Can we see some QoL changes for Supports?

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I'd like to address a huge diversity and play rate issue, as well as another issue that I'll get to later, that has been going on, in multiple mmrs and queue types across the Rift. It has been driving away so many players, including myself, away from enjoying the awesome Support role, and even the awesome Bot lane, as a whole.

When playing League, it's fun to experience different match ups, strategies, champions, builds, etc. I'm sure almost everyone can agree to that. Well, unfortunately, in the Bot lane there is a pretty obvious trend of only several supports being played at all. This isn't just in Ranked, either. It's in all queues. From Normals: Teambuilder, to Normals: Draft. I've recently noticed how ridiculously rough this trend has become, and made a list of my last 5 games played as a short example of how exclusive the picks for Support have become. Of course, this is a small slice of life in the Bot Lane. This is straight off my ingame match history.

Game #1 | VS. Thresh Game #2 | VS. Blitzcrank Game #3 | VS. Thresh Game #4 | VS. Blitzcrank Game #5 | VS. Sona

I'd like to also leave this here, by recommendation of my friend.

I'm sure you've noticed the trend. That's four games in a row, (and this isn't even counting the times before I made this list) that I had to play against the exact same two champions exclusively. While I'm sure there's practice against these champions to be had, it's just not fun having to play against the exact same champions, the same builds, the same strategies, and the same frustration game after game. Maybe some people aren't bothered by this, I'm sure there are people out there who don't mind this one bit. However, the majority of players would get sick of playing the same match over and over. While I truly encourage players to play what they find enjoyable, I feel like if there's evidence that so many people only enjoy X champions, then perhaps there is something that should, and can, be done to help spread that same enjoyment to new things, too.

Here's a simple example. Let's say you love playing Mid Lane. Think about how boring it would be to be forced to play against only two champions in 8 out of 10 of all of your games. ( For example you could say two of your least favorite matchups. ) Does it straight up mean they are broken or need nerfing? No. Does it mean something is off, and needs to be treated somehow? Yes, I would say so, and many of the people I've talked to have said the same thing. There's over 120 champions in the game, with 40 (more or less, if you'd like to try different champions) can be played successfully as Supports. So why is it that so few are being played constantly, without end, in every single queue and elo?

What we need is incentive for players to choose different Supports, so that the Bot lane can be more inviting, fun, and diverse for everyone! When only 2 or 3 champions are existent at all in a lane, it sorta feels like the lane becomes a box (Pun intended) where you're so restricted to certain things. Definitely, it's not that the underplayed Supports aren't good at their job. That's not the case at all. It's that, why should anyone even bother with them when they can play someone else who is more popular, and can often times directly do their job quicker and with less stress? We're not saying that X champions are broken, however, it's clear that people are going to play what is Dominant or Powerful. It's clear that these champions are not being picked for no reason.

My friend, Chedie, an ADC & Top Lane main, has some of his own insight on this issue. He has played in and out of the lane, so he can see the drastic differences between our beloved Bottom lane and other places. I'll quote him directly from Skype.

Most ADC's don't have the mobility to deal with Thresh's or Blitzcrank's kits. You're forced to play certain champions (that most people won't be good or experienced on) to stand a chance in a lane with them.

To elaborate, ADCs such as Lucian, Vayne, or Ezreal, with mobility built into their kits, can survive a laning phase against Blitzcrank or Thresh without being zoned too harshly. However, other champions, like Jinx, Twitch, Ashe, Draven, who don't have that advantage, are left with little or nothing their kit can do for them in these matchups.

Like, all of these ADC's are becoming non-existent because they don't ever have an advantage in lane, so they can't shine in their late game potential.

This is just like with the Supports. Why pick them when others will do much better against what is drastically popular? My friends and I personally pick our champions because we enjoy playing them, however, we're tired of constantly being left under the bar because of how static the picks in Bot have become. It's not that the champions can't beat the popular picks, it's that it's so tiring to have to work *overly hard every single game to be able to keep up. Just having X champions in a match creates constant pressure on an entire team, especially the Jungler who might be struggling to gank them because of that very same pressure.

Draven use to be a God of Carries, but now he's almost never played. Reasoning? You guessed it. Mobility. If he gets hooked, it's over. Regardless of how well his Support prepares or reacts.

This doesn't just affect players in the lane. It affects everyone, because in the late game, picks will often influence how a team-fight plays out; whether it's hard engages, heavy poke, or something else. Fights with your teammates are known to be exciting, but who would want to have the same style or flow of fight happen every game longterm?

It's just been really rough lately for many who main champions such as or and plentiful others. The other, separate and re-ocurring reason is because they're having a lot of trouble keeping up with the extremely mobile and burst-oriented assassins and other dominantly-popular picks. It has gotten to the point where, even with 3 regular 's and a placed down in crucial map points, any assassin with just one damage item can burst down an ADC before the support even has time to use or any other support item or ability. Most of the time, it's before the Support even has time to press a single button. I hate to be the guy to say it, but, where is the counterplay in that? Since we can only place a set number of wards (3 & 1), what is stopping assassins from going on killing sprees in every match on the Rift?

Yes it's very true that Teamwork is required to protect the carry, whether through good warding from the whole team, or good communication. However, the trend of actual teamwork like that isn't common enough to require assassins to actual think and strategize their flanks, ganks, or flashy jukes. They simply wait somewhere outside of a lane for anyone to walk by (most likely the support walking by to ward for the team, or the ADC switching lanes to farm) and they just burst them in less than a second or two. Often times, it's a one shot.

How exactly are supports supposed to attempt to combat that type of play if they are already throwing everything they have to help protect their team? I definitely don't want to have to use myself as an example, but I'll have games where I have zero deaths, many assists, and the items I need to protect myself and my team (Such as etc) yet, when the burst-carries come crashing down on an ADC (even when the ADC is doing expectionally well) the poor guy is defenseless, still, after the support has used all 4 of their abilities, items, & summoners to try to shut down the Assassin.

I most definitely understand that these things are what is expected of an Assassin-type character. After all, it's in their ingame description. However, it also states that they should be less durable. But recently, they have become almost like burstier Fighters. I won't point blame though, to keep the focus of this post (and to remain constructive).

We don't technically need to nerf anyone to help this situation. What could be useful is adding in an extra lever or two for loyal Support mains like myself to be able to use to further supporting and protecting their team. There have been many suggestions in the past that I won't take credit for, such as adding options to . I think adding a new item or two, or even adding a new summoner spell that supports can take instead of Flash or Exhaust could be a good start. This would add another strategic path for supports to decide on- Should they get flash for all-ins, jukes, and escapes, get Exhuast for the catches and shutdowns, or get the other spell for a different advantage? This seems like a great idea for diversity, similar to the gold items for supports.

Overall, these are problems are ones have been overlooked by many for a long time, and have only grown worse and worse with each patch or champion release. The main thing is really just the fact that loyal players, of every role, should be able to experience and enjoy what they love without the exact same issues every time they choose to play. I love Supporting. It's not just a playstyle, a role, or a type of player to me... It's a mentality. A lifestyle. And while many overlook it, many also look up to it, and for that, I'm proud & honored to be considered a Support. There are thousands who feel the same. I would rally behind anyone whose in favor of keeping the awesome Support (and ADC!) life intact. I would hope others who feel the same way would do the same. It's time to take a stand and acknowledge your the players who genuinely care more than most.

Anyways, thank you for reading my overly large speech-post. If you have anything to add, feel free to do so. I've elaborated on most of what I've said but if you have a concern you can also post that, of course. :) I'll probably add onto my post later, with new insight. Share this with your friends who also feel that the direction these problems are going in isn't too wonderful. Also, have a good day. ♥