Getting Started in Runescape: Tips for the Beginning Player

The world of Runescape is huge, and it's often overwhelming for a beginner. There's so much to do: you have to gain levels, defeat enemies, make money, buy new weapons and armor, the list goes on and on. However, you don't have to panic or feel lost. If you're a Runescape beginner, here are a few helpful hints to survive in this magical realm.

Before I begin, I just want to say that I've read some of the other Runescape articles (and I'm assuming you have, too). Many of them are about power leveling or making gold quickly. I'm not going to write on those topics, so if that's what you're looking for, you should go read those helpful articles.

My first tip for new beginners is to spend some time on runescape.com. The forums there are a great place to get help or learn about different quests and items. The website also includes a lot of helpful guides that explain everything from begging and cooking to where to start specific quests. If you can't find an answer to your question there, you can try sites like Sal's Realm of Runescape (http://runescape.salmoneus.net/) or head to a search engine.

Playing Runescape alone is fun, but a lot of players enjoy working with others. Not only is this a great way to make new friends, but there are some difficult quests in the game that become much easier when you work with a friend or two. To this end, numerous Runescape clans have appeared. The clans (groups of players) often go on quests together or host their own Runescape events, and new players can learn a lot from joining a clan. Likewise, most Runescape gamers are more than willing to help out a new player, so don't be afraid to ask other gamers for help.

Do you find yourself getting lost in Runescape? Don't forget that runescape.com has a world map you can view and print, and sites like Rune Tips (www.tip.it/runescape) have maps of specific areas.

While on the message boards or websites, you may come across things called autominers, autotrainers, and the like. I can't stress enough that using these third-party programs is considered cheating in Runescape, and player moderators will ban anyone they find using them. Even though it seems like they may make the game more fun by eliminating the need for you to do all those boring tasks that raise your character's skill levels, they will only get you into trouble in the long run. Runescape officials know how to spot players using these programs and won't hesitate to lock your account.

While using programs like the ones above is certainly cheating and not worth doing, there are some in-game "cheats" that players can take advantage of. These aren't really cheating since they don't involve you doing anything illegal; instead, they involve making use of some very odd problems with the Runescape programming itself. Many of these won't build you a fortune any time soon, but they can be fun to do whenever you are around one and can earn you a few extra gold pieces.

One of these odd glitches in Runescape is in West Varrock. There is a specific room in that area where, if you stand still for 30 seconds, you'll receive 3 gold pieces. In another room in Lumbridge Castle, you can get a free bronze dagger. Like I said, neither will make you rich, but a little extra money is always helpful. You can find more of these glitches by searching sites dedicated to Runescape, but don't always count on them. You never know when the Runescape team will find these glitches and fix them.

Another great tip for Runescape players is to follow treasure trails. Sometimes, you'll defeat a monster and find a special scroll. These scrolls contain several different types of puzzles that will lead players to other scrolls and treasure. These treasure hunts are a lot of fun and a great way to gain money.

Once you have built up your skills, you'll be able to really make money in Runescape by following the laws of supply and demand, i.e., figuring out what players want to buy and then making as much of it as you can.

You'll also find places in the game where you can make a killing by creating and selling one certain item. Lobsters, for example, sell for 200 gold each, and you don't have to spend any money on creating them. Another example is buying and selling silk. Silk sells very cheaply in Al Karad, but you can sell them in Ardougne for a nice profit. All you have to do is transport them from one place to the other!

These general tips won't make you rich or your character super powerful right away, but they will help you make your way through the world of Runescape and get you started out on the right foot. Once that's done, you'll find Runescape is a great game and you'll have a lot of fun playing it.