Talk:Runic Bulwark/@comment-8919271-20130715063637/@comment-6722850-20130715133751

The problem with Bulwark is so much of its power is in passive team aura stats that are difficult to quantify during active gameplay. You don't really look at your teammate and say, "Yeah! Look how much damage I'm reducing with my presence!". However the raw stats prove it is the best team aura and the highest single slot MR item in the game, which made it a must buy every single time. This stagnated item diversity and didnt encourage exciting gameplay.

Riot could have nerfed the stats or shifted them into more personal ones, but then that would have penalized the roles that normally buy the item (supporting types) by making them feel ineffective (at supporting) or simply selfish. Instead, by shifting power to an active shield the support types still feel like they are helping the team and are being effective, but they have to do so proactively. This creates gameplay rather than power from "just being there" which is difficult to measure.

This is definitely a good change for the long term health of the game.