Ruminating on 15 years of RuneScape • Eurogamer.net

Salvation! We’re still catching up on our memories and moments from 2021. Here’s Lottie envisioning a long career in Runescape.

I like to joke that for me RuneScape is less of a game and more of a lifestyle choice; although after 15 years I should probably admit to myself that this joke borders on the realm of fact.

From my 2006 diary, I can say with certainty that I took my first steps in Gielinor – the setting for RuneScape – on April 29 of that year. Young Lottie opened up about how RuneScape “looks pretty good with its cool map,” before launching a tirade about how she couldn’t find the latest episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion on what I’m assuming is a perfectly legal website. I wonder what she would have written if she had known that RuneScape would become a mainstay in her game library.

Leafing through those old diaries was an exploration of my personal RuneScape history; I recorded level achievements, new discoveries and misadventures, like my first visit to Varrock. Realizing my low combat level and fearing that I would die at the hands of monsters far more powerful than myself, I decided to stay on the trails – it would surely protect me from the beasts that lurk in unknown lands.

Runescape

It was, in reality, a decision that backfired on me as I approached the southern city gate and encountered the dark wizards lingered nearby. (One really wonders how much these Varrock guards are paid …) Once I had my fix of Varrock, I carefully planned my departure in the hopes of avoiding another murderous surprise, only to suffer. a near-death experience at the hands of a highwayman near Port Sarim.

As I delved deeper, I discovered pest control strategies and how I discovered RuneScape’s infamous problem, the Falador Massacre. It was June 5, 2006 and Cursed You was celebrating being the first player to reach level 99 building with a party at their player’s house. Lag, however, forced him to kick everyone out and, upon leaving, the players inside the fighting ring found they could, thanks to an unknown error in the coding of the building skills. , attack anyone despite being outside the dedicated PvP area. As their victims couldn’t retaliate, the nearly hour-long carnage made history in RuneScape.

There were even notes on my bowstring running out of money making plans stapled onto a page. To sum up, I spent months running between the flax field, the spinning wheel and the shore of the village of Seers, then continued until I managed to reconnect my brain for fun. The end result was a summer of practicing my construction skills – it was well worth it.

Beautiful floors!

It’s interesting to see the different styles of play that I’ve played over the years; from tearing up boss races to managing a role-playing clan to hours of skills, so I can complete a specific achievement. Now, I prefer to play slowly, rarely using anything that could increase my base XP yield, so I can take the long journey to level up. I often read while doing this – it’s oddly relaxing to have the clicking of my pickax or pickaxe as background noise.

What brings me back to RuneScape is the feeling of being a living organism; constantly evolving with new challenges and locations. There are the skills, the interwoven tapestries that connect the different aspects of the gameplay, which allows me to go from making runestones to hunting dinosaurs. My favorite is archeology, due to the way it combines exploring lore with great skill progression.

When it comes to the history of RuneScape, never forget the questlines. Here I experienced gothic horror, epic fantasy and a man’s desire to bake a cake. I will never forget the hours I spent in the Temple of Light, although sometimes I wish I could. Then there’s Old School RuneScape through which I can time travel to the original game that I fell in love with.

Beautiful rats!

I’ve taken breaks, often when absorbed in a new game, from RuneScape over the years. The longest happened with the release of Evolution of Combat (also known as EoC) – abilities and action bars were at war with the RuneScape section of my brain. RuneScape, however, still finds a way to trap me and this time it was the Legacy battle mode, which revived the tick-based combat of yore. EoC and I still have a rather eventful relationship; mainly because of reluctance on my part, but I try. Rarely.

My journals still contain records of my latest RuneScape accomplishments, especially when I win a new pet, but it has to share the space with little meditations on the indie games I’ve played and rants about my lack of it. DIY Log Stool recipes in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I’m currently in the process of creating a list of what I’d like to do in RuneScape over the next year, such as training my Dungeon Assault skills (unlikely) and reworking my money pit of a house. I might even finally embark on the quest Salt in the Wound; Once upon a time I was craving this quest, until a friend told me about a certain pillar – if you know, you know. Since that day, I have never found the energy to face it, but maybe 2022 is the year.

When you’ve been playing an MMORPG for a long time – say 15 years – it’s really a part of your life; whether you prefer to play solo or become an active member of the community. RuneScape celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, and while there were some highlights – the Elder God Wars dungeon and Azzanadra’s quest – there were also downs, like the connection lock. Nonetheless, I think RuneScape has the strength to hit its 30th anniversary considering how the mobile and Steam version have taken it to a new audience. I’ll definitely be there for new adventures, especially if they involve penguins or a building skill overhaul, and, if I need a rest, I can always visit Old School RuneScape.