style="margin: 2px; width: 210px; float: right;">

href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/75754" target="_blank"> style="width: 200px; float: right;" src="/image/view/75754">



The Warden is a combination hybrid/pet class, but don’t think
this means their power has been spread thin. It would be highly
inadvisable to call them a tree-hugging hippie except in the most
respectful tones. Able to wield more weapon types than any other class,
wear chain, and summon the very spirits of the earth, the Warden is
Mother Nature’s ultimate warrior.



style="font-weight: bold;">Note:
Due to their inability to commune with nature, humans are unable to
become Wardens.


Crunching the Numbers



All Wardens start out with the exact same statistical setup. As they
level up, they’ll also gain a set amount of points in their
attributes. The only way to alter your stats from those of anyone else
is through the use of equipment, runes, and the 10% attribute boost you
receive from your secondary class. The beginning stats and available
equipment skills for a Warden are:


Starting Attributes

  • Strength: 14
  • Dexterity: 10
  • Constitution: 12
  • Intelligence: 10
  • Wisdom: 10


Starting Equipment Skills

  • Robes
  • Cloth
  • Leather
  • Chain
  • Dagger
  • 1H Sword
  • 1H Axe
  • 2H Sword
  • 2H Axe
  • 2H Staff


Getting Your Bearings



Runes of Magic does a nice job of getting you into the action quickly
without tossing you into the deep end of the pool in the hopes
you’ll learn to swim. There’s a very quick optional
tutorial available when you first start. I suggest doing so for a
couple of reasons. First, it gives you some nice rewards and a 48 hour
20% attribute bonus. As a quick note, the timer for this bonus
continues to count down whether you’re online or not. The
second reason to do the tutorial is it literally takes little more than
3 or 4 minutes to complete. In exchange for the aforementioned
attribute bonus, it’s well worth it.






style="margin: 2px; width: 210px; float: right;">

href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/75753" target="_blank"> style="width: 200px; float: right;" src="/image/view/75753">



Once you finish the tutorial,
you’ll begin your adventures in an Elven academy. This new
starting area has a very different feel than that of the human village.
The academy is spread out across more land and the number of available
quests is actually a little overwhelming.



Without swinging your blade or sending your pet into a battle for you
even once, you’ll hit level 4 just by talking to people. Kill
one or two mobs after talking to everyone you can, and you’ll
hit level 5.



At first, it seems like your leveling far too quickly, but after some
thought, it appears to just be an attempt to get you playing in the
bigger areas faster. From levels 1 to 5, you’ll only gain one
new skill and all of them can be upgraded to their maximum levels, so
you don’t need to pick and choose yet. As such, there
doesn’t seem to be any harm in the accelerated leveling pace.
Once you hit level 5, the leveling speed is comparable to that of the
human starting area.


A Walking Hurricane



Wardens are the chosen warriors of the nature gods and take their role
as protectors seriously. Without the help of anyone (their pets
included), they are not a combatant to be taken lightly. They can call
down lightning, wrap an opponent in thorns, and even charge their blade
with the force of magic. This is all before calling out the big gun,
their pet.



The first (and only until level 14) pet you’ll receive is the
Spirit of the Oak. He looks just how you would expect a tree spirit to
look, made of wood with patches of moss all over him. What you may not
expect (and to be fair, I certainly didn’t) is how hard he
hits. Things may change later in the game, but at least for some time,
your first pet is nothing short of a beast.



Most of the time, you’re going to feel like a husband dress
shopping with his wife; sure, he can tell himself he’s making
a difference in her decision with his suggestions, but he’s
really just there to hold her purse. Your Spirit of the Oak pet
isn’t rude enough to let you know how useless you are to him,
but it’ll be a while before you shake the feeling that
*you’re* the pet.



When necessary, the Spirit of Oak makes a great off-tank as well. Pick
a target, send him in, and let him do his thing. It’s
disturbing (and a bit disconcerting at times) to have your pet come
back and join you before you’re finished with your own
target. The first time it happened to me, I thought it was a glitch and
my pet had ignored my command. Right up until I turned to discover the
other body ready for looting when I turned around. The Spirit of Oak
makes for a great pet.



When combined with your pet, you truly are a walking force of Nature.
As such, nothing in the beginning of the game can touch you. The damage
output possible by you and your pet, combined with the ability to wear
chain armor, makes you a living weapon. The class is new, so may go
through some changes in terms of power, but for now, enjoy the awesome
might the Warden brings to any battle.





To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our Runes of Magic Game Page.

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

Comments