Support Character Help

[quote=MrBucketz]Pretty new to LoL, have played with some of the more basic champs - Garen/Ashe/Yi. However, in all games, I typically play support characters. I don't need to pick up the stats, I just want to help my team get the W. With that in mind, I tohught I was going to buy Janna or Alistar. One of my buddies then told me what most public teams really need are tanks, and recommended that Shen is an unbelievable support champ. So, I thought I would ask here, which one of these would you recommend? I guess Janna is pure support, Shen is a tank, and Alistar is...somewhere in between? Which one do you think would be most useful in securing victory for a team? And if you recommend one, could you give a few tips or a basic item build for them? Thanks![/quote]

[quote=Scrax]No one can say who would be the [i]best[/i], but I believe a tank would be the best pick. I'm saying this out from personal experience, but I generally see a lack of tanks. Games can be won without a tank, and without a support, but they are won much more easily with either. However a tank is more essential than a support [i]in my opinion[/i], and could win you the game more easily than say.. If you have a support instead of a tank. I'm rambling >_> [[Shen]]! :)[/quote]

[quote=Mowen]What Scrax said, [[shen]]. Shen is also nice because he is a very supporty tank. He can teleport/shield to allies and need and taunt off allies. As far as builds go. The way I build him is in my New Player FAQ (look in my sig or click on my name). Vertical Dsb's build is also very good, and very similar to how I build.[/quote]

[quote=Jebus McAzn]It is much easier to win a game without a support than a game without a tank. A new LoL player would probably win more games purchasing a tank than with a support character. So yeah, [[Shen]]. :)[/quote]

[quote=Jet]well, shen really falls under both categories, which is why you generally see teams who pick shen not pick a "traditional" support champion like janna, taric, etc.[/quote]

[quote=FreestyleZer0][[Shen]] is the way to go yeah :), he was my first tank and i truly loved him for his capabilities to support other champs with his shield from stand united and his taunt from shadow dash(or so i thought it was called).[/quote]

[quote=MDC]Why not them all? Srsly, if you save enough IP which isn't much, start with Shen, go Janna which is what 1350 ip only,then Muhamed Ali. You'll have 2 tanks, 1 support, get Soraka after, she's also nice support beast.[/quote]

[quote=Zeprido]Alistar takes a while to learn how to play properly, so I would go with Shen for a tank support.[/quote]

[quote=AmoreiTehGjeni]Shen or Amumu, but like MDC said, try everyone, just keep trying characters and you'll find the ones you enjoy pretty quickly.[/quote]