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.
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:
Or degrade over time and require repairs, as apparent by the item SHOW (in this case, a fresh yet degradable runestaff):
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.
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
2. Between 4 and 11 magic ranks per level
3. More than 11 magic ranks per level
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
Runestaff Parry DS (Melee)
Step 1: Calculate Base Value
Step 2: Calculate 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
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.
Step 3: Enter this value in the runestaff parry formula along with stats to determine the Base Value.
Step 4: Enter base value, stance modifier and enchant bonus into formula. Truncate result after each operation.
Note: The 1.5 multiplier in the formula represents the two-hand weapon bonus which also applies to runestaff users.
Runestaff Parry DS (Ranged)
This formula applies to all ranged attack types (bolt spells, thrown weapons and arrows).
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
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.
Step 3: Enter this value in the runestaff parry formula along with stats to determine the Base Value.
Step 4: Enter base value, stance modifier and enchant bonus into formula. Truncate result after each operation.
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
External Links
- Combat Guide: Rune Staves, on Play.net