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→Higher Level Rune Functions
===Higher Level Rune Functions===
[[File:Runes-level.jpg|thumb|300px|Runestone levels]]Each type of rune has a set function in every skill, and the functions do not vary with the rune quality. For example, an Indigo Rune adds multishot to Magic Missile; higher level Indigo runes don't change that function, they just increase the number of projectiles. (While more More points in Magic Missile would modify skills may sometimes partially duplicate the base skill damagebonuses provided by one or more runestones, and perhaps adjust but generally the usage cost, firing rate, [[cooldown]], etc, but would not add more projectilesimprovements are distinct.)
::'''''Question:''' Will the increase in rank continue the change that the first rank made to the skill? For example, with the WD blow dart skill, the alabaster runes turn the dart into a snake. What does a higher ranking alabaster rune do?''
::[[Bashiok]]: Yes, the mechanic stays the same for the rune type in all ranks (more or less). It simply increases in power. For the alabaster in poison dart example I’m actually not sure the increase in effect, but likely plays off of the stun effect (higher ranks stun the target for longer). Runes that reduce cost reduce even more cost as the rank increases. A rune that would cause multiple projectiles would fire even more projectiles as the rank increases, etc. It’s not necessarily a hard and fast rule though that the increase must only be one thing. Maybe it means more projectiles AND ups the damage a little to make sure it remains competitive with other runes or skills. It has to be a somewhat fluid system.
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There are seven quality levels of runestones, roughly distributed so that 1-3 are found as a character progresses through Normal, 4-5 are found in Nightmare, and 6-7 are found in Hell. Higher level runestones can be distinguished by additional points around their perimeters. It's not known how rare high level runestones will be, but as powerful as they are, most players expect them to be fairly scarce.
==Runestone Scarcity==
