User blog comment:Raknut/My Nidalee rework- v1.0/@comment-9705522-20140526203524/@comment-7460908-20140526210427

Identity's a tricky subject. Thematically when I think of Nidalee's identity, in relation to her lore and whatnot- I picture her as a feral huntress, but with an ambition to defend her territory, which I feel the kit pretty much nails- she sets up traps and bides her time, sustaining off small prey around her (either as a laner, or thanks to my rework, a jungler). When the opportunity arises for her to take down a bigger target, caught out in the open or on its own, she strikes. She hurls a spear at the target, severely damaging it, then she shifts into her inner cougar, pounces on her foe to pin it down, maul it further, and finally finish it off with a decisive strike to its throat.

My idea was to eliminate the AP Spear-bot playstyle indirectly by nerfing the spear's damage but increasing her follow-up potential. Perhaps a more appropriate solution would be to take the slow from Bushwhack and move it to Javelin Toss, maybe even make the slow scale with distance, but then that would reduce the offensive potential of Bushwhack once again, delegating it to "fire and forget".

I admittedly had Nidalee more in mind for toplane when I was making this (bitches don't know 'bout my off-tank AP Nid top), so my idea was that she excels at being a lane bully early on, while transitioning into a strong solo pusher out of lane and being a potentially stronger, more reliable anti-carry in teamfights. I also wanted to actually make her a more legitimate hybrid champion capable of building either AD or AP while not making her hybrid potential abusive (live Bushwhack shreds G.G)- although building hybrid is arguably something just not supported by current itemization.

I appreciate your feedback- I'll put it to use in my next iteration.