Make all shop runes stat-bound

[Planetus]

As it is, getting a good rune of any type from a shop is a major hassle. There are (by my quick count) about 10 types of runes you can get, multiplied by 6 stats to be bound to. That's a total of 60 possible combinations without considering the invisible quality factor. Rune shops typically have around 10 runes, with multiple repetitions of rune types, meaning you may only see 3-5 types of runes. If by luck the type you're looking for is there, each one still has what seems to be about a 50% chance to be white (not linked to a stat), and otherwise equal chance to be linked to any of the 6 stats. While these runes MAY be good for the level the shop is scaled to, they probably won't be very good within 5 levels, and definitely not within 10 levels. A rune has to be linked to a stat you invest in to be at all worth it for the long hall. Add in that there are only 4 rune shops in the entire game (unless you're playing dwarf or yeek), that one of those 4 isn't available until late, and that another of those 4 seems to have very limited selection (manasurge, teleportation, phase door, and invisibility are all I've seen in the Shaloren shop), and you've basically got 2 shots at long odds to get a rune of the type you want linked to the stat you want.

Because of these long odds, this and infusions (which are a little better off but not much) are the only things I will save-scum for in this game, and even then I don't want to, but a good shielding rune/healing/regeneration infusion is often critical to a good character. Just making all the runes in the shops be linked to a stat would up the odds of getting what you want noticeably. Infusion shops could also benefit from the same, but just the higher number of infusion shops make their situation far less abysmal.

It also makes NO sense to me why runes/infusions, which are inherently 'enchanted', are the only white objects you can find in stores. Stores apparently don't sell unenchanted knives or cloaks, but 'unenchanted' magical runes abound?

[lukep]

IIRC, thew reason there are so many white runes is because they get a greater (blue) ego rolled, and there are none, so they get nothing instead. Maybe adding a greater ego that scales with 60-100% of your highest stat would help?

[SageAcrin]

I'd like to see greater egos that have interesting intrinsic effects rather than raw bonuses to their role, so that they do different things. Maybe some basic buff statuses they'd apply for five turns?

Armor inscriptions that boost Armor/Armor Hardiness, Power inscriptions that boost Power stats(Phys/Mag with Runes, Phys/Ment with Infusions), Finesse inscriptions that boost Defense/Accuracy, Savior inscriptions that boost saves/healing mod, Spellflow (Runes only, rare) that boost Mana regen and grant Spellsurge on Crit for a period, Dampening(Infusion only, rare) that grants a small amount of flat rate non-physical armor.

Sound any good?

I suppose they could even be suffixes, though that would make for a (small) boost for Runes/Infusions across the board. Still easy to avoid breaking the game with, but notable.

[HousePet]

I wouldn't say no to an extension of inscription and charm egos.

[Zonk]

Random related thought, would it be bad if attack runes and heroism infusions could show up WAY earlier(though maybe not still not as early as shielding, regen...)? Could be interesting to see how attack runes work early on...

[HousePet]

Could have a weakish Arcane Spike rune for early on.

[String]

Well, there is that insidious poison infusion that shows up pretty early.

[Zonk]

True, but it's different in that it's DOT(although the main point is the heal mod reduction), not instant, and not a rune(so not for undead/golems). Plus attack runes having other effects is what I feel makes them interesting.

[b0rsuk]

It's not uncommon for a white rune or infusion to be the best - at least before killing Master.

[Hachem_Muche]

Bear in mind that white runes are potentially useful for low level characters for whom the lower cost can be important.

A partial fix for this problem would be to just increase the inventory from 10 to 20 runes.

[Zonk]

I've noticed that scaling runes - for stats I never put a point in - are still often better than white runes, actually... I'm tempted to suggest making white runes have (weaker)scaling with character level, but I can see how that wouldn't be a very popular idea.

[Praxis]

Needs a bump badly. I only play higher difficulties, and its a make or break if you get lucky on infusions/runes early one, because for 50gold or so that you can gain absolutely OP heal/shield/regen that fits your class primarely stat(like 300+ pt worth that scales with your primary) stat right away from lasthope/AM town. It's worth restarting/re-checking(if you wanna play straight-edge legit) the shops untill you get an uber rune/infusion if youre elf/human/halfling.

[Praxis]

Needs a bump badly. I only play higher difficulties, and its a make or break if you get lucky on infusions/runes early on, because for 50gold or so that you can gain absolutely OP heal/shield/regen that fits your class primary stat(like 300+ pt worth that scales with your primary) stat right away from lasthope/Zigur. It's worth restarting/re-checking(if you wanna play straight-edge legit) the shops untill you get an uber rune/infusion if youre elf/human/halfling.

[Zonk]

I think the issue is that the lower range on inscription power is just ridicolously low...even at later levels I can still find miserable shielding runes, like for 90 points...or I could get REALLY lucky and find ones for 300-400 early on.
Scaling needs to be smoother.

Crazy idea: what if white inscriptions were similar to green ones in that they had a base and a scaling component...but the scaling component was small and it was based on the player's level?