Rune-keeper

Class Difficulty: Moderate

Role: Healer/Damage

Available to races: Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Man, River Hobbit, Stout-axe

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.

Class-infobox
Classes
Skills
Traits
Deeds
Traceries
Effects

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

Battle
Steady
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.

Active Skills	Category	Attunes	CD	Source
Fiery Ridicule	Damage + DoT	1	1s	Level:	1
Prelude to Hope	HoT	1	3s	Level:	1
Scribe's Spark	Damage	2	3s	Level:	1
Shocking Words	Damage + Stun	All	20s	Level:	1
Chilling Rhetoric	Damage + Debuff		20s	Level:	6
Shocking Touch	Damage + Daze	1	20s	Level:	8
Word of Exaltation	Bubble	All	30s	Level:	14
Epic for the Ages	Heal	3	15s	Level:	18
Scribe a New Ending	Cure	2	8s	Level:	18
Final Word	Interrupt	1	20s	Level:	20
Break The Bonds	CC removal		1m	Level:	20
Nothing Truly Ends	Rez		-	Level:	20
Speak No Evil	Corruption removal	1	20s	Level:	20
Distracting Flame	DoT	3	20s	Level:	22
Essence of Winter	Damage AoE + Debuff		15s	Level:	24
Steady Hands	Buff	Unique*	40s	Level:	26
Armour of the Elements	Buff	4	3m	Level:	28
Flurry of Words	Damage + AoE + Debuff		25s	Level:	32
Self-motivation	Power or Heal	4	1m	Level:	36
Do Not Fall This Day	Buff + Rez		2m 20s	Level:	40
Essence of Storm	Damage	3	8s	Level:	44
Improved Final Word	Interrupt + Corruption removal	1	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.

Active Skills	Category	Attunes	CD	Source
Rune-sign of Winter	HoT + Buff	1	10s	Set:	Initial skill
Writ of Health	Heal + HoT	2	1s	Set:	Initial skill
Mending Verse	Heal + HoT	2	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	All	45s	Trait:	Essay of Exaltation
Bombastic Inspiration	HoT + Heal	3	2s	Trait:	Bombastic Inspiration
Our Fates Entwined	Buff	1	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.

Active Skills	Category	Attunes	CD	Source
Smouldering Wrath	DoT	Varies*	17s	Set:	Initial skill
Writ of Fire	Damage + DoT	2	1s	Set:	Initial skill
Essence of Flame	Damage	3	12s	Trait:	Essence of Flame
Volcanic Rune-stone	DoT	3	30s	Trait:	Volcanic Rune-stone
Essay of Fire	Damage + DoT	3	10s	Set:	Essay of Fire
Scathing Mockery	Damage AoE + DoT	3	20s	Trait:	Scathing Mockery
Combustion	Damage AoE	All	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.

Active Skills	Category	Attunes	CD	Source
Sustaining Bolt	Damage + Power	3	15s	Set:	Initial skill
Writ of Lightning	Damage + Debuff	3	3s	Set:	Initial skill
Ceaseless Argument	Damage	1	0.3s	Trait:	Ceaseless Argument
Fulgurite Runestone	Damage + Stun	3	20s	Trait:	Fulgurite Runestone
Epic Conclusion	Damage	All	30s	Trait:	Epic Conclusion
Vivid Imagery	Damage AoE + Daze	3	1m	Trait:	Vivid Imagery
Concession and Rebuttal	Buff	6	3m	Trait:	Concession and Rebuttal
Static Surge	Damage AoE	1	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	Source
Inspirational Verse	HoT	Quest:	Devastation in the North
Knowledge of the Rune-keeper	Buff	Trait:	Knowledge of the Rune-keeper
Superior Evocation	Buff	Trait:	Superior Evocation

Red Dawn

Skill	Category	Attunes	Source
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	Source
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	Cooldown	Source
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

Base Passive Skills

For details see Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, River Hobbit, Man, or Stout-axe

Armour Proficiencies

Proficiency	Level
Light Armour	1

Weapon Proficiencies

Proficiency	Level
Rune-stones	1

Instrument Proficiencies

Proficiency	Level
Bassoon Use	5
Horn Use	1
Lute Use	1
Specialized Equipment	1
Fiddle Use	5

Specialization Sets & Traits

Benediction of Peace

Benediction of Peace
Provides heal-over-time support for allies.

Powerful healers, using Heal-over-time skills to sustain the Fellowship's health, able to redirect or absorb attacks flung at their allies.

Skills Earned:

Rune-sign of Winter

Writ of Health

Frost Armour:

Healing skills have a 20% chance to apply:

-10% Incoming Damage

Duration: 8s

+280 Do Not Fall This Day Duration

Set Bonus	Description	Source
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

Trait	Description	Source
Light on One's Feet	Buff	Trait:	0+ ranks
Mending Verse	Gain skill Mending Verse	Trait:	0+ ranks
Determination	Buff	Trait:	0+ ranks
Rune of Restoration	Gain skill Rune of Restoration	Trait:	5+ ranks
Prelude of Power	Improves skill Prelude to Hope	Trait:	5+ ranks
Prophetic Word	Improves skill Mending Verse	Trait:	5+ ranks
Prolonged Verse	Improves skill Mending Verse	Trait:	5+ ranks
Rune of Endurance	Improves skill Rune of Restoration	Trait:	10+ ranks, Rune of Restoration (1)
Rallying Verse	Improves skills Nothing Truly Ends and Do Not Fall This Day	Trait:	10+ ranks
Unwavering Confidence	Improves skill Epic for the Ages	Trait:	15+ ranks
Truly Epic	Improves skill Epic for the Ages	Trait:	20+ ranks
Self-esteem Boost	Improves skills Epic for the Ages, Mending Verse, Rousing Words	Trait:	20+ ranks
Essay of Exaltation	Gain skill Essay of Exaltation	Trait:	25+ ranks
Exalted	Improves skills Word of Exaltation and Essay of Exaltation	Trait:	25+ ranks, Essay of Exaltation (1)
Bombastic Inspiration	Gain skill Bombastic Inspiration	Trait:	30+ ranks
Overture of Hope	Buff	Trait:	30+ ranks

Cleansing Flame

Cleansing Flame
Deals damage-over-time using inductions.

Uses long-range, induction-based attacks that deal damage-over-time for sustained high DPS.

Skills Earned:

Smouldering Wrath

Writ of Fire

Searing Words:

Fire skills have a 20% chance to apply:

... Fire Damage every 2.0 seconds for 6 seconds.

Set Bonus	Description	Source
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

Trait	Description	Source
Deliberate Address	Buff	Trait:	0+ ranks
Conflagration of Runes	Improves skill Fiery Ridicule	Trait:	0+ ranks
Overflowing Confidence	Improves skill Self-motivation	Trait:	0+ ranks
Tale of Rage	Buff	Trait:	5+ ranks
Essence of Flame	Gain skill Essence of Flame	Trait:	5+ ranks
Volcanic Rune-stone	Gain skill Volcanic Rune-stone	Trait:	10+ ranks
Explosive Rhetoric	Improves skill Essence of Flame	Trait:	10+ ranks, Essence of Flame (1)
Linnod of Flame	Improves skill Essence of Flame	Trait:	10+ ranks, Explosive Rhetoric (3)
Molten Rock	Improves skill Volcanic Rune-stone	Trait:	15+ ranks, Volcanic Rune-stone (1)
Thick Skinned	Buff	Trait:	15+ ranks
Hastened Determination	Improves skill Self-motivation	Trait:	15+ ranks
Molten Flame	Buff	Trait:	15+ ranks
Mystifying Flames	Buff	Trait:	20+ ranks
Scathing Mockery	Gain skill Scathing Mockery	Trait:	20+ ranks
After-burn	Buff	Trait:	25+ ranks
Empowering Flame	Improves trait Mystifying Flames	Trait:	25+ ranks, Mystifying Flames (3)
Combustion	Gain skill Combustion	Trait:	30+ ranks
Branded Marks	Buff	Trait:	30+ ranks

Solitary Thunder

Solitary Thunder
Deals short-ranged, instant damage.

A mobile, burst-damage line, with a number of instant-cast and potent skills to increase DPS.

Skills Earned:

Sustaining Bolt

Writ of Lightning

Charged:

Lightning skills have a 15% chance to apply:

-10% Attack Duration

-3% Incoming Damage

Duration: 10s

Set Bonus	Description	Source
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
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