Support items...
Why doesn't Riot just make support items for the support role only. (i.e. Jungle items only for Jungle)? Would this not solve the whole issue?
4 Comments
It's tough because jungle items aren't restricted by role, they're restricted by Smite. It doesn't matter what lane you are assigned or what lane you play in, if you bring Smite, you can buy a jungle item.
There isn't a set summoner spell exclusive to supports or even that is the same between supports. There's no in-game or mechanical factor that can distinguish supports from any other champion. If you artificially restrict it to people assigned the support role, what happens to Blind Pick? Lane swapping? There's no way for the game to reliably detect who is actually playing support at the very start of the game.
How does the game determine who is playing support before the game is played?
It's not like JG because junglers have smite which grants access to machete and co. And if your mid or top takes smite too they can get the items too.
Keep in mind Riot are 100% against introducing different stuff for different queue and role-swaps are a thing.
It's easy with jungle, since Smite is needed; Supports are more fluid, though...