When a character's thematics don't match their playstyle

Linna Excel·Feb 17, 2014·1 votes·56 views

Nidalee comes from the jungle. Her theme is a tribal/primitive female with a spear and a loin cloth.

In game she's one of the worst options for jungling. Period. She can't clear well before 6, she can't duel, she has no tank, she has no CC, she's annoying but not a traditional "carry" champ, with the bush nerfs her passive was indirectly nerfed a little, and she doesn't do well without gold.

...

Can someone please explain this disconnect to me? Shouldn't the bloody champ who lived and thrived in a jungle be able to play well as a jungler?

9 Comments

MackleDogeFeb 17, 20141 votes

Umm...Nautilus doesn't play only in the river and there isn't an ocean section. Maokai isn't only available in the Twisted Treeline map. There's a difference between gameplay matching lore and trying to be way too literal with it.

Linna ExcelFeb 17, 20141 votes

SR has trees too, as does domination. Actually since Maokai can jungle fairly well, his gameplay matches his theme.

MackleDogeFeb 17, 20141 votes

...that isn't the point I was making.

Linna ExcelFeb 17, 20141 votes

Well, when you are making a champ who is literally screaming I'M FROM THE JUNGLE as hard as possible and then her playstyle is the complete opposite of what jungling needs, to me something has failed.

I find it quite ironic that our only jungle human sucks in the jungle.

MackleDogeFeb 17, 20141 votes

Because Nidalee isn't a jungler...

Linna ExcelFeb 17, 20141 votes

Well why would anyone create a jungle themed champ and make them completely inadequate in the jungle? I mean bottom rung, not even worth considering inadequate.

MackleDogeFeb 17, 20141 votes

Because that's how the character is designed? That's like asking me why they would design Darius as a melee champion or why they decided Jinx's should have a global execute? Because that is how they designed the kit. Just because Nidalee's lore involves the jungle doesn't mean she should have to be viable in the jungle.

Linna ExcelFeb 17, 20141 votes

Actually, she should have been designed with the jungle in mind. That's why I created this thread. It's a bad disconnect between thematic and mechanic properties.

MackleDogeFeb 17, 20141 votes

Nesting made it so we can't respond any further so now we have to renest. Anyways, that really is your opinion, personally I think the way her kit and character play right now in the mid lane fit her lore.