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Rise of Isengard: Rune-keeper Developer Diary

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All New, All Improved

As with previous level bumps, we’ve focused on improving existing skills over adding even more to your quickslots. Unlike some other updates, we’ve tried to make these skill improvements a lot more potent. We hope you agree!
 
Level 66 - Improved Essay of Fire:
 
For the next 5 seconds, your Wrath of Fire skills have no induction.
 
This, coupled with the generic changes to Essay of Fire listed later, and the new raid set bonus, can really put some hurt out!
 
Level 68 - Improved Prelude to Hope:
 
Returns Power to the RK if cast on an ally who has Writ of Health active.
 
Level 72 - Improved Sustaining Bolt:
 
If used while at 9 Attunement, returns some power to the RK.
 
Combo this ability with the “Charged” buff from the Solitary Thunder trait line for some happy times.
 
Level 70 - Improved Rousing Words:
 
Healing an ally for at least 5 seconds will apply Writ of Health.
 
Level 74 - Improved Scathing Mockery:
 
The damage over time component of this skill has been removed. Instead, all affected targets will be struck with Writ of Fire.
 
This is the first of a few changes that we hope opens up an interesting Rune-keeper AOE focused build, as well as a great utility skill for damage dealers in general.

4-set bonuses

Before going into the trait-sets, I wanted to call out the new 4-set bonuses. Each line has a 4-set bonus that increases output by 2% per trait in that set equipped. So, if you have 4 Cleansing Fires traits equipped, you will have +8% fire damage, and if you have 7 equipped the bonus will rise to 14%.
 
These bonuses were added for a few reasons. The main reason is it allows us to reduce the base potency of a few skills without reducing the net potency of the Rune-keeper. It also allows us to make under-used skills more important. A secondary reason is it makes traits a little more important, making a slightly higher wall between a damage dealing Rune-keeper and a healer. While it is still highly possible to swap between the two without changing traits, there will now be a bit more of a potency change. Lastly, it gives additional incentive to go 6-1 or 7-0 when choosing traits, options that were often less than ideal.
 
So, when looking at the changes below, keep in mind that global potency buffs are associated with everything you see!