Behind the Scenes: April 2013RuneScape 3 Beta Programme (members only)
As announced in the bonus Behind the Scenes on March 22nd, we have been upgrading the RuneScape engine and main game interface to make something truly amazing, and we're opening the beta for this new experience this month. If you want to get involved, registration for beta access opens very shortly. Look out for more information this week. If you’re already a Gold or Silver Premier Club member you’ll be automatically included, but all other members can also register their interest. We’ll be giving you beta access to the new HTML5 engine, but you’ll be able to use your main character and gain rewards and XP just as you would in the normal game. You'll be able to try out the alpha version of the new interface soon after the client beta goes live. This'll be on separate worlds and game saves, but the changes we have in store are incredibly cool and you'll definitely want to take a look.
Your feedback is really important, as we want RuneScape 3 to be the game that you want. The application window will only be open for one week, so make sure you’re at the front of the queue!
Dungeoneering Dual Wielding and Charm Collectors (members only)
Following extensive feedback on the forums, we will be adding new weapons to Dungeoneering to allow for dual wielding and use of its associated abilities. These new pieces of equipment cover all styles and level ranges, and will allow for all the combat customisation options you're currently using on the surface world. On top of that, there are new ranged and mage shields to really round out the options for those combat styles.
Additionally, we're adding a brand new reward to buy with your Dungeoneering tokens that can collect charms for you in the main game. It comes in the form of a friendly imp who sits in your backback, hoovering all your charms up so you don’t have to sift through drop piles to find them. Handy!
Castle Wars (members only) and Duel Arena Improvements (free and members)
Castle Wars continues to be one of your favourite minigames, and we’ve put together a significant upgrade to the way the game looks, feels, and rewards your efforts.
To start with, we’ve completely reworked the environments for both Castle Wars and the Duel Arena, giving them a major makeover on par with our most recent updates.
In Castle Wars, we’ve replaced Castle Wars tickets with new silver and gold tickets. Silver tickets can be spent on consumable items within the shop and are awarded no matter if players win, lose or draw. Gold tickets can be spent on the more sought-after items and are only awarded if players win or draw. You'll also be able to wear helms in the arena, use altars in the spawn room and wait far less time for the next game due to lobby improvements. We’re also improving the stats of the reward armour sets to give them more of a 'hybrid' use, making them much more effective in multi-style combat within Castle Wars. There’s also a change to the trimmed completionist cape requirements. More info on that soon!
For the Duel Arena, we're reducing the number of visible arenas, but to combat overcrowding there'll be an instance automatically generated for anyone who can't get into one of those. It may look like there's less room, but there's no way you'll miss out on your duel!
Hunter Charms (members only)
We originally added the hunter charm sprites back in 2010 as a way for hunters to gather summoning charms just south of the Gnome Stronghold. Since then, you’ve given us feedback on many aspects of the content, and this month we're implementing the lot!
All the associated gameplay will be reworked to be far more fun, easier to use and more rewarding. The sprites themselves will be easier to see and catch, and the XP you'll earn will be much more generous, scaling with your Hunter level. You'll get many more charms from the activity, too, including more blue and crimson charms than before. We’re also adding a new 'mystical' charm slice, acting as a wildcard when making charms.
Yaktwee will now look after your hunting equipment when you’re away, and Yaktwee’s stick can be upgraded by those that really get to grips with the area, offering XP boosts to all hunting and an increased chance to get new mystical charm slices.
EoC Update (free and members)We’re addressing some major pieces of feedback on the new combat system this month, following some great discussions in-game and on the forums.
Firstly, we’re making your hard-earned stats mean far more in combat, meaning players with the best stats will have significant advantages over players that don’t and the monsters you are fighting will suffer the full force of your combat skills. We're also changing armour stats to bring back the choice between defensive and offensive armour. Armour will be classed as offensive, defensive or hybrid gear, with stats to match, and has been optimised for its traditional purpose: Bandos will be offensively oriented, for example - all about increasing your max hit.
With those updates we'll also be able to improve some of the game programming that controls basic hit chances, making the whole combat experience far more enjoyable.
Perhaps most importantly, though, we are changing potions and prayers to be even more effective in combat - all because of your feedback.
Private God Wars Dungeons (members only)What better way to test out your new armour and combat prowess than with your own, crash-free, private God Wars Dungeon for you and your buddies? It can be quite frustrating when rooms get overcrowded by a new group of battle-crazed adventurers, hungry for those drops. Well, those days can be a thing of the past as you’ll soon be able to hire - for a small GP fee - your own version of the dungeon.
For those that like a tougher challenge, a 'hard mode' can be accessed. In this mode, the God Wars bosses who featured in The World Wakes will have all the new combat mechanics they had in the quest, but with far higher stats. These guys are really, really tough and can be accessed by you and a group of your friends, offering far more valuable drops than their normal brethren. Dare you take on the fight?
XP Additions (free and members)Have you ever been training your skills, watching your XP dials, and thought: “That’s odd. I wonder why I didn’t get any XP for that”? Well, so have we. This month we're adding small amounts of XP to over 30 processes in RuneScape, ranging from grinding unicorn horn dust to picking flax. You’ll get XP for making unfinished potions, adding a seed to plant pots…all sorts of processes that really should have given XP in the first place. You told us to add XP, and we listened!
Have Fun!
Mod Mark
Design Director – RuneScape
What is a 'Behind the Scenes' article?
Behind the Scenes is a sneak peek at the planned game updates that we hope to launch in the coming month.
This, however, is only a plan; not a promise that a particular update will be released in a particular way or at a particular time. To get you the highest quality updates as quickly as possible, we usually keep on tweaking and testing right up until the moment before release, so sometimes things change or take a bit longer than expected. We aren't afraid to change our plan if necessary, as we will never launch an update before it is ready.
