RuneScape: Reflections of a childhood gamer

Many of us 90s kids would recognise some classic games that we grew up with: MapleStory, NeoPets, AdventureQuest (commonly referred to as BattleOn), and RuneScape, among others.

We probably remember rushing home from primary school every day and speeding through our homework, so that we could have permission to play with the computer. Back then, it was common for each household to only possess a single machine, so our parents controlled its usage quite tightly.

Our homework duly completed, we would wait impatiently as the Windows XP computer booted up slowly, and laboriously established a connection to the internet through the dial-up modem.

Then we proceeded to snatch up the mouse and launch Internet Explorer, type in the URL to our favourite game, and breathe in wonder at how people could possibly have created such an amazing world inside of a tiny glass box that isn't real.

I might've romanticised it a bit but I'm sure some readers will be nodding in recognition. Computer games were not as ingrained into everyday life as they are now, and experiencing a game for the first time was a significant moment in the life of a child. It was sort of like a rite of passage, that said: "You're a legitimate user of the worldwide web now."

My maiden brush with computer games came in Primary 3 when a friend introduced me to AdventureQuest. Man, was I hooked on it! I always wanted to play. But the servers were so old-fashioned that they could only accommodate 8000 to 12000 players at any one time and were always full. That was very frustrating because it meant that sometimes when I was free I couldn't log in.

But I'd say it built character. It taught me the value of perseverance. If I really really desired something, I had to be willing to work for it and be patient. So I would sit there for hours, repeatedly clicking the login button and seeing the failure message, pressing Back, then clicking the login button again in an endless cycle until suddenly someone somewhere in the world logged out and I would be rewarded with a place in the game.

That was the early version of a First World Problem!

Anyway, another friend later showed me how to play RuneScape. I've not stopped playing since.

For those who haven't seen RuneScape before, it basically involves exploring a massive open world with other players in a multiplayer setting. There's something for everyone! For people who live to die, the northern area of the map is a free-for-all combat zone where you can fight other players. Be warned, though. When you die, you lose everything your character is carrying! If that scares you, don't worry. You can still train your character into a mighty warrior without ever laying a finger on another player. Just look for computer-controlled monsters that are of a lower level than you, so you can kill them to get experience points to increase your level without putting yourself at risk. Fancy a little relaxation? There are plenty of peaceful skills to play with. Fishing, cooking, crafting, woodcutting, mining... The list goes on.

As with other role-playing games, there is a levelling system and players must gain experience points to progress and unlock new abilities. But RuneScape is notorious for its grind. A quick illustration: to get from level 40, the level at which you gain the ability to catch lobsters, to level 99 in Fishing, you will have to catch 144414 lobsters. And how to catch lobsters? Simple! Click on the frothy water and wait. Lobsters will appear in your inventory, each granting some experience points. If the water stops frothing, look for another part which is frothy. When your inventory is full of lobsters, put them in the bank so you can cook them later to obtain experience points in the Cooking skill. Then come back and click on the frothy water again.

If you think that sounds horribly repetitive, it is. If you wonder how anyone in their right mind can get addicted to a game as lame as that, you're not alone. I sometimes wonder that myself... And I'm a dedicated player!

The thing is, RuneScape isn't for everyone. Lots of people try it out once and swear never to touch it ever again. Especially when these days, everything is instantly gratifying and attention spans are shortening at an alarming rate. The kids now aren't going to be excited to go home and play a game where all you do is click and wait. Heck, some adults won't even think about playing it themselves. This has resulted in RuneScape becoming a rather niche game with a small community. Those of us who still play are die-hards from the noughties and most of us are at least 20, with some already married with kids of their own.

But it's a pity. RuneScape has taught me so much. I learned that copper + tin = bronze from the Mining and Smithing tutorial in RuneScape, before anyone else my age knew what bronze even is. I learned how to read a map and find my way around using landmarks and the words "North, South, East, West". I learned how to do business and make money by buying low and selling high. I learned how to use Google more effectively when I got stuck in certain quests. I learned the hard way how to avoid scams when I fell victim to one a long time ago.

And through it all, I've had so many great times. Something as basic as standing by the riverside, rod in hand, shooting the breeze with fellow fishermen. That's the essence of RuneScape and what keeps me coming back again and again. Not forgetting the heart-pounding triumphs, such as slaying Elvarg the green dragon and earning the right to wear the rune platebody armour. And the random acts of kindness like when a player with a higher level gives me 1 million coins for no apparent reason.

I wouldn't consider myself a RuneScape junkie by any stretch of the imagination. Certainly there are people out there who spend far more energy on the game than I do. But I've been around in the game long enough to be a veteran, and have a reasonably high level to show for it. Not bad for a purely free player who has never spent a single dollar of real currency on the game, and plays only sporadically when time and life commitments allow.

Here are some photos of my in-game character. That gold-highlighted armour he's wearing cost a fortune but looks awesome!

In front of the Citharede Abbey

Just outside Falador city

The Grand Exchange marketplace at Varrock

Jetty at Musa Point on Karamja island

Shantay Pass

The cape shows that my account is at least 5 years old. Next year I become eligible for the 10-year version.

Ah, so much happiness in a single blog post. 🙂