Controversial Support Help: Warding Item changes?

Supports need help with itemization and gold generation. That's a given. However, currently the only way to do that efficiently is to build a "ward item" -> or . (Yes, I realize Frost Queen's is not technically a ward item, but it DOES reveal your enemies, and honestly, is arguably the best of them.)

Building said item does some things effectively but not others. Pros - -You get access to a storage of 4 wards versus 2, plus a vision ward. OR -You get an active affect that tends to be beneficial more to supports than other classes -You get bonus gold if you're near a kill made by a teammate. -There are 6, allowing supports a bit of flexability.

Cons - -Takes up an item slot that could be put to better use, especially as first item choice can make or break a game, especially in botlane. -Makes you weaker than similar champions playing lanes. (A support version of a champ versus a lane version of the same champ will ALWAYS lose one on one. Try it out. Unless you need to build an unreasonably large first item - say NLR or BF Sword - odds are you'll finish your first item before any support who isn't taking a hug share of the cs.) This makes you vulnerable to ganks, especially if you aren't playing a sustain champ like Sona, Soraka, or Nami who have the ability to heal as needed. -Doesn't really benefit the person using it. Support is a team player, but when your first item gives you 40 AP versus the 100 AP most AP champs get from their first item, there's going to be a lot of discrepancy.

I understand you don't want EVERYONE building support items, but in reality, what's really wrong with that? Most support mains, myself included, tend to gripe about being the only one dropping wards all game, and then hearing people complain about how it's OUR fault they don't have vision. So let EVERYONE build a ward item first. But wait, that might be a good idea, but how do you balance it out?

Here's how: Junglers already have the answer in their jungle blades. -> One builds wards, the other two benefit Smite. Why not change ward items so that they have better stats, drop the ward storage to 3, and benefit a summoner spell, like Exhaust, Heal, or Barrier by choice of item? You could even use the jungle blades 'jewel' system to vary it further between AP, AD, Armor, AS, etc.

As to how to benefit the summoner spell, maybe make the bonus play off of the champ's primary stat (per the item benefits) versus a flat buff/nerf.

As an example: Eye of the Watchers: (current) Stats +200 health +100% base mana regeneration +25 ability power +10% cooldown reduction +Gold 2 per 10 seconds Passive UNIQUE – TRIBUTE: Spells and basic attacks against champions or buildings deal 15 additional damage and grant Gold 15. This can occur up to 3 times every 30 seconds. Active UNIQUE – WARDING: Consumes a charge to place a Sight Ward (Stealth Ward) that reveals the surrounding area for 150 seconds. Holds up to 4 charges which refill upon visiting the shop. Limitations Limited to 1 Gold Income item. A player may only have 3 Sight Ward on the map at one time.

Eye of the Watchers: (revised possibility) Stats +200 health +100% base mana regeneration +25 ability power +10% cooldown reduction +Gold 2 per 10 seconds (at level 1), +.5 gold per level up to 10 per 10 seconds (at level 18) [<---EDIT] Passive UNIQUE – TRIBUTE: Spells and basic attacks against champions or buildings deal 15 additional damage and grant Gold 15. This can occur up to 3 times every 30 seconds. Active UNIQUE – WARDING: Consumes a charge to place a Sight Ward (Stealth Ward) that reveals the surrounding area for 150 seconds. Holds up to 3 charges which refill upon visiting the shop. Limitations Limited to 1 Gold Income item. A player may only have 3 Sight Ward on the map at one time.

'Jewel' Slot - Chiurgeon's Monocle Stats +200 health +40 ability power Passive - (Unique) Watchful Eye: Upgrades your Heal summoner spell to First Aid. First Aid heals you and all nearby allies for 100 health (+25% ability power)

'Jewel' Slot - Bouncer's Brace Stats +200 health +40 damage Passive - (Unique) Flesh Wall: Upgrades your Barrier spell to Protective Presence. Shields target champion for 115 - 455 (based on level) for 2 seconds. Any enemy striking the protected champion is terrified for X seconds (X=5% current AD or health? Don't know how that math'd work out).

This would get the onus off of supports to buy a ward item first, allowing them to build a different initial first item, as well as allowing everyone better itemization options.

Thoughts? Comments? Did you read all of that? :p

[zombie-brand-mindblown]

[EDIT: Editted my failure to fix gold generation in my revised Eye. Sorry. My bad.