The Shield of Zorek's Favor, Scorpion's Kiss and the Duskblade all three say that "this lieutenant [carrying the relic]" gains some abilty. Notably the Duskblade adds a surge ability to the carriers attack.

In contrast The Shadow Rune says that "Each of your attacks gain: […]". in combination with the rules book page 22 where it says that "[…] the relic's abilities can be used by the overlord" (and not "by the lieutenant carrying the relic") this can be constructed to mean that your attacks refers to any attacks the overlord makes (through his monsters).

This seems to me to make the rune really strong and I'd say that to be a miss-construction of the rules. But as I do not yet have a feel for the power level of items and relics in the game I'm interested in other opinions.

Per rule book pg 22 under Relics:

The overlord version of a relic may be wielded by any lieutenant, and
this is the only way the relic’s abilities can be used by the overlord. If the
overlord has no lieutenant in a given quest, or if he opts to leave his relic
behind (see below), he receives no benefit for the relic’s abilities. Each
lieutenant can wield only one relic.

So, no, it doesn't affect every overlord attack. When it says "your" it means the lieutenant.

You are qouting exactly the part of the rules that I'm using to do my miss-construction: The relic is wielded by the lieutenant, but the relic's abilities are used by the overlord.

Also all relics either provide abilites that specificly bolster this lieutenant (Duskblade, Scorpion's Kiss and Shield of Zorek's Favor) or allow the overlord, who is revered to as you multiple times (Staff of Shadows: "[…] discard 1Overlord card from your hand", "You may do this at any time […]"; Bones of Woe: "At the start of each of your turns […]") to do something.

Since The Shadow Rune also grants you the ability it would seem to fall in line with the later group and thus my construction.

SirElvis said:

Well, this comes under my nitpicking category. But, if you want to pick bones about it, the OL doesn't have attacks. The OL activates his monster and lieutenants, who have attacks. So, even though the card says "your", it cannot reference the OL, because the OL doesn't come down into the dungeon and attack the players, the monsters do.

wootersl said:

Right! So that relic is absolutly usesless to the overlord and his lieutenants… ;)

SirElvis said:

rofl. Correct. So tear up the card and throw it away. There. Problem solved. :)

So the argument is that as long as a lieutenant is holding the Shadow Rune, every attack made by ALL of the OL's monsters in the encounter gains the ability listed on the card?

Is this a Call of Cthulhu thread, I am going insane.

Malicain said:

No, this is Mansions of Madness. You want the thread within Living Card Games.

 Then why would there be + Range surge in Shadow Rune, if only the liutenant could use it and Zachareth is a melee fighter?

Naksahtanut said:

You're right!

Also there is only one encounter where the Overlord can actually use the relic. You gain it in the Interlude and after that Zachareth is only present in the second encounter of the Finale. In contrast the hero variant of the Shadow Rune comes into play in all three Act 2 quests and the Finale. So my interpretation of the evil Shadow Rune might actually be what was intended.

SirElvis said:

It's even more restricted. Only in The Man Who Would be King the Shadow Rune is actually used. In the Gryvon Unleased it is discarded during setup making the dragon a bit stronger. So only if the Overlord wins the Interlude and at lease two Act 2 quest it will be used in one single encounter. That really justifies it being strong…

Many hero skills and abilities let "you" do something. Clearly this means just the one hero, not all of a player's heroes. Could this be the same?

Naksahtanut said:

He's a hybrid fighter.  He can melee attack or cast Shadow Bolt.

 The Shadow Rune influences 'your' attacks.

The Shadow Rune can only be used by Baron Zachareth.

The Overlord is Baron Zachareth.

Your attacks are Baron Zachareth's attacks.

Makes sense to me :)

Karui_Kage said:

Right. That's not what his complaint is though. He's saying. Baron Zachareth has the Shadow Rune attached, so the other monsters the OL control get the bonus also. That's not the case. Only the Baron would be able to use the Shadow Rune.