Runestaff

A runestaff is a special defensive item designed for use by pure professions. Runestaves are also treated as Two-handed Weapons for offensive purposes (see note below).

Advantages

The primary advantage of using a runestaff for defense versus other training paths is that the skills required are already considered to be a main part of a typical pure spell-caster's training path, and as such come at little to no additional cost to the player in terms of training points. Runestaves are also the only form of defense which provide parry defense versus ranged (spell bolts, hurled weapons, arrows) attacks, although at a reduced rate.

Unlike other weapons, a runestaff's full enchant bonus is added directly to a character's DS for all stances. For example, a runestaff with a +25 enchant bonus will add +25 DS in stance offensive.

Runestaff Abilities

Flares

Like other weapons, runestaves can be infused with flares and can inflict additional damage and/or criticals with a successful warding or bolt spell attack roll. Runestaves which flare in this fashion (rather than when used as a melee weapon), will flare less often (approximately 1/7 casts). Elemental Blade (411) can also be used on 0x runstaves in order to obtain elemental flares, though these will flare even less frequently. This is a popular tactic in areas with creatures which disarm or curse adversaries, causing them to lose their weapon.

Wand-holding mechanisms

Typically released at limited entrance events such as the Ebon Gate festival, these staves are able to hold a wand which can be activated by the appropriate verb (e.g. WAVE or RAISE) once in place. The mechanism on wand-holding runestaves my be permanent:

The pale faewood staff is capped with an apparatus of two interlocked rings and three triangular segments that come together at a sharp angle. The springs appear to be in absolutely pristine and perfect condition. The tip is currently empty, revealing a deep recess in the center of the staff.

Or degrade over time and require repairs, as apparent by the item's show description (in this case, a fresh yet degradable runestaff):

The pale faewood staff is capped with an apparatus of two interlocked rings and three triangular segments that come together at a sharp angle. The springs appear to be in a flawless and undamaged state. The tip is currently empty, revealing a deep recess in the center of the staff.

Training Requirements

Though any amount of training in magical skills will provide runestaff DS, 8 ranks of magical skills per level will generate DS equal to that provided by training 1x ranks in Two-Handed Weapons. This does not include the 10 bonus ranks received by runestaff users. Each converted weapon rank adds 0.30 DS in offensive stance and 1.05 DS in defensive stance.

Note: Training in Two-Handed Weapons skill DOES NOT add parry DS. THW ranks only adds a bonus to the attack strength (AS) when the runestaff is used offensively. Do not train in Two-Handed Weapons unless you plan to swing the staff like a normal weapon.

Select the appropriate formula from the three below to convert magical ranks to weapon ranks, or use the table below.

1. Less than 4 magic ranks per level

Parry Ranks = 10 + ((3 × magic ranks) ÷ (20))

2. Between 4 and 11 magic ranks per level

Parry ranks = 10 + level + [((magic ranks) - (8 × level)) ÷ 10]

3. More than 11 magic ranks per level

Parry Ranks = 10 + (level × 13/10) + [((magic ranks) - (11 × level)) ÷ 20]

Magical Skills

Elemental Mana Control	Mental Mana Control
Spiritual Mana Control	Sorcerous Lores
Elemental Lores	Mental Lores
Spiritual Lores	Spell Aiming
Arcane Symbols	Magic Item Use
Spell Research	Harness Power

Game Mechanics

A runestaff may also be used offensively. When used in this manner it is classified as a two-handed weapon and its attack strength is increased with training in the two-handed weapon skill. Compared to other two-handed weapons the runestaff does considerably less damage.

Weapon	AG	Cloth	Leather				Scale				Chain				Plate				RT	Min RT	Damage Type	STR/DU
	AsG	1	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Runestaff	DF	.250	.200				.150				.150				.075				6	4	Crush	20/270
	AvD	10	15	14	13	12	10	8	6	4	15	11	7	3	10	4	-2	-8

The standard runestaff has a weight of 4 lbs.

Note: To edit this table go to Template:Weapon table runestaff

Alternate Names

• crook
• crosier
• pastoral staff
• rune staff
• scepter
• staff

Return to the top of this page.

Runestaff Parry DS (Melee)

Step 1: Calculate Base Value

10 + Weapon Ranks + trunc(STR bonus ÷ 4) + trunc(DEX bonus ÷ 4) = Base Value

Step 2: Calculate Parry DS

(Base Value × Stance modifier × 1.5) + Stance Bonus + Runestaff Enchant Bonus = Parry DS

Note: Weapon ranks are derived from total magic ranks known (see conversion table below).

Example (Melee)

Level 60 character, 660 total magic ranks, 20 STR bonus, 20 DEX bonus, stance guarded (stance mod 0.60 and stance bonus +40 from tables), +25 runestaff enchant bonus.

Step 1: Divide total magic ranks by level

660 ÷ 60 = 11

Step 2: Locate 11 in the 'magic ranks per level' column, then multiply the character's level by the conversion factor shown in the table.

60 × 1.30 = 78 weapon ranks

Step 3: Enter this value in the runestaff parry formula along with stats to determine the Base Value.

10 + weapon ranks + trunc(STR bonus ÷ 4) + trunc (DEX bonus) = Base value

10 + 78 + (20 ÷ 4) + (20 ÷ 4) = 98 (Base Value)

Step 4: Enter base value, stance modifier and enchant bonus into formula. Truncate result after each operation.

(Base Value × Stance modifier × 1.5) + Stance Bonus + Runestaff Enchant Bonus = Parry DS

(98 × 0.60 × 1.5) + 40 + 25 = 152 Guarded Stance Melee Parry DS

Note: The 1.5 multiplier in the formula represents the two-hand weapon bonus which also applies to runestaff users.

Return to the top of this page.

Runestaff Parry DS (Ranged)

This formula applies to all ranged attack types (bolt spells, thrown weapons and arrows).

((Base Value × Stance Modifier × 1.5) ÷ 2) + (Stance Bonus ÷ 2) + (Runestaff Enchant bonus ÷ 2)

Example (Ranged)

Level 60 character, 660 total magic ranks, 20 STR bonus, 20 DEX bonus, stance guarded (stance mod 0.60 and stance bonus +40 from tables), +25 runestaff enchant bonus.

Step 1: Divide total magic ranks by level

660 ÷ 60 = 11

Step 2: Locate 11 in the 'magic ranks per level' column, then multiply the character's level by the conversion factor shown in the table.

60 × 1.30 = 78 weapon ranks

Step 3: Enter this value in the runestaff parry formula along with stats to determine the Base Value.

10 + weapon ranks + trunc(STR bonus ÷ 4) + trunc (DEX bonus) = Base value

10 + 78 + (20 ÷ 4) + (20 ÷ 4) = 98 (Base Value)

Step 4: Enter base value, stance modifier and enchant bonus into formula. Truncate result after each operation.

((Base Value × Stance modifier × 1.5) ÷ 2) + (Stance Bonus ÷ 2) + (Runestaff Enchant Bonus ÷ 2) = Parry DS

((98 × 0.60 × 1.5) ÷ 2) + (40 ÷ 2) + (25 ÷ 2) = 75 Guarded Stance Ranged Parry DS

Return to the top of this page.

Magic Ranks/Weapon Ranks Conversion Table

To determine the number of 'magic ranks per level', divide the total number of magic ranks known, by the character's level. Ranks per level that fall between the table values are prorated.

Magic Ranks per Level	Weapon Ranks Conversion		Magic Ranks per Level	Weapon Ranks Conversion
1	Level × 0.15		9	Level × 1.10
2	Level × 0.30		10	Level × 1.20
3	Level × 0.45		11	Level × 1.30
4	Level × 0.60		12	Level × 1.35
5	Level × 0.70		13	Level × 1.40
6	Level × 0.80		14	Level × 1.45
7	Level × 0.90		15	Level × 1.50
8	Level × 1.00		16	Level × 1.55

Stance Modifiers

Stance	Modifier
Offensive	0.20
Advance	0.30
Forward	0.40
Neutral	0.50
Guarded	0.60
Defensive	0.70

Stance Bonuses

Stance	DS Bonus
Offensive	0
Advance	10
Forward	20
Neutral	30
Guarded	40
Defensive	50

See Also

• Runestaff (saved post)
• Wand-holding runestaves (saved post)
• Runestaff name alternatives (saved post)
• Two-handed Weapons
• List of woods
• Acuity flares
• Ensorcell (735)

External Links

• Combat Guide: Rune Staves, on Play.net

Return to the top of this page.