Supporters differ slightly from gankers in the sense that they usually require almost no core items, and are available to spend their money on items that will benefit the team as a whole, such as wards, courier, and cheap aura items. They also often spend their time out of creep range stacking the jungle, playing mind games, or following gankers to do something productive while allowing the carries to get the most EXP and gold out of a lane.
Here are your nominees for the best support player of 2011.
Nominees for Best Supporter 2011:
[OK] Joakim 'Akke' Akterhall Specialty:
Ever since he swapped to HoN from DotA, Akke has been considered one of the premier supporters in the world, but in 2011 he was hit with the spotlight. He is almost unanimously considered to be the best of the best supporter by fellow pro players.
His aggressive but smart playstyle makes his opponents tremble with fear of even his Glacius, while his Ophelia is unmatched by anyone.
[fntc] Jascha 'NoVa_' Markuse Specialty:
The German supporter completely crushed his competition in last year's polls, but things could go a bit differently this time around. Still one of the favorites to win the award, NoVa_ is one of the most unselfish players, sacrificing himself for the good of the team to an extreme.
He's famous for running around with just red boots and wards during the later stages of the game, while still managing to somehow avoid death with his immaculate positioning prowess.
[SK][EG][EZ] Robert 'Bdiz' Tinnes Specialty:
Despite being more publicly infamous for his Valkyrie and Hellbringer performances than his support play, Bdiz has been the backbone of his teams during 2011. His consistency is possibly his biggest advantage over other nominees, as his team could always rely on him to do his job.
He was also the one who revolutionized the way Glacius is played, being the first to popularize the no aura aggressive build.
[SK][sGty][tdM] Alex 'Sender' Wieker Specialty:
Always good, never spectacular – that may be the best way to describe this American supporter. It is not unusual to never hear his name during his team's casted matches. I, for one, am still unsure if that's a good or a bad thing for a dedicated support player.
It is, however, undeniable that Sender was and is the backbone of his teams as much as any of the other nominees, allowing his carrying and ganking teammates to do their job and take the spotlight instead of him.
[LION] Love 'Fittske' Brändström Specialty:
The transition from a casual pubstar to one of the best supporters in the game came in just a few months for Fittske, and deservedly so. Unlike some of the other nominees, he managed to receive the attention of the public comparable to his teammates, despite playing the thankless role of hard supporter.
Most known for his spectacular Nymphora performances, the newcomer has played a vital role in his team's success towards the end of the year.
