Hi

I recently browsed through the heroes of the Conversion Kit and I found Jaes the Exile, whose Hero Ability confused me (can always equip runes, regardless of limitations of armor). Where can I find a rule regarding mages using runes and/or armors, or is this abilty only specific to a few armor items in the game? If so, it would be a very weak Hero Ability.

Thank you

looks on items.

often big ones blocks from equipping runes

Can you give an example? I do not recall ever seeing an item that blocks runes and after just checking, all Runes are weapons.

Edit: After browsing through the Item deck, I only found the Platemail and Chainmail to block Runes. That's a pretty specific Hero Ability right there! Jael's +1 Stamina per Rune item isn't the bestest either as all Runes are two-handed weapons, so his Hero Ability basically boils down to +1 Stamina and can use Plate/Chainmail. That's... not very good.

Not all runes are weapons, there are also accessories that are classed as runes - the only one i can think of at the moment from the top of my head is act 1 shop item card "mana weave" but there also is possibly others.

Remember there are add-ons too and i believe there are other items in the expansions that also block runes !

Not all runes are weapons, there are also accessories that are classed as runes - the only one i can think of at the moment from the top of my head is act 1 shop item card "mana weave" but there also is possibly others.

Remember there are add-ons too and i believe there are other items in the expansions that also block runes !

I just went through any2cards 's excellent Shop Item lists for both Tier 1 and 2 items, and unless he's missed something, there are no other such Rune items in Base, Lair or Labyrinth except the Mana Weave you mentioned. There is the new Scalemail armor from Lair, but it's not spectacular. Can check Trollfens when I get home but looks pretty bleak.

Well, if you make him a Runemaster and give him Iron Will (+1 Stamina, recover 2 fatigue when you spend 1 surge ) combined with Inscribe Rune (any weapon equipped gains the Rune trait), equip him with Mana Weave, you are looking at 6 Stamina right there. Give him Rune Plate and he will be pretty stout, to say the least.

Yes, Jaes is not THE BEST mage. Flat. Others do his Job better and he needs equippment to really shine. All Armors that deny rune usage (to get something out of his ability) are expensive and hard to get your fingers on. Also, to equip him with a mana weave leads to discussion with everyone else wanting to have it provided, you finally got it.

BUT, IF you equip him with mana weave and a runeweapon, you suddenly look at a movement:4, health:12 (!!) Fatigue:5 Mage, which is clearly above average. with a good armor you can play him as a meelee mage (which is crazy as runemaster), hell, even as a tank.

This is hard to get on and clearly not an easy peasy play style, but it offers some nice alternate gamestyles and is quite cool when you play a one-shot expert gamemode!

i got to tell you it is nuts, when you perform 3 attacks 13+ damage in 1 turn!!

Can you give an example? I do not recall ever seeing an item that blocks runes and after just checking, all Runes are weapons.

Edit: After browsing through the Item deck, I only found the Platemail and Chainmail to block Runes. That's a pretty specific Hero Ability right there! Jael's +1 Stamina per Rune item isn't the bestest either as all Runes are two-handed weapons, so his Hero Ability basically boils down to +1 Stamina and can use Plate/Chainmail. That's... not very good.

Chain Mail for act 1 items

Platemail and Scale mail for act 2 items

So, yes, a bit specific, but it may be usefull sometimes.

Mana weave is an accessory in act 1 items that is a rune.

But, i admit, for the time being, it's pretty speficif, but maybe add-ons will change that.

They were writing up 48 hero sheets for a promo item designed to hook players who used to own D1E into buying D2E. They aren't all going to be winners.

They were writing up 48 hero sheets for a promo item designed to hook players who used to own D1E into buying D2E. They aren't all going to be winners.

Thanks for the insight, I respect your forwardness. Do you know if the Monsters from the Conversion Kit were made in such a way as well, because in my mind they too are split pretty tightly into two categories of Clear Winners and So-so.

They were writing up 48 hero sheets for a promo item designed to hook players who used to own D1E into buying D2E. They aren't all going to be winners.

Thanks for the insight, I respect your forwardness. Do you know if the Monsters from the Conversion Kit were made in such a way as well, because in my mind they too are split pretty tightly into two categories of Clear Winners and So-so.

Having played with all the monsters, I think that is far as well. As the OL, I find I really like the monsters from the CK.

Don't look at Jaes only because his special ability. He is so good because of combined special ability and statistics (pretty powerful as a mage - 12 health).

Many of CK heroes abilities looks weak but with the health, speed and/or stamina they quite good. Some others (like Landrec "kill me quickly" The Wise) it's just weak by ability and statistics.

Dziubek beat me to it: Characters are not just their Hero Ability.

12 health as a mage is a lot; as far as I can tell, every other mage has 8 or 10 health. He's also got fairly balanced attributes (which is arguably better than having one really high one and one low one due to diminishing returns). And if you look at his Heroic Feat, Pierce 3 can be huge against some of the larger monsters / lieutenants.

Lets not forget he will probably keep looking better and better as new expansions come out !

Lets not forget he will probably keep looking better and better as new expansions come out !

I think it's more likely that they will create more items (like Demonhide armor) that obviate his hero ability by making everyone capable of the same thing.