@Riot Really Concerned About Shielding and Champions Who Have Shields
Riot, why are you even thinking about adding another shielding mechanic into the game? Guardian Soul is going to allow any champion to shield now. You are essentially taking away the reason why players choose Janna, Lulu, Taric, Rakhan and Karma. You are going to allow champions to do what all of these Enchanters were created to do: shield. For the past two years you have done absolutely nothing to make existing Enchanters better. You seem to love making the meta surrounded around shield enhancing items and finding new ways to add shields into the game, yet you refuse to actually work on the problems specific Enchanters suffer: skill expression and uniqueness. Two champions that suffer right now the most from this are Karma and Janna. None of their shields are unique, as opposed to Taric and Lulu being able to use abilities from allies with shields. Even Ivern has a more unique and skill expressive shield than Karma and Janna.
Karma has a Iron of the Locket Solari Active with a speed boost. Her entire presence in this game is always dictated by how strong Ricklessabandon makes her shields and shield enhancing items. Karma had a unique shield mechanic before Rick touched her, but you gave it to Ivern instead. You nerfed Karma because of your update to shield enhancing items. Look at her pick/win rate. Enough said.
Janna suffers, in the same sense as Karma, that nothing is unique about her shields and her kit is not doing Janna any justice. I mean Ardent Sensor is making her OP right now. A shield enhancing item is dictating how strong a champion is, as opposed to a kit that is fun, unique and skill expressive to that champion.
We have shield enhancing items, one shield enhancing item granting on hit magic damage, the Iron Locket of Solari Active, Taric Embrace active, and every champion that uses a shield who will build the same items, press the same button, and play the same way. You are, yet again, trying to put a band aid on a problem that you refuse to work on. Why do you hate Supports and specifically Enchanters so much? I mean even Sona borderlines as a champion with a lackluster kit that isn't unique or skill expressive. I mean you have Sona, Karma, and Janna who all have amazing capabilities to be a fantastic, unique and fun champion . . . but you are wasting time trying to make Lux more unique in the support role. I read that stupid comment a while ago how you want to add more utility to Oriana and Lux. The only way to do that is with their shields because every other part of their kit is solid.
Riot, why do you insist on putting a band aid on the problem instead of actually addressing the issues with the Support role and Enchanters? They are nothing more than shield bot all building the same thing, pressing the same button, and playing exactly the same. It really makes us question if you care about Enchanters at all. Make Karma and Janna more unique and skill expressive in their kits. Make Sona more interesting and skill expressive. REMOVE all shield enhancing from the game and give players a reason to play a specific champion . . . or heck their favorite champion that isn't dictated by how strong shield enhancing items are. I just cannot understand how you think adding Guardian Soul is going to make the role better . . . when the problems really are the champions you refuse to work on.
