The key to LOL happiness (and some tips for supports)

I often find myself in games where player x, y or me gets blamed for losing the game. The blaming player then spend so much effort and brain power into explaining why it was x, y or me fault. I used to do this same thing. I would blame my ADC for being out of position, I would blame the mid laner for not following their counterpart, I would blame the jungler for not ganking and so on etc, etc. It was so much easier for me to find blame because it is easy to find fault in other players. No one plays perfect so I blamed others because obviously it wasn't my fault :P So I continued on blaming others because although it made me grumpy it was easier.

Then I had an epiphany. I realized that no matter how much I complain, argue, berate, or blame others the only player I can control is me. I realized that even if it is their fault we lost a match it doesn't matter because I cannot play their champion for them. I can only play mine. What good is it to get upset over someone else? Suddenly, I wasn't angry but instead found myself thinking...was their a way I could have played that better? Could I have roamed mid a bit earlier to save them from losing lane? Did I time my CC correctly that last fight?

I started to review the games I lost. I also reviewed games where I lost in lane but won game. I often can't find a game changing move I could of done but also I sometimes did find something I could have done that would have swung the game in our favor. I would find little minor mistakes that may have made sense to me at the time but watching objectively I realize I could of done better. Over time my mindset started to change without me even noticing. I was thinking "What could I have done different." instead of "Stupid &%$# always someone costing me a game."

It became a challenge to find something that I could have done differently in a game to win instead of lose and you know what? I often find some theory that may have worked. It wasn't often some crazy strategy to instant win or some major play I could of done but instead little things like perhaps if I harassed the jungler early, what if I placed a couple wards around mid instead of bot as mid was getting camped, what if I purchased a different item or what if I waited before backing to buy? Yes, there was also the dur dur dur moments where I was completely in the wrong.

I have been learning a lot watching the games I lose and I feel like I am becoming a better player but more importantly...I enjoy league so much more now. I didn't realize it till recently but turning losses into puzzles and stopping blaming others I find myself having fun. I have found that the key to happiness (mine at least) was to just stop blaming others and focus on my own game. Sure there is the occasional game where the enemy Hecarim goes 12/0 at the 15 minute mark but those games are rare and for 90% of the games I lose I find something that I could improve on.

In fact I have found a few tips on helping me as a support and getting my ADC through the laning phase.

1. Be aware of ADC powerspikes. Is your ADC a late game carry (needs 3 items), mid game monster (needs 1 to 2 items) or an early game duelist (powerful right of the fountain)? This was something I was overlooking a lot and reviewing my games I found that I would often play aggressive styles with late game ADC or passive styles with early game duelist.

2. I found I can influence my ADC behavior. The most common is to just notice what type of ADC they are playing as ask them to play passive/aggressive depending on what type of ADC they are. This would sometimes not work and they would still get greedy and try to get that 25% health support only to die. As the support you have a lot of control over how much harassment can be put on the enemy. This means you control (to an extent) the enemies health. Keep them above 50% health and your ADC won't go "Imma flash under turret to try for FB!" Even if you have Spellthief's Edge you only need to proc the item 3 times every 45 seconds.

3. I found I can influence the enemies behavior. If I hover around 50% health the enemy love to be more aggressive. If I don't harass the enemy as much they push the wave more. If I hover in the middle of my minions the enemy support will often push the wave back to my tower with their abilities (I love using this one against Brand/Morgana supports).

4. Taric + Knight's Vow + Draven = The most OP combo in game. Legit 2v5 enemy team, just make sure you get that AP mid laner first.