So about Starcall? Soraka Discussion

Hi! With all the crazy things being tested on the PBE right now, 6 skins, new champ, preseason, I feel like some of the smaller things are being completely overlooked. In particular i don't really see any discussion going around about Soraka, Who's bread and butter "Starcall" Is getting quite a change in regards to its targetting paradigm.

I was a bit skeptical when i heard the idea of it getting a fixed time, and I'm quite terrified to say that i still feel that Its not addressing where Soraka needs help, and in fact is probably a much bigger nerf to her than a QoL. But first lets get into the actual dynamics of the changes

Soraka's heal is having its range increased. This is fantastic and likely the reason they want to nerf her Q. Though to be perfectly honest, this is a change that probably should have gone in with her from the start, since as is, having to be as close as she does to allies not only puts her at risk, but works to make her passive really janky, especially when walls are considered. I really enjoy being able to heal someone over a wall without having to flash it just for the chance to try and keep them alive. I understand where they're coming from, they of course want Soraka in the thickets so she can be killed, as a price for her massive Healing, but ironically enough they are doing the exact opposite with this change.

Soraka's Q has been changed to a Fixed distance targetting paradigm. What this means is that similar to Nami's Bubbles, Soraka's Q will take the same time to hit (Feels about the same, maybe 1.25-1.5s) to hit at all ranges. This makes her long ranged harass marginally better, but CRIPPLES her Close range combat, which i remind you she needs to be in order to keep allies topped and be available for murdering.

Q is currently Soraka's only self-sustain outside of her Ultimate, and this is the reason this change is so horrendous. On live, its exhillarating landing those close range Qs barely trying to sustain enough with the heal blips to survive chases, but with the new paradigm there's absolutely nothing Soraka will be able to do, since starcall still falls slowly and doesnt have even half the stopping power that makes Nami's work so well. The Live Q works well to encourage kiting on Soraka, clever use of distance to make her few catches and heel herself alive in close battles.

• The complaint about Raka's Q was that it was unreliable, but ironically by making it 'reliable' in how long it takes to hit, you have made it near useless to her when she needs it most!
• Funny enough Q isn't her problem. Soraka lacks catch potential, which i think i can speak for many players is one of the big reasons she can feel underwhelming comparative to other supports. Her Q and E both have cc, but its so easy to walk out of (Q Only slows in the sweet spot, E only roots after 1.5s) that Soraka is forced to build items to give her catch like Rylais and FQC.
• Soraka is a team dependent support, but comparative to other supports she just doesn't have reliable peel, and this is a problem for her. Q is better for peeling when people are on your Carries' ass BECAUSE its fast. Taking that away makes the balance of CC to Healing an incredibly Jarring choice. Do i pick someone who can heal? Or Do i pick someone who can PEEL

Sustain is beat by burst, and if this change goes in, I'm scared that Soraka may need to be benched on my support list again. Early game every other healer does pretty much just as fine keeping their carries alive and they have catch. They can set up kills, whereas Soraka needs to counter engage to get her carries fed, (Or use most of her mana harassing with Starcall doing negligable damage unless they randomly wander into the sweet spot)

So I've given my two cents, So why not give yours. Soraka players let me know what you think of the new Q if you've seen it, and tell me, are you willing to get rid of your close range for a slightly better long one?