A Developed Guide to Supports.
Overall alot of people have different opinions about supports. Some want sighstones and some want meta supports. Some want full damage and some might want to roam alot.
However hear I want to clear up a few things. Lets start with what a supports job is.
What is a supports Job?:
A support is supposed to protect the team. This does not mean roam for long periods without your adc nearby. This means that your priority is the squishy carries like the adc but the adc isn't your only adc to support.
Should I take farm/minions/kills for myself?:
No. And yes. Most of the time you should not.
Why?
Because of two main reasons. Supports cannot utilize it well nor do they need the gold to be successful. Other roles, especially the ADC, can use the gold much better and need it to be successful. The ADC has a weaker then average early game in most cases and is reliant on items which they get from gold. If you take this from them they are weak. Part of the reason support is less people's main role is because it is hard to carry, so don't go full AP and steal cs just so you can "carry" because now your team is useless and reliant on you.
How much should I roam and when?
Roam when you've killed the enemy or they recalled. Roam after you pushed the minion waves so that they can't take your tower while your gone. Don't roam when both their botlaners and/or junglers are alive if you can help it. If your adc can surive while your gone its ok. Just becareful, and if your new play safe until you get used to it.
Do i need a sighstone?:
Most of the time, yes. Vision is very important, especially because your team will likely not ward enough especially in low elo's. Wards = vision and Vision = more kills because you can find enemies caught out, less deaths because you know where the enemy is, more objectives because you can see them taking the objectives before they do, AND more control of the map/game.
Don't think "Oh I can save my allies, I don't need wards". Because you can't save them from a 5 man gank or when they got baited. You can't always survive ganks. Even if you could save your allies, you will have less control of the game, less kills, and less objectives
What's wrong with basic attacking minions?:
Supports who basic attack minions can do several negative effects. Not only do they push the wave creating a longer distance from tower in case your ganked or need to retreat, but they also can screw up an ADC's farming. It can be something you want to do however. If your enemy botlaners roam or leave lane you should ping Enemies Missing and either:
A): Shove your lane very fast with the supports help in order to damage their tower as much as you can while they are gone.
Or.
B): Roam yourself.
I hope this helps and clears up anything people are confused about. If you disagree or have questions please comment below. I used to main support and still have my top 2 most played champions as support characters.