unienaule
Dec 08, 2005, 02:34 PM
1) What are runes?
Runes are components you can use on your armor to raise the attribute levels of your primary profession.
2) Who can use which runes?
You may only use runes of attributes in your primary profession. For example, Elementalists can put runes of Fire, Earth, Water, Air, and Energy Storage in their armor. There are also Vigor runes available to any class, which raise your health. Also, Warriors have Absorption runes which are specific only to them. Fury runes were in beta only and no longer exist.
3) What are the levels of runes?
There are three levels, Minor, Major, and Superior. The effects are as follows:
For Attribute Runes:
Minor = +1 to attribute, no health loss
Major = +2 to attribute, -50 health
Superior = +3 to attribute, -75 health
For Vigor runes:
Minor = +30 health
Major = +41 health
Superior = +50 health
For Absorption:
Minor = -1 damage
Major = -2 damage
Superior = -3 damage
4) How do runes stack?
They do not. If you use 2 of the same type of rune, you WILL suffer from both health penalties, however, you will only recieve the larger of the two benefits. So, you only need one absorption (if you're a warrior), and one vigor. Also, the absorption runes are global, meaning that having absorption runes on every piece of armor has the same effect as only having one. Also, the effect of absorption runes stacks with the (also global) effect of Knights/Ascalon armor, for a maximum total possible damage reduction of -10 (-3 from runes, -5 from a shield, and -2 from Knights/Ascalon.)
*** You can only have one rune in each piece of armor. Putting a rune into a piece of armor that already has one will cancel out the old rune. ***
Also, in regards to the +1 from headpieces, yes, those actually DO stack with rune bonuses. For example, on an earth elementalist, he would use the earth eye which gives +1 to earth magic. If he then put a Superior Earth magic rune in any piece of armor, he would have a total of +4 earth magic, allowing for a possible total of 16.
5) Is it worth the sacrifice to use Superiors and/or Majors?
Generally, no one will use Major runes, because if having -50 for +2 is worth it, then -75 for +3 is not much of a difference.
Most warriors will only use minors, and sometimes a Superior of either their weapon mastery attribute, or Tactics, depending on if they are tanking or fighting.
Defensive monks use a Superior of either Healing or Protection, depending on what their focus is. In addition, they use either a minor divine favor or a superior divine favor. Minor is generally preferred since monk deaths are usually the worst.
Elementalists often use a combination of Superior (element) Magic along with Minor or Superior Energy storage.
Necromancers commonly use a superior of their preferred attribute along with a minor Soul Reaping.
Rangers use a Superior of whatever it is they're doing along with a minor or superior Expertise.
Mesmers use a minor or superior Fast Casting along with a Superior of their preferred attribute.
Some general advice:
Most people will place the superior they would like to change in their headpiece. For example, Warriors often get an Axe Mastery helmet and put Superior Axe Mastery in it. That way they can do the same thing for hammers, swords, and tactics, and be ready for anything. The same applies to all the other classes. This way you can change builds rapidly and easily.
The most important thing to remeber is that there are no rules set in stone as to what runes you should pick. You should try out various setups, and go with what suits YOU best.
Runes are components you can use on your armor to raise the attribute levels of your primary profession.
2) Who can use which runes?
You may only use runes of attributes in your primary profession. For example, Elementalists can put runes of Fire, Earth, Water, Air, and Energy Storage in their armor. There are also Vigor runes available to any class, which raise your health. Also, Warriors have Absorption runes which are specific only to them. Fury runes were in beta only and no longer exist.
3) What are the levels of runes?
There are three levels, Minor, Major, and Superior. The effects are as follows:
For Attribute Runes:
Minor = +1 to attribute, no health loss
Major = +2 to attribute, -50 health
Superior = +3 to attribute, -75 health
For Vigor runes:
Minor = +30 health
Major = +41 health
Superior = +50 health
For Absorption:
Minor = -1 damage
Major = -2 damage
Superior = -3 damage
4) How do runes stack?
They do not. If you use 2 of the same type of rune, you WILL suffer from both health penalties, however, you will only recieve the larger of the two benefits. So, you only need one absorption (if you're a warrior), and one vigor. Also, the absorption runes are global, meaning that having absorption runes on every piece of armor has the same effect as only having one. Also, the effect of absorption runes stacks with the (also global) effect of Knights/Ascalon armor, for a maximum total possible damage reduction of -10 (-3 from runes, -5 from a shield, and -2 from Knights/Ascalon.)
*** You can only have one rune in each piece of armor. Putting a rune into a piece of armor that already has one will cancel out the old rune. ***
Also, in regards to the +1 from headpieces, yes, those actually DO stack with rune bonuses. For example, on an earth elementalist, he would use the earth eye which gives +1 to earth magic. If he then put a Superior Earth magic rune in any piece of armor, he would have a total of +4 earth magic, allowing for a possible total of 16.
5) Is it worth the sacrifice to use Superiors and/or Majors?
Generally, no one will use Major runes, because if having -50 for +2 is worth it, then -75 for +3 is not much of a difference.
Most warriors will only use minors, and sometimes a Superior of either their weapon mastery attribute, or Tactics, depending on if they are tanking or fighting.
Defensive monks use a Superior of either Healing or Protection, depending on what their focus is. In addition, they use either a minor divine favor or a superior divine favor. Minor is generally preferred since monk deaths are usually the worst.
Elementalists often use a combination of Superior (element) Magic along with Minor or Superior Energy storage.
Necromancers commonly use a superior of their preferred attribute along with a minor Soul Reaping.
Rangers use a Superior of whatever it is they're doing along with a minor or superior Expertise.
Mesmers use a minor or superior Fast Casting along with a Superior of their preferred attribute.
Some general advice:
Most people will place the superior they would like to change in their headpiece. For example, Warriors often get an Axe Mastery helmet and put Superior Axe Mastery in it. That way they can do the same thing for hammers, swords, and tactics, and be ready for anything. The same applies to all the other classes. This way you can change builds rapidly and easily.
The most important thing to remeber is that there are no rules set in stone as to what runes you should pick. You should try out various setups, and go with what suits YOU best.