Punitive_D

This shows why the folks at Jagex are making millions off nerds like you and me and you, well, aren't making millions. The poll didn't ask "do you care about graphics?" The poll asked, "Why do you go to an area?" I might go to an area to train, but while I'm there, I want the graphics to be as good as possible. So while someone might not go to an area for the graphics, they might stop playing the game altogether if the graphics aren't updated. Do we really think Runescape would be as big as it is if it still had its original graphics? No way! To take your fast food example (an industry that you seem to know something about, probably as an employee), sure McDonalds tries to come out with new products that they think people will want to buy, but they also spend a lot of money remodeling and updating the appearance of their restaurants. Why do they do that? Because they know (like Jagex knows) that to compete for customers, you have to give the customers substance and ambiance, both. So whine away if you like, and Jagex will just keep doing what they're doing, and you'll keep paying them five bucks per month for the privilege of whining about it.

It seems clear that Runescape is way too newb for a mighty gamer like you -- I think that you should drop your Runescape subscription and just play WoW full time -- please!

I have an extra goutweed tuber that I'll trade for something.

There's a good point here, even though it's overstated. I tell people that rewards are a very bad reason to do clues -- go buy the stuff if you want it. But that doesn't mean clues are a waste of time. Some people find them fun. This is a game after all. If you like them, do them. But don't do them for profit.

Having no ranked combat stats is not the same thing as having no combat stats. Plus, 55 slayer is nowhere near 99.

Well here's one of your ten -- when I get a huge slayer assignment, e.g., kill a zillion fire giants, I've been known to take a couple baskets of strawberries. You can pack lots of healing into little inventory space. But they're no good against things like metal dragons, where you need lots of healing in one bite. Farming is relatively unpopular because people like instant gratification. That's why they like combat -- they get to see a red number go up every couple seconds and get multiple drops per minute. That's also why so many people cut wood -- just walk up to a tree and watch your inventory fill in a hurry. Farming is the opposite. And it should stay that way. Diversity is the beauty of runescape, and it's nice to have a skill for deferred gratification players. Farming could be improved by making good seeds more readily available. Thieving is too slow. If I kill 100 dragons, I'll get hundreds of runes, but no decent seeds. Why can't high level monsters drop valuable seeds more often? Why should I have to cut wood or shell out cash to get decent tree seeds? If I kill a steel dragon, I'd like a shot at a magic tree seed (not that I have the level to plant it, or anything). Why not?

How do you make money farming? Selling herbs?

I don't think that you can have 99 slayer without any combat stats.

Runecrafting, yes. But let me put in a word for slayer. First, this is a single skill. Second, the drops at each level are relatively "rare" compared to normal monster drops. I'm only a mid-level slayer, but I've made tons on black and gold mystic and rune drops. They may not be perfectly predictable, but they come fairly regularly. It's not rare like a dragon drop. So if you like to fight for money, give slayer a try. And if you're going to try one slayer monster for cash, try infernal mages. They're easy to kill, so you don't need a lot of expensive food or prayer pots. They sometimes drop black mystic hats and lava battlestaffs. And they drop LOTS of death runes. Jellies also are good -- super easy to kill and drop lots of full rune helms (at least in my experience).

I've done mostly newb quests, but the one that gets my vote so far is sheep herder. There's pretty much no redeeming value to that little quest, and it can take longer than it should -- try doing it with a touchpad mouse.

I used to play that game a lot and got a lot of those tubers. Once I got my ruby machete, I had no use for them, so I dropped some and finally stopped digging them up. I still have two in my bank at the moment -- guess I'll use one to get another machete.

This really is the point to updates. One of the beauties of Runescape is that there is something for everyone. When I sit down to play, I literally have scores of choices of things to do. Asking "why create a new skill" is like asking "why add a new ride the the amusement park -- we already have three rides?" Variety keeps things fresh. I think this will be a mini-game, but, either way, I think archaeology sounds interesting. I like monster killing because of the drops. You don't know what the drop will be. Will it be some newb herb or a dragon item? It's like opening a present. Archeaology could be like drops without the combat. Mining is boring because you know what you're getting -- you're just grinding away for ores. Digging for unknown treasure would be like mining with drops. Could be very cool and fun.

Sounds like good advice. Since I have no quest cape to maintain, I think that I'll work on other quests for now and save this one for later when I'm not such a cabbage.

Unlike Emerson, I don't find consistency to be foolish -- I find that stream-of-consciousness expression is the hobgoblin of undisciplined minds. I can appreciate the occasional poetic flourish, but I fear that too much poetry is likely to be unappreciated by readers of this forum. I agree with you that because Runescape is made and played by people, it often tends to illustrate important aspects of real life. For example, the importance of possession to property rights is well illustrated in Runescape. By the same token, the difference between a tree in Runescape and a log in my inventory illustrates well Locke's innovative idea that my "labor" mixes with natural material provided by God to all in common to make something "mine" in a way that mere possession never could. Finally, the way Runescape players follow around a poisoned and dying Avatar illustrates well why Blackstone argued that laws of intestacy are necessary. What does any of this have to do with codes of honor in the wildy, you may ask? That's my point, exactly.

I'm inclined to agree. I found some good stuff in this article, but, for the most part, I just found myself wondering what the author was trying to say. Here's some constructive criticism for the author: Start with a thesis. Then, as you write, constantly ask yourself, "How does what I'm writing relate to my thesis?" If it doesn't relate, cut it out. If it does relate, make sure that you include enough transitions and explanations so that readers can follow the relationship with your thesis. On the subject of "codes of honor" in the wildy, I generally avoid the wildy because I don't like to die. When I have to go (usually to hunt dragons or for clue scroll), I prepare to live, and to leave as little of value as possible behind should I die. I'd rather drop items then die with them in my inventory or on my person. Probably not very honorable, I know. How about adding this "item" to your honor code -- if someone's obviously in the wildy for a purpose that has nothing to do with pk, leave them alone. If you choose to attack them, don't cry if they decline to let you have their items. That's my honor code -- it's a point of honor with me to decline to whine about those who choose not to play by my rules. Those of you who like to fight by an "honor code," I hope you'll look me up when I am in the wildy, 'cause I'll be loaded up with food and prayer pots.