To Rune or not to Rune
 

In what cases should I be using a Rune? Does it work like the Symbol line Cleric's get?

always have a rune on yourself or you are dumb. cast rune on people that arent supposed to be taking dmg (clerics for example) if you have spare mana and peridots (or whatever reagent)

I guess I am dumb. I thought I was being frugal but not wasting almost a plat every time I cast on myself.

Eventually income will exceed reagent use, especially if you do good camps. What class are you playing anyway, I am assuming chanter.

Yes Enchanter

Honestly each situation is going to be different, personally I would conserve your gems rather than just defaulting to always having rune up. You should get a feel for when you need them based on camp and group composition. They aren't like a HP buff where they are useful for the duration of the buff, they absorb x dmg then poof. If you are new and have limited resources save your money. As you level up and money becomes less of an issue you may tend to have rune up more often.

Once you get into using peridots it gets pretty expensive. Bloodstones are cheap, though, especially once you get into your 30s. Rune really helps with charm breaks especially if you are also pulling. Extra hps and the ability to basically heal yourself really makes the enchanter class even more powerful. Push your chantering to the max.

Rune self when charming solo. Rune self when CCing on planar raids. Rune self when charming with dual wielding/hasted pets in high end areas.

Beyond that, in a regular group where you aren't charming. Or a raid where you can't CC, I wouldn't bother runing self.

Get a PGT, problem solved...

rune!
 

I used Rune 3 until 60 because I was cheap, now I always carry 3-4 stacks of peridots for rune 5. Its what keeps you alive many times and 1gem drop pays for a stack. Stack bedlam ontop.