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Support mains.. how do you deal with the stress?

Stars Shaper·3/6/2017, 3:32:38 PM·7 votes·2,591 views

I've decided to improve at Taric and get also some shots to the Support role which always appealed to me because I've always been playing characters that in a way or the other built around being the best for the team.

My experience anyway is turning me away from this game entirely, my last match is a clear synthesis of what I regularly meet:

Totally off-meta teamcomp (Liss top, Shen jungle and Pantheon mid) another thing I've never had problems with especially when I see that we can get some good plays (global presence should have been awesome with this comp). Too bad that Shen built AD and never EVER came botlane even after the third gank from the enemy jungler, he stood farming and ganking top (and failing to it) because his premade buddy was playing there. My ADC (Miss Fortune) stood still getting each and every bubble from Nami and when told not to stand still he answred: "but you never stune" which was clearly happening instead.

Anyway... what brought me to hate the game was the total disregard I got intheir replies, Shen and Liss basically turmped over me telling me that I shouldn't blame them for my fails, that I should play safe (notice that we were ganked under turret by Shyvanah all the god damn times), they were just clever enough not to spam insults 'cause otherwise they would be bannable.

So... Do I really need a freaking 5 men premade in order not to get submerged in this toxic waste of community?

63 Comments

Hethalean3/6/2017, 3:39:47 PM14 votes

I deal with the stress by only caring about what I am doing.

I assume that no one else is coming to help, and that my ADC and I are on an island. Any ganks or TPs in my favor are a blessing. Anything else is just what it is. If I got ganked, there are plenty of things that I could have done to averted that.

I also try not to think about how anyone else could be playing better as that is just a dark dark road that leads to you potentially trying to tell them what they could be doing... which never ever ends well.

I also try to just learn from mistakes, but never dwell on them. You made a mistake. It's unfortunate, but not the end of the world. It's not something to be stressed about.

OH, and I also mute people pretty quick if they even look like they are talking trash or will talk trash.

elduris3/6/2017, 5:19:43 PM6 votes

Some of us play Nunu, take Smite, and run around the jungle instead of actually supporting. That's one way to deal with stress I guess.

BigBellBrute3/6/2017, 6:49:04 PM5 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stars Shaper,realm=EUW,application-id=ZGEFLEUQ,discussion-id=E9zW40ER,comment-id=,timestamp=2017-03-06T15:32:38.748+0000)

I've decided to improve at Taric and get also some shots to the Support role which always appealed to me because I've always been playing characters that in a way or the other built around being the best for the team.

My experience anyway is turning me away from this game entirely, my last match is a clear synthesis of what I regularly meet:

Totally off-meta teamcomp (Liss top, Shen jungle and Pantheon mid) another thing I've never had problems with especially when I see that we can get some good plays (global presence should have been awesome with this comp). Too bad that Shen built AD and never EVER came botlane even after the third gank from the enemy jungler, he stood farming and ganking top (and failing to it) because his premade buddy was playing there. My ADC (Miss Fortune) stood still getting each and every bubble from Nami and when told not to stand still he answred: "but you never stune" which was clearly happening instead.

Anyway... what brought me to hate the game was the total disregard I got intheir replies, Shen and Liss basically turmped over me telling me that I shouldn't blame them for my fails, that I should play safe (notice that we were ganked under turret by Shyvanah all the god damn times), they were just clever enough not to spam insults 'cause otherwise they would be bannable.

So... Do I really need a freaking 5 men premade in order not to get submerged in this toxic waste of community?

The first rule of Support is it's always your fault. If you're playing Raka and the top laner dies it's your fault for not ulting. Being level 1 is no excuse.
If the ADC goes ham and dies it's your fault. Being back at the base buying is no excuse.
If the mid laner dies because there weren't wards, it's your fault. Yes you must ward the entire game board starting at level 1 with just one trinket. BTW if you go warding and 2 players from the other team jump you. That you asked for an escort is no excuse.
If you're playing Morg and your ADC is constantly being pulled by Blitz because he can't position properly, it's your fault. That it has only been 1 second since the last time it was on him and is down is no excuse.
Slay even one minion and well you're the pits of the world.

Rule 2. If the team wins, you get no credit. If the team loses, see rule 1.

Friendly Ram3/6/2017, 4:32:27 PM4 votes

normally by listening to music and just using pings so i don't type out something i'll regret. If i get really annoyed at the idiots on my team i usually just try and have fun chatting with the enemy team.

Kei1433/6/2017, 3:43:16 PM3 votes

you babysit your team mates and tell them to blame the jungler instead.

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/925/494/218.png_large

on a serious note. winning your lane is your (and adc's) job. not the junglers.

Also, tactic is a late game support. his AAs does alot of dmg mid / late game, so don't be afraid to go in and smack stuff.

Clutch shields / heals should be real good life savers as well. If you are playing him right, they shouldn't be able to dive you.

Makior723/6/2017, 5:42:59 PM3 votes

At the first sign of a hint of a micro aggression from my adc I mute them. And then I tell them they have been muted and to use pings if they need to communicate with me. This usually results in me getting ping spammed for the next 20 seconds or so and then they call down. I do the same for any other team mate. If the adc is playing like ass and all hope is gone for bot lane, I will go mid or top and try to make something happen.

Remember, you are your teams support. You are not your adcs babysitter.

ZT Xperimentor3/6/2017, 3:39:00 PM3 votes

I like playing ivern & tahm as supports for trying to save my partner from their stupidity; but yeah I agree the community has become so hostile, it's no wonder nobody wants to play the role.

Sickly Summoner3/7/2017, 10:29:48 PM2 votes

Awwww.....it's too bad ur EUW or I would totally friend u <3 Uhm....by taking break from support and playing jungle XD Meditating...not playing for a while until there's new stuff for supports to do :3c

NekoniClaws3/6/2017, 5:12:21 PM2 votes

Pick the right support. Ask your ADC their 'playstyle' in select (don't always take their reply or suggestions to heart). Focus on team comp, your opponents, and then chose who you're playing ( and pick something safe if you're early in the pick order).

Only play Taric when you're mentally steeled for it. He's considered one of the weaker supports so you're entering a game with a stereotype already applied to you. His weak laning phase is why ADCs tilt so easily with him. Taric is also very easy to counter so don't counterpick yourself until you're Mastery 6 or so and you won't be forced to play passive too often, (also if you're going passive, tell your adc)

Other supports to avoid because of tilt: Zyra Malzahar > Will KS by accident Fiddlesticks Morgana > Disrupt CS when played poorly Brand Lux > their Ults are designed to kill multiple targets, your ADC knows this Thresh > Everyone IS. Watching. EVERYTHING you do. Bard > WHERE IS MY SUPPORT!? PING? PING?PING?PING?PING?PING?PING?

As for the dodging? IKR? You can ask if your adc 'needs to stay longer to farm for boots', very subtle hint. Can stop the feeding. Probably won't.

Ÿun3/6/2017, 5:38:55 PM2 votes

I haven't faced much toxicity directed towards me as a support except every once in a while where I get a retarded ADC who runs into the other team to die and blames me for being "useless". I think it's probably because I don't talk much in terms of telling people what they should/shouldn't have done, so there isn't really anything for them to argue with me about. However, if they do make an inflammatory remark about something I've done, I try to make light of it (i.e. joke) and it usually stops there. If they still continue, then I just ignore/mute.

People really hate being told that they're wrong or being told how to play their champ, so maybe change how you word things?... This isn't really a good example and is contradictive to what I've said in the next segment but it's the easiest example I can think of to highlight what I mean:

Instead of saying: "MF, you have to dodge those bubbles", you could say something like "Damn, that nami is really good at landing bubbles"

Saying it this way puts it in a more positive light (doesn't sound like you're "attacking"/blaming her), and at the same time subtly implies what you really wanted to say.

Sometimes things are better off left unsaid, like your MF that keeps standing still, or someone who is feeding. Telling them to stop doing that isn't going to change much, because you have to remember that no one really WANTS to feed. It's like telling someone who's mad to stop being mad, and expecting them to be able to instantaneously stop.

Ariel the Cruel3/6/2017, 6:50:12 PM1 votes

Bury it and watch your blood pressure rise.

I'm hoping for a record by next year.

50000000000000003/6/2017, 7:25:39 PM1 votes

For me I just stopped taking the game so seriously.

Aldapsayar3/6/2017, 7:41:24 PM1 votes

Play support Brand and carry, lol. But seriously just assume you have 1v9 every game. Then you will accept such shitty games as something usual and you have no stress xd Or duo with friend. Other than that... Only you can see what to do.

Mig893/6/2017, 9:28:23 PM1 votes

All roles are stressful man. As a mid main i would assume you'd enjoy supporting as its almost playing mid without the farming. I had a 60%winrate on zyra last season(my first season ranked). most ADCs at my elo are not the best so knowing i can box out both enemy laners if i get even the slightest of a lead, I can make sure my adc can at least farm. Not focusing on farm also helps open up possibilities of shotcalling better.

PeelDpotato3/6/2017, 9:49:55 PM1 votes

Your soul dies hehe xd.

Kaioko3/6/2017, 9:54:36 PM1 votes

You should be able to withstand a gank by just Shyvana under your turret especially as a taric support. Shyvana doesn't exactly have the ganks and taric is an extremely defensive support. They have a point when they argue that it's not their jobs to babysit your lane.

Learn to play without relying on constant ganks would be a start.

FurriesAreHot3/6/2017, 9:59:52 PM1 votes

Honestly, I dont see toxicity on that level very often. I often mind my own business and just play.

Telephone Booth3/6/2017, 10:41:23 PM1 votes

420 blaze it

rengar vore3/6/2017, 11:03:15 PM1 votes

/mute all

Narsicus3/6/2017, 11:45:48 PM1 votes

I tend to focus mostly on what I am doing and what I do in game to help the team win. Looking at enemy team comps/item builds to see what counters I might need (ex: Mikael's to remove important cc or Locket to help team survive burst) and what I might need to do (focus on keeping a specific assassin off the adc or something).

Sometimes you screw up, but focusing on what you CAN do is always better than focusing on past events you cant change.

That all being said.....

If this is a persistent issue for you I might recommend moving away from Taric. Taric is a great champion with a game changing ultimate but his other abilities are relatively weak and he is very team reliant, especially when it comes to actually making good use of that invulnerability. Picking a champion with greater individual strengths or very clear tells to the team (nothing says 'go in and kill them now' like an aoe stun) might be good for you in the long run.

Mages are notorious for still being rather powerful even when played support, they have crowd control and still put out decent aoe damage. Or if you want to stay tank Leona, Braum, and Nautilus all are very durable and come with lots of cc.

Of course if you really like Taric just ignore this last part, but he is very team reliant and if your team's performance is stressing you out to much it might be something to consider.

seasaltcake3/7/2017, 1:19:53 AM1 votes

I just play Sona and float around doing my best. If my team isn't filled with complete utter idiots then we should win. If we don't then not much I can do to help that lol.

Just focus on what you can do as a support, if someone goes wrong think on what you could have done to prevent it. Just remember you can't help everything, like if the jungle gets executed by camps or if your adc thinks he's playing a tank.

BLACK REALM GOD3/7/2017, 4:51:20 AM1 votes

yes you need a 5 man pre-made if you want to have a team with a pre-game plan. there is not enough time or willingness to co-operate among a random gaggle of yuppies to actually form a plan at champ select. trying to do so is how arguments start. just play your champ and your lane. if everyone did that then there would be so much less stress involved.

even as a support all you need to do is negatively affect the enemy team and positively affect your own team. that's how you win in solo queue.

LordGeovanni3/7/2017, 5:28:13 AM1 votes

i game jump go to over watch and deal with diffrent types of idiots there just transfered my ps3 gta online character to my ps4

BobFrankly3/7/2017, 7:47:46 AM1 votes

Learn to play Zyra support. Yes really. Then presume your ADC is an idiot. Dont tell him that, but play like he's not going to help you. If you can score a kill, don't worry about what your ADC says because you did most of the damage. But don't chase kills. Get into the mindset that it's about helping your ADC get a higher creepscore then their ADC. Zoning does this. Damage does this. Kills do this. However, your death does not, so avoid dying.

Once you get your game pattern down, the stress level goes down. You KNOW how you're going to approach a game.

Taric support? If you really like Taric, and feel he fits your playstyle, then go for it. But know that you're going to have a hard time landing your stun against mobility ADCs like Lucian, Ezreal, and Tristana. Personally, I consider Taric a niche/counter pick against AD heavy teams, as that's where he really shines, but that's me. However the Zyra support advise still applies. Presume your ADC is incapable, and play accordingly. If they start to show signs of intelligence, then you might choose to be more aggressive.

Geauxx3/6/2017, 3:41:35 PM1 votes

Thick skin, that's basically it... for me anyways.