The only role that can viably buy an early Vampiric Scepter is a jungler. This is because lifesteal procs off auto attacks, and in early game you should not be auto attacking creeps because it will push your lane too much.
One of the main ideas behind stacking Doran's is that it provides a cheap advantage for early game harrasment. If two champions with similar base stats are harassing each other, the champ with 2 Doran's will have greater sustain in lane and most likely will win the harrasments. Having more health allows you to win the skirmishes against your opponent, survive jungler ganks, last hit easier, and stay in the lane after a failed jungle gank or harassment.
This does put you behind for getting your first big purchase item, however given that a B. F. Sword (the most common big purchase for AD champs) is 1550g, spending an early 475g on a second Doran's, and consequently getting greater CS (note that after ~25 CS the dorans has paid for itself) and champ kills, can actually allow you to get that B. F. Sword sooner.
The amount you return to fountain should always be minimized
You'll notice an experienced player returns to fountain much less often than a newer player. Less time at the fountain means more income.
We can break down the logic into periods of the game:
Laning
High level goals of laning phase:
- Out farm your opponent
- Control the tower
- Get kills if possible.
Backing Tips:
Try to return after pushing your lane.
Make sure your opponent can't shove the lane and cause you to lose CS at the tower while you're returning
Try to return ONLY after you've saved enough to actually purchase something
What's the point to returning to heal, if you could have waited one more wave and purchased a big item to help?
Return if you need additional health or wards
This is tricky. Unless you feel like you're in absolute danger of dying to an attack or gank from the jungler then you do not need to go back.
Mid Game
High level goals of Mid game:
- Push Towers
- Control Objectives
- Farm
Backing Tips:
Don't just back if you're low on health or mana
Even if you're low on health, if you're knowledgeable of the enemy and have map awareness, you can still farm and gain gold until you have enough for an item. This is especially true if you have life steal.
Playing a mage with low mana? Knowing blue is up in 15 seconds can save you a trip and valuable time.
Don't back when you know an objective is close
I know you're dying to finish your Infinity Edge, but what's it worth when you're back at base and your team just died at dragon?
If you find yourself in a position where you can get significantly stronger, ask your team to stall an objective while you purchase. Make sure you have vision of the objective before backing.
Late Game
High level goals of late game:
Backing Tips:
Be sure to back with your team, or when you don’t put them at risk
I've seen a lot of games lost from one poor initiation late game. If you're not with your team, you increase the chance of having your team killed without you. Back when you feel you're not going to place your team in a position when you're at base, and they're getting caught.
Know timers for objectives
If baron is up in 10 seconds and the enemy knows you're backing, you better believe they're going to start baron knowing they have an advantage. As I mentioned earlier, if you MUST back, let your team know to stall, and do NOT let the other team know you're backing.
That's just the tip of the iceberg, honestly. It all comes down to intuition. Best of luck
-- Taijii
Best Answer
Everything in the store will cost the same as before
The changes can be seen as IP being renamed to BE, and current blue essence being merged into it at an increased rate (x6.5)
The overall IP price of champions will remain the same
Do note that you may be able to gamble your IP to try to get more BE after the merge, by buying champion shards