Concept for Support Item Reworks, to Make Support a More Attractive Role
I love the role of support. It's my game play style- healing, buffing, peeling, intimidating, tanking, zoning, etc. But support in League of Legends is weak. And the reason is itemization. Every other role has free range with their items, except Jungle- but Sated Devourer isn't exactly a burden. Now, I'm not saying Sightstone is a burden, vision is great- but Sightstone doesn't exactly help your champion. There are also the 3 basic support starter items, Ancient Coin, Relic Shield, and Spellthief's Edge. And these 3 items each have 3 tiers. Now, a recent update created an alternative 3rd Tier build for each which incorporated the Sightstone. This was a good idea, in that support items definitely need some attention. Also the attention given to Sightstones is a good focus. Combining them is also a good idea, as it clears up inventory for the support- making it less of a burden. Currently: Sightstone, a second tier item, provides 150 Health and 3 vision wards that last 150 seconds at 800 gold. For 1,000 more gold you can upgrade to the Ruby Sightstone: providing 500 Health and 4 vision wards that last 150 seconds. Or you can build your Sightstone into your second tier starter items. The "3 Eyes" just utilize all the effects from each item, and buff it slightly. Still- not much incentive. All we have is passives for gold income, and an active for warding- along with the individual stat bonuses. I think we can do better. Here's an idea I had for each of these items. Now- this is just a concept, just an example of something that COULD be done.
Eye of the Equinox
+500 Health, +100% Base Health Regen, +2 Gold per 10 seconds
Unique Passive- Spoils of War: Same concept
Unique Active- Targon's Warding: Same concept+ Placing a ward grants +10 permanent Health, up to a maximum of 250, and a shield that blocks 150 damage for 3 seconds. If player already has 3 wards placed, placing a ward grants no bonuses or benefits.
Eye of the Oasis
+200 Health, +150% Base Health Regen, +100% Base Mana Regen, +10% Cooldown Reduction
Unique Passive- Favor: Same concept
Unique Active- Shurima's Warding: Same concept+ Placing a ward grants +5 gold, restores 50 Health, and grants +40% movement speed
for 2 seconds. If player already has 3 wards placed, placing a ward grants no bonuses or benefits.
Eye of the Watchers
+200 Health, +100% Base Mana Regen, +25 Ability Power, +2 Gold per 10 seconds
Unique Passive- Tribute: Same concept
Unique Active- Freijlord's Warding: (Is it Freijlord?) Same concept+ Placing a ward sends an icy ghost that seeks out the closest enemy, and slows them...., and grants invisibility for 2 seconds. If player already has 3 wards placed, placing a ward grants no bonuses or benefits.
Basically, I think supports need incentive to place wards. And we can incorporate this incentive where the role of support is lacking most- it's itemization. So, we can make the support items better- but in a way that persuades the person to still play their role. It makes the role of support "better" in two ways- vision incentive, and the incentive itself. Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments below. Thanks for reading!