Solution to Karma Changes: Bring back Mantra Stacks (Riot Promised She'd Be a Mage-Support like Ori)
Please keep solo lane Karma viable Riot. It has a strong fanbase and it'd be wrong to ruin their favorite champion and force her to support. When the rework was announced you guys promised she was to be a utility mage like Ori/Morg/etc. Look:
There are kit changes coming along with the visual rework. We'll release more information as we get closer to her launch date, but** the general goal is to gear more towards the Mage-support role (think Lux, Morgana, Orianna etc)** - Feralpony http://www.reignofgaming.net/redtracker/topic/91939-karma-rework-leaked
All of those mages listed are competent solo laners. Don't scrap the original image.
Before the current iteration of Karma, she used to have the ability to sit on Mantra and have it charge up stacks, similar to the Smite summoner spell. This forced Karma players to creatively use her mantra spells. With only one stack you're generally forced to always use the "best" spell (lets say Mantra Q). However with two stacks if you want to blow someone up you HAD to use two different mantra spells (since using Mantra Q puts Q on cooldown.) It's impossible to just shoot two Mantra Qs at someone in a row due to the nature of cooldowns, forcing smart decisions.
Now let's look at one of the most problematic parts of the Karma change... Mantra W.
Renewal (Mantra + W) Reworked - both healing and bonus damage removed. Now debuffs target for duration of tether + root. All damage dealt to target is increased by 10% (excludes true damage) All damage dealt to target heals Karma for 20% of the damage dealt If the damage source is a champion on Karma's team (excluding Karma) they are also healed for 20% of damage dealt
The reason this destroys Solo Lane Karma is because she now has to rely on her team to heal her. Currently it (basically) heals you for 40% missing HP. Many people have stated to match such healing power she would need to deal absurd amounts of damage. But since you blew Mantra on W, you can't take advantage of the debuff that makes the enemy take more damage OR the heal that scales with the damage you deal with them by shooting your most powerful spell at them (Mantra Q.) HOWEVER if the Mantra stacks mechanic comes back the ultimate burst combo would simply be Mantra W and then Mantra Q while they're debuffed, healing you and dealing extra damage.
This would retain the large self-heal we all know and love and the debuff would still retain it's use on both AP and support Karma without forcing her into one role and making her unviable in the other.
Of course numbers will have to be rebalanced and the rework would have to be taken off the PBE until they can rebalance her kit's numbers around having 2 Mantra stacks again, but it would make smart usage of Mantra a lot more engaging. Currently with one stack she's just an unglorified Heimerdinger. With stacks though? She gains a unique identity.
I would probably also limit the stacking ability until level 6 when she levels her ultimate, so people don't just wreck you at level 3 with two stacks of Mantra.
She is also Lore-wise an important leader in Ionia. I don't think a Leader should be forced to cower behind their ADC. They should be able to take charge and lead their team to victory from the frontlines if they have the courage.
