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How to make support a desirable role?

Omalginu·12/2/2016, 2:29:31 PM·3 votes·759 views

GIve them power.

Do you remember early S4 when they updated the supports? Their items had an impact, not only for the team, but for them, it was easier for a support to earn gold, to buy items, tobecome super tanky or be a powerful mage. Hell, I remember we even had Annie and Leblanc as great supports back then. What happened? Riot nerfed all the support items... They basically told everyone that they don't want to see supports carrying their team.

"But the item changes were made so that X champion couldn't abuse it in lane" You could nerf the champion or make it support role- exclusive. The Frost Queen item became really popular back then on any mid laner... But the nerf also affected supports.

"But supports should build support items" That's essencially the reason why nobody wants to support. Because being support is so damn boring and dulll, you feel powerless when your adc isn't in his best form or when other lanes feed. Supports should have the alternative to be useful when the one that should carry them is not performing well. And it shouldn't take so much time to get some items.

Since now every queue lets you pick your role in advance... Why not let the one that chose support to have an special item? -Like the trinket having a special upgrade so that it can be upgraded to transform into a sighstone with 5 wards that recharge when backing- A mere 400 g for that upgrade and supports would have 400 more gold and an extra item space to buy whatever they want.

"Non support champions are being used as supports with the changes" There are two options: Buff support champions or just accept that a little bit of diversity is welcome. I mean. Did you see World Tournament this year... They chose the same champs over, and over, and over again. Unconventional picks would be fun to watch. LCS team would still get support champions to play support because they have the communication to pull it off. And solo Queuers would have a little incentive to play the role.

Also, a buff to the mastery that let supports get money while their adc is Cs'ing would be a nice welcome.

4 Comments

Oglaf12/2/2016, 2:34:42 PM3 votes

Sort out the gold/experience deficit and I'll be happy as a pig in mud, really.

DrCyanide12/2/2016, 2:53:59 PM1 votes

I feel like if more people acknowledged Supports when they set up plays or made awesome saves there'd be an increase in the number of Support players.

OurLestrade12/2/2016, 3:11:27 PM1 votes

I usually get blanked when I say it, but I think more play-making supports a la Thresh need to be made rather than just simplistic play-preventing/enabling supports. Tahm Kench is a blatant example of this issue: His "play" is W-ing someone. Not exactly mechanically intensive or impressive to watch. Compare that to some of the flashy moves new champions in other roles are capable of - just look at Camille.

Some proper mobility outside speed boosts would be appreciated too. I main Braum partially because he's pretty much one of the only supports with a dash with his W.