"Runes Reforged" isn't a rework of runes. They've been scrapped entirely.
Don't get me wrong; I like the new things from "Runes Reforged", but I don't like that people seem to think it's a replacement for runes.
It's not.
Look at what "Runes Reforged" actually does.
- Runes get removed.
- Base stats get tweaked to account for the loss of runes.
- Masteries get changed again.
Masteries get reworked every couple preseasons. This is not a new thing, it's just shinier this time.
Runes on live have three issues.
- They cost too much
- You can't edit them in champion select
- They have bland effects
That said, those were essentially its only flaws, and all of them could be fixed.
Masteries are skill trees. If you want a keystone in a tree, you have to go all the way down that page. While Runes Reforged are not technically a skill tree, you still have to dedicate yourself to a particular "branch" in order to get something at the end, making it a similar effect.
Runes, on the other hand, are effectively a skill tree without any prerequisites. You mix and match what you want, regardless of what type of rune it is, and make a page without any structure forced on you. It's a really solid concept, but its concept was wasted because it only gave you raw stats.
It's a system that has lots of potential, but has failed due to a lack of support by the developers. It's Dominion all over again and I'm a bit upset.
