How do I activate it?

Go and talk to Pikkupstix in Taverly and choose the Familiarisation option in the chat.

Go and talk to Pikkupstix in Taverly and choose the Familiarisation option in the chat.

 

You then get a cryptic message about the location

 

http://runescape.wikia.com/wiki/Familiarisation

^Use that to figure out where it is

 

Then basically just keep collecting shards once you get to the place.

Remember to check your map then go in one direction around the edges and then you can check the ponds and stuff

so I collect shards? How does that give me triple charms?

You could also read the guide to wrote on Tip.It. :) www.tip.it/runescape/?page=familiarisation.htm

 

Basically, there are piles of spirit shards laying around in the playing area. You can collect up to a maximum of 60 shards, and have a time limit of 20 minutes.

 

The game ends if one of these scenarios occurs:

 

• You successfully collect 60 shards OR
  
• The 20 minute timer runs out OR
  
• Run out of "lifepoints" (when enemy monsters spot you, you lose "health") OR
  
• You exit the playing area willingly via a portal in the middle of the field.

 

Once the game has ended, you have the option of picking one reward out of the following two choices:

 

1. Box of Summoning ingredients/secondaries (based on your Summoning level) OR
   
2. Triple charm magic

 

If you chose the Triple charm reward, you will have to activate it by speaking to Pikkupstix in Taverly (you might also be able to talk to Pikkenmix, but I'm not sure.) The total amount of time you get for Triple charm magic is based off of the amount of spirit shards you collected in your last game; if you collect the full 60 shards, you get 40 minutes of Triple charm time.

and where are these shards, and what is the stuff about people draining my focus, this seems very weird....

 

And what is this about activee obelesks???

and where are these shards

The shards are just laying on the ground out in the open. You have to run around the area and pick them up like you would any other item that's on the ground.

 

 

what is the stuff about people draining my focus, this seems very weird....

Basically there are NPCs/monsters/other familiars who, if you get too close to them, drain your focus/health. In the upper part of the screen, it will tell you which familiars can lower your focus energy; you want to avoid those familiars as much as possible.

 

 

And what is this about activee obelesks???

You can't just walk up to any random obelisk and play Familiarisation - it's based on a timed system similar to Evil Trees and Shooting Stars. Every two hours or so a small Summoning obelisk (like the one in Edgeville) will become "active." It will begin to sparkle, and the NPC named Pikkenmix will appear next to it. You can use the "active" obelisk to enter the game.

 

However, the locations are RANDOM and it would take a VERY long time to find it on your own. Pikkupstix (in Taverly) will be able to give you a hint as to where the active obelisk, if any, is. If you are having trouble finding an active obelisk, you can just hop worlds until you hopefully find one.

it sounds like a crappy mini game, is it worth playing to get the extra charms???

Yes.

 

Edit: And it's actually pretty fun. :)

Just remember to visit ogg-log run pool before going ad you run energy drains extremely quickly in the minigame.

Also "obelisk chat" (i think that's the name) is a friends chat channel who monitor as many worlds as possible for active obelisks; similar to the star hunting people who locate them all or the evil tree one or the world60pengs