Runes of Suppression  

my friend says that i should go 37 runecarving, 36 suppresion, and 15 darkness, would this work out good?

Maybe I'm not looking at the whole picture, but if I'm level 17 surpression (which I'm not) and I have to wait until level 23 for my new spell... well gee thats 6 levels using the same spell. Think that thats nice if you could solo but if you look at it, hitting yellow con mobs with a 65 DD over and over again at level 22, its going to take a lot of hits to bring it down, you'd probably have to kite it. I do think runic guard, pulsing BTs are good, but I don't think its worth giving up your soloing ability to do so, on Merlin (midgard) there are hardly any groups so I don't having a great group line will get you much of anywhere..

Just my thought

I've solod most of my levels, because there just arn't any groups my level, I look for a group and the groups currently assembled window is empty or the people are too high or too low... so I see no point.

When fighting weres in skona, my tank noticed that the fend spells don't always absorb, they only have a chance to absorb. We were fighing a red (never has been a problem before) and he died because my fends only absorbed about 1/4 of the hits, 3/4 of the time the fend just got destroyed and the wolf hit through. Anyone know if this is due to mob color and we just never noticed before, something only some mobs can do (and if so, which ones), or is it that on mobs past level 35 fend just doesn't work well anymore?

Can somone explain the attack allies part of the confusion spells to me? I have a level 29 full suppression runemaster and I have never seen a mob attack another mob after being confused with hugin's damnation (30% attack ally). I tried pulling with it in such a way that the confused mob has to pass a lot of other mobs; and casting it on several mobs at the same time (both on mobs that were in group and mobs that weren't in group). Not once did I see a mob attack anything but me (or players grouped with me)

Thanks in advance
Slandor (LV29 Suppression Runemaster on Avalon)

Is going to 26 worth it for runic guard? If you still plan on speccing in something else would it be better to just go to 18 for runic shield? That saves a lot of points, what real benefits are there for having guard instead of shield?

I don't know if this is the best build or not, but currently I have 12 in darkness, 18 in suppression, and the rest in runecarving (lvl 43 runemaster). I am able to solo yellows with ease or oranges with a bit higher difficulty. In groups, I find that my DDs land a LOT more often on reds and purples after I have landed a Ravenbolt (resist debuff in the darkness line), and the DDs do 10% more dmg after as well. I rarely need to use the group fend spell unless the puller is on crack and the healer forgets how to mez. So Im still using the single target fend more often than not in group situations, though the group fend is still used on botched pulls. The huggins curse spell (confusion) is nice for getting mobs off of me (especially during pops on keep raids) or off the healer, this is best used in larger groups coupled with the group fend spell. In fact, I did red jotuns with a group of 4 tanks and myself with no healer using this strat. Killing was non stop and mana use was low.

the perfect class is at 26 suppreassion and the rest in runecarving (46 or 47)

-Morgan le Fay runemaster

Never heard of ya Ragic, though i'm a 41 Runemaster as well on Iseult. Should meet up sometime.

Anyways this is what i've done with my Runemaster.... full suppression. I have 41 points in suppression and haven't stopped loving it since lvl 26. Fend Chant = laziness? Umm... no fend chant = saves lives. Oh and I can group fend/runic fend while its going off so double the coverage with healer on back up for when the mob double hits. People rarely die in my groups, its just a fact. Oh... and as far as I can tell my Snare DD's do the same dmg as your guys do, i'm hitting the brokens for 100 + (without ravenbolt mind you and 2 lvls lower) and hitting oranges in RvR for 240 ish. I guess the big difference s yours have a slight better range and mine make them run slower... guess which I like better.

I plan on taking suppression to 50 since I got the orm staff, will put the rest of points into runecarving. that should give me aroun 20 RC and with the staff give me 26 to make it above half so my dmg isn't random with the main line bolt.

Just letting everyone know that Suppression line is completely awesome, don't let people tell you you can't blast as hard. You don't get bolts and AE's but your DD is just plain better than Darkness OR Runecarving.

-Buto
41 Runemaster Iseult
- The Disavowed -

I have a level 39 Runie on an RP server. Here's a few opinions I have about them to anyone thats interested.

Runecarving : Useful for the additional bolt spell (when solo'ing, having two bolts is good). AoE is also useful but mostly during Keep defense. It breaks Mez's and currently that is a major factor that determines success in RvR. So it's usefulness is rather limited outside of defending keeps.

Suppression : My favorite. All runies should take advantage of the fend spells. It's what makes us useful in a group. Blinking fends (level 26 and up) do not go away after casting. Think of it like a skald/bard song. There is a duration but it's several hours long. However you cannot have your speed buff up at the same time. It's one or the other. Debuffs help in a group but not enough to make anyone invite a runie in place of any other class. Root line is like a halfassed mez. But it comes in handy so I'm not complaining. Confusion is good but not too useful in a group as most group members don't like the randomness of it. Confusion's usefulness in RvR is also limited as it (very rarely) causes the invader to attack something else but you. Since you die in basically one hit (as a mage you are a creampuff) its not as reliable as casting it on a mob. Speed debuff line comes in handy occasionally in solo but during RvR you need to do as much damage as possible because you usually only get to pull one spell off before dying. Suppress sight : haven't tested it to much degree.

Darkness : I don't have much experience in this group (neither have I ever seen anyone spec in this line as well) but here's what I know of it : Every runie gets a darkness DD (prefer'ed DD as it has the lowest casting time) every so many levels. If you spec in Darkness you just get an extra one in between. They don't do much more damage than what you would get automatically. Damage Add line, useful but they are the weakest damage add of all the classes. They are overwritten by Thane buffs and Skald songs. Plus they require constant recasting as they don't last very long.

With all the versatile spells available to runies they do seem (in everyone's opinion I've spoken to not just my own) they are a relatively weak class. Not the weakest but one of the classes that doesn't do anything as well as another class. Shot for shot we do not do as much damage as any other class (tho the general consensus thinks runies should be nukers). It appears runies are more like jack-of-all-trades. If you can't find the right person to get the job done, you find a runie to do a halfassed job of it. Overall we are not as weak as some unfortunate classes but expect to have difficulty finding a group nonetheless.

Some advice. Don't plan on taking any one spec line up to 50. Its a waste of skill points as it doesn't give you much in return for the cost. Thats a big mistake for any class imho. Fact is, you won't even notice a difference from 46-50 with the exception of getting new spells (just -slightly- better than the ones before). Also for any new runies out there don't pass up Suppression. Get it to level 10 asap so you can be more useful in groups. If you plan on getting the blinking fends then go straight for 26 (without spending any points elsewhere). Since you aren't very useful in RvR at level 26 you don't really need the other damage lines yet. But you can become very useful in a group with blinking fend. Primarily runies are not damage dealers in groups. We usually get relagated to playing a defensive role by debuffing and fending with the occasional DD if needed. Our damage output vs. time is terrible compared to every other class. As we do about the same damage as a tank (factoring resistances) but have a penalty of casting time and mana cost (regenerates very slow compared to endurance).

Staves : the extra levels listed does not increase damage output (confirmed). It only decreases the amount of mana used in casting that line. It does not affect resistance either. As of 1/14/02. I don't know whats up with the numbers above but it seems like they are damage vs. yellow con? I know I do the same damage with my staff equipped (level 42) than without.

I hope this long-winded post is helpful to any new runies out there. Don't get me wrong I may have made them out to appear weak but they are still fun as a challenge (plus we might get more spells in the future as we have quite a few large gaps in our spec lines).

Confusion is hilarious! LOL It turns the target into a 5 year old on a Halloween candy high .. wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee LMAO The group healer is usually not amused tho unless u cast it to get agro off him/her specifically in xp groups. ;)

Imagine charming a creature and having no control over it and then casting fear on it .. ROFL .. I am assuming it randomly cycles the hate list, not really sure, but when u watch something hit with this spell, it is totally spastic and very unpredictable.

This is very fun in RvR at higher levels. Nothing is funnier than watching an archer turn and point his arrow at his cleric, or a rogue now unstealthed can't stop himself from stabbing aimlessly at a nearby purple tank.

Have fun :)

Runic Ward - self only buff that absorbs first melee and drops.

Runic Fend - Target only and also drops after the first melee is repelled. However, I have chain casted it on tanks/healers alike to save. No agro results from RFing during battle either; completely defensive maneuver. Additionally, I have taken an arrow with no dmg that drops my RF. Must rebuff in a hurry to block another arrow prolly on the way. (hehe I have buffed guards at our fastes as well with this and the enemies wondered why they kept missin the guards.) ;) LOL Loki made me do it. ;)

Runic Shield - buffs the entire group in one cast and drops individually as it absorbs the first melee. Must re-cast to give the buff to entire group again.

Runic Guard - buffs group and refreshes itself every 10 seconds; very sweet. :) and it only gets better :)

Once level 5 and have chosen Runemaster path, 3 specs will be available to you:

1. Runecarving has a specific sub-line:
a. (Runes of Destruction)
2. Suppression has a specific sub-line:
b. (Runes of Suppression)
3. Darkness has a specific sub-line:
c. (Runes of Darkness)

The main 3 specs of RC, Supp, and Darkness all reveal new spells as your character levels regardless of where you spec.

As you train each of the 3 main spec lines to level 5, the specific corresponding sub-line of spells will become available. So RC 5, Supp 5; and Dark 5 will open all 3 sub-lines to you. On the other hand, if you trained RC 10, Supp 4, and Dark 2 -- you will only have Runes of Destruction available.

A runie with RC 18; Supp 10; and Darkness 5 .. has spells under the sub-line of Runes of Destruction to level 18; Runes of Suppression to level 10; and Runes of Darkness to level 5. Continued training in a main spec, reveals additional spells ONLY in its corresponding sub-line.

My personal opinion is to choose 2 only to advance. I chose runecarving as my primary and suppression as my secondary. If points spread too thin, it is called 'gimping your character' or weakening it possibly to a point where some feel it is difficult to find groups, solo or RvR. :(

However, it is not necessary to only spec one line to be very effective or powerful. If one line is 1/3 higher than the rest there is a bonus given. However, the staff you carry will help add levels to your current specs to maximize your spell damage. THAT is why the dmg numbers above are deceiving. These are BASE / minimum damage numbers only.

To illustrate, a level 25 runie who is specced in Runecarving to 18 and Suppression to 10 and Darkness to 5 and carries a staff that adds 19 levels to each spec will cast/land spells with a higher dmg calc (maxed in some specs). Runecarving [18 (+19)= +25] is taken to the max dmg calc which is your level of 25. Suppression [10 (+19) = +25] is also maxed to level 25. Darkness [5 (+19) = 24] which is very close to max dmg calc. This is why a level 5 spell can hit a lvl 26 monster and do decent dmg. The staff you choose can make a huge difference on your effectiveness with spells and how much power you suck up casting.

So many of you who are wondering about why the dd numbers seems low; look at your staff and see how many levels it is adding to your dmg calc. :)

Is it true that u need one point in supression to open up the runes of supression line?

If you go 50 points into supression wouldn't you and your group be invincible in RvR? Throw on your Runic Wall and cast rune of mazing and strength debuffs on all of the tanks/meat shields. Maybe even root a couple of em for the hell of it.

1st question: Does the 65% movement rate count towards attack rate as well? If so the healer in you group won't be kept very busy unless the opposing team has lots of mages.

2nd question: how long does runic wall last? I think I read 60 seconds somewhere..

Still not sure whether to go 50 carving or 50 supression but I'm leaning towards supression at the moment.