I Need Healing! – Why Nobody Wants To Play Support

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It seems that frequently, it’s mentioned that certain online games have a scarcity of support players. One might ponder: Why is it that so few players opt for playing supporters and healers? Could we identify strategies to make this role more appealing to a broader range of players?

As Old As Character Classes Themselves

Healers were initially introduced as a character class in the 1987 game “NetHack”, known for their expertise in medicine, herbs, and the ability to determine life or death situations. They also held significant roles in early RPGs like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy.

In contrast, the concept of ‘support’ characters gained prominence in online multiplayer games such as World of Warcraft, a trend that became more prevalent over time. Today, healers are common across various game classes due to their healing abilities. Yet, there seems to be persistent issues related to the scarcity of players choosing this role.

Big Numbers, Big Satisfaction

It’s quite fulfilling to rack up numerous kills, accumulate a heap of gold, or dish out massive damage during gameplay. However, these rewards are typically scarce for Support characters as their role is primarily about boosting team performance by taking a backseat in terms of damage output. This often results in fewer kills for Supports, which some players might find disappointing since the game’s statistics tend to focus on damage dealt and eliminations. Consequently, it can lead to feelings that one’s impact on the game is minimal.

Unsatisfying Gameplay

In many games like Overwatch, instead of being appreciated for excelling at your role as a healer, you might find yourself criticized if you don’t perform perfectly. You’re frequently expected to support the overconfident teammate who charges into five opponents alone, keeping him alive and above all, avoiding death yourself. It’s easy to overlook the numbers, so contributions like your Counter-Strike teammate consistently placing the crucial Smoke in front of the Connector every round or providing vital information when he’s behind may go unnoticed.

It’s not uncommon for a backup player to struggle defending themselves effectively due to their crucial role in keeping the whole team alive. This vulnerability can make them easy targets and quickly eliminate them, leading to feelings of powerlessness that can dampen the enjoyment of the game.

Character Design

It has been found through a survey within the League of Legends platform that approximately 97% of female players tend to choose only champion characters who are female. At first glance, this isn’t necessarily a problem, but when considering the “Enchanter Support” role (characters that boost or heal other champions), it becomes clear that most of these characters have magical powers, are vibrant and exude a cute charm. In contrast, other roles feature muscular warriors or powerful witches. As a result, the Enchanter Support role appears to be an enchanted forest within the game itself.

Since this trend isn’t exclusive to League of Legends, as healers are frequently portrayed as mystical beings, it is important to appreciate this characterization regardless of one’s gender, because otherwise, finding relatable characters might prove challenging.

Make Supports Great

It’s indisputable that certain games offer a fun and rewarding experience when it comes to providing support. Take the role of medics in Battlefield, for instance; while you may not always be the action hero, using the defibrillator every so often adds a different kind of excitement. The best players manage to excel at both roles. Similarly, the Medic in Team Fortress 2 demonstrates that support-focused gameplay that allows room for skill showcase can be immensely gratifying.

Are you more of a team supporter since the start, or is it that you’re less engaged with the actual gameplay?

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2025-06-02 19:10