Running guide

Common Runs
Running isn't as common in Factions as it is in Prophecies because in Cantha most locations have a gate guard at the entry who will only let you pass if the player speaking to him has a specific quest. This requires that the player being run makes it to the gate guard, meaning they have to run themselves and survive, which voids the entire purpose of being run. One popular run is from The Marketplace to Kaineng City for Canthan born characters, but it's a trivial run with no real threat. Also the most common running professions are warriors due to their healing/speed buffs and high AL, rangers due to their dodge/speed buffs and high AL against elemental damage. More recently Dervishs and Assasins have been seen running places like Droknars Forge.

Some popular runs are:
 * From Lions Arch to Ascalon City (for characters from other campaigns)
 * The Droknar Run
 * From Lions Arch to Sanctum Cay, Beacon's Perch or Temple of the Ages.
 * From Bergen Hot Springs to Temple of the Ages or Beetletun, or vice versa
 * From The Amnoon Oasis to Augury Rock (see The Amnoon Oasis to Augury Rock)
 * From Augury Rock to the mission locations in the Crystal Desert, see the Ascension guide
 * From Henge of Denravi to Maguuma Stade
 * From Thunderhead Keep to Marhan's Grotto
 * From Iron Mines of Moladune to Copperhammer Mines
 * From Copperhammer Mines to Granite Citadel
 * From Piken Square to Yak's Bend
 * From Yak's Bend to Beacon's Perch
 * From Beacon's Perch to Gates of Kryta or Lion's Arch
 * From Ascalon City or Piken Square to Lion's Arch (combining several of the preceeding runs into one quicker process)
 * From Cavalon to Bai Paasu Reach, Eredon Terrace, Breaker Hollow, Jade Flats (Luxon) and Aspenwood Gate (Luxon)
 * From House zu Heltzer to Aspenwood Gate (Kurzick), Saint Anjeka's Shrine, Lutgardis Conservatory, Brauer Academy and Jade Flats (Kurzick)

Increased Movement Skills
Here's a list of the most common skills used in a running build organized by profession and with a short description of how they can be used.

Warrior

 * "Charge!" (Elite Shout, affects ALL allies within earshot)
 * Battle Rage (Elite Stance, requires adrenaline)
 * Bull's Charge (Elite Stance )
 * Charging Strike (Elite Stance, constant + 33% with only one skill )
 * Enraging Charge (Stance, ends and gives you adrenaline if you attack)
 * Rush (Stance, Requires adrenaline)
 * Sprint (Stance)

Dervish

 * Avatar of Balthazar (Elite Form)
 * Featherfoot Grace (Stance, conditions expire 50% faster)
 * Harrier's Haste (Stance)
 * Pious Haste    (Stance)
 * Enchanted Haste (Stance)
 * Whirling Charge (Stance)

Ranger

 * Escape (Elite Stance)
 * Dodge (Stance)
 * Storm Chaser (Stance, may also be used to generate energy for other skills if running through an elemental area ie: The Shiverpeak Mountains)
 * Zojun's Haste (Stance)
 * Run as One (Stance, affects you and your pet)
 * Natural Stride (Stance)

Elementalist

 * Armor of Mist (Enchantment)
 * Burning Speed (Enchantment, beware of the burning effect taking some of your health)
 * Windborne Speed (Enchantment)
 * Flame Djinn's Haste (Enchantment, damages adjacent foes)
 * Storm Djinn's Haste (Enchantment, beware of energy loss)

Paragon

 * "Fall Back!" (Shout, also heals while moving)
 * "Lead the Way!" (Shout, duration based on allies nearby)
 * Godspeed (Shout, while under the effect of an Enchantment)

Assassin

 * Dash (Stance)
 * Dark Escape (Stance, halves damage taken)
 * Siphon Speed (Hex, slows foe by 33% and increases your speed by 33%)

Mesmer

 * Illusion of Haste (Enchantment, after this wears off, you will be Crippled re-apply to avoid)

More skills can be found on the movement speed skills quick reference, although the skills listed here are specifically for running.

Utility Skills
Here are some other potentially useful skills for running. Many areas include monsters with damaging attacks, knockdown, hexes, etc. that all need to be countered or negated in order to complete a run.

Warrior

 * Balanced Stance (Stance, prevents knockdown)
 * Bonetti's Defense (Stance)
 * Defensive Stance (Stance)
 * "Shields Up!" (Shout, +24 AL 50% to block ranged)
 * Healing Signet (-40 while using)
 * Endure Pain (Skill, increase health)
 * Defy Pain (Elite Skill, increase health, requires adrenaline)
 * Signet of Stamina (Signet, increase Health until you attack)

Dervish

 * Fleeting Stability (Enchantment, prevents knockdown)
 * Vow of Silence (Elite Enchantment, cannot cast or be the target of spells)
 * Mystic Regeneration (Enchantment, health regeneration)
 * Vital Boon (Enchantment, increase health heals after 20 seconds)
 * Conviction (Stance, increases armor if enchanted, plus health regeneration if not)
 * Pious Restoration (Spell, Hex removal)

Ranger

 * Whirling Defense (Stance, % chance to block)
 * Troll Unguent (Skill, health regeneration)

Assasin

 * Death's Charge (Spell, shadow step to foe and gain health)
 * Heart of Shadow (Spell, shadow step to random nearby location and gain health)
 * Feigned Neutrality (Spell, health regeneration and increased armor)
 * Shadow Form (Elite Spell, prevents being the target of spells and attacks)

Mesmer

 * Inspired Hex (spell, remove hex)
 * Revealed Hex (same as Inspired Hex)
 * Hex Breaker (stance, next hex against you fails)
 * Illusion of Weakness (Enchantment, If health drops below 25% you gain health)

Monk

 * Smite Hex (spell, Remove one hex)
 * Holy Veil (Enchantment, Removes one hex on end, increases casting time of hexes against you)
 * Divine Intervention (Enchantment, If you take damage that will be fatal you are healed for that amount instead)
 * Watchful Spirit
 * Restful Breeze (Enchantment, Health regeneration)
 * Spell Breaker (Elite Enchantment, Cannot be the target of spells)

Elementalist

 * Swirling Aura (Enchantment)

Skills
The cooldown on "Charge!" is 20 seconds so with 12 tactics Tactics attribute there will only be a 10 second cooldown. Using a stance during "Charge!"'s downtime will allow for continuous running (25% movement increase).

Of the list above, the most favored skills last 10 seconds and are either shouts or stances they are favored because :
 * They last at least 10 seconds (if the linked attribute is high enough) which is adequate for dodging groups and gaining distance quickly.
 * They are shouts or stances, which do not have an activation time. This means a character can use them on the fly while running without stopping. While Armor of Mist is a spell that lasts longer and increases speed more than Sprint, it requires runners to stop and cast it for two full seconds, which often allows monsters to surround them.

Note: Dodge is often used by those who use Storm Chaser as an extra boost after Storm Chaser wears off to get past the really long gauntlet of foes that are sometimes encountered. Similarly, Charge! is often used in conjunction with Sprint to allow the player to quickly outpace pursuing foes. Dodge also represents an obvious choice for Ranger primary runners since the duration can be increased with Expertise and it adds +33% speed instead of +25%.

Warming up:
Many runners activate some sort of healing regeneration (typically Troll Unguent for rangers) for a healing boost just before encountering a group of foes. This helps to combat the health degeneration often inflicted on runners by enemy mesmers and other occasional attacks that hit a runner. Elementalists may also start with either Windborne Speed or Armor of Mist, which allows them to save the stances or shouts (which don't require any activation time) for when they're actually surrounded by foes. Beware of mesmers with Shatter Enchantment when using enchantments. Using Watchful Spirit can also be used as it always gives 2 pips of regeneration and requires no investment in the Divine Favor attribute. Some runners may also chose to use Signet of Stamina for the additional health throughout the run. There is a difference in strategy between different classes. Rangers mainly try to block attacks using skills that also provide a speed buff such as Escape. Warriors and Dervishes on the other hand will often try to tank the damage. Warriors with healing skills such as healing breeze and skills to increase health. Dervishes tend to prefer Mystic Regeneration.

Learning from other runners
Sometimes the best way to learn is to have someone teach you or to watch someone successfully do something. Dying while others run you offers a convenient way to watch the runners and see how they do what they do. Simply click on the surviving runner's name in the Party List and observe. You can see what skills they're using and when they use them. Be sure to check with your runner prior to dying, as some runs, particularly in missions, require payment shortly before completion.

Video Links
Video Link of a Solo Elementalist Run to Lion's Arch, Part 1 (click "more>>" to the right of the related videos to view the other 5 parts)