Runes


Rules Discussion


What's the ruling on runes? Are you only allowed them at your level or can you get a higher level runes?


They're just like other items in terms of how they're acquired. In order to Craft them you need a formula, and you're not supposed to get them at a higher item level than your party level outside one that's a level higher as part of party loot. The main impediment is that the only way to do that would be to either find a runestone (in which case transferring the rune from the stone doesn't circumvent the requirement of only being able to Craft an item of your level or lower) or find a magic weapon with the rune already on it.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Yes, Runes like any other item can be used no matter their level. If you can somehow get your hands on one.

GM_3826 wrote:
transferring the rune from the stone doesn't circumvent the requirement of only being able to Craft an item of your level or lower

That is a very questionable ruling.

Transferring a Rune does say that it uses the Craft activity. But there are 4 requirements listed in the Craft an Item rules. Of those, the second one (you have a formula for the item) is clearly not applicable, and the fourth (you pay at least half the cost of the item in raw materials) is very likely not applicable either. So if half of those requirements are already not being used, why would the other two be expected to be enforced? Or the requirement that you have the Magical Crafting feat?

And with all of that being ignored because it is not applicable to the process of transferring a rune, are we sure that the Rune Transfer rule sentence "This also uses the Craft activity." is really referencing the rules for creating an item from scratch, and not just a vague reference to the Downtime activity to 'engage in crafting'?


breithauptclan wrote:

That is a very questionable ruling.

Transferring a Rune does say that it uses the Craft activity. But there are 4 requirements listed in the Craft an Item rules. Of those, the second one (you have a formula for the item) is clearly not applicable, and the fourth (you pay at least half the cost of the item in raw materials) is very likely not applicable either. So if half of those requirements are already not being used, why would the other two be expected to be enforced? Or the requirement that you have the Magical Crafting feat?

And with all of that being ignored because it is not applicable to the process of transferring a rune, are we sure that the Rune Transfer rule sentence "This also uses the Craft activity." is really referencing the rules for creating an item from scratch, and not just a vague reference to the Downtime activity to 'engage in crafting'?

Er, fair argument? I wasn't really expecting two paragraphs in response to a comment about needing to wait a level to use an item. I still think what I said is rules as written, because it says the Craft activity, and the downtime activity to "engage in crafting" is actually to Earn Income. Not being rules as intended? I'll give you that. I have similar opinions on Acrobatic Performer, and have received just as much pushback for making an overly literal reading.


I think you are not supposed to get higher level stuff, though sometimes it can happen that you get items with a level equal to yours +1. But this only because of adventuring ( and loot ).

Settlements tend to have a level equal to the characters one -3/-5 ( respectively in the beginning and ending part of the book ), and that's a really good reason to get crafting.

This can obviously change in a homebrew adventure, if the dm allows the players to use their downtime skills at maximum power, regardless the settlements they are into. Same goes with accessibility ( I can think of the adventurer mart, from baldurs gate, which offered huge quantities of high level stuff ).


GM_3826 wrote:
I wasn't really expecting two paragraphs in response to a comment about needing to wait a level to use an item.

Yeah, it is a bit of a tradeoff that I have to balance. Using fewer words I end up sounding snarky and dismissive. Using too many words and I end up sounding argumentative and combative.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder Second Edition / Rules Discussion / Runes All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.