Arcane Runes

Overview

Valencia's different elemental magicks coalescing into Arcane magic creates the ability to craft extremely potent Arcane runes. The runes vary in strength, and even sap away the magic essence of those that wield them. The stronger the rune, the less a mortal body is capable of sustaining their great power.
The point of the runes is to balance non-magical classes with the spellcasters that received power creep in Valencia's extended rules.
The way I see this system working will be based off of player's spellcasting levels, but to simplify it down, it will be like this: A full caster will not have the ability to use a rune. A half caster will have the ability to use one rune slot, a 3rd caster will be able to use 2 rune slots, and a non-caster will be able to use 3 rune slots. These rune slots will be granted as the character levels up.

Tethering and untethering

To tether or untether to your rune, you must wait until a long rest, similar to when the majority of spell casters are able to change out their daily spell selection. These runes are affixed directly into your armor, so if your armor is removed, you will lose your access to those runes until you retrieve that armor again.

What classes are eligible?

Below are the classes and their official spellcaster categories. If you plan on multi-classing, we'll use spellcaster levels exactly the same way as the official ruleset does (ex. So a 12th level character being a level 8 Ranger multi-classed into 5 levels of Wizard would grant 9 spellcaster levels which would make the Character eligible for a Rune at level 13 as a Half Caster. ) to determine where your character would line up on the spectrum and how many Rune slots you'd have available.

Full Caster	Half Caster	3rd Caster
Bard	Artificer	Arcane Trickster
Cleric	Paladin	Eldritch Knight
Druid	Ranger
Sorcerer	Moon Druid
Wizard
Warlock

Rune slot unlock levels

As your character levels up, you'll receive additional Rune slots. This happens automatically, upon your level up and long rest.

Rune slot	Half Caster	3rd Caster	Non-Caster
First	13	7	1
Second	-	16	7
Third	-	-	16

Examples of Runes

The below table is just an example of runes that can be found or crafted throughout Valencia.

Rune	Rune slot level	Effect
Rune of the Duelist	1	When you are hit by a melee attack you can see, you may tap this Rune as a reaction to add 1 to your AC. You must tap this Rune before you know the result of the roll. You can use this Rune two times per short rest.
Rune of Arcane Linking	1	You gain an additional level 1 spell slot to be used with any type of magic. This spell slot is refreshed on a long rest. The spell attack bonus of this spell is +4, and the spell save DC is 12.
Rune of the Bully	1	You gain advantage on CHR (Intimidation) checks when the target can see you and you are holding this weapon.
Rune of Resolute	1	You have advantage on saving throws against the frightened condition.
Rune of Brutish Slam	1	If the d20 roll for an attack made with this weapon is a 19 or 20, you can force a creature that suffers damage from this weapon to make a STR DC saving throw, in addition to any damage caused. On a failed save, it is shoved 10 feet in the direction of your choice.
Rune of Hamstringing	1	If the d20 roll for an attack made with this weapon is a 19 or 20, you can force a creature that suffers damage from this weapon to make a DEX DC saving throw, in addition to any damage caused. On a failed save, its movement speed is halved until your next turn.
Rune of the Grand Duelist	2	When you are hit by a melee attack you can see, you may tap this Rune as a reaction to add 3 to your AC. You may tap this Rune at any time as a reaction. You can use this Rune three times per long rest.
Rune of Spell Smiting	2	When you strike with your weapon, you may tap this rune to infuse your blade with a Branding Smite. The level of the Branding Smite is equal to your CHR, or WIS Modifer; whichever is highest. You may use this twice per long rest.
Rune of the Slayer	3	Each long-rest, you may choose an enemy type from: Beast, Fey, Monstrosity, or Undead. Your weapon attacks from this weapon deal 2d8 additional fire damage to all creatures of this type.
Rune of the protector	3	When a creature you can see within 30 feet makes an attack on a friendly creature, you can tap this Rune as a reaction to briefly step through the Arcane Weave. If the friendly target you teleport to has half or less life, the damage is redirected to you. You can use this Rune equal to your CON modifier