Get Hyped, Because This Is What Taric Could Be!
"We set out to make a champion that was defined by pre-determined zones of power, and I think in a lot of ways that was accomplished. That said, I don't think the execution was as good as players deserved. It feels too forced/constrained."
This was Repertoir's opinion on the reworked Skarner. For a while I've been cooking up ideas for an aura-based champion who doesn't have a kit that's always on (see old Ryze), active but button-mashy (sorry Sona), and has clear windows of power and counterplay.
The Skarner rework (which I love to death) has this. Seeing how Taric and Skarner are connected to the Crystal Scar, I began theory-crafting a zone-related kit that the Gem Knight could be graced with. Don't take it too seriously. I simply came up with an idea, don't bash the execution.
Taric Each of Taric's abilities place Shards around the map that create mini zones (with approx. 1000 unit diameter) that give differing boosts to allies (armor, regen, very slight on-hit MS steal, the sky's the limit). After around 15 seconds, the zone will fade (doing nothing). Taric can stack shrines on top of each other, or place more elsewhere. Taric cannot place the same shrine multiple times. Players will have to be intelligent with where they create zones of power.
The shrines give meaningful buffs to his allies or debuffs to his enemies, but for Taric, they also unlock his full potential. While inside a shrine, the corresponding ability can be cast again for more direct offense oriented abilities.
Details (in case you want them)
Passive - Taric gains 1% Cooldown Reduction for each champion within his shrines (including himself). The buff transcends the CDR cap.
In addition: all of Taric's damaging abilities and auto attacks build stacks of Imbued Venom. At three stacks, champion auto attacks will consume the debuff and stun the opponent for a lengthy duration.
Q Zone - Taric embeds a Shard in the ground that gives allies health regen.
Q Active - Taric's next auto attack will inflict a debuff that reduces damage dealt to and by the target by a percentage (nothing crazy) for a short time.
W Zone - Taric embeds a Shard in the ground that reduces ALL units resistances by a flat amount (scaling off of his Armor).
W Active - Taric swings his hammer in an arc, dealing AoE deals physical damage (scaling off of his Armor), and half that to those effected by the ranged shockwave. In addition, this induces Cripple for three seconds (it's a silence for dashes and blinks)
E Zone - Taric embeds a Shard in the ground that causes ally auto-attacks and spell hits to steal 1% movement speed for two seconds. The MS steal stacks infinitely, but does not refresh the timer. (can be placed on allies to cause their auto attacks to steal MS, or on enemies to make autos on them steal MS)
E Active - Places a curved wall along the edge of one of the zones (a half circle). Can be cast again to shatter the wall, dealing damage to nearby enemies and slowing them by a flat amount. (hidden interaction: can be cast on Skarner shrines)
ULT - Can be cast on an ally turret to give it extra range and the ability to fire at two enemies at once. If cast on an enemy turret, it prevents the turret from dealing damage for around 5 seconds (would scale with rank).
If this were the Taric being released in a month, I WOULD PLAY IT! Please list your thoughts, and be kind.