage boost for your carry, or temporary tank stats, or whatever! (Or wards, so that sightstone becomes a tracker's knife full of passive gold)

The really fun part, though, would be the top-tier support items. These are the equivalents to cinderhulk and bloodrazor and the like. You could make it so that instead of extra AD or AS or AP or HP or any of those fighting stats, supports could get a healing buff or an upgrade that increases CC duration, or perhaps more max wards? Maybe healing or slowing auras around their wards? In this way, a support and their wards wouldn't just be EXTRA CC, heals, or vision, they would be the SUPREME source of those advantages. They'd get a bit more of the limelight, instead of just being the AD Carry's personal flunky.

What do you think? I'm desperate for some feedback from you guys!

(Disclaimer: I am not a support main. If what I've said here is inaccurate in any way, supp mains should be encouraged to point out my misconceptions.) (Second Disclaimer: I'm new to forums. Is this the right place to be posting a topic like this?)

-Griff

7 Comments

DrugsForRobots11/30/2016, 4:24:54 PM1 votes

I personally think forcing players to take any specific items or spells or whathaveyou is a terrible idea. I also think Riot's current Smite system is rather messy and obtuse. You have two items that can build into three different items (that upgrade your Smite spell) that each build into four different items (one for each style of jungler) is just the opposite of clean and elegant IMO. It works, it's just not ideal IMO.

You want to give supports more power by requiring them to take a specific spell that builds into X upgrade options that do cool things. I like cool things, I want to see unique support-specific items, but increasing CC duration or giving wards auras is a bad idea. Hard CC stops your opponent from playing the game, and wards... well, you'll find everyone and their mother talking about how powerful vision is, but then you'll see people propose that wards have non-vision related auras which is kinda hypocritical, right? If vision is so powerful, it shouldn't need other things tacked on.

Just my 2 cents.

Imperial Pandaa11/30/2016, 4:54:07 PM1 votes

Once again the question is; What is stopping another lane from taking the spell? While not common as much anymore, some top lanes may take smite with them. Especially with some of the evolutions you proposed. A ward that has a slow aura? Extra time to avoid a gank. Extended cc? Hello abuse. Could you picture a jungler taking both Smite and this? While the idea is interesting to help supports, the challenge would be making it near useless for other positions to take, which may make it an unattractive option for supports.

Primaquarius11/30/2016, 11:03:41 PM1 votes

As a support main and Sona OTP, I don't feel like a summoner spell can be exclusive to support role without being a partial third-wheel to other roles.

Plus there's the matter of trolls having another tool to fk up games with, considering the summoner spell in question is likely to not fit a combat scenario.