Rune-keeper
- Class Difficulty: Moderate
- Role: Healer/Damage
- Gameplay: Rune-keepers must choose during each battle to focus on damaging skills or healing skills. Either choice shifts their Attunement, unlocking more potent skills, but the choice also restricts access to other skills. In addition, they have support skills that may always be used. In Fellowships, a Rune-keeper keeps allies healed, or deals significant damage to foes.
- Lore: Rune-keepers are gifted linguists and masters of true names. With this knowledge, a Rune-keeper crafts powerful rune-words that help the Free Peoples. Through unparalleled mastery of Angerthas and Tengwar runes, a Rune-keeper evokes much more than a normal scribe. Dagor runes deal with battle, Nestad with healing, and Thalas with support.
- The class is inspired by the master Elf-smith Celebrimbor, whose skill with runes of power was unparalleled.
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Role
In lore terms, the Rune-keeper marks the game's first true "magic user." The Lore-master class had their powers explained as the harnessing of the traditional powers of nature -- calling down lightning, using water to make foes stick in the mud, or throwing a fireball made from a chemical concoction. In short, the class is more of a combat chemist than a true magician. The Rune-keeper, on the other hand, actually taps into the primal physics-altering powers of creation through "true names." It's the same kind of power (though to a far, far lesser degree) as that tapped into by powerful elves like Galadriel and Celebrimbor (who serve as the model for the class).
In pure game dynamics, Steefel (former Executive Producer) said that the Rune-keeper is "...a third light armor class that offers viable healing or DPS alternatives." True to the game's "hybrid class" design philosophy, the Rune-keeper compares well to the primary healing class (Minstrel) by utilizing heals-over-time, and focuses its DPS capabilities by the application of powerful, stackable damage-over-time effects. Players choose their role via a new "Attunement Meter" that provides bonuses to healing skills while removing access to damage skills and vice-versa, depending on the current role the Rune-keeper is being asked to fulfil. Attunement resets while out-of-combat, and there are several skills/consumables available that make it easier to switch attunement (and temporarily open skills from the opposite attunement).
New Rune-keepers receive a copy of the Rune-keeper -- Attunement document, which discusses some aspects of the attunement mechanism.
Attunement
Attunement is used by Rune-keepers in a way that improves their ability to either do damage or heal at the expense of the other. The more battle-attuned the Rune-keeper is, the more damage their attacks will do, but the less healing they will be able to do. The more healing-attuned the Rune-keeper is, the more healing they will output, but the less damage they will be able to do.
Attunement is measured on a scale of 0-20, 0 being fully battle-attuned and 20 fully healing-attuned. An attunement of 10 is neutral (neither battle- nor healing-attuned). When Rune-keepers use skills, their attunement dynamically adjusts from neutral to a maximum of nine battle-attunement (which appears as red marks on the left of the attunement panel), or to a maximum of nine healing-attunement (which appears as green marks on the right of the attunement panel).
Some skills will battle-attune the Rune-keeper, moving attunement towards the left on the panel, while others will healing-attune the Rune-keeper, moving attunement towards the right on the panel. Other skills will neutral-attune by moving attunement towards the center of the panel. Finally some skills will return to neutral attunement, automatically moving attunement all the way to the middle regardless of current attunement.
It's important for Rune-keeper's to carefully monitor their attunement. Some encounters will warrant a Rune-keeper to go either fully battle-attuned or healing-attuned, but other fights may warrant the Rune-keeper to stay closer to neutral in order to either do damage or heal on short notice.
For more information, see Item:Rune-keeper -- Attunement.
Symbols
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Battle
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Steady
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Heal
Skills
Default Skills
These skills are granted automatically as you gain levels. The effects of many of these skills are improved in various ways by your choice of specialization and how you spend your trait points. Some skills may also be replaced by an improved version of the same skill as you increase in level.
Skill | Category | Attunes | Range | Induct / CD | Source | |
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Fiery Ridicule | Damage + DoT | 1 | 30m | 1.5s / 1s | Level: | 1 |
Prelude to Hope | HoT | 1 | 25m | - / 3s | Level: | 1 |
Scribe's Spark | Damage | 2 | 20m | - / 3s | Level: | 1 |
Shocking Words | Damage + Stun | 0 | 20m | - / 20s | Level: | 1 |
Chilling Rhetoric | Damage + Debuff | - | 30m | 0.5s / 20s | Level: | 6 |
Shocking Touch | Damage + Daze | 1 | 4m | - / 20s | Level: | 8 |
Word of Exaltation | Bubble | 0 | 25m | - / 30s | Level: | 14 |
Epic for the Ages | Heal | 3 | 25m | 2.5s / 15s | Level: | 18 |
Scribe a New Ending | Cure | 2 | 20m | - / 8s | Level: | 18 |
Final Word | Interrupt | 1 | 25m | - / 20s | Level: | 20 |
Break The Bonds | CC removal | - | Self | - / 1m | Level: | 20 |
Nothing Truly Ends | Rez | 25m | 5s / - | Level: | 20 | |
Speak No Evil | Corruption removal | 1 | 25m | - / 20s | Level: | 20 |
Distracting Flame | DoT | 3 | 30m | 1s / 20s | Level: | 22 |
Essence of Winter | Damage AoE + Debuff | - | 30m | 1.5s / 15s | Level: | 24 |
Steady Hands | Buff | Special | Self | - / 40s | Level: | 26 |
Armour of the Elements | Buff | 4 | Self | - / 3m | Level: | 28 |
Flurry of Words | Damage + AoE + Debuff | - | 2s / 25s | Level: | 32 | |
Self-motivation | Power or Heal | 4 | 1s / 1m | Level: | 36 | |
Do Not Fall This Day | Buff + Rez | 25m | - / 2m 20s | Level: | 40 | |
Essence of Storm | Damage | 3 | 20m | - / 8s | Level: | 44 |
Improved Final Word | Interrupt + Corruption removal | 1 | 25m | - / 20s | Level: | 50 |
Benediction of Peace
These skills are acquired by spending trait points in the Benediction of Peace (blue) trait tree. You can only obtain the set skills if you specialize in this tree.
Skill | Category | Attunes | Range | Induct / CD | Source | |
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Rune-sign of Winter | HoT + Buff | 1 | 25m | - / 10s | Set: | Initial skill |
Writ of Health | Heal + HoT | 2 | 25m | 0.8s / 1s | Set: | Initial skill |
Mending Verse | Heal + HoT | 2 | 25m | 2s / 3s | Trait: | Mending Verse |
Rune of Restoration | HoT | 1 | - / 30s | Trait: | Rune of Restoration | |
Rousing Words | HoT | 1 | - / 15s | Set: | Rousing Words | |
Essay of Exaltation | Buff + HoT | 0 | 30m | - / 45s | Trait: | Essay of Exaltation |
Bombastic Inspiration | HoT + Heal | 3 | 25m | - / 2s | Trait: | Bombastic Inspiration |
Our Fates Entwined | Buff | 1 | 20m | - / 1m 30s | Set: | Our Fates Entwined |
Cleansing Flame
These skills are acquired by spending trait points in the Cleansing Flame (red) trait tree. You can only obtain the set skills if you specialize in this tree.
Skill | Category | Attunes | Range | Induct / CD | Source | |
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Smouldering Wrath | DoT | - | 30m | - / 17s | Set: | Initial skill |
Writ of Fire | Damage + DoT | 2 | 30m | 0.8s / 1s | Set: | Initial skill |
Essence of Flame | Damage | 3 | 30m | 2s / 12s | Trait: | Essence of Flame |
Volcanic Runestone | DoT | 3 | - | - / 30s | Trait: | Volcanic Rune-stone |
Essay of Fire | Damage + DoT | 3 | 30m | 2s / 10s | Set: | Essay of Fire |
Scathing Mockery | Damage AoE + DoT | 3 | 30m | 3s / 20s | Trait: | Scathing Mockery |
Combustion | Damage AoE | 0 | 30m | 1.5s / 15s | Trait: | Combustion |
Solitary Thunder
These skills are acquired by spending trait points in the Solitary Thunder (yellow) trait tree. You can only obtain the set skills if you specialize in this tree.
Skill | Category | Attunes | Range | Induct / CD | Source | |
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Sustaining Bolt | Damage + Power | 3 | 20m | - / 15s | Set: | Initial skill |
Writ of Lightning | Damage + Debuff | 3 | 20m | - / 3s | Set: | Initial skill |
Ceaseless Argument | Damage | 1 | 20m | - / 0.3s | Trait: | Ceaseless Argument |
Fulgurite Runestone | Damage + Stun | 3 | - | - / 20s | Trait: | Fulgurite Runestone |
Epic Conclusion | Damage | 0 | 20m | - / 30s | Trait: | Epic Conclusion |
Vivid Imagery | Damage AoE + Daze | 3 | 7.2m | - / 1m | Trait: | Vivid Imagery |
Concession and Rebuttal | Buff | 6 | Self | - / 3m | Trait: | Concession and Rebuttal |
Static Surge | Damage AoE | 1 | 7m | - / 3s | Set: | Static Surge |
Mounted Combat Skills
These skills can be used only while riding a war-steed, and only while in the regions of East Rohan, Wildermore, and West Rohan. Passive skills which improve the war-steed's defensive capabilities remain effective even in other regions, but serve only to prevent forced dismount due to enemy attacks.
Skills Unaffected by Stance/Discipline
Skill | Category | Attunes | Range | Cooldown | Source | |
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Inspirational Verse | HoT | Quest: | Devastation in the North | |||
Knowledge of the Rune-keeper | Buff | Trait: | Knowledge of the Rune-keeper | |||
Superior Evocation | Buff | Trait: |
Red Dawn
Skill | Category | Attunes | Range | Cooldown | Source | |
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Discipline: Red Dawn | Stance | Quest: | Devastation in the North | |||
Fixation of Flame | DoT | 1 | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 | ||
Oration of Embers | DoT + Debuff | 1 | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 | ||
Invoke the Elements | DoT | 1 | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 | ||
Resolution of Fire | DoT | 1 | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 | ||
Debate Wrath | Buff | 1 | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 |
Riddermark
Skill | Category | Attunes | Range | Cooldown | Source | |
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Discipline: Riddermark | Stance | Quest: | Devastation in the North | |||
Fixation of Storm | Debuff | 1 | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 | ||
Oration of the Bleak Sky | Damage | 1 | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 | ||
Invoke the Elements | Damage | 1 | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 | ||
Resolution of Storms | Damage+Debuff | 1 | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 | ||
Debate the Land | Buff | 1 | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 |
Rohirrim
Skill | Category | Attunes | Range | Cooldown | Source | |
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Discipline: Rohirrim | Stance | 1s | Quest: | Devastation in the North | ||
Fixation of Health | HoT | 1 | 5s | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 | |
Ameliorating Oration | HoT | 1 | 12s | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 | |
Invoke the Elements | DoT | 1 | 3s | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 | |
Resolution of Enduring Life | AoE HoT | 1 | 15s | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 | |
Debate the People | Buff | 1 | 24s | Quest: | Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1 |
Passive Skills
Armour Proficiencies
Proficiency | Level |
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Light Armour | 1 |
Weapon Proficiencies
Proficiency | Level |
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Rune-stones | 1 |
Instrument Proficiencies
Proficiency | Level |
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Horn Use | 1 |
Lute Use | 1 |
Specialized Equipment | 1 |
Fiddle Use | 5 |
Specialization Sets & Traits
Benediction of Peace
Provides heal-over-time support for allies.
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Set Bonus | Description | Source | |
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Frost Affinity | Buff | Set: | 5+ total ranks |
Writ of Well-being | Improves skill Writ of Health | Set: | 10+ total ranks |
Rousing Words | Gain skill Rousing Words | Set: | 15+ total ranks |
Fellowship Narrative | Buff; Improves skill Epic for the Ages | Set: | 20+ total ranks |
Glorious Foreshadowing | Improves skill Writ of Health | Set: | 25+ total ranks |
Master of Allusion | Buff | Set: | 30+ total ranks |
Our Fates Entwined | Gain skill Our Fates Entwined | Set: | 35+ total ranks |
Cleansing Flame
Deals damage-over-time using inductions.
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Set Bonus | Description | Source | |
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Fire Affinity | Buff | Set: | 5+ total ranks |
Writ of Blazing Fire | Improves skill Writ of Fire | Set: | 10+ total ranks |
Scathing Retort | Improves skill Smouldering Wrath | Set: | 15+ total ranks |
Essay of Fire | Gain skill Essay of Fire | Set: | 20+ total ranks |
Master of Connotation | Buff | Set: | 25+ total ranks |
Extreme Heat | Buff | Set: | 30+ total ranks |
Seething Truth | Buff; Improves skills Combustion, Smouldering Wrath, Essay of Fire | Set: | 35+ total ranks |
Solitary Thunder
Deals short-ranged, instant damage.
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Set Bonus | Description | Source | |
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Lightning Affinity | Buff | Set: | 5+ total ranks |
Shocked | Improves skill Writ of Lightning | Set: | 10+ total ranks |
Master of Tragedy | Self-heal | Set: | 15+ total ranks |
Tale of The Storm | Buff | Set: | 20+ total ranks |
Sustenance | Improves skill Sustaining Bolt | Set: | 25+ total ranks |
Refutation | Buff | Set: | 30+ total ranks |
Static Surge | Gain skill Static Surge | Set: | 35+ total ranks |
Trait | Description | Source | |
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Ceaseless Argument | Gain skill Ceaseless Argument | Trait: | 0+ ranks |
Exacting Wards | Buff | Trait: | 0+ ranks |
Confounding Principles | Improves skill Shocking Touch | Trait: | 0+ ranks |
Cutting Remarks | Buff | Trait: | 5+ ranks |
Fortune Smiles | Buff | Trait: | 5+ ranks |
Fulgurite Runestone | Gain skill Fulgurite Runestone | Trait: | 10+ ranks |
Thunderous Words | Buff | Trait: | 10+ ranks |
Statically Charged | Improves skill Fulgurite Runestone | Trait: | 15+ ranks, Fulgurite Runestone (1) |
Epic Conclusion | Gain skill Epic Conclusion | Trait: | 15+ ranks |
Harsh Debate | Buff | Trait: | 15+ ranks, Thunderous Words (5) |
Vivid Imagery | Gain skill Vivid Imagery | Trait: | 20+ ranks |
Closing Remarks | Buff | Trait: | 20+ ranks, Harsh Debate (5) |
Furious Storms | Buff | Trait: | 25+ ranks |
Perfect Imagery | Improves skill Vivid Imagery | Trait: | 25+ ranks, Vivid Imagery (1) |
Concession and Rebuttal | Gain skill Concession and Rebuttal | Trait: | 30+ ranks |
Flashing Images | Improves skill Steady Hands | Trait: | 30+ ranks |
Trait Tree
Provides heal-over-time support for allies.
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Deals damage-over-time using inductions.
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Deals short-ranged, instant damage.
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Class Quests
Rune-keeper Class Quests |
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