Runecaster: A Wizard Arcane Tradition

Hello Mark,

First, I would like to thank you for leaving a review; it provides feedback, and an opportunity to clarify the class and its features, and address any issues that may rise. I will attempt to address each issue as I read your review.

1. Crafting a rune is a specialized form of consumable magic item creation. In this sense, the Runecaster breaks the normal rules for crafting magic items. For example, on page 129 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide, the crafting magic items downtime activity states that a character must be a minimum of 3rd level to craft a common or uncommon magic item; the cost for creating such an item would be 100 gp. For a common item, and 500 gp. For an uncommon item. Scrolls are also considered consumable magic items. Under the crafting rules, items should be crafted in 25 gp. increments per day; a 3rd level wizard should spend 4 days and 100 gp crafting a first level spell scroll. In comparison, a runecaster would be able to craft a rune that holds a first...See more level spell in 2 hours at a cost of 25 gp. – of course, as the DMG states, the costs could be tweaked as a DM sees fit for a campaign. I also encourage tweaking the runecaster in that way if you run a high magic campaign with plenty of readily available low cost magic items. Note – the crafting costs listed in the DMG seem to conflict with suggested selling prices listed in the treasure section. A self-respecting wizard wouldn’t spend time creating magic items to lose money; thus, prices for magic items should be balanced with the costs of crafting.

2. As for the availability of runes and spells. A runecaster would have 8 available runes at 14th level. A rune can hold any spell that a wizard can cast, which includes 9th level spells. So, at 14th level, a runecaster could infuse a 7th level spell into a rune. It would take 14 hours to make the rune that holds the spell, and cost 175 gold pieces. The cost and time for crafting the rune would be halved if the wizard were reusing a talisman that previously held the same spell – for example, delayed blast fireball. In comparison, a delayed blast fireball scroll would take a couple of years and cost nearly 50,000 gold pieces to craft as a very rare item. That seems a bit extreme, and of course, dungeon masters are free to adjust costs and crafting times to suit the campaign.

3. A runecaster at 14th level may activate a rune holding a 3rd or lower level spell that has a range of self and cast at the base level as a bonus action. Also, while scrolls always hold spells cast at a spell’s base casting level, a runecaster may infuse a spell into a rune using a higher-level spell slot. For example, a fireball may be cast into a rune using a 7th level spell slot, which would significantly increase the damage output of the spell.

4. I hope that I answered your questions. I feel that this could have been addressed as a discussion rather than a review, but it is what it is. I have considered creating additional detail on the art of runecrafting in general, but it really does fall within the guidelines for crafting magic items detailed in the dungeon masters guide. I didn’t want to duplicate any of the material listed in the core books. However, I will review the archetype, and consider adding clarifications.