As far as runes go – you are trying to have all purple (or Red) runes, get them to max lvl & forge runes into them. As for forging – I'd personally advise applying: Gatherings aren’t just fluff—they’re treasure hunts with deadlines. Participate typically to snag rare goods and bonuses. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH5Ih6s4qb0