User blog comment:Lykrast/Runes: why I hate them/@comment-4022742-20140326124226/@comment-4022742-20140326172002

What is this any different from an RPG game? You get points that you can invest in talents or attributes or whatever they call it. And when you invest those points your character gets stronger in certain fields.

Runes are the same way, but you have to buy them with IP instead of XP. I do feel that their impact isn't as high as their cost though.