Buyers Guide
Thanks for checking out the Forgotten Runes buyers guide! If you're new to the project and are looking to get info into what you should look for when choosing your first character or just looking to expand your existing Forgotten Runes collection, this guide is for you.
So, you want to buy a wizard? Or maybe a warrior? No, a soul? The Runiverse has a variety of characters and collections, and it may be a little overwhelming. Let's break down some of the common themes and ways people value the collections within our ecosystem.
Although there are many collections under the Forgotten Runes umbrella, you can easily find all of them in the following marketplace links:
The two most prominent collections, with the biggest number count, are going to be: Forgotten Runes Wizards Cult & Forgotten Runes Warriors Guild, these are the staple collections of our world, with Wizards being the first collection ever minted within the ecosystem. All of the following information can be applied across most if not all collections within the ecosystem!
Deciding what to buy
First and foremost, we believe the best way to pick ANY character from our collection(s) is fairly simple.
"Like wizard, buy wizard."
-circa, the beginning of the Runiverse.
At the core of the Forgotten Runes collections lies its lore. Lore that is collectively built upon by holders of the project, participating in decentralized world-building together. One key aspect to take note of is the fact that these characters were made to be creative primitives. The low resolution pixel art leaves room for imaginative interpretation, to the point where even Wizards who are composed of almost the same traits can be depicted vastly different from one another. Their stories are for you to build on, and you may see something special in a Wizard that others don't, and turn them into tell a truly legendary tale with them.
If you can imagine the lore of a wizard, if you can picture the story, and/or see yourself in the Wizard--you are most likely on the right path! Now, you may be asking, "Okay, but what am I looking at? Is there other ways to value these characters?" and the answer is, yes, yes there is. The following is a list of common themes in how our community tends to value each character!
Overall Rarity
This is straightforward, but to understand "Overall Rarity" we need to know what a wizard is comprised of, which is broken down into a variety of traits from the following categories. Each of the following have a certain # associated with that particular trait, that number sits next to the text. Keep in mind that Wizards were purposely created with multiple layers of rarity to encourage buyers to not focus on grabbing the rarest wizard they can find, but to instead pick one they resonate with. If it feels like it's complicated recognizing which Wizards are more rare than others, that's by design!
- Head (122)
These range from Kobold to Cloud Prophet to Charmer and many more; each with a unique look that helps define that character. Some cult members even form social factions around certain head types! For example, the Murder Guild was made for Wizards with Corvid heads and even have their own Discord channel for their discussions.
- Body (86)
The body trait is just as important as the others. Ranging from, showing off your aesthetic style, sense of fashion, and/or reflecting where your wizard comes from. A harsh snowy terrain? The desert? Wizards and how they dress can be a tale in itself! Or, maybe, your wizard needs the utility attached to that body. A fanny pack to secure a magical possession. A cloak or cape to hide your appearance, tie it into your lore! The body can give reason for magical abilities, you pick!
- Familiar (37)
These are critters that tag along with the Wizard. Usually seen as companions, but some creatives have written lore on Familiars being antagonistic towards their associated Wizard. What you make with your Familiar is totally up to you! These can be common creatures you're familiar with such as brown hares, or fantastical creatures such as cockatrices.
- Prop (73)
These are the items held by your Wizard. Not all Wizards have a prop, but that certainly doesn't make them any less magical than the others! Whether it be a Green Mushroom or a Crystal Skull, these items provide a great starting point for conjuring up what your Wizard's powers are. Remember that creativity is key, your wizard certainly isn't restricted to only using their prop, or for their prop to be taken literally. Your Wizard's Eternal Rose may be completely different lore wise than others!
- Rune (23)
Like props, not all Wizards have Runes. These are symbols related to astrology, alchemy, and more. Maybe you have a Wizard with a Rune of Steel who uses its powers to strengthen their Broomstick. Or perhaps they have no Rune and are on a quest in search for one. It may be helpful to search online for meanings behind some of these for more inspiration, but of course you're encouraged to interpret these however you wish!
- Background (4)
These are all relatively dark shades, and can potentially add an extra level of nuance to your Wizard.
Name
Names can be very important for guiding your imagination! Wizards have a title, name, and place of origin that they were generated with. Some may me missing one or more of these, which can lead to some interesting themes such as 
of Dreams (9259). Most rarity tools don't take names into account, as not many collections utilize generative names, but some Wizards can be stand out and be highly sought after from having just the right name. Most rarity tools don't account for these, meaning it's possible for a high demand Wizard to go completely unnoticed if you're focusing just on basic metrics!
Affinity
Affinity is a unique aspect of most Forgotten Runes collections, and is used for generating cohesive characters. Unlike most generative NFT projects, Forgotten Runes groups each individual trait with certain thematic values, and the generation process uses those values as weights to determine which traits are more likely to generate with one another. Affinity also ties into the name scheme for Wizards, and is why every Pyromancer in the collection has at least one fire related trait (usually their prop). It keeps every character in the collection feeling like an actual living being rather than an amalgamation of randomized parts. Wizards with "perfect" affinities are those who's traits all fall under the same affinity, and as a result have a very clear thematic that they reference. They tend to be highly sought after because of how easy it is to visualize their archetype.