I got curious about the inspiration for the runes of the fighter subclass.
Connecting the runes to the properties of giant subraces makes no sense to me. Is that based on some old module or something?
It would make more sense to me if they were things the giants would use. In D&D giants have strong connection to runic magic (see the rune magic items in Storm King’s Thunder).Sort of how in Warhammer fantasy runes = dwarf? In D&D that connection is to giants and their lost civilization.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) November 10, 2019
There’s also discussion of the giant rune carvers in Volo’s Guide to Monsters, and their affinity to rune magic.
Likewise the effects of the Rune Knight’s runes are inspired by the expanded discussion of giant tribes in Volo’s (frost giants being masters of beasts, for ex.).
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) November 10, 2019
That part I understood. My question was more about why there was no rune of health, life, death or other such concept, and why giant magic would just reinforce the giantness.
Why would a Jotun use the magic runes in the UA? Why is the ice rune about strength? I really like that the runes are connected to the giants. What I don't get is why each rune is connected to a specific giant type.
— Viktor Bengtsson (@ViktorEGB) November 10, 2019
Giants use the runes in different ways. The Rune Knight represents humanoids using the power of giant runes to tap into the giants’ essence.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) November 10, 2019
Thanks!
That makes some sense to me. I guess I expected the story to be more similar to how artificers enchant items by putting magic patterns on them. The easy solution for that is probably too have me play an artificer… Yep. If you want to be about infusing actual magic items, especially to hand them off, Artificer has what you need for sure!
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) November 10, 2019
And if you like the rune flavor, that's an easy re-skin.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) November 10, 2019