LotRO Rune-Keeper Guide
This is a basic guide to Rune-Keepers. If you are looking for something more detailed and suitable for higher levels, this guide for the LotRO Rune-Keeper is highly recommended.
The Rune-keeper is the wielder of ancient words of power, the elder tongue that only the oldest of the Peoples of Middle Earth remember. Inscribing these runes of power, the Rune-keeper forges the elements: fire and ice, lightning and mana. With these powers, the Rune-keeper is both guardian of the old knowledge and protector of the Free Peoples. If you have decided to live the LotRO fantasy universe as a Rune-keeper, this could be your valuable information:
The Rune-Keeper's Roles
The Rune-keeper has two basic roles to fulfill within LotRO: ranged damage dealer (“nuker”) and healer. During group play, these roles will be maximized one way or the other while during solo play, they are more likely to be jockeyed as needs change.
The basic strategies used during game play will change widely when assuming one or the other role, so it's important to understand what those strategies are and when they'll be best employed.
As Group Healer
When the Rune-keeper is employed as the healer in a fellowship or raid group, that Rune-keeper will obviously Attune quickly towards Nestad. Most of the healing skills the Rune-keeper has are ranged, so staying well back from the battle is important so no healing needs to be used on the Rune-keeper himself. A Rune of Restoration can be placed near the front line to apply HoTs to the front line troops of the group while applied healing from Prelude to Hope and Mending Verse can be used at range on individual members of the group.
The primary goal of the Rune-keeper as the group healer is to stay Attuned towards healing and avoid the temptation of hurling the occasional offensive attack at enemies. Power and focus should remain on healing the group.
As Group Nuker
When the Rune-keeper is employed as a group ranged damage dealer (“nuker”), the character then takes on a task directly opposite of the healing role. In this case, the Rune-keeper has two primary goals in mind: ranged damage where it's needed most and threat management.
Standing back from the front line and watching the battle, the Rune-keeper can throw Fiery Ridicule and similar spells to deal damage to individual enemies while also keeping an eye out for comrades in need of help. Other “crowd control” spells such as Shocking Words can be used to stop an enemy temporarily as well.
With this in mind, the Rune-keeper's other task is to keep from becoming a primary target of the enemy, so managing threat by shifting targets or allowing front-line fighters to hit first is key.
This is a basic guide to Rune-Keepers. If you are looking for something more detailed and suitable for higher levels, this guide for the LotRO Rune-Keeper is highly recommended. | 
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