Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is one of the most iconic and beloved massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) of all time. Originally launched in 2001, it was re-released as a “classic” version in 2013, which kept the gameplay and mechanics from the game’s 2007 iteration. It remains hugely popular due to its retro charm, depth, and the fact that it has managed to preserve a large part of what made the game great during its early years.
If you’re new to OSRS, or MMORPGs in general, it can be a bit overwhelming to know where to start. With thousands of quests, minigames, skills, and equipment to learn about, the game can be daunting at first. This guide will help ease you into the world of Gielinor, providing tips, tricks, and advice for new players.
Getting Started
1. Create an Account
The first step is obvious—create a free or paid account on the official Old School RuneScape website. You can also play OSRS on mobile or through a downloadable client. Regardless of which platform you choose, the core game is the same.
Once your account is set up, you’ll be able to create your character. Customization is relatively limited in OSRS gold, but you can select a basic look for your avatar. The character itself is relatively neutral, and your journey will shape who they become in terms of skills and achievements.
2. Understanding the World of Gielinor
The world of Gielinor is vast and filled with numerous regions to explore. Some areas are safe and populated with non-player characters (NPCs), while others are dangerous and home to hostile creatures. You’ll begin your journey in Lumbridge, a small village located in the central part of the map. This area is ideal for beginners as it contains a variety of quests, training areas, and safe spots for new players to get acclimated to the game.
There are several core cities you’ll discover as you level up, such as Varrock, Falador, and Ardougne. Each city has a unique atmosphere, with different quests and activities available. The map can be daunting to navigate at first, but it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with major landmarks and locations.
3. The Skills System
One of the hallmarks of OSRS is its skill-based progression system. Players can develop skills in a variety of areas, each with its unique mechanics and benefits. The skills are divided into combat, gathering, artisan, and support categories. Here’s a breakdown of the major skill types in the game:
Combat Skills: These include Attack, Strength, Defence, Ranged, Magic, and Prayer. These skills directly affect your ability to fight enemies and participate in combat-related activities such as slayer tasks and PvP (player-versus-player) combat.
Gathering Skills: These include Mining, Fishing, Woodcutting, and Farming. Gathering skills are useful for obtaining raw materials that can be sold or used in crafting and other professions.
Artisan Skills: These include Smithing, Crafting, Cooking, and Fletching. These skills involve making useful items, ranging from armor and weapons to food and decorative items.
Support Skills: These include Agility, Herblore, Thieving, and Runecrafting. Support skills have various benefits, such as increasing your speed or enabling you to gather herbs for potions.
Each skill in OSRS has its own unique mechanics, and the key to progression is training these skills over time. The higher your skill level, the more advanced activities and items become available to you.
4. Quests and Objectives
Quests are one of the most rewarding aspects of OSRS. They give players the opportunity to explore the lore of Gielinor, unlock new areas, and earn valuable rewards. Quests are divided into difficulty tiers, with easy quests serving as an introduction to the game, while harder quests offer significant rewards like rare items or the ability to use powerful abilities.
Some quests are critical to the game’s progression, while others are entirely optional. Here are some early quests you can do in Lumbridge:
Cook’s Assistant: A basic introduction to quests, where you help the cook gather ingredients for a cake. This quest unlocks access to cooking training and is a great starting point.
Dragon Slayer: One of the most iconic quests in OSRS, Dragon Slayer tasks you with defeating a dragon. This quest is required to wear certain types of armor and weapons and is an important milestone for players interested in combat.
The Restless Ghost: A simple quest that introduces you to the world of Prayer, which is an important combat skill.
As you progress, you’ll want to keep an eye on quest guides to ensure you’re getting the most out of your adventure. Many quests also provide valuable experience in different skills.
5. Combat Basics
Combat in OSRS can be both thrilling and challenging. Players can engage in PvE (player-versus-environment) content like slaying monsters, as well as PvP content in various areas of the game. Here’s a quick breakdown of combat in OSRS:
Attack, Strength, Defence, and Prayer: These are your core combat skills. Attack increases your chance to hit, Strength increases the damage you do, Defence reduces the damage you take, and Prayer offers powerful buffs and healing abilities. You’ll want to level these skills progressively as you increase your combat proficiency.
Ranged and Magic: These are additional offensive skills. Ranged involves using bows and crossbows, while Magic uses various spellbooks and runes to cast spells that can deal damage, heal, or offer utility.
Prayer: This skill is key for survival and damage in combat. You’ll need to use bones to train it, and there are many different prayers you can activate for benefits such as boosting your combat stats or protecting yourself from damage.
As a beginner, you’ll likely start by training your melee skills (Attack, Strength, and Defence) and working on basic combat gear. You’ll also want to acquire a decent weapon, such as a steel scimitar or a mithril sword, and some armor to protect yourself.
6. Money Making and the Economy
OSRS is known for its player-driven economy. The game’s economy is mostly centered around trading and the Grand Exchange, where players can buy and sell items to each other. Some of the most popular ways to make money as a beginner include:
Skilling: Gathering and crafting resources, such as woodcutting, fishing, or mining, can be a reliable way to earn money. The raw materials you collect can often be sold to other players.
Killing Monsters: Some monsters drop valuable items such as weapons, armor, or resources that can be sold for a profit.
Merchanting: More experienced players will engage in merchanting, which involves buying items at a low price and selling them at a higher price on the Grand Exchange.
As a beginner, it’s best to focus on skilling and killing low-level monsters to build up some starting cash. You can then reinvest your earnings into better equipment and more efficient methods of making cheap RS gold.
7. Where to Train Your Skills
While Lumbridge serves as a great starting point, as you progress through the game, you’ll find other areas that are better suited for higher-level training. Some key areas for skill training include:
Varrock: Offers a wide range of training opportunities, including mining, woodcutting, and combat.
Falador: Known for its proximity to training areas like the Crafting Guild and the Mining Guild.
Taverley: This area is ideal for higher-level combat training, as it contains various slayer monsters and powerful bosses.
Each area of the game has its own unique opportunities for training, and as you level up, you’ll naturally progress to areas that are better suited for your skill level.
Conclusion
Old School RuneScape is a massive game with a ton of depth. As a beginner, it’s important to take your time and not get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of content available. Focus on learning the basics of combat and skilling, complete quests, and build up your wealth so that you can gradually unlock more advanced content.
As you progress, you’ll discover the rich world of Gielinor, take on challenging bosses, participate in minigames, and interact with a vibrant community of players. Whether you prefer PvP, skilling, questing, or bossing, OSRS offers something for everyone. The key is to stay curious, experiment with different activities, and have fun in the process. Happy adventuring!