Runemetal abilitys

[Toomuch]

dose anyone know what they are i know gold holds light and iron has double the armor but what about the rest of the metals like copper

 

[Inspector Zero]

As well as the additional durability I seem to remember that Iron also causes additional damage to members of the Elder Races - esp. Aldryami and Uz. Having said that I can't find any reference for it anywhere and it might have been a house rule we had.

Copper (Aldryami and other Earth cultists) can be tempered to be as hard as Bronze and as durable but is lighter and therefore less of an encumbrance. Aldryami I think also get a slightly improved skill penalty when using copper armour. I would doubt that this benefit would be conferred on other races using Copper - it's about how you move in the metal, not the metal itself.

Lead again would be useless as armour without magical tempering. Uz can make it as hard as bronze (4pt) but it's enormously heavy. The excellent Uz book doesn't say this but I'd rule that as well as the high encumbrance lead armour also doubles the skill penalty (8% for a 4 point vambrace for example).

Silver (Thanatar & Lunars in the centuries to come) I don't think had any special abilities other than being made useful as armour and weaponry. Without magical tempering a silver sword is slightly better than a chocolate one.

Aluminium I don't know about but would guess at some ability to conduct electricity without harming the wielder/wearer.

Of course, all this is describing the benefits in game mechanics terms. The real benefit from any rune metal is it's association with the divine and the desire on the part of the cultist to emulate and glorify their deity through it's acquisition and use. Bone perhaps has a similar significance for the EWF

 

[duncan_disorderly]

Lead again would be useless as armour without magical tempering. Uz can make it as hard as bronze (4pt) but it's enormously heavy. The excellent Uz book doesn't say this but I'd rule that as well as the high encumbrance lead armour also doubles the skill penalty (8% for a 4 point vambrace for example).

IIRC Lead is quiet, so does not give a skill penalty on stealth/sneak/move sliently type skills. Uz Blue Moon Assassins are strong enough to wear it too...

Aluminium I don't know about but would guess at some ability to conduct electricity without harming the wielder/wearer.

Again, IIRC Aluminium does not give a skill penalty on swimming


These benefits are only when the Rune Metal is enchanted by members of the appropriate cults. So a Rune level Water Cultist using Aluminium Armour is not encumbered when swimming, while anyone else has armour which will not protect them as well as Bronze and still drag them down to the bottom if they fall overboard...

 

[TRose]

Elder Secrets had a break down of the magical effect, but I seem to misplaced my copy ,but the above seems correct.
Also if i remember right Bashing weapons made of lead dealt more damage.
Tin the metal for air in OLD TIME runequest I don't think ever had any advantage.

 

[Inspector Zero]

Oh did it? I'll go and dig out my copy.

 

[Cleombrotus]

Bronze (hu-metal) the standard. Mined direct (bones of dead gods) or manufactured by alloying copper with tin.
Copper (ga-metal) raw copper has same AP as bronze but can't damage bronze weapons. Enchanted copper only takes damage to itself when penetrated to twice its AP, but still only protects to its AP. It can be made thin to half ENC but protects at 2 pts less than bronze equivalent.
Gold (el-metal) 2xENC of bronze. Enchanted it glows and doubles effectiveness of light spells cast on it. Can achieve same effect with gilding on bronze armour.
Iron (ur-metal) 1.5 x AP, Unenchanted iron reduces chance of casting or chance of being affected by spells by 5% per ENC (although in RQ2 it was a straight 5% chance if I'm not mistaken). Aldryami and Uz take double damage from iron weapons after armour is subtracted.
Lead (na-metal) half again ENC of bronze. Armour neither clanks nor reflects so doesn't impede stealth skills. Lead formed into crushing weapons do +2 damage.
Aluminium (sa-metal) Doesn't sink in water when enchanted. This is a supernatural power. Same ENC as bronze.
Silver (ul-metal) Can damage creatures only affected by magic.
Tin (ze-metal) Alloyed with Copper to produce bronze.

 

[Inspector Zero]

Lead (na-metal) half again ENC of bronze. Armour neither clanks nor reflects so doesn't impede stealth skills

Ah, got that bit wrong. Would have thought its the devil's own job to go creeping about in lead...

Copper (ga-metal) raw copper has same AP as bronze but can't damage bronze weapons. Enchanted copper only takes damage to itself when penetrated to twice its AP, but still only protects to its AP. It can be made thin to half ENC but protects at 2 pts less than bronze equivalent.

I think "Elfs - Aguide to the Aldryami" updates this a little for MRQ.

 

[Rasta]

Ah, got that bit wrong. Would have thought its the devil's own job to go creeping about in lead...

It's a very soft metal so doesn't clank like normal armor. Also, only Uz wear lead armor. Uz iz strong.

I think "Elfs - Aguide to the Aldryami" updates this a little for MRQ.

The update is probably unique to Aldryami.

 

[TRose]

Ah, got that bit wrong. Would have thought its the devil's own job to go creeping about in lead...

It's a very soft metal so doesn't clank like normal armor. Also, only Uz wear lead armor. Uz iz strong.

Yes Uz is strong. And they are very strong if you get downwind of them.

 

[Inspector Zero]

It's a very soft metal so doesn't clank like normal armor

Compared to other metals yes. Leather is arguably softer still, not prone to clanking and yet confers a stealth penalty. Alright, I'll concede a little creaking from the leather but is it really noisier than lead?

Have to assume its some kind of magical property associated with tempering into weaponry and armour. I still reckon if a non Uz put on lead armour not only would they be harded pushed to move they'd be making a fair old racket as well.

 

[Rasta]

Compared to other metals yes. Leather is arguably softer still, not prone to clanking and yet confers a stealth penalty. Alright, I'll concede a little creaking from the leather but is it really noisier than lead?

I agree. I personally don't give a stealth penalty to leather or coth armor.

If you do, you could always reduce the standard penalty for lead, or not, based on how you view it.

Have to assume its some kind of magical property associated with tempering into weaponry and armour. I still reckon if a non Uz put on lead armour not only would they be harded pushed to move they'd be making a fair old racket as well.

I agree. I think it may have something to do with lead's association with the darkness rune.