So um, can I input my opinion about the support role and its current state?

So, as a fellow support main, I kinda want to put my own opinion about the current support role, and the items and masteries.

So at first, let's talk about itemization; The new addition to the support items with and is pretty awesome, as those are cost efficient and strong in their own ways. Even with the aura removal of , it kinda helped the support role alot, as it's not the first item that every support needs to rush anymore. I am quite satisfied with it. Though, stands out as being kind of weaker then the rest of those items wich is quite of sad honestly. The heal got removed, and its mana regen has been nerfed, its kinda not really that much worth to build imo. Even with its 20% heal and shield power, it kinda does not seem appealing to me anymore.

Though, the real problem here is: Support itemization is way too cheap. Can be build by literally everyone in the game, as its base heal can get adjusted by the % bonus from its passive. I don't think a item that powerful should be aviable for everyone that cheap. It's not too broken, but it can be abused by anyone or anything that uses shields in their kits, even self shields.

Now about the second problem: gold income for supports; The gold income has been pretty much improved over the past few years, supports can now build about 4 or 5 full items before the game ends, and they do not have to ward everything, after trinkets got introduced. But still, from all roles in the game, supports get the least gold from all roles, as they basically have to leave CS and kills for their carries. Don't get me wrong, I personally feel like its the best for the mid or adc to get some kills to get ahead, but because of this less gold income, support items must be cheap. If we increase the gold gain of support items, other roles could actually abuse those, and if the items get cheaper, other roles can just build those items. It's kinda really problematic at this point, as supports can't have their own powerful items, because other roles can just simply abuse it.

now about the Masteries:

I honestly think, Support masteries are currently pretty lackluster. Among the three current ones that can be picked, Windspeakers Blessing, Courage of the Colossus, and Bond of Stone, two are designed for tanks while one for utility supports. There is still Thunderlords decree, but it's only strong on supportive champions that try to poke in one rotation, like or I personally think, there needs to be a supportive utility tree thats not part of the cunning tree. I personally feel like there would be huge potential for a mastery tree like that with eventually new keystones or improved supportive keystones.

I also have a small problem with Windspeakers blessing honestly;

• the 10% bonus heal and shield power seems to be pretty nonexistent at early game
• the bonus armor and magic resist does not apply on the caster
• its extremely passive and I think people do not even realize that the additional armor/mr saved you
• ok lets be honest, now that the mr aura from locket got removed, why not let the mr boost have the same amount as the armor boost

I personally hope the Windspeakers mastery gets reworked, and eventually replaced by something that has a stronger impact for supportive clerics without making it too powerful in solo lanes.

And now about one last thing: Scalings

Support scaling is actually a pretty awesome thing, but the only thing that actually stops it from existing is that most abilities tend to scale with AP. If a utility supports builds ap, their power will spike at late game with monster heals, damage soaking shields, and even damage. (trust me, I play AP Sona enough to know how painful it can be to play against.) There is no other way around it: give supports a new scaling stat thats not attack damage and neither ability power. The heal/shield boosting power is very neat, but honestly, I feel like this can be improved, as it could work as a counter to tenacity. Of course, "CC abilities that scale with a new stat? that's op!" and honestly, it does make them sound horrifying to deal against, but i think giving supports a stat that improves heals and shields, but also the time how long a enemy champion can be CC, is pretty awesome, and won't make them bursty or hurt too much.

and a tldr;

• support items are too cheap for its amazing utility actives and can be abused
• due to gold income for supports, their items have to be cheap
• maybe improve windspeakers blessing to something that gives more active strenght or something that's actually noticeable( maybe also a new mastery tree for supports)
• add a new support scaling stat

I think that all can't be added by simply one or two patches, maybe though, in 2017, if there comes a support class update, some of those changes can be applied. I really hope there will be some sort of change in future, as support is currently my favorite role honestly.

Sincere and thanks for reading