DavetheLost wrote:
Page 279 "... You can increase the Intensity of an existing power." "... You can choose to bind it to a Passive power already bound to one of your other runes. This stacks the effect (sum the powers)"
So, {Rune Enchantments} should have their effects doubled by Keen Aptitude. You are scribing one double strength enchantment powered by two Essence runes, not two enchantments powered by two Essence runes. The latter would be the case if you some how selected the same {Rune Enchantment} twice from two different spots on the Passives board, binding it to a different rune each time. Yes, I know this is not currently possible, but as future boards are released who knows? A character who did gain two separate instances of the same Runic Enchantment bound to two different Essence runes without the use of Keen Aptitude would cancel each other out, not stack, if both were inscribed at once too close to one another.
Keen Aptitude just became very desirable for a Galdr, too bad it doesn't appear on their boards.
From just now re-reading the rules on binding runes and looking at the various Passive powers boards I have not found any Dweller boards with Keen Aptitude, only Denizens and Thanes. Now it all makes sense. Keen Aptitudes allow Denizens and Thanes to become specialists in a few amped up Passive powers, albeit at least one level behind Dwellers who choose the same Passive twice, from different squares.
I find something new every time I re-read the book.
You guys will find that runes have a greater effect than your standard Passive power. In exchange, they interfere with each other's magic when in close proximity. This is FOTN canon since 1e and was put into place for both flavour and to stifle rune mass production. The other intent was that you can power only ONE such rune per instance of the Passive power (although not explicitly stated). That said, I am open to the player community's take on Keen Aptitude and rune enchantment passives. Implement either option as your group would prefer.

Player gain access to Keen Aptitude when they rise in Disir level and gain access to Troll-Blooded. And yes Dave, you are correct, their main purpose is to help Norns create simpler and more specialized denizens (less powers to worry about).
Runes are also incredibly versatile and can be placed on any object allowing the Passive to effectively be passed to the player in need. This made them extra unique, but they will lose some of that with the release of DotN and the Infuse skill.