Quotations taken directly from Runescape.com

20 April 2006 - Pure Essence on free servers

It has been brought to our attention that some free players who used to be members have had their essence converted into pure essence which they now can't use.

Don't worry, we are aware of this and are working to fix it. In next week's update we will make it so that whilst free players can't mine any more pure essence they can however still use/trade any which was automatically converted.

If you haven't already read it, then please see the previous news post entitled Rune Essence adjustment for more details on the Rune Essence changes.

Rune Essence adjustment

Today we have made an adjustment to rune essence mining due to players breaking rule 7 and rule 12, using macros to mine the rune essence and then sell it.
As you are probably aware we have various systems in place to detect people breaking rule 7 and ban them. These systems work very effectively at detecting people breaking this rule, and make macroing a really bad way to try and train a high level character.

The problem we are now solving is not a problem with our macro detection systems which are still working well, but rather a problem with banning being an ineffective punishment against abusers who only use very low level accounts, and who have no intention of ever playing the game properly.

Over the last few weeks we have banned literally hundreds of accounts a day for macroing at the rune essence mine. However the bans were ineffective as the abusers could just create more low level accounts that they didn't care about to mine more. We also track trades so we can ban the recipiant of the illegally obtained items, but the abusers in this case were swapping the runes for gp, and then selling the gp for real world money on auction sites. Of course the person buying the gp for real world money gets banned, because we track the money they received in an unbalanced trade to a macro account, but the seller doesn't care that their customers get banned shortly after, as they have their real world money by then.

The fundamental problem is that rune essence was one of the few areas of the game which could be used to generate a reasonable amount of RuneScape money on a 'throwaway' low level free account. Normally to earn large amounts of money quickly you need to level up an account first, and then of course you care if it gets banned so our normal deterrent is effective.

We have therefore split rune essence to have 2 grades. Normal essence can only be used to make the six basic runes, whereas pure essence can be used to make any rune. You can mine both types of essence at the same place as before. The kind of essence you receive is automatically decided when you mine the rock. You will always get pure essence only if your mining is over 30 and you are on a members' world, otherwise you will get normal essence.

As a one-off event whilst we introduce this, existing essence in your bank and inventory will have been automatically converted to pure essence if you are a member or have other members-only items in your bank, provided you have level 30 mining or runecrafting.

Since free players can only craft the six basic runes anyway, the normal essence is just as good for its intended purpose of letting free players do low level rune crafting. However it is not so useful for selling to members who want to make law and nature runes (who we believe buy the vast majority of rune essence in Runescape) which should reduce its price significantly and make it a much less appealing proposition for real world traders.

The only people who should be significantly affected by this are players mining very large amounts of essence on free accounts purely to sell to members. There are better way of making money on high level free accounts anyway, so this change should only really affect players trying to making large amounts of money on a low level free account - which is of course the exact idea.

We would also like to yet again remind our players NOT to break rule 12 and be tempted to buy RuneScape gold for real world money. Nearly all the gold being offered for sale in this way was generated by cheating on 'throwaway' accounts. If you buy it not only are you encouraging further cheating, but you run the very real risk of being banned yourself as the money you receive is dirty money and will be tracked. Again we have banned countless players for breaking rule 12 and fuelling this problem, and will continue to do so.

We hope most players will agree we shouldn't let rule breakers spoil this game, and we are determined to not let them do so. As well as banning, where necessary we will also make minimal changes to the game to make rule breaking unviable.

~Brenden

The Pest Control Mini-Game Guide has been uploaded! Thanks goes out to watsermetjou and the many other helpful people who contributed with this guide.

~ [Im4eversmart] ~

Quotations taken directly from Runescape.com

18 April 2006 - Pest Control

The Void Knights are a military order who have helped serve Guthix and his penchant for balance since the early Fourth Age. It is their job to ensure that the flux of good and evil coming through to RuneScape each day remains constant, but there are some beasts they find more difficult to accept than others.

On a series of islands in the far south of the world they have found some portals that are nothing but pure evil, which must be shut down at any cost.

Pest Control, the biggest update of the month is finally here!

This update includes:

• A new cooperative combat-based minigame


• 7 new kinds of deadly monster


• A new island featuring a bank and shops


• A new food item: field rations

Protect the Void Knight from the invading hordes for 20 minutes or go and destroy the portals yourself while your friends rebuild the smashed barricades left behind you. With boats visiting the portals as soon as enough volunteers are available, we are confident this game will become a firm favourite for fans of cooperative gameplay.

Dying during the Pest Control game is the same as dying in Castle Wars (no item loss and no trip to Lumbridge), so you have no excuse not to visit! Speak to the Squire at the southern end of Port Sarim to try out Pest Control today!

~ [Im4eversmart] ~

Happy birthday lisa, we all hope you have a wonderful day!

The Giant Mole Hunting Guide has been added to the site! Thank you Zevenberge and everyone else who helped write it!

~ [Im4eversmart] ~

The Rag and Bone Man Quest Guide has been uploaded! Thank you Fivestar24 and everyone else who helped with it.

~ [Im4eversmart] ~

Quotations taken directly from Runescape.com

10 April 2006 - New RuneScape Forums!

Today we have released the new version of the RuneScape forums, improving on the style and look of the old forums. As well as making it easier to navigate around, we have removed the need to log in to the forums in order to read them. Members will still be able to post by logging in using the link at the top of the forums page.

We have also added a host of new features - here are some of them:

Bump button

If you look next to the reply button, you'll see a new feature - "Bump". Clicking this will move the thread to the top of its forum. This feature has been added to remove the need for people to post "bump" messages, which will in turn make it much easier to see the actual conversation in the thread.

Note you can only bump your own thread, and you can only bump one thread every 10 minutes, to avoid this system being abused.

Message previews

The message preview feature will allow you to know what your message will look like before it's posted. You'll find the "preview" button next to the "add" button when you're adding a message.

FMod and JMod colours

Jagex Moderator posts have changed, so that now they will be gold. There will also be a gold crown next to their names. Similarly, Forum Moderators will have a green crown next to their name as well as keeping the green background on their messages

Smilies!

When you add messages, you can also add smilies :)! Check the smiley legend (available when adding a message) to see what smilies you can use.

User profiles

If you're logged in, on the main forums page, in the top right, you'll see "My Profile". This shows the list of the last threads you posted in, as well as your post count and gives you the option to turn smilies on or off.

Quick-Find codes

At the very bottom of a thread page there is now a "Quick Find Code" - if you put this into the "Quick Find" box at the top of the page it will take you back to that thread. This means you can jump straight to a thread by knowing this number, and will help in the forum emergencies forum.

Jump to forum

Also in the top right, there is a drop-down box which will let you go straight to another forum without navigating to the front page. Speedy!

Updated search (multiple words)

You can now search by typing in multiple words, and any thread which has any of the words will show up in the results, sorted by relavence. If you want to search for a whole phrase, use quotes around your search

Updated wordfilter

The wordfilter has been updated, making sure everyone is protected from bad language.

Go visit the new look RuneScape Forums!

Easter bunnies infest RuneScape!

Easter bunnies are infesting RuneScape!

Children around RuneScape were expecting the Easter Bunny to bring them eggs this week, but instead of one big bunny they have found dozens of little ones! The bunnies are contained in two areas, south of Falador and north-west of Varrock.

Unfortunately the new rabbits haven't quite grasped the spirit of Easter, and rather than handing the eggs out they are burying them in the ground. Bring a spade to dig them up again and give them to the children (or eat them yourself).

One of the eggs has a rather interesting effect that will unlock a new emote, and, if eaten in the correct place, will open up a whole new area. If you venture into the rabbit warren you can discover who is behind the rabbits' strange behaviour, and perhaps even earn a new magical ring.

The Easter eggs will all melt on 24th April, and the rabbits and their warren will disappear. Players who have unlocked the new emote will still be able to use it, and those who have obtained the magic ring will be able to keep it.

Rag and Bone Man

If you are travelling along the road from Varrock to the Temple on the River Salve, you might notice the camp of the Rag and Bone Man, who is looking for help, and would not turn down a hand, leg, or any other bone to be honest! His expanding collection needs to be finished off.

Low level players will be able to help him complete the bare bones of the quest. More experienced players will then be able to help him further and get extra rewards. Good luck and bone voyage!

Armour model changes

You will find that we've altered the appearance of a small number of armour items in this week's update, including chainmail tops, the camoflage kit and certain pieces of kit found in the Barrows. These changes are to make the models more flexible for animating. With these changes it will allow us to do more impressive animations of your characters in the future.

Of course some players will prefer the new models, whereas others will prefer the old ones. But once you also bear in mind that as well having an improved new look, this allows a greater range of animations, we feel it's definitely worth the change.

The combat stats of the items will not be affected in any way.

°Shinraz°

We now have a Enakhra's Temple map! Everyone thank Shinraz for creating this wonderful map!

--samwilliamh--

We now have a Drop percentages guide including the Dagannoth Kings, Kalphite Queen and Abyssal Demons! Everyone thank Nuke-Marine for composing the guide into one and Carrcomposer, Weyoun1 and Diegosage for getting this information!

--samwilliamh--

Hello everyone! The RuneHQ Newspaper Staff have completed the April edition of RHQN! Much effort was put into creating this paper, so on behalf of the Staff, please take your time to read and enjoy it! A special thanks to Eliminat0r93, Lascerator, and the rest of the people who really put a ton of effort into getting the paper finalized. Be sure to check in next month for the next edition!

We apologise for the slightly late release; we have had a couple of problems. Just think of it as our April Fool's Joke hehe!

Enjoy,

~The RuneHQ Newspaper Staff~

A Soul's Bane Quest Guide has been uploaded! Thanks 05grogan, Fireball0236, watsermetjou, and everyone else who submitted it!

With many thanks to Shinraz and several others, we now have the Mogre Camp Map! Thanks again for this great map!

~ [Im4eversmart] ~ and ~Eliminat0r93~

Quotations taken directly from Runescape.com

3 April 2006 - Behind the Scenes - April

This month we are releasing two quests based in the Varrock area. The first of these tells the story of Tolna, a young lad who left Varrock years ago to seek his fortune. Little did he know that his journey would only take him a few feet before the cruel hand of fate would snatch him up and throw him down into the pit of despair. Recent surface activity in the area has unearthed some dangerous crevices into the caves below. After all these years, can the boy still be alive? And if so, what sort of condition will he be in? Adventurers willing to take on these questions are sure to be faced with some difficult challenges but will be rewarded with new training areas and some quite fantastic cutscenes.

The second quest of the month will start on the pass from Varrock to the Salve Temple. An odd old man carrying a large sack of bones has a problem and will need your help to solve it. Why is he collecting all these bones? Why is the mysterious sack on his back making odd mumbling sounds? Although this quest is designed for low level players, high end players will find a better reward from the optional "big boned" list.

Later this month the gnomes get a new advantage on the Khazard Battlefield with the appearance of Battle Tortoises. These armoured tanks, mounted by mages and rangers, are sure to be quite a challenge for the General and his troops, but beware - they leave quite an impression!

We are also updating the Wilderness this month with new teleportation portals and a repeatable minigame. The portals act as a new way of getting round the Wilderness, but be careful. Once a portal is activated, everyone in the immediate area will be moved away, so don't rely on it to get out of trouble... you may find that trouble follows you through!

Wilderness Tag features a series of pillars dotted around the entire of the wilderness, with players being invited to tag them, similar to the way the Agility Arena works but without the timers. Players who successfully tag all the pillars (featuring various levels of difficulty) are rewarded with a generous helping of combat XP in the discipline they choose. Be careful, though, it is the Wilderness after all.

As Easter approaches, the Easter Bunny starts preparing for the busy month ahead. This year, however, he is feeling a bit lazy and so has asked the local rabbits to give him a hand. Sadly, they aren't as clever as they are cute... so it's a good job the land is full of helpful adventurers to correct the mistakes they are making. With a new seasonal emote and magical eggs, we are sure you'll be happy to celebrate Easter with the kids of RuneScape.

The biggest update this month will be Pest Control, a brand new player vs monster minigame. The Void Knights are a military order who have helped serve Guthix and his penchant for balance since the early God Wars. It is their job to ensure that the flux of good and evil that come through to Gielinor each day remains constant, but there are some beasts they find more difficult to accept than others. The portals they have found are nothing but pure evil, and so must be shut down at any cost. Protect the Void Knight from the invading hordes for 20 minutes or go and destroy their portals yourself while your friends rebuild the smashed barricades left behind you. With 6 new creature types and boats visiting the portals as soon as enough volunteers are available, we are confident this game will become a firm favourite for fans of cooperative gameplay.

Also in April we launch city pamphlets to help newer players find out what Varrock can offer and more readers' letters, focusing on the thousands of letters you have sent in addressed to the mime.

3 April 2006 - A Soul's Bane

A rift in the ground has opened in the lands to the west of the Digsite. All manner of bizarre noises have been escaping from it, and yet a sorrowful mother waits at the top, unafraid. She is waiting for her long lost son, Tolna, who has been missing for 25 years, and she needs your help!

If you choose to accept this quest into the unknown, you'll find yourself entering an adventure full of twisted monsters all created from the mind of a young boy driven to madness through incarceration. Through perseverance you may find yourself with a new place to train your combat!

Are you a Soul's Bane?

--samwilliamh--

Quotation taken directly from Runescape.com

28 March 2006 - Temple Trekking

As many adventurers know, life can't be all dragon-slaying and rescuing maidens in distress. For one, dragons are pretty fierce and most maidens tend to be able to look after themselves these days. So, to be a little useful and perhaps earn a crust, the wily adventurer knows how to turn their skills to many a trade, such as the ability to be a guide.

Since Burgh de Rott has had a recent face lift, and the general store has been filled up with supplies, some of the villagers feel ready to brave the trip to Paterdomus, the temple on the Salve. Of course, there are some trivial dangers to keep an eye out for, but nothing that a well-prepared adventurer couldn't deal with.

So stock up your companion with food (just in case), dust off your trusty map and set forth in the new minigame: Temple Trekking.

Features:

• 3 different routes to choose from with varying difficulty.



• 3 different levels of NPC followers to escort.



• Weaker NPCs are more taxing to protect but offer greater rewards if you can keep them alive.



• Rewards from the trip are made in skill related items and tomes of learning - novel ways to level your XP.



• Challenge enormous swamp snakes and protect your trek companion.



• Tackle giant swamp snails and tentacle monsters!



• Solve tricky puzzle encounters.



• Use the temple trekking as a fun, more interesting way to get back to Misthalin.

This minigame is designed to be a more fun and challenging way of making money and gaining xp than your normal RuneScape routine, and gives you something else to worry about while crossing the perilous swamps of Morytania.

Of course, every adventurer likes to feel important - so what better way than to help villagers escape the evil clutches of the vampyre horde? If you really miss the damsels in distress you can always go back to them... but have a wash first. Damsels hate swamps.

NOTE - Only players who have completed last week's quest (In Aid of the Myreque) will be able to attempt this minigame.

Readers' Letters - March

Today we have released the March edition of the Postbag from the Hedge, where you get the chance to ask in-game characters the burning questions that have been bothering you since last Pentember.

This month, what is the new Chaos Elemental all about, how does the KBD feel about being a bit of a wuss, and what exactly do Elven gods look like?

~Fireball0236 and °Shinraz°

Quotations taken directly from Runescape.com

27 March 2006 - 5 new worlds in Stockholm, Sweden

We have yet again broken the simultaneous player record, with just over 197k players online at the same time. To accommodate for this massive growth we have put 5 new worlds online in a new location - Stockholm, Sweden. This should alleviate some of the contention for slots on our busy Amsterdam servers. 3 of the worlds are for free players and 2 are for members only.

Enjoy the extra space!

°Shinraz° and ~ [Im4eversmart] ~

Quotations taken directly from Runescape.com

23 March 2006 - Responsible gaming reminder

RuneScape is a fun, challenging, and exciting game which is very important part of the life of many people. More important to us here at Jagex is our players' well-being and safety while they play the game. We realise that a lot of our players can get very passionate and immersed in the game and we would like to take a time out to remind everyone to take care while playing. We have a whole section of our website dedicated to your safety and health which we would recommend you take the time to read; simply follow the Safety and Security guidelines link on the front page.

Whilst playing the game will mostly be a fun and rewarding experience there are times of great frustration involved with that fun, something which helps give the game the sense of challenge which we all know and love. The loss of items due to character death or the actions of other players can all be very disappointing but it must be kept in the context that without these setbacks the victory would not be as sweet. Always remember that this is just a game, that it should never become your life, and that you should always be making time for other activities such as your studies or job, and meeting your friends in real life. Also remember that if events in the game are getting too emotional then you should take a break from the game and do something less stressful until you're happy to return.

If you continue to feel upset due to an in-game incident then we would recommend that you continue to take a break from the game and talk to someone. You could talk to a family member, work colleague, teacher or friend; whomever you feel the most comfortable with. There is also counselling available in most areas which can easily be found on the Internet or a local telephone directory. RuneScape will still be here when you return and will be filled with even more new content for you to enjoy.

We are aware that a small minority of players attempt to scam in RuneScape and we are continuously introducing new ways to protect you while playing and prevent scamming from happening. Already we have Customer Support, the player mods, Bank PINs, and the Password Support system in place, with more innovations being developed all the time. However all of these systems can only be truly effective if you work with them and use them regularly.

It is vitally important that everyone secures both their accounts and the computers which they use to play the game. To secure your account you should have a hard to guess password, a Bank PIN set in-game, and recovery questions set via the main website. Full details on how to secure your PC can be found in the Security Tips section of the main website. It is also important never to tell anyone your password or to share your account with anyone.

Whilst buying or selling goods in the game, always remember to read the second trade window as it shows everything that will be traded. Also, always be careful and pay full attention to the game whilst in dangerous areas so that your character does not get killed and cause you to lose valuable items. This goes doubly so for the Wilderness where monsters and players can attack you. If you don't want to lose an item then the best thing to do is avoid taking it anywhere where you might lose it. Finally everyone has access to the Report Abuse button at the bottom of the screen so you can hit that button and help us remove the small minority of rule breakers who get in the way of honest play.

At Jagex we are fully aware that behind each character is a real person, many of whom put in a lot of effort and passion into their accounts. When someone in game is hijacked, scammed, or verbally abused it can seriously upset the person in real life and can sometimes lead to tragic results. This is why we not only put so much effort into improving the game content but also deterrents against breaking the rules. This is also why we will remove from play anyone found breaking our rules. RuneScape is not a place for a small minority to abuse other players. Jagex will continue to use all the resources at its disposal to ensure RuneScape stays a fun, honest, and enjoyable place for you to spend your time.

~ [Im4eversmart] ~

The In Aid of the Myreque Quest Guide has been uploaded! Thanks goes out to Meowmix686, Tenseiken, and everyone else who helped with it!

~ [Im4eversmart] ~

Quotation taken directly from Runescape.com

22 March 2006 - In Aid of the Myreque

The peasants of Burgh De Rott are nervous. With no champions to defend them, it is only a matter of time before the Vampyres bleed them dry and leave them to disappear into the swamps. Will you allow the persecution to continue? Can you sit by as the Myreque, damaged from their last struggle in the Search of the Myreque quest, try in vain to stem the tide?

This update brings new hope to the desolate swamps of Morytania. With an entirely new village to help repair and even the hope of a new weapon to help combat the Juvinates, those who are brave enough to take on the challenge of the swamps are once again invited to help the agents of the Myreque in their struggle. A new base of operations must be found... can you find one and come to the Aid of the Myreque?

~Fireball0236

Our Ape Atoll City Guide has been re-done! Many thanks to Creepy675298 and everyone who helped for this outstanding guide!

~Eliminat0r93~