Support S5: Item Changes
It's obvious: Support is the least wanted role in each game. People hate playing it (the proof is in the pudding - see Team Builder) - so why is it in the game? It's a nice concept but the implementation is sloppy. Yes, S4 was a huge improvement over S3 but still there is one core issue with support: itemization.
Support has the most boring job in the game; keeping the ADC alive and warding - but that would be FINE if the support would be worth much late game. Sad truth is, is the ADC gets fed then the support isn't really needed anymore and if the ADC gets pooped on; well, same. Wouldn't it be nice if the support had some use late game as well?
Now, the current itemization for support and their slow incomes lead to: Mobi boots, income item, sightstone; by the time every other role has a solid 2-3 full items. This essentially gives support the teamfight value of a wandering poro. How exciting. Sure; Blitz can pull and enemy or annie can stun the enemy, but they do no damage and the amount they can PROTECT their team gets smaller and smaller as the enemy assassins build better items.
Point is: Early game boring? We get it. Late game boring: Blah.
Now, if your ADC gets fed and you have assists, then sure you can build damage or tank earlier and be useful, but this is the only scenario where support becomes useful mid-late game in teamfights. So let's look at some options:
A. Improve Sightstone. Warding is VERY important; but Ruby Sightstone? Come-on! It's nice but adds no utility, defense, OR damage! Is this the only item in the game like this? It's pathetic. Late game you are just dying to sell it to make yourself more relevant in teamfights but you CAN'T cause you need wards. BORING.
So my suggestion: Have a 3rd tier! Ruby Sightstone > Emerald/Opal/Onyx Sightstone. Each should offer a bit MORE health and one other useful stat such as: +% MS, revive upon death like GA, active small shield for AOE teammates... Hey, now you're a bit MORE useful in team fights without being OP!
B. Support Items. After laining phase the gold income is inconsequential compared to the kills that happen mid-late game. Supports would love to sell this item but that would be so gold-inefficient that they just upgrade it instead. I've checked my stats as support: I have won nearly TWO TIMES as many games as support when I chose NOT to upgrade my support item and to rather build a new tank or damage item!
So my suggestion: Improve the tier 3 of the support items. Give them better teamfights defense/offense options.
C. One last idea: Add a bit more gold income for each support item. Really, their builds are so weak each game. Why not have a 5th real presence in teamfights??
TLDR: Support almost NEVER gets past building Mobi boots, Sightstone, and the full support item. At this point the support is literally "just another body" in teamfights. Please make mid/late-game supports a bit more presence by improving their itemization in S5!
