OldSchool RuneScape 101
Welcome to the first ever This Is Old School RuneScape blog! For those of you have yet to join the world of Gielinor, or maybe haven’t paid it a visit for a long time, we’ll be taking you through what makes Old School… well... Old School, all the way up to its release.
Sit back, grab a cuppa and prepare for your upcoming adventure!
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[h2]What is Old School RuneScape?[/h2]
RuneScape is an open world fantasy MMORPG that is always evolving. Cooked up by three brothers in the early 2000s, it has a rich history spanning over 20 years, and by 2013 had evolved into a sleek, modern game with a contemporary visual style. However, we knew that some of our players preferred the RuneScape they used to know, so in 2013 we released Old School RuneScape (Classic RuneScape as it was back in 2007) with its distinctive look and nostalgic point-and-click gameplay.
And we haven't been twiddling our thumbs since, either - we've been hard at work releasing brand-new content that stays true to Old School's roots. To keep us in check, all new content is voted on by our community. Our players take to the polls to decide what's added!
Old School has something for everyone. We're sure you'll fall in love with our memorable quests, iconic skills, community-driven design and many challenges to master.
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[h2]An Epic World Filled With Adventures[/h2]
There’s so much to do in Old School – and adventure is calling! This is a world two decades in the making, filled with rich lore, memorable characters, iconic locations and looming threats from secessionist elves and ancient terrors. This is a world you can savour, whether you are on an epic quest, like the iconic 'Dragon Slayer' and the apocalyptic 'The Fremennik Exiles', or just on a mission to beat stuff up!
Speaking of which, there’s plenty of combat to sink your teeth into in Old School. From Melee to Magic to Archery, there are many ways to take on the assorted denizens of Gielinor, who range from demons to dragons and loot-dropping mega bosses. For the monster-hunting enthusiasts out there, there’s even a skill associated with killing specific types of enemies!
As you hone your Combat skills, group bosses like the indomitable Nightmare along with arenas such as the Theatre of Blood and the God Wars Dungeon will present the ultimate test – and if you’re feeling extra brave, the Wilderness awaits for some optional PvP showdowns.
Whether you are going it alone or exploring with friends, your choices define your adventure. You get to play however YOU want!
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[h2]It’s All About Those 99s[/h2]
We can’t chat RuneScape without talking about our iconic skilling! Old School has 23 skills to train, with everything from Combat-based skills to artisan abilities like Farming, Crafting, Runecraft, Mining and Smithing.
These skills intertwine throughout the game experience, unlocking new quests and powerful upgrades to help you in combat, or opening up entire new areas for you to explore. You’ll use them to grow your power and wealth on your adventures as you set out to earn the coveted Skill Level 99.
Skilling is also where Old School shines as the perfect second-screen game. While investing your full attention will help you to optimise your gains, most skills can easily be trained – whether you’re on the go on mobile or just catching up on the day’s news. How and when you skill is, like all things RuneScape, entirely up to you.
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[h2]Polling[/h2]
Polls are in-game votes in which players can express their preferences for certain changes within Old School. A feature is successful if it has achieved over 75% Yes votes when the poll closes. As of 2021 there have been 184 polls, a total of 2499 questions, and a mammoth 6.9 million votes cast!
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[h2]Our Incredible Community[/h2]
Time is the great creator of deep, meaningful communities – and with Old School, you're diving into a world with 20 YEARS of rich history! Yep, our game is older than Steam itself!
From legendary in-game moments like the Falador Massacre through to the annual community celebration that is the Golden Gnome Awards, Old School's players are the beating heart of Gielinor that bring the world to life. You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced the buzz of being surrounded by hundreds of fellow adventurers flocking to a new piece of content!
Old School also gives you plenty of opportunities to connect with other players with chat features and World Themes bringing like-minded people closer together.
The depth of our community extends far beyond the game too, with intricate cosplay, jaw-dropping art and binge-watchable videos delighting us all every day. As developers, we also do our best to stay connected to our community with regular livestreams and initiatives like the Ninja Dojo, where players can guide a strike team on key quality of life improvements for the game.
This all culminates in our regular community event, RuneFest - a whole convention dedicated to RuneScape and its players... although unfortunately not last year, as you would probably expect!
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[h2]Membership[/h2]
While RuneScape is free-to-play, Membership allows you to experience Old School on its grandest scale.
Members can explore a world three times larger than the free-to-play experience, with over 125 more epic quests to conquer, and eight additional skills to master. You can learn more about Membership here.
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[h2]Begin Your Journey[/h2]
Old School RuneScape is such a big game that we have barely scratched the surface, but hopefully our 101 got you up to speed on some of the basics. Until next time, new adventurer!
The Old School Team