@RIOT Serious thoughts on the "new direction" for Mage Items
The post made by the developer making the changes was interesting, it gave a lot of insight to the thought process behind the changes. I liked that.
I don't like the changes, and as a player since Season 1 here's why:
- Removing mana regen in favor of flat mana for mages -This is an interesting change with the right thinking (limiting infinite sieging etc), but I feel it falls flat in practice. This is because mana regen is a LOT stronger in the early game for mages than flat mana, especially when they are competing against manaless waveclearers. Being able to cast spells a couple times more is nothing when spells must often be "spammed" to an extent to keep up with the lane pushing and poke from the enemy midlaner. By removing almost all mana regen from midlaner's items, you will be PROMOTING the same level of SAFE and BORING play that has plagued a lot of the LCS compared to a lot of seasons prior. If both laners are mages, then they can't afford to both farm and risk going in for the kill, so they will save their abilities for farming or escapes, leading to stagnation of the mid lane.
2)Lowering the overall amount of AP in the items, both before and after reaching a full build -This is a really important one for several reasons. Many champions rely on getting large amounts of AP to deal damage even with maximum CDR, which means that this largely will hurt champions who aren't battle mages and can't rely on those increases in health/utility. A bigger downside to me is one of the most important parts of any game. FUN. Seeing those huge ratios and damage numbers is SUPER FUN to watch, and is EXTREMELY REWARDING. Sometimes walking over to blue buff to one-shot it is all I need to put a smile on my face, everyone like seeing those huge numbers pop up rather than smaller amounts over time (this is primarily why crits are so fun and still in the game, while technically unhealthier than system such as Ashe they promote a ton of fun for the person critting).
- Mages will build Support items if they need to find their CDR + Mane regen and abuse them
-This is what happened with
, mage players need their CDR and mana regen early, so they will take it where they can find it, rather than where RIOT DECIDES THEY SHOULD TAKE IT. They will probably end up using some of the support items, and then they will be nerfed to encourage Mage items being purchased, which will in turn just nerf Mage's and supports even more.
HOW TO FIX IT The only way I can see these issues being fixed is if the reworked mages are being given better scalings, better mana regeneration or mana management/restoration tools. However, if AP is nerfed across the board but mages are buffed in their ratios, then alternative AP builds on champs (like APcow, or APMF which I'm still sad over it being shafted from reasonable playability to a joke) will become even more unviable.
Just looking for any feedback and what you guys think, this is just what some ol' League veteran thinks. Thanks!