Rune Weapons question.

[Raydeus]

Rune weapons have really good stats and latents that are triggered by draining MP at a set rate over time.

My question is:

Why was the decision made to do these weapons drain MP at a set rate instead of only draining the MP on each successful hit/spell/etc.?

I think on a sword like Illumina when I ask this, that sword consumed MP on each hit and in return it would make every hit a critical. Kinda the same way Souleater works with it's added damage, but if you missed or didn't attack for any reason your MP would remain the same since the latent wasn't doing anything.

Many players have simply discarded these weapons because the MP drain just isn't worth the aditional effect most of the times.

And even jobs like RDM that has the ability to regain more MP than most can only use the weapons in very specific situations.

Is there any chance that'll change in the future and Rune weapons get an adjustment to make the MP drain less of a burden?

[Wind Adept]

Certain melee-equippable gear that gives refresh combined with dual wield could make constant critical hits like you mentioned rather overpowered. I won't say exactly which combination is pretty good for a certain class for fear of it being "adjusted."

[Raydeus]

Certain melee-equippable gear that gives refresh combined with dual wield could make constant critical hits like you mentioned rather overpowered. I won't say exactly which combination is pretty good for a certain class for fear of it being "adjusted."

No.

I'm not talking about giving Rune Weapons added critical effect, I'm talking about how that weapon consumed MP.

Illumina was just an example of how that sword handled the aditional effect and MP drain.

[Wind Adept]

Well, the problem with making the effect take place every time the weapon hits the enemy depends on whether they make it require 3 MP or whatever the requirement is, or if one MP remains enough to make the effect go off. If the rune weapons are altered but one MP stays the minimum, certain rune weapons would become overpowered when equipped with something that grants a refresh effect.

.. Of course, this is assuming that the weapons' effects are supposed to stay active with just one MP. It's probably not something intentional on Square's part.

[Raydeus]

That happens already, if a job has auto-refresh they can get the latent active every 2 ticks just from Auto Refresh (or some juice) alone going from 0 to 1 MP every two ticks.

A WAR/NIN using a 1 mp/tick juice and Dual Weilding 2 Rune Axes would get 10 HP regen every 2 ticks (and att +10), unless SE already fixed that.

If they make the MP drain more efficient at the expense of the requirement of needing the full 3 to 4 MP to trigger the latent I dont think many players would care. I've haven't actually seen a WAR Dual Weilding Rune Axes since a friend quit more than a year ago anyway.

But I'd definetely love being able to use my Rune Blade without getting MP drained just because I take my sword out.

[Akashimo]

Yea, I wouldn't mind seeing an adjustment for Rune Blade so i can off hand it for it's latent on my thf and help up my over all dmg. Only way I've gotten to toy with it's latent is by using my Blue Cotehardie while soloing just for kicks. Though exp wise, no way i'd be able to use it for it's latent just cause of the mp cost. Unless I get /drk and /blu leveled up any time soon just to main hand it and go wild with Vorpal Blade :P, which i already do as /war XD lol

[Lmnop]

how would you handle Rune Chopper? Latent: Haste +9%. You can't exactly get haste per swing like you can attack+5. As is, the system only drains when you're engaged. It's not too bad with some interesting layouts, but I really do wish it was only 1-2mp/tic drained.

[Raydeus]

Yep, I agree, with Rune Chopper they wouldn't be able to change the way it drains MP, but lowering the amount would help a lot.

I've always liked Rune Weapons and it's a shame see them being completely ignored because of the high and inefficient MP drain. There are many ways SE could make them less of a burden MP-wise, I just hope they adjust them eventually.

In the mean time I'm gonna keep using my good old Rune Blade to slaughter weak undead or Aspirable Arcana and other mobs with MP.