Once you hit level 18, RoA's "gain a level to heal" effect ceases functioning. As such, it should change into something new once you hit the level cap (and have full stacks on RoA).
Maybe something with an effect similar to Overlord's Bloodmail? (On kill/assist, you regenerate health and mana over 8 seconds.)
Cloud Potato12 votesI think it would be better if Catalyst got buffed instead of RoA. RoA is a very powerful item late game, having 650 HP, 80 AP, and enough mana to get most champions through a teamfight. The problem is that it's absolute garbage until fully built, and has mediocre stats for its cost for 10 minutes more than that. The time delay means RoA needs to be built ASAP but Catalyst and Blasting Wand are pretty bad items to rush, meaning that the only champs who should be buying RoA are ones that really need its stat combination.
Changing Catalyst to be a better rush item would help solve the problem. It gives no offensive stats, so I think changing its passive to give something like sustain on kill wouldn't unbalance it compared to Tear and Chalice, which both end up in items that have more offensive power than RoA has. This by extension could be added into RoA, although it could be cut if it ends up too powerful or something.
Lord Graves III2 votesFrom a certain perspective mana is an offense stat, but this aint dota so I see your point.
HavinAGiggle4 votesWhy not have Catalyst do the same thing as Tear? It would have the same passive as Rod of Ages so that you wouldn't have to rush RoA right away. Get Catalyst, let it stack and get RoA for bonus base stats and maybe a new, bonus passive later on.
Serpents Embrace1 votesThis would be nice. :/ Especially since there's only one thing catalyst can be built in to.
Jamatrix6664 votesI don't think Rod of Ages needs any sort of buff. Don't get me wrong, I love this item and I use it really often. But it is already more than 100% gold efficient without its passive. It's a early investment that scales super great in the late game. It's an item that covers a large casters statistics variety and it got your back at any time of the game as soon as you get half of it (The Catalyst).
It basically has no real flaw and it's pretty much perfect as it is right now in my opinion. :)
Hyrum Graff3 votesI don't think it's the perfect item: it's expensive, needs to be rushed, and provides a much smaller power spike than other items of comparable gold value.
That being said, I have no problem with this - if it were the prefect item, every AP mana user would buy it, and that's not the way itemization should work.
a7mdzuma4412 votesMaybe it should be called rod of the ancients
Bump :) :D 
darkdill2 votesMaybe it should be called staff of the ancients
Bump :) :D
Ftfy.
The5lacker2 votesGiven Rod of Ages is a staggering 170% Gold Efficient by that point...yeah, don't think it really needs a direct buff at the moment.
darkdill6 votesMight be gold efficient, but it isn't always slot efficient.
Nubeel2 votesActually a good point. If you think about it Viktor's Hexcore is gold efficient but not slot efficient since it has great stats for a stupidly low price but you might want something better for that slot.
Maybe have the RoA transform into something better with max stacks when you're level 18 with another prerequisite like Muramana/Seraphs Embrace.
darkdill2 votesThe other prerequisite would be that RoA must be at max stacks. Prevents people from buying it late-game.
The5lacker2 votes...Even 80 AP and 650 Health by itself is slot efficient. Add in the synergy with Archangel's and the value you get over its lifetime, and yeah, RoA is slot efficient too.
Lord Graves III1 votesHow so? It gives a ridiculous amount of stats. Hell it gives more health than many tank items. It gives more HP and AP in one item than any competitor item. What is a durability/AP item more slot efficient than RoA?
Its not a perfect item, but efficiency gold or otherwise isn't its problem. Its problem is the timer on it and its crappy build path.
Flintfall2 votes18 upvotes, lvl 18
Don't touch that dial!
Neo Cyrus2 votesThe problem with this is that Ryze exists.
FyshinaTux1 votesNot a bad idea, I agree with this.
Have a cookie. :D
Nubeel1 votesNo No. It should be called the Needlessly Large Rod of Ages.
And it should be Needlessly Large.
DreamingOf Peace1 votesJust buff Catalyst. No idea why they nerfed the sustain of it earlier.
darkdill1 votes"Sustain is toxic". That's their reason.