State of Starting Mana Items
So a few people complain that 
is an OP item right now. That may be true, but at the moment there really aren't many options for mages in terms of starting mana items. That means that it is easier to make morelonomicon a "one size fits all" item until we have some choices. The closest thing is 
which a few close range mages may pick up.
I propose that there ought to be at least three mana items that mages could use as their first item.
> 1. Book of cool Down This item is aimed at utility mages, but mages with low cool downs will like it too. It gives high mana, a decent ammount of ability power, and alot of cool down reduction. It could have less mana, and instead have a mana regeneration effect since these mages are likely to be casting more often. 450-500 mana 80 ability power 20 cool down reduction
> 2. Rod of Health This item is for mid and melee range mages that have to get close to the opponent. The catalyst of aeons effect could be appropriate here. 400 Health 400 mana 70 ability power 10% cool down reduction
>3. Ring of Murder This item is for burst mages and assassins. It provides significantly more killing potential than the other items, but doesn't have as much mana or sustainability. By bonus damage effect, I mean something like ludens echo burst or hextech revolver's magic bolt: something that adds damage to the innitial burst. 300-350 mana 100 ability power 10 cool down reduction small bonus damage effect
Now of course these numbers are probably off, as I'm not a professional game designer nor have I tested them but the intention is to have three mana items, each of which can be chosen for utility, defense, or damage. Lastly, one could possibly build one of the other items instead of their normal mana item as a counter build against their opponent. (for example xerath buying rod of health against zed) I also could see an issue arrising if starting mana items are indipendantly powerful enough that you can start stacking them in your build, much like a or 
user may build a at some point.
What kind of mana items do you think mages need? Is it better to just let Morelo be the default, or is it worth creating items for different classes of mages? Or perhaps the current items like 
and 
need more love?
- Gives everything you named PLUS cdr, PLUS a fifth ability (A flash that deals damage)
- Gives everything you named except the cdr, also includes a fifth ability (Minus the flash element, but the slow is pretty nice)
- No longer gives mana, but gives a decent amount of health and one of the most obnoxious slows in the game.
- health, ap, magic pen, and a consistent burn effect that makes deathfire touch redundant (at least imo)
- Doesn't give mana no, but it fits the 'small bonus damage' effect that you're looking for
- gives you mana, spellblade, cdr, movespeed, and a decent amount of AP
- gives health, mana, decent mana regen, and a mini 
passive with Awe. Gives a godly shield in the late game when it becomes 
) can't even hope to itemize against it. And mid lane becomes a place where a fight between two mages is not decided by skill or strategy, but by who checked out their library book faster.
, 
Do I want damage?
Am I in danger?
. Some mage's builds are more linear than others, but overall there are a lot of interesting and meaningful choices to make.
who can start either 
stacking is a great way to start the match off.