RuneScape News

Behind the Scenes - January

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Our first update of the year is actually one we have been talking about for a while � the new Summoning familiar you voted for during the Summer. Of course, we could have just produced a simple Summoning creature to follow you around and do the occasional funky trick, but we decided that a legendary creature such as the phoenix deserved the full treatment. So, it will have its own tutorial-style quest, in which you learn how to deal with the unusual nesting habits of the giant, fire-drenched beast, AND a repeatable challenge you can take on every day, should you wish.

Once you�ve helped the phoenix you�ll be able to summon a smaller phoenix familiar to help you in battle, just as you would with any other Summoning familiar. Not only will it be able to fight alongside you (dealing Magic damage), it will also have the ability to fire ashes at your opponents, temporarily blinding them and making it harder for them to attack. On top of this, the phoenix will be able to be reborn from the ashes, leaving nearby nasties scorched by the accompanying flames.

We will also be releasing the next of our Achievement Diaries this month � this time set in the peaceful Seers� Village and its surrounding woods and castles. As always, the intention of the Achievement Diary is to introduce some of the hidden or 'non-quest' activities associated with an area, so expect to be learning all about coal carts, the Piety prayer, forgotten sorcerers, poisoned chalices, pet fish and bullseyes! Rewards include additional experience when cutting down maple trees, and a handy flax picker (similar to Bert, who collects buckets of sand for you after the Hand in the Sand quest).

Another of the changes prepared for January is a great suggestion from our forums � the ability to re-order your spell list. Now, don�t worry, this is totally optional (and the default will still be the 'level order' setting you're currently used to), but you�ll be able to set up the list with the combat spells first, or the teleport spells first, etc. This is all managed via a handy series of buttons at the bottom of each of the three (normal, lunar and ancient) spellbooks. We�re making this change because we feel it could be useful, but if you think it could be even MORE useful, we�d like to know how - please let us know what you think.

Hopefully, you�ll have already read the Behind the Scenes 2009 newspost written by Mod Vince, the new Head of RuneScape. As he said, we intend to spend a lot of time this year reviewing older content, making it more useful and user-friendly, and ensuring that yesterday�s content is of the same standard as tomorrow�s. The changes we plan to make cover all aspects of the game - this month we�ll be increasing the length of the auto-logout timer from the current 90 seconds to about 5 minutes, and a �You are here� arrow on the world map. We�re even looking back over our old word lists, to remove words accidentally starred-out in chat.

Last but not least, we�ll be bringing you a new players� gallery and the letters from Postie Pete�s January postbag.

Enjoy!

Mod MarkLead Designer - RuneScape

Behind the Scenes 2009

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:00:00 GMT

So, the first post of the New Year and you�ll be wondering what the next 12 months in RuneScape will bring. The past year saw the introduction of PvP Worlds, RuneScape High Detail, Summoning, our first Grandmaster quest, combat minigames, and Distractions and Diversions. What can we do to top 2008?

Well, this is the challenge that we�ve set ourselves: 2009 has become our official Upgrade Year! So, what does that mean? It means our New Year's resolution is to tweak and polish what we've already got in the game alongside creating new content. For example:

Doing the 'little' jobs that make a big difference (e.g. a 'You are here' arrow on the world map) and basically fixing all the annoying little niggles the game has. Things that may be the least glamorous to work on and talk about, but which really add up.

Updating some of the earliest content/quests to bring it up to date, and take advantage of all the features we have added to the game engine since it was originally created. Also, reworking old clues that no longer work now the game is bigger (e.g. 'Look west of the mountains' was fine when there was only one mountain, but not now).

Making the interfaces as intuitive, flexible and user-friendly as possible.

Then, after all that, we�ll start looking into abandoned and barely used areas/features of the game, and breathing new life into them.

Of course, we don't want to JUST do upgrades, so we're planning to do a mix of upgrades and new content. To achieve this we are planning on going back to releasing approximately four updates per month, which will alternate between upgrades and new content.

We�ve been trawling the forums, pooling opinions from our game teams and inviting everyone at Jagex HQ to voice their opinions on what they�d like to see in an upgraded RuneScape. As a regular player, there will no doubt be at least one feature you�ve always wanted to see introduced, to make your time in RuneScape even better. Chances are that it�s already on our list, but to be on the safe side, why not let us know? We�ll be monitoring the forums, so please tell us what you want to see. We can�t promise we'll do everything, but we�ll try to incorporate any particular trends we see into our plans, and let you know.

Well, at the end of my first newspost, I just want to thank you all for your continued support through 2008, and I look forward to seeing you all in Gielinor in 2009.

Happy New Year!

Mod VinceHead of RuneScape

SMS Payment Options

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Today, we�ve launched the SMS payment option for players from Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden, which can be used to pay for a RuneScape membership.

RuneScape members will get regular content updates and gain access to a world that�s three times larger than the free world and packed full of members-only quests, minigames and skills. Members also gain fullscreen mode, advert-free gaming and the ability to post on the forums. More information about membership can be found here.

The PayBySMS service is currently available to players from the UK, USA, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

Security Reminder

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Some of you may have read recent news reports regarding a security flaw in the Internet Explorer web browser � the default web browser in Microsoft Windows. This flaw is reportedly being used to steal passwords for various popular online games. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to remind all our players of a few important security practices:

If you use Windows make sure you have the latest updates installed. You can get the latest updates and security fixes for your computer from windowsupdate.microsoft.com. This will protect your computer against the latest security flaw.

Never visit a website that you are told about in-game, as there is a chance that you could be directed to a fake website. Fake websites are dangerous, as they can allow hackers to access your personal information, or expose your computer to viruses. Remember, it is against the rules to promote any website, either in the game or on the forums; if you see someone advertising a website in this way, you should report them immediately using the Report Abuse button at the bottom of your screen, and selecting Rule 11: Advertising/Website.

Make sure you have up to date anti-virus software installed.

We also want to take this opportunity to remind you that you should never give out your password, or any personal information such as your email address or real name, to any other player, for any reason. For more information on security, please read this article.

We want all our players to be safe, so please take the appropriate care. Thank you for your support, and Merry Christmas!

Postbag from the Hedge

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

When your belly is full, crackers pulled and presents opened this Christmas, why don't you gather round and read Party Pete's Christmas speech? He has Christmas spirit to share.

Evil Dave has a theory that he'd like to air, and Shanty Claws comes aground for a rare visit.

Click here to read this month's correspondence.

Players' Gallery

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Christmas is busy, busy, busy for Postie Pete. That's why he likes to relax with a festive Players' Gallery, where all the hard work is done by you!

His favourites this month include a festive Grim Reaper and Guthan getting his comeuppance. Click here and jingle all the way to your pictures.

Christmas Event and Quest

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

The festive season is upon us, and to celebrate we�re presenting you with the result of your Guaranteed Content Christmas poll, in the form of this years� Christmas event. We�ve also got an appropriately wintery quest for you in Myths of the White Lands. We hope you have lots of fun, and enjoy your Christmas adventures!

Merry Christmas!

A number of slippery ice patches have been spotted in Gielinor, and there is growing concern that someone, or something, is trying to ruin everybody�s Christmas. With so much ice around, the safety of the inhabitants of RuneScape is at stake, and as if that wasn�t enough, disappointed children have been reporting a lack of presents in their stockings! According to imp emissaries from the Land of Snow, the problem originated in their homeland�those of you who remember the result of your Guaranteed Content Christmas poll may have an idea of what lies at the centre of the mystery!

Meanwhile, in Lumbridge, Explorer Jack has heard tales from a chatty snow imp of mythical riches in the Land of Snow. Of course, he leaves the adventuring to younger explorers these days, but he could be talked into rewarding someone willing to fetch these riches for him. In Myths of the White Lands, you will discover what lies at the heart of snow imp lore, and the creatures that accompany it. You will need ingenuity, skill and quick reflexes to succeed in this particularly puzzling quest, which more experienced players may find contains a few extra rewards.

Myths of the White Lands will be available to all players for two weeks, after which it will be available only to members. The Christmas event will be available to all players for two weeks only.

This is the first quest (and event) I have written, and it�s exciting to finally have something I made released. I really hope that you like them both, and that you have at least as much fun playing them as I had writing them. Merry Christmas, everybody!

Mod Maylea

Runescape Content Developer

Summary:

Where to start the Christmas event:

Speak to one of the snow imps north of Lumbridge, Rimmington or Falador

Requirements: None

Where to start Myths of the White Lands:Talk to Explorer Jack in Lumbridge

Requirements: None

Stealing Creation Reward Changes

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

A while ago, we announced that we would be making changes to the rewards for the Stealing Creation minigame. These changes have gone live today.

Players can no longer gain combat experience inside the Stealing Creation minigame. Instead, the sacred clay combat equipment rewards give bonus experience when they are used. This means that combat experience rewards are given in the same way as reward experience for non-combat skills.

Sacred clay reward items give experience at a much greater rate than previously. While using one of these items, the normal experience you would gain is doubled.

Rather than having a fixed number of transformations, the reward items will lose charge gradually as they give experience. The more experience you are gaining, the quicker the charge will run out.

The system for buying reward items has changed. The score you earn in the minigame is now converted into reward points, and you buy reward items using these points. If you had any points stored before this update, 200,000 of those points will be converted to the new system. Any other points will be lost. In addition, if you had more than ten tools or ten pieces of armour/weapons, any excess have been converted to reward points.

Mod John A

RuneScape Developer

Christmas Cards

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

'Tis the season to be jolly, so why not put a smile on the faces of your friends and family by sending them a RuneScape Christmas card?

This year we have four festive Christmas card designs for you to send to your favourite people. Two of these designs were chosen by you in our recent Guaranteed Content Poll, so we hope that you enjoy seeing your ideas made into Christmas cards. The two most popular designs from the poll were 'Sweet Dreams', featuring Bob the Cat asleep by the fireside, and 'Christmas in Falador'.

You can either print out the cards, ready to send, or save your favourite designs onto your own computer.

To view the designs for yourself, head to the Downloads and Wallpapers section.

RuneScape France

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Bonjour! We�re pleased to announce that we have just released the RuneScape game and website in its third language: French.

Whether you�re fluent in the language or just learning, you can give it a try by clicking on the French flag at the top-left of the website.

More languages are planned for RuneScape in the future, so keep an eye out for further updates.

PvP Worlds Improvements

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

This week, we have made some improvements to the amount of loot you can gain while fighting other players on PvP worlds.

We have noticed that many players on PvP worlds choose to leave some of their drops on the ground, rather than pick them up or bank them. This is because the drops are often too low in value to justify picking them up. We have, therefore, implemented two changes to the way drops work on PvP worlds:

1) Drops are now slightly more weighted towards a few, higher-value drops, rather than lots of low- or medium-value ones.

2) Overall, we have made the drops a bit more generous.

Note: there is no change in the frequency of 'useful' drops (e.g. food and potions).

We also wanted to take this opportunity to more clearly explain how drops are determined, to help you get better rewards. Broadly speaking, the drop system works as follows:

1) For each player, we store a 'drop potential'. Your drop potential gradually increases, the more time you spend risking items on a PvP world.

2) When you get a successful kill, a portion of the drop potential you have accumulated is used up to generate your drop. How much of your accumulated drop potential is used depends on the kill. Any unused drop potential is saved up and carried over to any future kills.

3) Finally, the portion of drop potential used determines which drop table is used to generate your drop. Generally, the higher your drop potential, the higher the AVERAGE value of the drop table your drop will be chosen from.

HOW TO MAXIMISE THE VALUE OF YOUR DROPS

In order to get a good drop on a PvP world, there are a few simple things that you must do to both build up a high drop potential and to claim that potential.

BUILDING UP YOUR DROP POTENTIAL

If you find that you continually only get drops of a lower value than you would like, it's almost certainly because you aren't building up enough drop potential. In this case, you need to spend more time building up your drop potential BEFORE making a PvP kill. To do this you must:

1) Spend time outside of safe zones.

For every 30 minutes you spend on a PvP world outside of a safe zone, your drop potential will increase. Those 30 minutes do NOT have to be all in one go - you can log out or visit safe zones - but the system only counts full minutes, so it will likely take longer to build up your drop potential if you do not spend 30 consecutive minutes outside of safe zones.

Note that your drop potential will increase by more if you spend time in hot zones (Ardougne, Varrock, Falador and the Wilderness).

2) Risk at least 75k coins' worth of items.

Your drop potential will ONLY increase if you are risking at least 75k coins' worth of items on a members' world, or 25k coins' worth of items on a free world. An item is considered to be at risk if it is something you would have lost if you were to die - i.e. it is not covered by the Protect Item prayer or the 'keep three items on death' rule. If you are not risking enough, then however long you spend outside of safe zones, your drop potential will not increase.

As an example, one way of doing this is to take 75k coins' worth of items, not protected by death or prayers, then go outside of a safe zone and train as normal (by training a skill of fighting NPCs), and avoid PvP combat. All the time you are doing this, not only are you earning XP from whatever activity you are doing, you are also increasing your drop potential. Once you have built up some drop potential in this way, you can get your PKing gear on and try to get a kill to claim your drop.

CLAIMING YOUR DROP POTENTIAL

1) Once you have built up some drop potential, you will need to find and defeat another player to get a drop. Don't forget that the player you defeat must be risking at least 25k coins' worth of items (on either a free or members' world) for you to receive a good drop. If the player you defeated was not risking that much, you will only receive a token drop, but, in this case, NONE of your drop potential will be used up to determine your drop.

There are some other, less important, rules to PvP worlds, but you should read about them on the Knowledge Base to learn more.

We're really interested in hearing your feedback on these changes, so please feel free to visit the Forums after trying them out.

Enjoy!

Mod Benny

RuneScape Developer

PvP world improvements

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

This week, we have made some improvements to the amount of loot you can gain while fighting other players on PvP worlds.

1) Drops are now slightly more weighted towards a few, higher-value drops, rather than lots of low- or medium-value ones.

2) Overall, we have made the drops a bit more generous.

Note: there is no change in the frequency of 'useful' drops (e.g. food and potions).

We also wanted to take this opportunity to more clearly explain how drops are determined, to help you get better rewards. Broadly speaking, the drop system works as follows:

1) For each player, we store a 'drop potential'. Your drop potential gradually increases, the more time you spend risking items on a PvP world.

HOW TO MAXIMISE THE VALUE OF YOUR DROPS

In order to get a good drop on a PvP world, there are a few simple things that you must do to both build up a high drop potential and to claim that potential.

BUILDING UP YOUR DROP POTENTIAL

1) Spend time outside of safe zones.

Note that your drop potential will increase by more if you spend time in hot zones (Ardougne, Varrock, Falador and the Wilderness).

2) Risk at least 75k coins' worth of items.

CLAIMING YOUR DROP POTENTIAL

There are some other, less important, rules to PvP worlds, but you should read about them on the Knowledge Base to learn more.

We're really interested in hearing your feedback on these changes, so please feel free to visit the Forums after trying them out.

Enjoy!

Mod Benny

RuneScape Developer

Falador Achievement Diary

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

As the dazzling capital of Asgarnia, the city of Falador is ripe with adventure. From the White Knights� Castle to the harbour of Port Sarim, even as far south as the coastal settlement of Rimmington; the Falador Achievement Diary will soon have you climbing castles, healing elemental wizards and battling skeletal wyverns.

Tasks range from the delightfully simple to the infuriatingly challenging. Feed the Hairdresser�s pet chinchompa, Ridgeley, pickpocket one of the city�s helpless guards, and craft a hoard of air runes, all on your way to the rewards.

With enough tasks complete, Wyson might share a few green-fingered secrets with you. You may even receive some new kit to protect you in your travels further afield.

Mod Trick

RuneScape Developer

Summary:

Where to start the Falador Achievement Diary

Speak to Redbeard Frank in Port Sarim, the Chemist in Rimmington or the Squire in the White Knights� Castle

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT

Fremennik Province Achievement Diary

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Venture into the cold north-west for a new round of challenges as the Fremennik lands and islands show what they have to offer. Whether you want to explore, hone your skills or just kill a few local beasties, there is plenty on offer.

It�s true to say that the Fremennik enjoy a challenge, and those who take on their Achievement Diary will get to see just the sort of trials the Fremennik enjoy. You�ll find yourself in the midst of dagannoths, kyatts, Lunar mages and mithril dragons, not to mention using the raw tools the barbarians have perfected over the centuries.

Prove yourself under the watchful eyes of Chieftain Brundt and his peers and you'll get more out of Rellekka. Impress Advisor Ghrim and your approval in Miscellania can soar, and don't forget the lure of antique lamps to bring you illumination.

Mod Hew

RuneScape Developer

Summary:

Where to start the Fremennik Province Achievement Diary

Speak to the council workman on the bridge south of Rellekka, Yrsa in Rellekka or Advisor Ghrim on Miscellania

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT

Christmas Packages in the Jagex Store

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

With Christmas just around the corner, we now have RuneScape-themed gift packages available in the Jagex Store, with the option to include a 12-month subscription card. The Christmas gift packs come with a variety of RuneScape goodies, and some even include a brand new, limited edition �dragon armour T-shirt�! There are only 2,000 of these T-shirts available worldwide, and are sure to run out quick.

For the truly devoted player, some gift packs come with a 12-month subscription card, which can be redeemed at any time to guarantee you a year of adventures in the lands of RuneScape. The subscription card is run through the Wallie card payment method, and is available to players everywhere.

Finally, as an extra Christmas bonus, we�ve reduced the price of Betrayal at Falador, the first RuneScape novel! The book can now be purchased for �9.99/$16.99 (reduced from �12.99/$22.99).

PayPal Recurring Subscriptions

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

You are now able to set-up recurring subscriptions through PayPal. This means that if you subscribe by PayPal you have the option to have your RuneScape account automatically topped-up each month, so you will no longer need to regularly go back and renew your membership.

To set this method up, begin by clicking on �Account� in the top navigation of the website. Then choose �Start/Extend Subscription�, log-in and follow the onscreen prompts to start a monthly recurring payment through PayPal.

This payment method is available to anyone who has a verified PayPal account. If you wish to set an account up, please visit Paypal's website.

Behind the Scenes � December

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Achievement diary antics, elegant accents, delving into dungeons, and dashing hairdos are due during December. But what�s all that mean?

In our first update of the month, you�ll be asked to return to Falador, where the fourth Achievement Diary will be waiting for you. With Falador being such a familiar area, you can be sure that some tasks will be straightforward, but there are challenges, too. Are you capable of slaying a skeletal wyvern? Have you encountered the vast mole beneath Wyson�s flowers? Rewards will include brand new white lily seeds and a shiny new emote.

Once you�ve done that little lot, your next step will be a watery one, as you cross the Fremennik Province and the islands beyond for their Achievement Diary. No doubt Baba Yaga and her Lunar friends will have several tasks for the higher levels, but pet rocks, seaweed and Slayer caves await those slightly less familiar with the Fremennik ways. Rewards will include enhanced resource collection for your Etceterian workers, improved lyres, and a potential 20k experience reward lamp.

As we mentioned in the news post towards the end of last month, we will be making further changes to the reward items associated with Stealing Creation. We will make the rewards far more appealing and easier to use; actually doubling the experience you earn from any of the activities you use your reward objects for, including the combat ones! If you need more information about the changes to Stealing Creation, please read

this news post.

Since our graphical update earlier in the year, we�ve been playing around with a variety of new haircuts for the game. We�ve now gathered around 20 new styles and will be releasing them during December to the free and members� games. These new hairdos include some rather interesting styles inspired by Ak�Haranu, a visitor from the unexplored eastern realms. Perhaps next year will unearth more fashions from these interesting folk? Only time will tell...

You might stumble across some new words if you�re planning to try out any of the French Servers, planned for launch in December. Completely translated into French, we hope that many of you will be finding a new home here, or even just popping in to see what everything�s like en fran�ais.

Finally this month, we will be opening the gates to festive cheer and wintry celebrations with this year�s Christmas update. Much like this year�s Hallowe�en, we�ve decided to release a quest at the same time as our Christmas event, which means that the free game will have access to that quest over the Christmas period.

During the event, you�ll be asked to track down Jack Frost, the misunderstood son of the Queen of Snow. Apparently, he loves icing things up and has been known to freeze even the warmest of Christmases. Of course, many of you will know all about what we have planned after voting in the Guaranteed Content Christmas poll we ran earlier this year, so expect Santa suits and even a chilly new necklace to show off with.

For the quest, Explorer Jack will have a tale � a tale of fearsome creatures and bountiful riches. Sadly, the best of his adventuring days are behind him, so he�ll need one of those adventuring sorts to stride out bravely into the icy wastelands. I wonder if he�ll be able to find one? In this quest, it won�t be your equipment that helps you trek through the caves, but a keen eye to work out the fiendishly cavernous puzzles. Higher levelled players will find extra rewards hidden within those puzzles, so be prepared.

Updates after December

Mobilising Armies

We�ve reported before that we planned to release Mobilising Armies, our new tactical minigame, in December. We�ve found that although we could release it, we really want to take our time to make this the best update we can, so we made the difficult choice to hold onto it until next year. We�ve never ever tried to release a game like this before, and we want to make sure we get it right. So, you�ll have to wait a little longer for your gnomic glider bombers, pigeon messengers, dragons� hoards and catapult attacks.

Have fun!

Mod Mark

Lead Designer � RuneScape