Riot, here's how you can fix vision + the support role and make mastery choices more meaningful

There's a TLDR at the bottom if you feel this is too long

So I've been playing League since late season 3, and I share the opinion of most people on boards that vision isn't doing so hot at the moment. Let's look at what we know:

• We obviously can't buy Greens anymore, and Sightstone was nerfed slightly. New trinket system to compensate is good, though could use some improvements as availability of vision is an issue for many
• Supports are the main source of vision on the map, sometimes also the main source of vision denial. In many games, they become ward/clearing bots, which makes the class generic and less fun to play
• A common complaint is that later in the game, you can't carry pinks due to full inventories
• The yellow ward trinket is underwhelming, and although blue trinket had its CD nerfed, this is still almost the only one I ever see post lvl-9 along with sweeper

Now, some of these problems have existed for a while (i.e Supps being wardbots), while others are unique to Season 6. I've got an idea that I think will help the state of vision on the game without making it unhealthy, make mastery choices more meaningful for some champs and, above all, make the Support role less about spamming wards/bailing out teammates and more about setting up plays and playing the more supportive role I've seen in others MOBAs such as HotS

Riot, here is what I think would help - remove Sightstone from the game and replace it with a mastery in the Resolve tree, I suggest in the 4th tier, that enhances the power of the warding trinket in the following ways:

• Provides a 4th upgrade of the trinket, providing a Pink ward on a 120s CD, one-time use with recharge at fountain
• Provides an extra charge on the basic yellow warding trinket - I propose that each charge take 120-60 seconds to be generated, based on level. Vision becomes more readily available as the game goes on and it becomes increasingly necessary. Max of 3 charges at one time, however it would function like SS in that you need to refresh charges back at fountain after using all 3
• Reduces the CD on blue trinket by 0-30 seconds based on level

Red trinkets are perfect as they are. Now, what do we gain from this? Obviously, the Support role is the most affected party. By removing Sightstone (SS), you remove the early-game handicap Supports are faced with - they have to buy SS early, so they gain less combat stats and less build flexibility. Support early game is very linear - protect ADC, provide utility through engages, roams and peel, and you have to buy SS and pink trinket along with Supp item. Every. Single. Game. By removing SS, you give the Support the choice - what item do I buy after my Supp item? Boots to roam? An item to help my ADC or me in fights? Unless you're getting fed bot lane, you don't have many itemization choices to make as a Support right now until well into the game. The onus is also always on the Support to ward up, which results in the wardbot role we have in a lot of games. A new mastery solves both issues simultaneously by providing an accessible, useful mastery to other classes. This will make the Support role less generic, less focused on being the sole source of wards and more on the utility role it was designed to fulfill

This change doesn't just improve quality of life for Supports, however. The TEAM has to make meaningful choices together. You would actually have to coordinate who gets which trinket since they would all be useful and fulfill different roles, rather than having everyone spam Blues and Sweepers. Worst case, if the Supp remains the wardbot, at least they don't lose an inventory slot because of it. However, champs that need that bit of extra vision (mid-lane immobile mages, anyone?) can actually access it, while support/utility junglers like Nunu and Rek'sai can make good use of it depending on the situation. I think this would render the warding JG item obsolete, but I don't think I've seen anyone buy it a single time aside from the odd Lee player because of how much better blue and red smite are

Vision is fixed, Support is improved, but masteries also benefit! Riot is clearly intent on encouraging players to make meaningful decisions. I think the mastery change has been great in this regard, but mostly in terms of the keystone you choose. However, with an accessible mastery like this, you have to decide whether the vision is worth sacrificing going down another secondary tree for better damage (specifically as a damage dealer). Say you went Thunderlord's as most players do - do you put 12 points into Ferocity for that added damage, or do you go for the enhanced vision that will probably save your butt at some point in game? You actually have a meaningful decision to make, but the tradeoff isn't as massive as, say, picking the warding jungling item over red or blue smite, which is quite significant and rarely worthwhile

Overall, it's important to note that this is just an idea, and that the numbers could be tinkered with. What are your thoughts? I believe this would make decision-making more meaningful for masteries and trinket selection, make all trinkets equivalent in strength, make Support more than just a wardbot and help everyone out with the vision issues they're having this season. It's late in the day so this maybe isn't as informative as I would've liked, but I'd love to hear what others have to say about this idea, or if they have any of their own

[slayer-jinx-wink]

TLDR sry for the long post: Remove SS and replace with ward trinket enhancement mastery, which makes vision more balanced and available, makes Supports more than just ward-bots and encourages individual and team decision-making and coordination