Taric Appreciation: The Gem Paladin, His Upcoming Rework and My Intro to League

I'm going to be straightforward and say I'm a noob (pro wood tier, actually i'd say like a balsa wood division). I came into this game some time near Velkoz's release and gave up because I couldn't wrap my head around MOBAs. They're very inaccessible in terms of learning the essential techniques and lane routines/behaviors to even become RELATIVELY useful to your team.

As a noob playing with other noobs this game beat me down, chewed me up and spit me out. Then I started playing with Season 2-3 vets who showed me the ropes. The game has drastically improved in quality and understanding- but it's a very hostile player base and very few people get along as well as you'd hope.

Then Taric was on a free rotation. I played him by recommendation as a perfect support to learn as a beginner. I played him- and everyone's attitudes toward my presence changed even when I said nothing. Taric was light hearted, silly and very spacey. His role was simple, clean cut and yet there was more then just his shallow kit to work with. When I played full AP or support in JG or bot lane people began to work together better. It was almost as if he was a beacon of positivity and a rallying cry of confidence when that R bursts in the team fight. Just when Vi or Riven is about to escape- they get anchored just in time for my team to destroy them. I might not have all the burst or power compared to other supports- but reliability in simple functions is almost always tried and true. Taric was my first main and always will be.

With the new masteries I find myself beating down silver, gold and plat junglers as Taric and I'm not even Lvl 30 yet (as I only began playing in the recent three months ish). Vet players are happy to see a noob rocking the Gem Knight and doing it right. With the recent meta nobody has faith in Taric and it's true that most other tanks could do better. I feel the fact that he's being updated and reworked is a great thing. But Taric has something on his side the others don't.

Taric (much like Braum) has a high chance of bringing out a friendly attitude in his teammates. Morale is so important in this game that I can't even begin to express the difference in win/loss ratio and overall team performance when they have a tangible character that they've established a subliminal bond of camaraderie with. Victory in this game can be snatched away if there's so much as one vulgar/hostile personality making themselves known on the field, but especially so when it's a friendly. Taric is a fantastic gateway into learning the game as this side effect makes older players more likely to give him encouragement and tips to play better. You make more friends, get respect and reap all the benefits of weeding out the experienced and friendly personalities in the community. Taric and his rework could be more important then Riot and the community might think. This champion could successfully entice newer players into digging deeper into the game and improve community attitudes with a more active presence in games!

I don't think it's fair that so many people put Taric down- as he can rock almost any lane but Mid in the right hands. So many people have lost their faith in him to the point where if I play JG or TOP people will dodge out after talking trash in my pick. I can't find many people who have faith in the power of gems.

Riot is making a good decision on giving him attention- but most importantly I think they're undermining him by simply calling him 'The Gem Knight'. I feel he's due for a promotion to the title 'The Gem Paladin'. He needs more love, he's a reliable lane partner and jungle patrol. We need more Taric appreciation. I love Taric, and so should you.

What advantages and thoughts do you have on this champion and his upcoming rework, fellas?

Also put the Emerald Taric skin out on sale Riot, I want to be a gem master gfdi. Victorious Taric wouldn't be a bad reason for me to try to get to gold either.

EDIT: The Gem Paladin or maybe The Gemplar (like Templar) would be a good title.