This build was inspired by two of the more interesting D&D classes - the third edition Forge Mage prestige class and the fourth edition Rune Priest. I've wanted to do something like this since Dawnguard came out, but it wasn't truly viable until Dragonborn came out.
"Sit and listen a while. You've heard it said in stories that Words have Power; that Names are dangerous and terrible things. What would you say if I told you it was true? Don't look at me like that, I'm serious. The words we use to describe the things around us are pale shadows of their True Names. Can you describe the sky? You'd probably say it's blue, but what do you mean by blue? I see you start to understand what I'm talking about. I am a Rune Priest and I have spent my life looking for the True Names of things. I have learned to engrave the names of Fire and Ash onto my arms and armor and bring them to life in the world around me. Would you like to join me and learn the power of the runes?"
GENERAL
The Rune Priest is a heavily armored, two-handed juggernaut who can easily switch between offensive play and defensive. The Rune Master perk is the heart and soul of this build while your enchantments boost yourself and any follower you may have. The various runes added in Dragonborn and the Dawnguard Rune Hammer give us a wide variety of skills for our Rune Priest. One thing that made this build so attractive to me is that there is no best race for it since none of the racial abilities are particularly well suited to one who studies Runes.
Race: Any
Major Skills: Enchanting, Smithing, Two-Handed, Heavy Armor
Minor Skills: Destruction, Illusion, Restoration, Block
Stat Spread: 2 Magicka/2 Health/1 Stamina
Stone: Lady
Required Quests: From the Ashes, Lost Relic.
LEVEL 50 PERK SPREAD
Destruction: Rune Master!! This tree defines the Rune Priest allowing him to cast his runes further away as well as augmenting the damage from the Rune Hammer. Novice Destruction, Apprentice Destruction, Augment Flames 2/2, Rune Master.
Enchanting: The Enchanting tree lets the Rune Priest engrave runes onto the arms and armor he creates. We will be combining regeneration enchants with those to reduce casting costs. Enchanter 5/5, Insightful Enchanter, Corpus Enchanter, Fire Enchanter, Extra Effect.
Heavy Armor: Rune Priests wear the heaviest armors available. (For those playing on the PC, the Robed Ebony Armor mod looks great on this build with the Black Mage Hood equipped). Juggernaut 5/5, Fists of Steel, Cushioned, Conditioning.
Two-Handed: Since the Rune Priest uses the Rune Hammer we will be investing heavily in the Two-Handed tree. Barbarian 5/5, Skull Crusher 3/3, Champion's Stance.
Block: Blocking with Two-Handed weapons isn't as good as a shield, but a small invest here will keep the Rune Priest up and fighting longer. Shield Wall 4/5
Smithing: The Rune Priest wants to use the best armors available and keep them in top form so he tends to smith both his and his follower's arms and armors. Steel Smithing, Arcane Smithing, Dwarven Smithing, Orc Smithing, Ebony Smithing, Daedric Smithing, Dragon Smithing.
Restoration: The Restoration tree houses the Poison Rune and lets the Rune Priest keep his follower in top form. Guardian Circles and Necromage make you more effective against the undead. Novice Restoration, Respite, Regeneration, Necromage
Illusion: Though the Frenzy Rune is here our main purpose in this tree is Aspect of Terror for fire boosts. Novice Illusion, Hypnotic Gaze, Aspect of Terror.
SPECIAL MOVES
Divide and Conquer: Ash Rune + Rune Hammer. Target the leader of the group and freeze him in place with the Ash Rune. Though invincible the leader is now paralyzed and helpless as he watches his lackies get blown away by your fire runes.
Madness Poison: Poison Rune + Frenzy Rune. You poison an enemy or group of enemies and watch as the venom in their veins slowly eats away their mind, causing them to be unable to distinguish between friend and foe.
Circle of Inevitability: Ash Rune + Scythe trap. Everyone knows those pesky scything hallways in Draugr tombs it is time to put them to good use. Lure a Draugr into the hallway and drop an Ash Rune to freeze the undead in place then make your way around the helpless corpse and pull the chain activating the scythes. Once the rune falls, the Draugr will be cut to pieces.
GEAR
Priest's Helmet: Penitus Oculatus Helm (or Black Mage Hood on PC, but that removes Morokei below), Fortify Illusion, Fortify Magicka Regeneration.
Morokei
Transmuter's Amulet: Gold Diamond Necklace, Fortify Alteration, Fortify Restoration.
Forge Mage Plate: Flawless Ebony Armor, Fortify Magicka Regeneration, Fortify Restoration and Magicka Regeneration.
Mage-Knight Gauntlets: Flawless Ebony Gauntlets, Fortify Magicka, Fortify Two-Handed/Block.
Mage's Golden Ring: Gold Diamong Ring, Fortify Magicka, Fortify Magicka Regeneration.
Boots of Elemental Protection: Flawless Ebony Boots, Resist Fire, Resist Frost.
Dawnguard Rune Hammer
I still have to find and upload some pictures for this build and polish it up a bit, but I hope you enjoy it!
This build was inspired by two of the more interesting D&D classes - the third edition Forge Mage prestige class and the fourth edition Rune Priest. I've wanted to do something like this since Dawnguard came out, but it wasn't truly viable until Dragonborn came out.
"Sit and listen a while. You've heard it said in stories that Words have Power; that Names are dangerous and terrible things. What would you say if I told you it was true? Don't look at me like that, I'm serious. The words we use to describe the things around us are pale shadows of their True Names. Can you describe the sky? You'd probably say it's blue, but what do you mean by blue? I see you start to understand what I'm talking about. I am a Rune Priest and I have spent my life looking for the True Names of things. I have learned to engrave the names of Fire and Ash onto my arms and armor and bring them to life in the world around me. Would you like to join me and learn the power of the runes?"
GENERAL
The Rune Priest is a heavily armored, two-handed juggernaut who can easily switch between offensive play and defensive. The Rune Master perk is the heart and soul of this build while your enchantments boost yourself and any follower you may have. The various runes added in Dragonborn and the Dawnguard Rune Hammer give us a wide variety of skills for our Rune Priest. One thing that made this build so attractive to me is that there is no best race for it since none of the racial abilities are particularly well suited to one who studies Runes.
Race: Any
Major Skills: Enchanting, Smithing, Two-Handed, Heavy Armor
Minor Skills: Destruction, Illusion, Restoration, Block
Stat Spread: 2 Magicka/2 Health/1 Stamina
Stone: Lady
Required Quests: From the Ashes, Lost Relic.
LEVEL 50 PERK SPREAD
Destruction: Rune Master!! This tree defines the Rune Priest allowing him to cast his runes further away as well as augmenting the damage from the Rune Hammer. Novice Destruction, Apprentice Destruction, Augment Flames 2/2, Rune Master.
Enchanting: The Enchanting tree lets the Rune Priest engrave runes onto the arms and armor he creates. We will be combining regeneration enchants with those to reduce casting costs. Enchanter 5/5, Insightful Enchanter, Corpus Enchanter, Fire Enchanter, Extra Effect.
Heavy Armor: Rune Priests wear the heaviest armors available. (For those playing on the PC, the Robed Ebony Armor mod looks great on this build with the Black Mage Hood equipped). Juggernaut 5/5, Fists of Steel, Cushioned, Conditioning.
Two-Handed: Since the Rune Priest uses the Rune Hammer we will be investing heavily in the Two-Handed tree. Barbarian 5/5, Skull Crusher 3/3, Champion's Stance.
Block: Blocking with Two-Handed weapons isn't as good as a shield, but a small invest here will keep the Rune Priest up and fighting longer. Shield Wall 4/5
Smithing: The Rune Priest wants to use the best armors available and keep them in top form so he tends to smith both his and his follower's arms and armors. Steel Smithing, Arcane Smithing, Dwarven Smithing, Orc Smithing, Ebony Smithing, Daedric Smithing, Dragon Smithing.
Restoration: The Restoration tree houses the Poison Rune and lets the Rune Priest keep his follower in top form. Guardian Circles and Necromage make you more effective against the undead. Novice Restoration, Respite, Regeneration, Necromage
Illusion: Though the Frenzy Rune is here our main purpose in this tree is Aspect of Terror for fire boosts. Novice Illusion, Hypnotic Gaze, Aspect of Terror.
SPECIAL MOVES
Divide and Conquer: Ash Rune + Rune Hammer. Target the leader of the group and freeze him in place with the Ash Rune. Though invincible the leader is now paralyzed and helpless as he watches his lackies get blown away by your fire runes.
Madness Poison: Poison Rune + Frenzy Rune. You poison an enemy or group of enemies and watch as the venom in their veins slowly eats away their mind, causing them to be unable to distinguish between friend and foe.
Circle of Inevitability: Ash Rune + Scythe trap. Everyone knows those pesky scything hallways in Draugr tombs it is time to put them to good use. Lure a Draugr into the hallway and drop an Ash Rune to freeze the undead in place then make your way around the helpless corpse and pull the chain activating the scythes. Once the rune falls, the Draugr will be cut to pieces.
GEAR
Priest's Helmet: Penitus Oculatus Helm (or Black Mage Hood on PC, but that removes Morokei below), Fortify Illusion, Fortify Magicka Regeneration.
Morokei
Transmuter's Amulet: Gold Diamond Necklace, Fortify Alteration, Fortify Restoration.
Forge Mage Plate: Flawless Ebony Armor, Fortify Magicka Regeneration, Fortify Restoration and Magicka Regeneration.
Mage-Knight Gauntlets: Flawless Ebony Gauntlets, Fortify Magicka, Fortify Two-Handed/Block.
Mage's Golden Ring: Gold Diamong Ring, Fortify Magicka, Fortify Magicka Regeneration.
Boots of Elemental Protection: Flawless Ebony Boots, Resist Fire, Resist Frost.
Dawnguard Rune Hammer
I still have to find and upload some pictures for this build and polish it up a bit, but I hope you enjoy it!
