Runescape Community: Runescape Community -> Devin's Talk-a-Thon

Zybez Steel War

Information
Event: Steel War. This, if you didn't guess by the name, is a gathering of Zybez's best to don their steel armour and take to Clan Wars to begin a periodic massacre of each other. It's great, clean-ish, fun. Two Teams enter; One team remains.
Date: Saturday, January 31st.
Time: 3:00 PM EST
World: 43 (F2P)
Meeting place: Varrock town square
Host: Devin (Woodman1014) and Setanta (Suil Eile)
Clan Chat: Zybez Events, followed by either mine or Setanta's CC.


Level Requirements: 5 Attack to wield Steel Weapons, and/or 5 Defence to wear Steel armour.
Items Needed: Any combination of Steel armour or weapons. Any boots, gloves, amulets, or other items are acceptable.

Plan of Action: Around ten minutes before the event begins, we'll meet at Varrock town square and march to Clan Wars. If you get there a bit late, don't fear, you can just scurry up to Clan Wars behind us. We (Setanta and I) will each take a team in our CC, and then enter the safe Clan Wars portal.





What to wear: To maximine your potential, wear the armour shown below. (Man in full steel) These pieces can be bought or made easily, but you may want to purchase one early, just in case.

While you don't have to wear what is shown below (you can wear medium helmets, square shields, etc.), the equipment below would be the best.

Weapons MUST be made of steel. If you are Ranging, you can use any bow, but you MUST you steel arrows. There will be NO Magic use.

Amulets, rings, boots, and capes of any kind of acceptable.



This is a safe event. No items will be lost upon death.

Let me give you a bit of information on myself, before I launch into this spiel. I have a list of pet peeves, we'll call them. I don't tend to rank them, but if you must know the top ones, it is a mix of nails on a chalkboard, toddlers being punched, and "honor" Pkers in RuneScape. Call me crazy for including something in an online game on my list of pet peeves, which is actually just a list of possibly felonies, but nothing pokes my buttons until they fall off like the segment of the RuneScape population who berate others for not following their made up codes. Do all honor Pkers act like this? Not at all. Some of my friends in the game follow honorable codes, but those who agitate me are the ones who push their views on others. The PvP environment in RuneScape, which includes all forms of Bounty Worlds and Clan Wars alike, is slowly degrading due to the ever-growing number of pushy, arrogant, and downright annoying honor Pkers. Such ridiculousness needs and end put to it, so sit back and enjoy this whirlwind of information and thoughts being presented to you. It is a good idea to have some popcorn, if you are so inclined.

Let me first give you what it means to be an honor Pker. The ideas of an honor Pker are varied, to say the least, but they all have a certain foundation of core beliefs. A one v. one fight must not include the following: praying protect from (melee, range, or magic) and safing. Other groups frown upon running or teleporting, as well as "pjing" fights. All of this will be explained (and be properly beaten to a pulp) in good time, so don't rush away now.

The premise of their argument is this: fights, especially in F2P, drag on when players use "protect from (x)" prayers or "safe". Hits are few and far between, resulting in a less than enjoyable environment for all. That, right there, is a prime example of B.S. Since when has Pking been a place to make everyone feel good? If you want to have your tummy tickled, I can arrage for that. But if you come in to a PvP world expecting to be pampered and having enjoyable fights, listen to my uncle Vinnie when he would say "fugetaboutit." PvP is nasty and ruthless, one cannot expect to have a stroll in the park. The argument against the aformentioned methods of fighting falls about when your opponent puts on even a single piece of armor. Doesn't wearing sheets of metal limit help you stay alive, thereby prolonging the battle? Unapparent to honor Pkers, they frollick around in their shiny new metals while screaming at others for doing the same thing they, themselves, are doing. That's my take on the whole scenario, so let's get down to brass tacks.

Begining with the prayer dilema, this still befuddles me. Where else would you be promptly verbally tared and feathered for using the skills that you have worked so hard on? I don't see miners yelling at each other for, well, mining. They raised the skill, why not use it? The same can be said for praying during 1 v. 1 fights. Should I let you beat me up, or should I defend myself with the skills that I have honed? It is not as if Prayer is a Fletching or Cooking type of skill, it takes a long time and a lot of wealth to level it. I damn well expect to be able to put whatever cool symbol I want over my head to stay alive and well if I spent the time when my child was born leveling that skill. The complainers to this need to step back and realize that the game revolves around skills. I don't tell them to stop using Slash because Strength is not cool, do I? No, I let them use whatever they want because they worked for it. Come on people, see the light in front of your eyes.

Next we'll move towards "safing." Safing is a term concocted by evil teens who resent having a bit of a challenge in PvP. The term means eating, or raising your health, when you are not in danger of being KOed. For example, if my opponent has a max hit of 20, I shouldn't eat if I have more than 20 hitpoints. Like saying I should only get out of my burning house when the flames are on my pantlegs, the idea is one of sheer insanity. Again, their premise is that you shouldn't prolong a fight when you can't die. Well, the intelligent honor Pkers, what happens if you get me down to 5 hitpoints, but as I go to eat my lobster, you hit me again and a die? Did you ever think of that? If I have time to eat, which isn't very often, I am surely doing to do it. Why wouldn't I? I'm not the Gypsy in Varrock, so

I think we have all heard the cries of fellow Mages. They lobby for increased Magical spells, weapons, and defensive items. Those magical men and women content that Magic pales in comparison to the powerstorm laid down upon by those using Melee and Range. "You can kill someone with a snap of the fingers using a Godsword", the say. "Dark Bow? More like Death Bow", is another frequently used term that I just made up. Those claims are met with agreement from most of the community. I don't think anyone is doubting that you can hit extremely high numbers with the most powerful Melee and Range weapons. The problem with those who have been saying all those things is their solution. Wanting the whole world to be armed to the teeth with rocket launchers in not the way to go about this. What is, you ask me? Well, listen closely children. JaGeX needs to whip out their strongest invention: The Nerf Gun!

The Nerf Gun, an age old and mysterious creature, is used to quell the gigantic powers of the extreme weapons. Do you remember Disco? Luckily, that fad was hit with the Nerf Gun, and just in the nick of time. Now, like the horrendous Disco fad, JaGeX needs to act quickly. If they don't, the world of RuneScape combat may never survive to see the next fad.

So, I know I sound like the men on street corners with signs on their backs, but hear me out. High hits are fun, yes, but think practically. Combat is supposed to be, even with the current limitations, a game of thinking and of skill. What skill is there in clicking the special bar twice and waiting for your opponent to fall to their knees in defeat? We can already do that with two of the combat skills, there cannot be a third that has those same powers. If Magic were to be given the god-like powers of Melee and Range, it would be like handing rocket launchers to prep-school children. There is crime in the world, just like there are overpowered RuneScape weapons. Why add more crime to the RuneScape world by giving the only players who have not be corrupted by the seed of Special attacks and death buttons? All this would cause is more destruction to the already fragile combat system.

Alright, so enough with the fearmongering. How should JaGeX use their Nerf-Guns? Well, for starters, Specials need to be cut back. Shouldn't a Special be what it is called, special? To me, being special isn't only half the bar, it needs to be 100% of the bar. Yeah, that's right. Wouldn't it be more special to only be able to use the special attack once in the midst of a battle instead of twice? That is only step one, so enough with the word special. As a second move, JaGeX needs to go strait to the heart of Melee and Range weapons and hack at them until they bleed. When you think that the maximum amount of hitpoints without special additions or potions is 99, the maximum hits of weapons needs to be in proportion with that. Seeing as how the special bar should only be able to be used once, there is no reason to be able to take down more than two thirds of your opponents hitpoints at once. I wouldn't mind seeing a special that could only be used once hitting a maximum of 50, but when the maximum can be upwards of 60,70, and 80, things have gone too far.

You may now think that players would go crazy to have their weapons nerfed. Well, in actuality, it would not affect them. It is not just their weapons that are being nerfed, but all weapons. Everyone is now on a much more flat and leveled, and also safer, playing field. No more threat of being killed before your cursor hovers over your last shark or you run into the bank. Fights can become a battle of wits (however limited) instead of a battle of suprise and speed clicking. May we all then live in peace.

As it stands, the Magic skill is accompanied by three spellbooks: Normal Spellbook, Lunar Spellbook, and Ancients. To many, they each have their own benefits, as well as disadvantages. There have been calls though, calls to make some Spellbooks stronger. Those claims have been met with dissent. "Each Spellbook serves a different purpose" they say. Should this be so? Does each spellbook serve a singular purpose? Can each spellbook be useful for many types of activities?

The Normal Spellbook, avalible for F2P and P2P, contains an array of spells. From basic combat spells to binds, it also has teleports and enchantments. The starter Spellbook, it gives begining Mages a crash course in Magic. As well, it also provides a basis for many RuneScape tasks. One can teleport to a location, "totly pwn n00bs", and then if they are so inclined, turn bones into delicious peaches. Combining daily life with combat, it can be used by both, though maybe not exceptionally. Do you like having this as a balanced Spellbook? Do you wish is focused heavily on one aspect, or does the well-roundedness attract your attention?

The Lunar Spellbook is of a different breed. Filled mostly with "skilling spells", it is not the most used Spellbook. While no one is doubting the usefulness of baking a pie or making glass without a furnace, the turnoff is the lack of use those spells can give on a day to day schedule. Lunar Magic is almost entirerly devoid of combat magic, save for a few spells up in the higher levels. For Combat, this is a poor spellbook. Should it be? Does the Lunar Spellbook deserve to be skill-based?

Now, Ancient Magik is the hard hitting combat Spellbook. Filled with Shadow Rushes and Ice Blitzes, it can freeze and rip apart an enemy in an instant before they even touch you. If you are in the mood for skilling though, this may not be your book.

To wrap this up, I leave you with food for though. Should each Spellbook be well-rounded, in terms of different types of spells? Is it better to have different Spellbooks for certain types of tasks? Because you can only have one Spellbook at a time, this puts Mages at a disadvantage. While Warriors and Rangers can switch weapons according to the situation, Mages are stuck with their original choice.

-Talk amongst yourselves

While the economy in RuneScape is basic one, fueled by the simple concepts of supply and demand, there are players who can manipulate that economy. You see, the economy today is based around the Grand Exchange. Because every item has a price range based on buying and selling trends, manipulation of those trends does not take a college degree. Enter merchanting clans. The practice of merchanting is typically buying out and item and waiting for the price to rise. When players want to buy an item, they have a hard time due to others buying the majority of that item. The Grand Exchange recognizes people wanting the item, so the price rises. Merchanters, as they are called, then sell the item for a profit. A face value, this seems like nothing more than some ingenuity on the player's part. They found out how to work the system and not are having fun with it. Such is the purpose of a game; to have fun. Remember though, that when they manipulate the market, other players can be at a loss. Let's dive into the world of merchanting and see what the result is.

The popular opinion of merchanting clans is dismal. Many players resent the clans having such control over market items, most of which are frequently traded, leading to many players not having their needed items. Complaints are heard saying that merchanting clans interfer with a player's ability to play the game for fun. Those are complaints I can contest.

Personally, I like to stock up on all common items. I have my skilling items, runes and food, armour and potions all ready to go. This way, I have them when I need them. I don't get caught up in the merchanter's path because I rarely need to buy items that are being merched, a commom term for merchanting. If all players would get their commom items in their bank, they would not have a problem getting ahold of any items they need.

On the fun issue; who has the right to fun; you or them? While they may be infringing on your fun, if somehow you make merchanting illegal for them, you would be ruining their fun. Like a stock market analyst, merchanters watch the price charts for their traded items. Merchanters actually get a lot of fun from making money off of their purchases and seeing that they were right. To say that you have a more important right to having fun than they do is just not right. Everyone should be able to play the game as they wish. Do I complain when players don't sell their iron ore, yew logs, or lobsters? They are effectively driving up the price by not selling, but the air is not filled with the cries. Do you want to know the reason? Before I say this, if you dislike merchanting clans, take a deep breath. Don't pull out your rune scimitar and brandish it at me yet. Just listen. The reason people do not like merchanting clans is because they work. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, because they work. Merchanting clans are akin to big business. Always the easy target, they make profits while sometimes making it harder for you to do your daily little tasks. Is this wrong? Not at all. Every player, regardless of level or stature, has the right to prosper. Merchanters prosper, oh they prosper well. People are against them because they make so much money. Want to know what I say? If you can't beat them, join them.

The hatred against merchanting clans is very hypocritical. Players scorn them for purposely raising the price of items. Want to know a little tidbit of head smacking knowledge? Every time, yes this means you, every time you hold an item because the price is too low, you are merchanting! Bam! You, the perfect little RuneScaper, are doing the same thing you were condeming on your IRC network just a day ago. When you don't sell, someone sits there waiting to buy. The G.E. recognizes this and the price raises. Somewhere, on some computer, little Bobby is saddened at the fact that he can not get a hold of a pie. That's all he wants. But because you are holding out, he cannot afford it.

Hurts doesn't it? It hurts to see that merchanting clans are no more than profitable versions of ourselves. They join together and make a profit, have fun, and enjoy themselves. After all, isn't that what the game is about? Let me leave you with this piece of advice, because there is no doubt you are realing from what I have said. Don't hate the player, hate the game.









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