Adamfostas

Runescript is the language Jagex use to add content to the game. However, it is programmed in Java. What you say is like saying HTML is the language Firefox is programmed in. As to the rest of your post, I think you're getting confused as to what we're claiming. Certainly, a random number is generated every time you kill a monster, and that number - along with all the other factors - determines the drop. However, that number is generated from the seed. Read the content of the link I gave above. What makes the original post in this thread interesting is that it implies the seed is not dependant on time, but rather remains constant, thus producing the same results in the same circumstances. A random number was generated every time the poster killed a cyclops - but those numbers were the same as the previous numbers before the rollback, and thus must have been generated from the same seed.

Excellent, someone who sounds like they know what they're talking about. Doomster, given the information above about the consistency of drops, what are your best guesses for the parameter? Edit: Now, that compression method would be impressive. How far has anyone got to achieving it?

Clearly I haven't explained myself very well. The drop 'seed' is applied to ANY combat, regardless of the monster involved. That's why I said it takes the place of 'rnd#' in your code, which I believe does not require that the game know what monster you're going to fight when you log on. However, I've done a little research since my first post, and it appears that part of my supposition was inaccurate. The 'seed' does not have to be a string of 50k numbers - it is merely a short string from which lots of numbers can be generated. You can read more about random numbers in Java here: http://www.cs.geneseo.edu/~baldwin/reference/random.html. Since the original poster reproduced the same drop results we can surmise that the 'seed' is not generated from the server time but is rather a unique value. This is because it is highly unlikely that he managed to kill the cyclops within a millisecond of his original killing time. This is interesting, because - depending on how the seed is generated - it may be worthwhile switching worlds if you're not getting good drops on one. However, if instead of being generated on login it is generated on the creation of your character, you will have 'unlucky' characters and 'lucky' ones. Hmm. Think I'll message Jagex to find out the truth...

I'm sorry I made you upset, that was not my intention. My point was that lower-levelled players have as much right to Barrow as anyone else. For the record, not having a whip at your level makes you more likely to be an interesting person, as you haven't wasted hours of your life woodcutting, fishing or (heaven forbid) merchanting. It certainly doesn't make you a low level.

Umm, I think you're misunderstanding what a 'seed' is. It takes the place of 'rnd' in your code, providing that number for each drop. That's why I said 'string of numbers'. I reiterate: computers are not random.

The Daeyalt appears to be the stuff from which the Vampires produce their weaponry - cf. the spears of the Vyrewatch. Much as the Barrows idea sounds cool, I suspect that the key to the defeat of the Vampires lies with Ivan Strom (hence the inordinately large amount of dialogue about him when you go back to Drezel). Ivan is an orphan, who in the earlier quests specifically wonders about his parents. It's entirely possible that Vanstrom could be a relative, given the totally obvious connection between their names (Ivan Strom=I, Vanstrom), or Ivan could have a connection with the legendary hero Ivandis. I would suspect that the plot direction involves helping Ivan destroy the most powerful vampires (i.e. the Drakans), while we use haemoalchemy to produce some kind of substance that kills the rest off, like a gas toxic to vampires or similar.

I must say, I'm quite surprised I'm getting flamed for offering a small tip to low levels. You'd think I was suggesting killing bunnies with axes to improve your Barrowing*. I reiterate: the point of this thread is to advise lower levelled players that a Broodoo Shield is a better option than a Saradomin Book for Barrowing. For those who seem to believe that lower-levelled players have no business at the Barrows, it's a much more fun way of making money than spending hours standing around woodcutting, fishing or merchanting, and a great way (if you're lucky) to be able to afford that first whip, which will help them more quickly achieve the levels you appear to regard as 'worthy'. *For the hard of reading crowd, I should emphasise that I am not condoning the killing of bunnies with axes.

This leads me to believe that the drop rate for items is similar to the 'seed' on games such as Civ 4 (if anyone knows the proper technical term for this, please jump in). Basically, for every new turn in the game, a string of numbers is generated which determines combat results and whatnot before those combats take place (if they do so). I would imagine something similar happens with Runescape: when you log on to a server, you are assigned a 'seed' which determines your combat/drop results after factoring in other parameters (combats stats, monster you're fighting, and so on). Thus, if you fight the same monster using the same equipment on the same server after ostensibly the same log-in, you'll not only get the same drops, but also the same hit rate. I'm guessing you used different weapons (like a whip and a ddp++) while fighting the cyclops, right? Otherwise you would have noticed this effect too. This has some interesting implications. While I can't guess how long the drop 'seed' is, it must be long enough to handle probabilities that are estimated to be in some cases (such as dchains and Dust Devils) as low as 1 in 50,000. After the 'seed' is complete (i.e. after you've killed 50,000 monsters) it should reset. This means that if you stay on the same server without logging off and kill 50,000 Dust Devils, you are guaranteed a dchain. However, given that this would require people to work in shifts over a period of several days, it's impossible to test. Naturally, this is all speculation, and I'd be quite happy to be put right by someone with more technical knowledge than me. But the important thing to remember is that computers cannot be random, as they are based on logic. They can only produce the appearance of randomness.

While Barrowing, I see a lot of low-level players wielding a Saradomin prayer book in the shield slot, ostensibly for the defence bonuses it supplies when fighting Verac or in the tunnels, and the prayer bonus for the rest of the time. However, there is a better (and much cheaper) option for this: a Broodoo Shield. It has the same prayer bonus (+5) and higher melee defence stats (Stab +10, Slash +10, and Crush +15 compared with Stab +8, Slash +8, Crush +8 for the Sara book). It also has a very small magic attack bonus (+3), handy for those using magic. While its mage and range defence values are less than the Sara book (+5 and 0 respectively), given that low levels typically pray against Karil and Ahrim, this doesn't matter. So get yourself down to the jungle, as there's always a broodoo victim or two there on highly populated worlds. With five nails and a couple of snake skins(now easily available from Mos'le Harmless), you've got a fine new addition to your Barrowing kit.

Umm, are you asking to be molested by a Jagex mod Simon?

Ever heard of spelling? If you're going to be such a grammar that you'll move off-topic just to insult someone's sentence structure, please be sure to at least spell your accusations correctly. On topic: The bigger the population of Runescape, the more accurately it reflects the general levels of politeness in the real world. Perhaps people feel more free to be impolite online than in real life - but if that's the case, then all you're seeing is a more accurate reflection of their personality. Runescape won't change before the world changes, I hate to say it.

Not sure if this is the right forum, but in response to all the recent furore about prayer drain rates, Paul said on the official forums: 'For some reason some players are spreading rumours that we have increased the drain rates of existing prayers. I can confirm that this is just a rumour and we have not.'

What are the stats of the Tyras Helm?

To continue the flow of compliments, have you considered sending any of these into Jagex for their Letters from the Hedge? Given that they published a non-Jagex image in the last one, it's possible they might feature them.

That's superb! Although, having checked out your website, I must say that your best effort so far must be http://www.drunkduck.com/Loonscape/index.php?p=76286. It's pure genius.

Smart idea. Put it on the main RS forums, although since it is smart you'll need to bump it repeatedly to make sure Jagex sees it, as anything that people can't react to with 'P0MG yU nUb!!!!11ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâì!!' tends to vanish quite quickly on there.

In my view, and from the earlier posts that of others too, adding steam-powered trains to the human part of Runescape would greatly detract from the atmosphere of the game. The reason for this is that adding an early industrial feature to a world clearly writ in a 'swords and sorcery' (i.e. medieval, although with nods to the early renaissance, see the chemist in Rimmington) style would produce something of a conflict. Note that I am constraining this to the human part of Runescape. Quite frankly, since that's the only part we have a historical frame of reference for, it's the only one we can judge on. The other species can do what they like without interfering with that feel.

The temple on world 2 is up pretty much 24 hours a day. Trust me, you won't have a problem.

Incorrect post. How do I delete these things?

Why can't those who chose to beg be compelled to pick an option before doing so that lets them be attacked outside of the Wilderness? Imagine the fun Varrock fountain would become...

Kk = I'm too lazy to move my finger all the way over to the 'O'. Which is next to the 'K'.

I would start talking, and listen in horror as arbitrary parts of my words are beeped out. I would never be able to pronounce 'doesn't' again without the middle of the word being erased. I'd eat as many baked potatoes as I possibly could, secure in the knowledge that I wouldn't get fat, or indeed full.

I'll join in the tumult of applause that surrounds this guide and say that it's fantastic. I have a small addition, if you agree, to the part of the guide dealing with Greater Demons. There's another spot you can use to range them, if you have sufficiently high crafting and fletching. It's in the Entrana Dungeon. As you doubtless know, you can circumvent the prohibition on taking weapons and armour to Entrana by taking them in raw material form. This means that if you take 6 tanned dragon hides, 11 tanned snakeskins (now easily obtainable on Mos'le Harmless), a unstrung bow, a bowstring, as many arrows as you want (at least 1k, I would say) and some kind of teleport, you can manufacture fairly decent range kit, range the demons and retrieve your arrows. Admittedly, it's excessive work for someone at your level, but for those at lower range and slaying levels it could come in handy.

Very sensible suggestions. Unfortunately, I don't have any comments that go beyond those already given on this thread, but since you seem to want us to post anyway, I thought I'd try this spam thing that seems so popular these days: OMG TeSE IDeAS TEH R0XX0RS! Ahem.

A lot of people make woodcutting pures (I've no idea why, perhaps they don't want to sully their mighty warrior/wizard/rangey guy with menial tasks). This would result in their deaths. And even if they're wearing iron. Say the evil chicken pops up, does a correspondingly lower amount of damage because of the armour (say 5), another couple of strikes while the pure is running away will kill them.