Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is an iconic MMORPG that has captivated players for over a decade. With its retro graphics, open-world gameplay, and massive variety of skills, quests, and activities, OSRS offers an immersive and nostalgic experience. However, as a beginner, it can be a bit overwhelming. Whether you’re new to RuneScape or returning after a long hiatus, this guide will walk you through the basics of the game, helping you get started, level up, and avoid common pitfalls.
1. Creating Your Character
When you first log into OSRS gold, you’ll need to create your character. This process is simple, and you can customize your character’s appearance. However, unlike some other games, OSRS doesn’t have predefined classes or specializations. Your progression depends on the skills you choose to level and the quests you complete.
Choosing Your First Skills:
As a beginner, you can choose any skills to train. However, it’s wise to start with skills that are fundamental to the game’s economy and progression. For example:
Attack, Strength, and Defence: These are your core combat skills. They allow you to fight monsters, complete quests, and access better equipment. Focus on these if you want to be combat-efficient early on.
Mining, Fishing, and Woodcutting: These skills are vital for gathering resources. They provide raw materials that can be used for crafting, smithing, or sold to other players for profit.
Tip: Don’t worry too much about maxing skills right away. The key to success in OSRS is to progress naturally and enjoy the journey.
2. Understanding the Interface
The OSRS interface is clean and straightforward, with several key areas to help you navigate your journey. Here’s an overview of the interface:
Skill Tab (F3): This tab shows your current levels in all 23 skills. The progress bar beneath each skill shows how much experience you need to level up.
Inventory: Items you carry appear in this section. You can right-click items for a menu of actions, such as using them or dropping them.
Quest Tab (F2): This tab tracks your active quests and displays which quests you have completed. It’s a great way to stay on track with quest progression.
Minimap: The small map in the corner of your screen shows your surroundings. It also indicates key points of interest, such as towns, dungeons, or training spots.
Prayer, Health, and Prayer Points: These bars display your current health and prayer levels. You’ll need these to stay alive and use special abilities during combat.
Chat Box: The bottom section of the screen is for communication. It’s where you’ll see messages from other players, NPCs, and system notifications.
Tip: Familiarize yourself with the interface early on. Knowing where to find essential info like your skills, inventory, and quest log will make the game more enjoyable and less confusing.
3. Completing Quests
One of the unique aspects of OSRS is its extensive collection of quests. Completing quests is not only fun but also highly rewarding, as they grant experience, valuable items, and access to new areas.
Why Questing is Important:
Unlocking Areas: Many quests unlock new areas to explore. For example, completing the “Priest in Peril” quest unlocks the Morytania region, where you can train Slayer or gather resources.
Skill Experience: Many quests reward you with experience in multiple skills, helping you level up without having to grind.
Unlocking Game Features: Some quests unlock vital game features, such as the ability to teleport to new locations, access special items, or unlock more complex combat activities.
Recommended Beginner Quests:
Here are a few beginner-friendly quests that will give you a solid start:
“Cook’s Assistant”: This is the first quest you should do. It’s easy and rewards you with a small amount of experience in Cooking.
“The Restless Ghost”: This quest gives you experience in Prayer and helps unlock the Ectofuntus for later on.
“Romeo and Juliet”: A lighthearted quest that will introduce you to the game’s humor and reward you with experience and quest points.
“Waterfall Quest”: An important quest that grants a massive experience reward in Strength and Attack, giving you a significant early boost.
Tip: Always check the Quest Journal (F2) to see which quests you can do based on your level and location. Many quests require items or skills, so having a checklist will help keep you organized.
4. Training Your Skills
There are 23 skills in OSRS, each of which can be leveled up. Training skills is a major part of the game, and each skill offers unique opportunities for gameplay, whether it’s gathering resources, combat training, or crafting items.
Combat Skills (Attack, Strength, Defence, Ranged, Magic, Prayer, and Hitpoints):
Combat skills are essential if you plan on fighting monsters, completing quests, and making money from drops. Training your combat skills is one of the fastest ways to progress in OSRS.
Melee: Focus on training Attack, Strength, and Defence by fighting easy monsters, such as Cows, Chickens, or Men.
Ranged: Train Ranged by killing monsters at a distance. You can use bows or throwing weapons like Chinchompas to level up.
Magic: Use Magic by casting spells on monsters. Early spells like Wind Strike or Fire Strike are cheap and effective.
Non-Combat Skills:
Non-combat skills are a great way to earn gold, gather resources, and create useful items. Some of the most important non-combat skills include:
Mining: Train by mining ores like Copper and Tin. You can sell ores or smelt them into bars for Smithing.
Fishing: Start by catching Shrimps and Anchovies. You can then sell the fish or cook them for Cooking experience.
Woodcutting: Chop Willow or Maple trees to gather logs for crafting or firemaking.
Tip: When training skills, focus on methods that provide the most experience for your time. For example, AFK methods (such as Fishing or Woodcutting) allow you to gather resources passively while doing other things.
5. Making Money (Gold)
One of the key elements of OSRS is making gold (GP), which allows you to purchase better equipment, supplies, and other items. There are numerous ways to make gold, but here are a few beginner-friendly methods:
Early Money-Making Methods:
Killing Low-Level Monsters: Kill easy monsters like Cows for Cowhide or Chickens for Raw Chicken and Feathers. These items can be sold to other players or used in crafting.
Fishing and Cooking: Catch and cook Shrimps, Trout, or Salmon. These items can be sold to players looking to level up their Cooking skills.
Woodcutting: Chop down Willow Trees or Maple Trees and sell the logs on the Grand Exchange. This is one of the easiest ways to make gold early in the game.
Mid-Level Money-Making Methods:
Once you’ve gained a few levels, you can start trying higher-level money-making activities like:
Slayer: Once you’ve unlocked Slayer, you can start completing tasks to earn money from drops like Bones, Herbs, and other valuable items.
Runecrafting: If you have access to the Air Rune or Law Rune altars, you can start crafting Runes to sell for a profit.
Tip: Always check the Grand Exchange for current prices and trends. Some items will sell for much higher prices than others, depending on the supply and demand.
6. Using the Grand Exchange (GE)
The Grand Exchange (GE) is a marketplace where players can buy and sell items. It’s one of the best tools in OSRS for making gold, buying supplies, and selling unwanted items.
How to Use the Grand Exchange:
Buying Items: To buy items, simply search for them in the GE and place an offer for the amount you want. You can set a price or use the “Best Offer” option, which will match the lowest price.
Selling Items: When selling items, you can also set your price or use the “Quick Sell” option to sell them at the current market price.
Tip: Be patient when using the GE. Some items take longer to sell than others, and it’s sometimes better to adjust your prices to meet the current market demand.
7. Joining a Clan or Community
As you progress through OSRS, it’s helpful to join a clan or online community. OSRS is a social game, and being part of a group provides many benefits, such as:
Advice from Experienced Players: Clans can offer tips, help with quests, or guide you through tough boss fights.
Socializing: Make friends and join in on group activities like Raids, PVP, or Group Bossing.
Clan Events: Many clans organize events such as minigames, boss hunting, and group skilling.
Tip: Look for beginner-friendly clans that offer advice and support for new players. Many clans will help you with quests and provide tips on progressing faster.
Conclusion
Old School RuneScape is a vast and rewarding game that offers endless opportunities for growth and exploration. As a beginner, the key is to take things slow, enjoy the process, and focus on learning the fundamentals of the game. Whether it’s leveling up your skills, completing quests, or making buy RS gold, every part of OSRS is an adventure. By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a skilled and successful adventurer in the world of Gielinor. Good luck, and may your journey be full of treasure and triumph!
