Ronan

Any offer placed in the Grand Exchange spans across all worlds of Runescape. :) Much like the idea that you can use your character on any world - Runescape's worlds don't act like individual servers, each running a seperate 'copy' of the game, they're interlinked unlike some other MMORPGs.

I quite agree with you, this would open up a huge realm of possibilities that could greatly improve the gaming experience for many players, not just the developers who would utilise it! I'm just not quite sure I can see it happening though, doesn't seem 'Jagex' like - perhaps they'll change though? I'd also imagine that the player-base that this kind of addition would cater to would be immensely less than it is on many other MMORPGs - unfortunately! I'm also not certain what their 'new' client will be like. An entirely new client, built off a different platform would be fantastic! But really, all I see happening is Jagex producing a 'utility' client, much like we have in SwiftKit that utilises some of their own databases and simply provides the game playable through their current applet. The Grand Exchange site isn't that difficult to produce a parser for - certainly viable to use that rather than RuneScript from what I've seen at least. But I do see what you mean, having a nice API for it would be brilliant! :)

I found this within the html-source of their page a while ago, the setup file at-least. I was intrigued by it so downloaded it - all I got was the standard client though. Like you though, I noticed it's file size in comparison to the previous and was quite confused that there was nothing, at least visibly, different. Edit :- Oh, Java contained - fair enough then.

Yea, it is one of the difficulties when a lot of the image-dimensions needed are a lot greater than most in-game ones taken. Here's a vector-drawn crimson charm, if you fancy it - just quickly done, seems the colours may be a little off but would resize nicely for a signature. It's pretty easy to do and I always feel it's worth perfecting these things with a signature / banner item.

I think it's a nice start, but there's a few issues with it that jump out at me, as an image anyway. If it were me, I'd probably try and make up a higher quality copy of the crimson charm, the pixelation stands out a lot in comparison to the other higher-quality additions - size too of-course. Perhaps use a vector program like InkScape to create one? Symmetry / consistency within layout's always a big thing for me - the height between the two character images is a bit off, although that's not a big issue, rather I think the two characters either side works well. The images along the bottom pertaining to the different items aren't overly consistent, size-wise, can't really be helped as the items are obviously varied in the area they take up, but perhaps play around to produce a more consistent layout for them - even rearranging the order may give it a more 'aesthetically pleasing' look. Text - I think the font works quite well, it's heavy but not too harsh - nice and simple alongside being relatively symmetric is great! What I would think would be nice is perhaps some sort of font-effect, a very slight shadow in text tends to work well but playing around a bit you may find something to suit. I'd imagine something that gives the text a slight enhancement and more of a 'finished' look, attracting attention to it and yet not making it swamp the rest of the image too. The fishing skillcape seems very out of place, kind of like it's just thrown in there! I can understand wanting one in there, but perhaps try and incorporate it somewhere else in the image? Nothing really comes to mind off the top of my head right now, ideas may be character wearing it - but would be inconsistent with the facing of characters if you were to want to see the back. Could place a 'flat' image of it, as if dropped on the ground over the background, pertaining to the background being like a tiled area of Runescape, yet I quite like the background's pattern as is. Overall - I think it's a good job, although perhaps a bit 'too much' going on in it. I'm biased towards the simplistic images though. :^_^:

From what I've seen about Games Design, it may not all be about the artistic side of things. I must admit - it's not an area i'm overly interested in so some experienced information on that would be great. However, like I said I think there's a lot more too it than just designing the graphics of a game - given a game if you consider all the sides of it that need to all be built, in majority of cases from scratch, you'll probably get where I'm coming from. I've always presumed the graphics are where we get the Graphics Artists in to do their part of the job. ;) With games programming, you are quite right, there is quite a bit of maths involved. I do think it's something that can be learned though - unless you're particularly awful at Maths. However, there is an awful lot of it that's more logical-sided, catering to people that can map out the design of a game to an implementation and actually implement that. For example, in a recent game I've created, a large part of it was designing the classes and the features they each required, dealing with planning out the inheritance, what (and how) the game would process the objects within the level - whether to provide an event based system or run off a processing loop, that kind of thing. There is a bit of maths of-course, largely trigonometry, dealing with calculating the angles and positions that objects should be drawn at and a bit of collision-detection. For the most part, it's around Higher-level Maths equivalent up here in Scotland. Once you jump into 3D implementations, it obviously takes a bit of a jump up, but still isn't terribly awful! :) I'd say if you're interested in the area, probably take a bash at designing some simple games, if you see yourself having an aptitude for a specific area, investigate it further! Of-course, playing games and actually designing / developing games require quite different skills, but it's certainly a start! Also take note that I'm only a Computer Science student, I'm not professionally in a career in any of the areas stated, it's largely just coming from my overall intake of articles read and hobby-based programming, games development is the specific area I'm looking to head into after my degree though!

I created a tracker yesterday evening, based off the Adventurer's Logs experience values, was primarily aimed at tracking my Agility / other skills without logging off. As a rough indication, these were the values from last night :- [spoiler=Yesterday Skils XML] <instance> <time>Thu Mar 11 15:42:46 GMT 2010</time> <Total_Level><rank>15377</rank><experience>187223302</experience><level>2116</level></Total_Level> <Attack><rank>48639</rank><experience>14231897</experience><level>99</level></Attack> <Defence><rank>32966</rank><experience>14205414</experience><level>99</level></Defence> <Strength><rank>57962</rank><experience>14364441</experience><level>99</level></Strength> <Constitution><rank>49772</rank><experience>16240832</experience><level>99</level></Constitution> <Ranged><rank>80821</rank><experience>7659458</experience><level>93</level></Ranged> <Prayer><rank>70667</rank><experience>1343438</experience><level>76</level></Prayer> <Magic><rank>30122</rank><experience>13475476</experience><level>99</level></Magic> <Cooking><rank>68753</rank><experience>13086134</experience><level>99</level></Cooking> <Woodcutting><rank>344583</rank><experience>2568245</experience><level>82</level></Woodcutting> <Fletching><rank>61282</rank><experience>13062788</experience><level>99</level></Fletching> <Fishing><rank>397397</rank><experience>1188033</experience><level>74</level></Fishing> <Firemaking><rank>19336</rank><experience>13136278</experience><level>99</level></Firemaking> <Crafting><rank>73656</rank><experience>1401256</experience><level>76</level></Crafting> <Smithing><rank>76306</rank><experience>1169989</experience><level>74</level></Smithing> <Mining><rank>219603</rank><experience>1008768</experience><level>73</level></Mining> <Herblore><rank>52904</rank><experience>1169354</experience><level>74</level></Herblore> <Agility><rank>5539</rank><experience>11988907</experience><level>98</level></Agility> <Thieving><rank>22767</rank><experience>3627876</experience><level>86</level></Thieving> <Slayer><rank>122654</rank><experience>1402727</experience><level>76</level></Slayer> <Farming><rank>6270</rank><experience>13090821</experience><level>99</level></Farming> <Runecrafting><rank>441</rank><experience>19535327</experience><level>99</level></Runecrafting> <Hunter><rank>23557</rank><experience>5004034</experience><level>89</level></Hunter> <Construction><rank>32088</rank><experience>1240003</experience><level>75</level></Construction> <Summoning><rank>42420</rank><experience>2021806</experience><level>80</level></Summoning> </instance> [spoiler=Today, Now XML] <instance> <time>Fri Mar 12 15:05:41 GMT 2010</time> <Total_Level><rank>15473</rank><experience>187878006</experience><level>2116</level></Total_Level> <Attack><rank>48730</rank><experience>14231897</experience><level>99</level></Attack> <Defence><rank>33033</rank><experience>14205414</experience><level>99</level></Defence> <Strength><rank>58056</rank><experience>14364441</experience><level>99</level></Strength> <Constitution><rank>49848</rank><experience>16240832</experience><level>99</level></Constitution> <Ranged><rank>80943</rank><experience>7659458</experience><level>93</level></Ranged> <Prayer><rank>70728</rank><experience>1343438</experience><level>76</level></Prayer> <Magic><rank>30181</rank><experience>13475476</experience><level>99</level></Magic> <Cooking><rank>68870</rank><experience>13086134</experience><level>99</level></Cooking> <Woodcutting><rank>345051</rank><experience>2568245</experience><level>82</level></Woodcutting> <Fletching><rank>61366</rank><experience>13062788</experience><level>99</level></Fletching> <Fishing><rank>397736</rank><experience>1188033</experience><level>74</level></Fishing> <Firemaking><rank>19388</rank><experience>13136278</experience><level>99</level></Firemaking> <Crafting><rank>73772</rank><experience>1401256</experience><level>76</level></Crafting> <Smithing><rank>76396</rank><experience>1169989</experience><level>74</level></Smithing> <Mining><rank>219792</rank><experience>1008768</experience><level>73</level></Mining> <Herblore><rank>53367</rank><experience>1169354</experience><level>74</level></Herblore> <Agility><rank>5481</rank><experience>12643611</experience><level>98</level></Agility> <Thieving><rank>22803</rank><experience>3627876</experience><level>86</level></Thieving> <Slayer><rank>122799</rank><experience>1402727</experience><level>76</level></Slayer> <Farming><rank>6284</rank><experience>13090821</experience><level>99</level></Farming> <Runecrafting><rank>441</rank><experience>19535327</experience><level>99</level></Runecrafting> <Hunter><rank>23642</rank><experience>5004034</experience><level>89</level></Hunter> <Construction><rank>32190</rank><experience>1240003</experience><level>75</level></Construction> <Summoning><rank>44827</rank><experience>2021806</experience><level>80</level></Summoning> </instance> The only skills i've affected have been agility and total_level. ;)

Iron Ore standard experience is 35xp per ore. 2.3x that is 80.5xp, that's what you're getting overall. The 45xp displayed at the top-right is the extra experience you're getting for the action. So, for Iron ore - that's 80.5 - 35 = 45.5, rounded down to 45. Woops, already posted. ;)

Changed at 01:01. For those interested in working out the actual formula. Also, for those interested - dropped a further 473 ranks over the past half-hour in summoning, that's 833 ranks overall since 12 noon! Edit :- Modifier changed to 2.1x at 01:46.

Hmm, that really does. :( Silly Jagex! :P Always seems to be rounding with them... 2.3x Now after 1 hour. In the last half hour, my rank in summoning :- I'm level 80. :P

Now that's just insanity! How do people manage! o.O

The extra experience you get per action also 'falls down' just below the XP section and then disappears, showing the extra xp gained per action. Time is in minutes and the XP is showing the extra experience gained overall.

Source :- Save The Date I'm assuming by "XP rate" they're referring to the XP multiplier at that current time. There's also going to be a news post upon starting. Edit :- No problem! There's also a bit more information in this RSOF Post: 15-16-48-60551431

Sounds like a very viable system, can't see any negatives from the initial reading of it - lots of 'perfecting' upgrades to the lobby which is always good! I'm presuming that you'd propose some sort of character limit on the sent offline message?

From what my high-school was like when I was there a few years ago - it seems that the socialising aspect has become a lot more prevalent. Not that I'm disagreeing - you're absolutely right and it's something that unfortunately a fair few forget. ;) I don't believe that banning cell-phones is really the way to go - keeping a tighter leash on people, especially teenagers, encourages them mostly to disobey the rules, especially during class time where it's seen to be socially 'cool' to be disobeying the rules. Unfortunately with school's natural popularity competition, peer-pressure plays such a large part in making others follow suit. However, I do agree that having them being allowed in classes is at least the minimum enforcement required. Classes are the time where you should be focusing on what you're being taught, even if it is boring at times! (You're not at Uni' yet! :P) A school-wide ban shouldn't really be enforced though I feel, it's far too restricting on pupils and mobile-phones are indeed useful in certain circumstances, disallowing them could really have negative consequences in some situations - albeit rarely. My old school was certainly like that - allowing outside of classes, but not in. Unfortunately - it didn't really do much help either! Phones were still used quite largely in classes.

Pretty sure it's worth going off-course with the levels just a bit for this bonus event, perhaps not for the familiars you unlock - rather the time / money saved. Slightly off-topic, but the Titan doesn't really contribute much to Runecrafting. It carries the exact same amount of essence as both other Abyssal familiars and the kicker is - the Abyssal lurker lasts 9 minutes longer than the Titan! If you're planning a lot of Runecrafting, that extra time really adds up.

I think that given the initial post, the aim is to allow for a flexible number of users to compare with each other, last I checked the Runescape Hiscore page only has the two user fields. Other than that, yea - you're right, easiest way is to parse the skill data from the Lite page for each user, then do the comparisons yourself. Edit :- [spoiler=Application Image] Well, I had a bit of free time, so I drew up a working App to do what you've stated. Tried to make the design similar to the hiscore-theme whilst still maintaining ease of use. It doesn't have much error-handling in it at the moment, but there isn't that much needed if you were to refine it as all it takes in is a name. It does catch it if the name isn't present on the hiscores and simply displays dashes rather than a value. The JAR file for the application's on my webhost, here :- r-turner.info/HiScoreCompare.jar. It works by selecting the skill desired on the left side via a mouse-click on the appropriate icon and typing in a variety of names to compare, each name on a new line in the text-area. Clicking compare retrieves the appropriate values from the hiscores using the lite version. After retrieval, it sorts using a QuickSort algorithm, then displays in a nice, simple format. I've also made the source-code available, in the form of a NetBeans project folder at the following link :- r-turner.info/HiScoreCompare.rar. It could also be converted to an Applet, but I imagine you'd have to restructure the way that the results are displayed. I believe you can't use JFrames in Applets, but also the results are displayed by creating another JFrame, I don't believe you can create another 'Applet' within an Applet, so you'd have to redesign that area too. Certainly doable, just would warrant a bit of a re-think on the interface. Comments / criticism is always welcome! ;)

In all considerations in regards language though, it makes sense to infer arguments based on Java rather than C++ as it is the underlying system that it runs off of, not C++.

Checking around, I believe 2 lum is currently trying to merchant Earth talismans.

I think the deductions about the Agility one tends to hold true. If you're really after the rocks, repeating single-quick obstacles seems to be the best way to get it. However, considering it can take a while I think it best to simply stick to your standard way of training Agility. For me it took about 5 minutes to get the first rock but then about 1 hour 30 minutes of the Gnome Advanced to get the second. I quite like this addition to your everyday training, it provides a nice new diversion and yet still causing (minimal) disruption to the training of skills.

Well, I've been plain boring and just taken my own first name! Tried when the name-change was brought out and was already taken. Cheers for the info! :)

Ahh, of-course, I forgot that to get the Const. one it requires you to be in for at least a minute. Doesn't really make 'actual' training viable as it really is going to be a nuisance overall. Edit :- Oh, except using butler, that's true!

I've never looked into it, but is making flatpacks a viable option for construction training? I believe someone mentioned that they were training it previously with that and a pack yak. I too think it's rather silly that you don't do anything to get the construction one, it doesn't really follow on from the idea that these are supposed to be gained by going about your daily activities of training a skill.

I'm in the exact same boat, got my first after 10 laps of the Gnome Advanced, then done over an hour of Agility and still no second stone. Agility's a slow one it would seem. I spent some of that at Barbarian Advanced though and switched back to Gnome after a short while as it seems it's not mentioned in the Shattered Hearts Knowledge-Base article under agility, where'd you get your first stone? Edit :- Re-read of the article seems to suggest that they're not the only actions that can yield a rock, rather just some of the suggested actions. That's an interesting idea, I can see where you're coming from definitely. Seems a little too specific though for a wide-activity like this one.

Interested in seeing what the reward is, like most people. It's a nice little addition, may make me train with more variety. Do you get a message in the chat if you receive one? And presumably it gets added to your inventory? Edit :- Got my answer, ~10 seconds after posting got my first, Agility rock. ~10 Laps of the Gnome Advanced course. :)