Riot, can we get an example of how you feel we should build 'nerfed' champions?

In light of the Sona backlash as well as some rumblings that Elise has become useless and was over-nerfed, along with the Casseopia complaints...and the Skarner complaints (though I don't know if there's any of that anymore, really. Last I checked people were still unhappy, but you know people and whining...) and so on, I've been thinking about the response to the changes and how, often we're given logic and reasons behind changes, but we're not given much else.

Sure, I have some vague idea WHY Sona's being nerfed into the ground for no reason I can see, but I have no idea how I should be ADJUSTING to these nerfs. Same thing with Elise: okay, she's been changed, spiderlings different, etc. I can see WHY, but that doesn't tell me much of what I should be DOING about it.

Granted, you could say that it's the community's job to figure that out. That's part of mastering a champion is adapting to the changes and such. However when you leave people who have mained a champion for seasons and seasons, years and years essentially, completely bewildered and frustrated because nothing they can think of seems to work out all that well for them, isn't that kind of a problem?

I remember shortly after the Sona rework, as the debate raged on about if it was good or bad, a Rioter posted up and commented that (mind you it's been awhile so I can't remember exact words) building tank and CDR could be a viable new route for Sona. I can see this as you get tank to survive and CDR to spam your spells all day. But I don't know if that's really all that viable, particularly currently. Still, it was a signpost in a direction. Even if it was a personal opinion and it wasn't like the person in question was laying out a full-blown guide on New Sona, it was something that, to me, went a lot farther towards acceptance of the changes than slightly vague comments on the health of the game or the champion's role, or what-have-you.

With that in mind I ask members of the balance team, Rioters in general, the folks who are actively paid and spend their days worrying about and implementing balance: Show us how YOU play this new Sona. How do YOU play the new Cass? Hell, any champion that you feel like you get a lot of grief over. How do you play New Karma? (apparently the old one was sooo much better, but I wasn't around so I can't say) New Skarner? New Sion?

Not saying you have to give us exact builds and build-order and such, but give us an idea of how you play. Give us an idea how we're INTENDED to play these champions. Obviously you had some goals in mind when you made the champion changes, you of all people know what the 'endgame fantasy' is for Sona for example. What is it anymore? Has it changed from what it was? How do I get there? All this time the question has always been 'why did you do this?' when asking why never seems to make anyone happy and answering why doesn't seem to do a whole lot to help players adjust.

I say in addition to telling us WHY you make changes, can you help us figure out HOW to adjust to them?