@Meddler, Why Not Just Removing SIghtstone?

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We're planning to test removing the gold cost for the upgraded versions in the preseason, [to] find out if that has a good effect on the game.

While we're testing that, can we also test flat-out removing sightstone from the game?

Upgraded yellow trinket already provides nearly as much (and sometimes more) vision as a sightstone; the only reason why I still rush sightstone on supports at all is that vision denial from the sweeper is really powerful.

Here's all the impacts on the game I can think of:

• Supports in general are happier.

  • Because now we have 1050 more gold to spend on actual items.

• AP supports who aren't Annie might have a chance at competitive viability.

  • They're not forced to spend 800 gold on stats they really don't care about.

• Lee sin is fixed.

  • Can I have my upvotes now?
  • Plus, Lee mains can't even bitch about it, because he's still able to ward hop. He just needs to think a little harder before he does it. Or, y'know, Buy wards.

• There's a slim chance that finally, every team member will be expected to contribute to vision.

  • Now supports can be a meaningful and valued member of the team.

• People will have to make meaningful choices about securing vision control vs vision denial.

  • Do I buy wards and get a sweeper, or use a greater vision totem and spend that gold on combat stats?

• It's now easier to tune how much vision should be on the map.

  • Right now there's a huge disparity between how much vision a team with a sightstone jg and a support who remembers to ward has, and a team whose support forgets to ward and whose jungler doesn't build a sightstone. Giving only trinkets and purchased wards for vision makes the vision scene less complicated, which makes it easier to balance.

• On the downside, supports might be forced into running sweepers and spending a lot of their income on wards.

  • I think this can be mitigated as long as supports can get good value out of spending gold on combat stats.
  • If support itemization sucks then yeah, supports aren't going to care about getting items. But if they have good itemization, then if they have money to spend, they'll use it to buy items, not wards.

Thoughts?