RuneScape combat
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged with Wilderness (RuneScape). (Discuss) Proposed since November 2006. |
Combat, a set of trainable skills in the MMORPG RuneScape, is the act of battling opponents, whether they are NPCs or other players. Combat between players and NPCs can take place in most locations in RuneScape, while combat among players can now only take place in designated areas.
Levels and skills
The combat level of a player is calculated internally by the game engine using the seven combat skills. The maximum combat level in RuneScape is 126. The RuneScape Classic maximum combat level is 124. In both versions of RuneScape, the minimum combat level upon departure from Tutorial Island is three. As a player progresses, it becomes more difficult to obtain combat levels.
Attack, which determines how often a player's attack hits the opponent, is trained by using the "accurate" style when fighting. Higher attack levels are required to wield more powerful melee weapons.
Strength, which determines the maximum damage a player deals in melee combat, is trained by using the "aggressive" style of combat when fighting. Higher strength levels are required to wield certain items.
Defence, which determines the chance of avoiding damage during an opponent's attack, is trained by using the "defensive" style of combat when fighting, by using the "long-range" style with most ranged weapons, and by having a spell selected when using a magic staff or wand in the defensive style. Players must have certain levels of defence before they can wear better armour.
Hitpoints, which determines how much damage players can sustain before they die, is trained during combat. Hitpoints lost in battle can be restored by eating various foods. Hitpoints also regenerate automatically as time passes. The rate of regeneration can be hastened by the use of certain prayers. Hitpoints experience is gained regardless of the combat style used.
Magic, which determines what spells can be used, the damage spells deal in combat, and how often a spell hits an opponent, is trained by using runes to cast spells. Many spells, such as teleport and enchant spells, are not combat related; therefore, magic can be trained when players are not engaged in combat.
Ranged, which determines the chance of hitting an opponent with a projectile weapon as well as the amount of damage done, is trained by using ranged weapons in combat. A player's ranged level also determines the ranged armours and weapons that can be worn and wielded.
Prayer, which determines what divine powers the player may call upon as well as how long those prayers will remain active before players must recharge their prayer points at an altar, is trained by honouring the dead in various ways. Originally called necromancy in the extremely early stages of RuneScape, it was the last of the original skills for which players were able to reach maximum levels. At its highest levels, prayer can even be used to damage opponents under certain conditions.
Classes and styles
Players can use different combat classes and styles to train different skills, depending upon the weapons used as well as the form and focus of the attack.
Melee
Melee fighting is the art of hand-to-hand combat, with or without weapons. Melee fighters, or warriors, concentrate on training their attack, strength, and defence skills as these skills determine the quality of the weapons and armour players are allowed to use as well as the amount of damage they can inflict or avoid in battle.
Melee armours and weapons are usually metallic and are made of many different materials, from bronze to runite.[1][2] Many of the weapons and armours used by warriors can be made by players using the smithing skill. Specialty pieces made of other materials are also available.
Armour consists of various pieces, form fitted to protect various parts of the body. Players wear a platebody or Chainbody to protect their torso and arms. Platelegs or plateskirts protect the legs. Helmets to protect the head come in two styles: full helms complete with visors and plumes, and medium helms that are open faced. Gloves or gauntlets worn on the forearms and hands and boots on the feet effectively cover the player.
Weapons are a mix of medieval and fantastical[2]. Daggers, swords, longswords, two-handed swords, scimitars, maces, warhammers, battle axes, spears, halberds, and claws are commonly available. Pickaxes and hatchets, while intended as tools for mining and woodcutting, can also be used as weapons.
Other weapons may include mauls, whips, and many others.
Ranged
Ranged fighting is the art of combat with projectile weapons. Many of the weapons used by rangers can be constructed by players using the fletching skill. Many of the ranged armours can be constructed by players using the crafting skill.
Ranging equipment is made of lighter materials than melee gear, to enable an archer to move and fire his or her weapon effectively. Materials for armour include cowhide and dragonhide leathers, as well as snakeskins.[1]
Weaponry consists of bows and crossbows, as well as thrown weapons, such as knives. Bows are made of different types of wood and come in short and long variants. Crossbows are made of wood with metal fittings. Arrows and crossbow bolts can be tipped with metal or gemstones and can be enchanted for additional effects.[2].
Magic
Magic combat involves the use of spells powered by runestones, or runes, that are consumed upon the casting of a spell. Once considered a supplement to melee fighting, magic has developed into a battle skill in its own right. Mages wield various staffs and wands to assist them and wear armour and robes specific to them. With the appropriate runes and skill level, players may cast a variety of spells. Players can create their own runes with the runecrafting skill. To cast a spell, players need to have the appropriate runes in their inventory.
Many higher level spells are available only to members.[1] Most spells require one or more types of elemental runes, which give the spell its elemental alignment, and "binding" runes, such as chaos runes, to give the spell its type.
Three separate spellbooks exist in the magic skill. The default spellbook is available to all players and is the most diverse. It contains combat, teleportation, and helping spells. The ancient magicks spellbook focuses on combat and teleportation spells and can only be used after completion of Desert Treasure which is a Pay to Play quest. The lunar magicks spellbook, also available only after completion of a quest, focuses on astral runes, team cooperation, and noncombat spells. Players who have earned the right to use various spellbooks can change freely among them; however, they must travel to specific locations to do so
Magical equipment is comprised of robes made from simple cloth, so as to allow more magical energy to flow through the mage without the hindrance of inflexible or uncomfortable materials. Their protection against physical attack, if any, is derived from magical enchantment[1]. A mage's abilities can be enhanced with a magical staff or wand - which can be used as a quarterstaff in melee if necessary.[2]
The Triangle of Combat
Many players know that there is a combat triangle for those who want to gain an advantage over other players. Rangers are very strong against mages, especially with armour on, meleers are strong against rangers, and mages are strong against meleers as their magical energy flows easily through a knights metallic armour.
Player versus monster (PvM)
Players engage in combat with NPCs for many reasons. Experience in attack, strength, defence, range and mage is gained by inflicting damage upon opponents. Prayer experience is gained by burying the bones left behind when certain NPCs die. Wealth is gained by defeating certain NPCs, which drop items, equipment, and coins. Quests are often completed by defeating a particular monster or group of monsters. Mini-games, such as Pest Control, the Barrows, or the TzHaar Fight Cave, require players to defeat monsters in order to gain rewards.
Player versus player (PvP)
History
After the release of Version 3, players could select whether or not to play as player killer characters. Players could switch from player-killer mode to non-player-killer mode (in which the character could not attack or be attacked by other players) three times, after which they remained at their chosen setting forever. PvP combat could take place at most locations in Gielinor. The rules of combat were the same as in the modern Wilderness. Lumbridge was designated as a neutral area in which players could not attack each other; this was done to prevent a practice called "spawn camping", in which recently killed players were immediately killed again as soon as they respawned. In addition to this restriction, NPC Guards and White Knights patrolled the cities of Varrock and Falador, breaking up PvP battles by attacking the aggressor. These guard units were limited in number, however, and if all the units in a city were already in combat, PvP combat could go on freely. On August 13th, 2001, this system was replaced by the Wilderness.
Wilderness
The wilderness is the most popular area of RuneScape for PvP combat, or PKing. PKing can bring great rewards, but also great risks if players are killed. After attacking another player, an image of a skull will appear over the attacker's head. If a player dies with a skull they will lose all of their valuables, unless the protect item prayer is used. The skull will disappear after 20 minutes of non-combat. It is still the only place where players can kill one another for the opportunity to scavenge the items players drop after being killed.
Duel arena
The Duel Arena is located in the Al Kharid desert and is only available to members. It allows a formal fight between two and only two players, who agree to the terms and conditions of their fight before it starts. Players can choose to duel for fun and experience, in which case no items are wagered, or to wager items that the winner will receive.
Non-combatants may purchase rotten tomatoes and throw them at duellists from up in the stands; this has no effect on the duel. [2]
TzHaar Fight Pit
The TzHaar Fight Pit is a free-for-all combat arena located deep under the Karamja volcano. Groups of players may enter the arena and fight each other to the death; any kind of combat is allowed here. There is no risk, because players who die here will simply respawn in the waiting area. The last player remaining receives a large amount of Tokkul, the money used in the TzHaar city, and will be marked as the champion by a red skull above the player's head.
Player owned houses combat
Players may create combat rooms in their houses using the construction skill. In the combat room, they can build several combat rings each with their own rules.
Players cannot gain or lose items in any combat room, as players will simply reappear outside the ring should they die, with no loss of items. Players like to place bets on who will win, and the combat ring is popular for clan events. Combatants gain experience for every blow landed - as with other forms of combat.
Players may also build their own throne rooms and dungeons. In the throne room players can turn their dungeon on and off and can also turn on player vs. player (PvP) mode. There is still nothing to lose in a PvP dungeon, but if players make it to the treasure room and defeat the boss, they can gain treasure (donated by the house owner). The owner of the dungeon may place various monsters in the dungeon for other players to fight; these monsters range from a basic skeleton guard to a powerful steel-scaled dragon available only to those who have a very high construction level.
Footnotes
- ^ a b c Combat - Armour types - RuneScape.com. Retrieved 13 November 2006.
- ^ a b c d Combat - Weapon Types - RuneScape.com. Retrieved 13 November 2006.