Unidentified Runes

I see people all the time selling unidentified runes. But how do they what the rune is before they identify it? I saw someone the other selling an unidentified major vigor rune. I asked how he knew what it was before he ID'd it, and he said you just look at the armor... I had no idea what he meant. Would someone mind clearing this up?

If you expert-salvage an item before you identify it you might get a rune that's un-identified. It's a risk, because if you identify the item first you are guarenteed to unlock the rune, even if you don't get the rune in a subsequent salvage. The advantage gained by expert-salvaging first is that the rune can be traded to another player so that they can unlock the rune for their PvP templetes. Un-IDed major/superior runes are probably the most sought after items in the game.

He can't 'know' that it's a vigor rune. You can only tell what class it's for, and if it's minor, major, or superior.

I can't say that I've noticed a difference in appearance that would let you tell a vigor rune from any other, but it could be the case.

some runes are unique in graphic


Vigor looks like a flat W (and doesnt belong to a class)

for class runes, you wont know *exactly* until you identify it
- all you can tell is it belongs to a certain class