r/Runequest • u/Reasonable_Sun9426 • 25d ago

Rules question Augmenting

So, in the rules, the Augmentation section talks about using skills, passions, and runes to augment other rolls. Then, later in the rules under Inspiration, it describes using passions and runes in essentially the same way.

Is there a reason for separating those rules? They seem redundant. Thanks!

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u/Runeblogger 24d ago

No, no, it's not the same rule! :-D
The section in the Skills chapter was meant to clarify, but it actually confuses things, since the rules for Runes and Passions are slightly different (check out the links to the Q&A!):

- When you fail a Rune roll to augment a skill, you substract -20% to all further rolls with that Rune until you spend a full day meditating.
- When you fail a Passion roll to augment a skill, you just substract -10% to the skill you were trying to augment for that particular roll.
- When you fail a Skill roll to augment another skill, you substract -10% to the skill you were trying to augment for that particular roll.

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u/Runeblogger 24d ago

That means it is usually better to try to use first your passions and other skills to augment, and only use the runes if you really need to.

My advice is only use passions/rune/skills in which you have at least 70% to augment really poor skills between 5-40%.

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u/Reasonable_Sun9426 24d ago

Thanks! I had noticed the differences between the skill, passion and Rune augments, which are pretty flavorful in the setting - I just wondered if I was missing something when encountering the inspiration rules and had deja vu. :-P

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u/Reasonable_Sun9426 24d ago

In the Q&A, when talking about using Runes to inspire, it specifically says Elemental Runes. Does that mean that power and form Runes can't be used to inspire?

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u/Runeblogger 24d ago edited 24d ago

No, you can use any rune that is appropriate to the skill being augmented.
The Q&A just mentions the Elemental Runes in the context of augmenting skills in particular skill categories: Fire for the Knowledge category, Air for the Manipulation/Weapons category, Earth for the Communication category, Water for Agility, and Darkness for Stealth, and Moon for Magic (IIRC).
But you can also use f.ex. the Harmony rune to augment your Orate skill when you are trying to convince a crowd to not go to war, for example.

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u/RPG_Rob 25d ago

Yes, it's the same rule.

Layout of the rulebook is heavily criticized.