Question about how runes work

[wcv]

Hello,

I’m currently running my first campaign (trying to start people playing Pathfinder in my area and there weren’t other options than to do it myself), and I’m not sure I understand the rules regarding runes correctly. I (think I) understand the basic point about fundamental striking and potency runes, with striking runes providing the extra damage die, and potency the extra chance to hit. And then these runes also determine the number of other property runes that can be put on a weapon.

I’m a bit unclear on the full difference between a potency and striking rune though. Does a weapon need both a +1 potency rune and a +1 striking rune to get both a +1 to hit and also +1 damage. Or is that a single rune?

And as a follow-up, if these are separate runes, do the number of additional runes stack? So if a weapon had a +2 potency rune and a +2 striking rune, would this mean it could get 4 property runes?

Sorry if this is something obvious.

[HammerJack]

Potency rune gives +1 to hit and adds nothing to damage. A Striking rune adds a second die to the damage. Neither gives a flat +1 damage.

Striking runes and potency runes are separate, and not contingent on each other.

Only the potency rune determines the number of property runes the weapon can hold. Striking has nothing to do with that.

[wcv]

HammerJack wrote:

Potency rune gives +1 to hit and adds nothing to damage. A Striking rune adds a second die to the damage. Neither gives a flat +1 damage.

Striking runes and potency runes are separate, and not contingent on each other.

Only the potency rune determines the number of property runes the weapon can hold. Striking has nothing to do with that.

Okay thanks. I knew nothing added damage, but hadn’t realized the striking runes didn’t affect property rune amounts.

[Gisher]

wcv wrote:

...

Sorry if this is something obvious.

It isn't at all obvious. :) I had the same sort of confusion when switching from Pathfinder 1.0.

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Edit: The following reaffirms and expands upon Hammerjack's post.

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I'll try to clear up two misconceptions first.

1) Neither rune type adds a flat damage increase of +1, +2, or + 3.

2) The striking runes don't come in +1, +2, or + 3 varieties. Instead they come in striking, greater striking, and major striking flavors.

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Weapon Potency Runes have a few effects:

• They add their +1, +2, or +3 item bonus to your attack rolls with that weapon.

• They allow you to add 1, 2, or 3 Property Runes to the weapon.

• They make the weapon qualify as a runic weapon.

• If the weapon has an athletics check related trait (disarm, grapple, shove, trip, or ranged trip) then it adds the +1, +2, or +3 item bonus to that athletics check when it is performed with that weapon.

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Striking Runes only have one effect.

• They increase the number of your weapon's damage dice to 2, 3, or 4.

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Note that you don't have to have both types of Fundamental Runes on a weapon.

For example, you could have a +1 Potency Rune and a Flaming Property Rune but no Striking Rune for a +1 flaming weapon.

Or you could have a Striking Rune with no Potency or Property Runes to make a striking weapon.

But given the benefits of the runes and their staggered pricing, people normally alternate between adding/upgrading Potency and Striking Runes.