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Having come from 5e, and 4e before that, I really adore this magic item system- where players can mix and match runes on weapons and armor to create their own magic item, and a DM could do the same to create items to be found in dungeons and the like. I really hope more cool runes are in the works for us mess with, I'd be very strongly tempted to utilize it for all of our magic weapons and armor, since it's so modular, and seems pretty well balanced on the surface.
The system applies to any weapon or armor type, including any future ones, which means no categories of item really want for support. There are a lot of possibilities as well, like runes that confer weakness on foes, runes that allow the item to be used for utility purposes, or inflict conditions.
What kind of property runes would you like to see?
Oh yeah, I find cool the make your own magic weapon/armor that runes let you do.
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I'm really hoping Bane runes show up soon. They are often sprinkled into APs, are tricky to convert because they interact with accuracy, and are too thematically linked to the story to easily replace with our current options.
Also there might be some fun design space for a Bane Divine Blade Ally option where you can choose a certain type of enemy to affect every day. Or perhaps that could even be what the Inquisitor Bane class feature looks like.
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Interesting, the stuff you're mentioning is actually just stuff from D&D 3E / PF 1E, in this case :P But it doesn't make the praise any less valid!
I like the fact that Runes can be MOVED. Getting a +3 Greatsword when I like to dual wield is no longer a letdown - I can just move the +3.
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Movable runes are nice. I also appreciate the mild decoupling of fundamental and property runes.
In PF1, every +1 devoted to properties was a +1 you weren't getting as straight up enhancement. All the "gain a bonus to basketweaving equal to the weapon's enhancement bonus" properties were especially infuriating.
In PF2 property runes still cost money but they no longer compete quite so viciously. If you have a +1 weapon then there's properties to be had for ~60GP but upgrading it to +2 is more like ~900GP; these things are not really in competition anymore.
So I think using property runes is more worth it in this edition, which is cool. Or flaming maybe.
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Another nice thing about this setup is the possibility of keeping a singular signature weapon on you and continuously upgrading it, instead of having to eventually discard it.
Supports the "family heirloom passed on from generations to generations" really well.
It is a little strange that you can transfer those runes, but the benefits outweigh that by quite a bit.
I was initially slightly concerned that the transferability of runes would be a bit too 'gamey' and feel like enhancement gems in Diablo or something. That concern was unfounded thankfully (at least for me). Runes are great. I always liked to stick to single weapons and upgrade them as I went, this makes that easier to do. And no longer has the issue where upgrading a +1 holy sword to +2 holy no longer costs an arm and a leg because it's effectively upgrading a +3 to +4. Now they no longer compete. I'm still not quite sure about spiting the pluses and striking, but at least neither competes with anything else, so that's fine. The transferability that concerned me at first, is undoubtedly useful. A cool magic weapon isn't going to get tossed on the sell pile because nobody in the party uses that kind of weapon "Oh, a +5 Holy, Fiend Bane, Phase Locking battle axe. That'd be perfect for my demon-slaying paladin... except I've got all my feats concentrating on longsword, so I'll have to pass..." Now you can transfer the power to your longsword. Of course feats and class features no longer tie you quite so tightly to single weapons, so you can just take the axe. This also allows you to keep some item with story or emotional significance. No longer junking your ancestral sword when you find a better one. So yeah, runes are great.
I do wish they allowed runes for shields. I understand that using runes to increase the AC would get out of control (it did in PF1, and would be worse with the tighter math), but I think there was still room for shield runes. The potency runes could have gone to increased durability instead (basically the Sturdy Shield in rune form). This would allow more shield customization. Floating, Spellguard, Arrow Catching and the like could all be runes instead of individual shields.
Yeah, but why do shields get no love? You can't affix runes to shields. Now dual wielding with an attack shield seems pointless? (or would the shield spikes or whatever be able to get the rune?).
I'm not saying shields are pointless; in fact I like the new shield rules a LOT. It just seems they will be doomed to fall behind traditional dual wielding two weapons.
Shield spikes/bosses can get runes as normal weapons separate from the shield.
Another nice thing about this setup is the possibility of keeping a singular signature weapon on you and continuously upgrading it, instead of having to eventually discard it.
Supports the "family heirloom passed on from generations to generations" really well.
It is a little strange that you can transfer those runes, but the benefits outweigh that by quite a bit.
This really speaks to me as one of the best things about the system, really- especially when humans can have unconventional weaponry, and ancestries can gain access to certain special weapons immediately. That system really encourages the why of how you learned and acquired that weapon to be a key dimension of one's backstory.
So it's wonderful that elven curve blade you got from the elf in your party when you came of age and who taught you to fight with it can stay with you throughout your adventures.