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Powering Through Levels Vs Longevity


Erewhon2

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I wanted to start a discussion here to get some different perspectives on your game play. There have been numerous comments about efficient play or powering through to 99, how costly it is to achieve 99 in this or that skill and what is the quickest 99 to get.

 

I have been playing for about 5 years and have three level 99s, one of which took me over a year to achieve because I wanted to do it at no monetary cost (my personal challenge). :P

 

My questions are:

 

Do you power to 99? If so why?

Do you vary your game play? If so how?

 

My concern is that many players generally appear unable to consider the game outside of achieving 99 in skills, have they been brainwashed into thinking all games have an end? Runescape was designed for longevity and that perception seems to have been lost somewhere along the way. Is it possible that bringing the capes of achievement in was a bad move by Jagex? Is getting 99 the most important thing to you?

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People want to feel like they've made their mark. Some MMO's let you influence the game world, or NPC's, in some lasting way. Runescape doesn't, so the only venue for changing the game world in any way is by acquiring xp or wealth for your own character. Artificially doing things in a more difficult way has always been a minority pursuit, when the end result is indistinguishable from the same goals reached via more efficient means.

 

Asking a significant number of people to pursue something other than the development of their own character-- when no such individually driven change in the game world outside of your character is even possible--is a fool's errand.

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In essence, what are you trying to say? It seems like the 'Efficiency' thread in disguise.

 

What because I used the word 'efficiency'? :huh: Probably useful to read it in context.

 

This is a comparison between powering to 99, or other ways of playing.

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I feel like while it is basically the Efficiency thread in disguise, but she's making a valid point.

 

That point being that in the efficiency threads, you have people saying they're not playing efficiently, but they should have the freedom to play the way they want. This concedes the point to the efficiency-meisters in a way, as by conceding that they are more efficient, you're conceding the goals of the game to them, as efficiency is goals/time. A better response to the xp efficiency meisters is to say that if you have different goals, as then differing efficiencies will result for each theoretical action as a result. I have seen that exact point raised in the efficiency threads, but I could see wanting to have a thread in which these presuppositions were made explicit at the beginning on the grounds of fairness, although I don't really think it will go anywhere in the end so I wouldn't have started it personally.

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I feel like while it is basically the Efficiency thread in disguise, but she's making a valid point.

 

That point being that in the efficiency threads, you have people saying they're not playing efficiently, but they should have the freedom to play the way they want. This concedes the point to the efficiency-meisters in a way, as by conceding that they are more efficient, you're conceding the goals of the game to them, as efficiency is goals/time. A better response to the xp efficiency meisters is to say that if you have different goals, as then differing efficiencies will result for each theoretical action as a result. I have seen that exact point raised in the efficiency threads, but I could see wanting to have a thread in which these presuppositions were made explicit at the beginning on the grounds of fairness, although I don't really think it will go anywhere in the end so I wouldn't have started it personally.

 

I really shouldn't have used the word efficiency :wall: I am not interested in efficiency. I don't care how people get to 99, I want to understand why some people are really involved in RPG, imaginative game play and varied game play, while others are intent on getting everything to 99 to then do......what?

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If you don't enjoy grinding, don't grind is all I got to say on this issue. I personally can't stand grinding certain skills, therefore unless I'm training with friends you won't see me training those skills.

 

Runescape is supposed to be entertainment which is fun or relaxing. I'll never get why people "force" themselves to achieve 99 in a skill they despise.

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Capes in order: Firemaking - Cooking - Construction - 99 Dungeoneering
- 120 Dungeoneering - Quest - Strength - Prayer - Herblore - Constitution
- Attack - Defence - Ranged - Runecrafting - Magic - Fletching - Mining

- Farming - Smithing - Slayer - Woodcutting - Summoning - Thieving - Hunter

- Fishing - Agility - Crafting - Divination - Max - Completionist

0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0100 0101

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I really shouldn't have used the word efficiency :wall: I am not interested in efficiency. I don't care how people get to 99, I want to understand why some people are really involved in RPG, imaginative game play and varied game play, while others are intent on getting everything to 99 to then do......what?

 

That really is the heart of the efficiency debate, though. The easiest way to answer that, is to point out games where the people in RS who currently efficiently grind xp, would have more fun role-playing, and varying their gameplay. That is to say, games that reward and are designed for that kind of gameplay, games like EVE, Darkfall, etc. Ironically, people who are not into grinding into RS might end up doing more of what people might term "grindy" gameplay in those games. That's because people aren't grinders/not grinders, people are achievers, explorers, killers, or cooperators, and in RS and those other games, different levels of grind are associated with each of those 4 fundamental gaming personality types.

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My concern is that many players generally appear unable to consider the game outside of achieving 99 in skills, have they been brainwashed into thinking all games have an ‘end’? Runescape was designed for longevity and that perception seems to have been lost somewhere along the way. Is it possible that bringing the capes of achievement in was a bad move by Jagex? Is getting 99 the most important thing to you?

I find this assumption insulting. Why should you be concerned about the way other people play? Everybody finds enjoyment in doing things their own particular way, and your wording implies that somehow, people who play different from you are somehow in the wrong.

 

It's a matter of taste. There's no discussion to be had when it comes to that, this thread is futile and we will not reach any conclusion apart from the obvious "I play like X because I enjoy it" from every single person.

Discerning why somebody enjoys something is up to personal experience, and it shouldn't matter to anybody, unless they are trying to impose their style of life on you.

 

I also do not think runescape has no 'end'. Its end is variable from person to person, however.

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I really shouldn't have used the word efficiency :wall: I am not interested in efficiency. I don't care how people get to 99, I want to understand why some people are really involved in RPG, imaginative game play and varied game play, while others are intent on getting everything to 99 to then do......what?

I don't see why you use the word 'imaginative'.

 

"Do you power to 99? If so why?" No.

 

"Do you vary your game play? If so how?" Yes. I train only what I feel like and that changes a lot.

 

I'm wondering what your point is? If you want to know about why people are involved in RPG, it's because they enjoy it probably. As a general assumption that's your answer to any question as to why people play in a certain way.

Supporter of Zaros | Quest Cape owner since 22 may 2010 | No skills below 99 | Total level 2595 | Completionist Cape owner since 17th June 2013 | Suggestions

99 summoning (18th June 2011, previously untrimmed) | 99 farming (14th July 2011) | 99 prayer (8th September 2011) | 99 constitution (10th September 2011) | 99 dungeoneering (15th November 2011)

99 ranged (28th November 2011) | 99 attack, 99 defence, 99 strength (11th December 2011) | 99 slayer (18th December 2011) | 99 magic (22nd December 2011) | 99 construction (16th March 2012)

99 herblore (22nd March 2012) | 99 firemaking (26th March 2012) | 99 cooking (2nd July 2012) | 99 runecrafting (12th March 2012) | 99 crafting (26th August 2012) | 99 agility (19th November 2012)

99 woodcutting (22nd November 2012) | 99 fletching (31st December 2012) | 99 thieving (3rd January 2013) | 99 hunter (11th January 2013) | 99 mining (21st January 2013) | 99 fishing (21st January 2013)

99 smithing (21st January 2013) | 120 dungeoneering (17th June 2013) | 99 divination (24th November 2013)

Tormented demon drops: twenty effigies, nine pairs of claws, two dragon armour slices and one elite clue | Dagannoth king drops: two dragon hatchets, two elite clues, one archer ring and one warrior ring

Glacor drops: four pairs of ragefire boots, one pair of steadfast boots, six effigies, two hundred lots of Armadyl shards, three elite clues | Nex split: Torva boots | Kalphite King split: off-hand drygore mace

30/30 Shattered Heart statues completed | 16/16 Court Cases completed | 25/25 Choc Chimp Ices delivered | 500/500 Vyrewatch burned | 584/584 tasks completed | 4000/4000 chompies hunted

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I really shouldn't have used the word efficiency :wall: I am not interested in efficiency. I don't care how people get to 99, I want to understand why some people are really involved in RPG, imaginative game play and varied game play, while others are intent on getting everything to 99 to then do......what?

 

Different people enjoy different things. Is this such a hard concept to wrap your head around?

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I'm wondering what your point is? If you want to know about why people are involved in RPG, it's because they enjoy it probably. As a general assumption that's your answer to any question as to why people play in a certain way.

 

That is always a true answer, and therefore never a useful answer. I'm wondering what your point is in giving it? :P

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I don't like grinding because essentially for me, it ruins the game. I train a skill when I want to train it, and if I get bored I go train something else. If I get bored of RS in general, i log off and get back on when I want to play. I play the game for my enjoyment, not my frustration. I have one 99 from 4~ years or so on this account and that's cooking. It took me like 3 months to get because whenever I got bored I just stopped cooking. Grinding will just ruin the game for you, trust me.

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I'm wondering what your point is? If you want to know about why people are involved in RPG, it's because they enjoy it probably. As a general assumption that's your answer to any question as to why people play in a certain way.

 

That is always a true answer, and therefore never a useful answer. I'm wondering what your point is in giving it? :P

Perhaps to establish that this topic is, in fact, asking for a useless answer?

Supporter of Zaros | Quest Cape owner since 22 may 2010 | No skills below 99 | Total level 2595 | Completionist Cape owner since 17th June 2013 | Suggestions

99 summoning (18th June 2011, previously untrimmed) | 99 farming (14th July 2011) | 99 prayer (8th September 2011) | 99 constitution (10th September 2011) | 99 dungeoneering (15th November 2011)

99 ranged (28th November 2011) | 99 attack, 99 defence, 99 strength (11th December 2011) | 99 slayer (18th December 2011) | 99 magic (22nd December 2011) | 99 construction (16th March 2012)

99 herblore (22nd March 2012) | 99 firemaking (26th March 2012) | 99 cooking (2nd July 2012) | 99 runecrafting (12th March 2012) | 99 crafting (26th August 2012) | 99 agility (19th November 2012)

99 woodcutting (22nd November 2012) | 99 fletching (31st December 2012) | 99 thieving (3rd January 2013) | 99 hunter (11th January 2013) | 99 mining (21st January 2013) | 99 fishing (21st January 2013)

99 smithing (21st January 2013) | 120 dungeoneering (17th June 2013) | 99 divination (24th November 2013)

Tormented demon drops: twenty effigies, nine pairs of claws, two dragon armour slices and one elite clue | Dagannoth king drops: two dragon hatchets, two elite clues, one archer ring and one warrior ring

Glacor drops: four pairs of ragefire boots, one pair of steadfast boots, six effigies, two hundred lots of Armadyl shards, three elite clues | Nex split: Torva boots | Kalphite King split: off-hand drygore mace

30/30 Shattered Heart statues completed | 16/16 Court Cases completed | 25/25 Choc Chimp Ices delivered | 500/500 Vyrewatch burned | 584/584 tasks completed | 4000/4000 chompies hunted

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I'm wondering what your point is? If you want to know about why people are involved in RPG, it's because they enjoy it probably. As a general assumption that's your answer to any question as to why people play in a certain way.

 

That is always a true answer, and therefore never a useful answer. I'm wondering what your point is in giving it? :P

Perhaps to establish that this topic is, in fact, asking for a useless answer?

 

If stating a general truth establishes that a question is asking for a useless answer, then every question is asking for a useless answer, as one may imagine someone responding to any question with a general truth. Can you think of the system of 2 equations that functions as that general truth to answer nearly every single question in Help and Advice forum? I can ;)

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Do you power to 99? If so why?

 

99 is certainly a goal I want to achieve, but I only 'power' through if I am willing to. I did power through several skills to get the 99. FM because it wanted its Emote. Cooking because I wanted another 99 to trim the cape. Defence because it was one of the rarer combat 99's, and I have more uses for defence than other combat spells. Then it was crafting, I am not sure why I chose crafting, perhaps because it was a 'rare' 99. Then it was Magic, because it was my favourite combat style. 99 Constitution came naturally.

 

I haven't properly powered 99's since my last 99 strength, I have tried to do it on ranging, but stopped after I got from 96 to 97.

 

Do you vary your game play? If so how?

 

Unless I want to reap the benefit of 99 asap, I do try to use various methods to train, especially unconventional ones. I leveled magic to 99 with String Amulet spell before it was a well known training method, and I have been killing Vyrelords/ladies with Stakes for my ranged.

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Currently I'm only powering to one 99 - Mining. As to "why", that's hard to say. It's partially because it's been a goal of mine almost from the beginning, partially because it can be trained for virtually 0 cost (short of pickaxes) so it brings nothing but profit, and partially because I'm so close that I just want to get the damn thing over with! :P

 

It has little to do with fame or hiscores ranking (especially now), but rather the setting of a goal and working towards it. That's hard to do in F2P so sometimes powering through it is your best option. That doesn't stop me from doing it other ways, and I often do that which is why it's taken so long.

 

Also, I find mining iron to be relaxing. After a hard day of work, or a particularly stressful week, the repetitive action is kind of soothing. It's something I can do that I don't really have to think about for a couple of hours. It's just a happy coincidence that it's also the most effective way of training the skill. :grin:

 

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Do you ‘power’ to 99? If so why?

No. I've been within reach of 99 attack for a few years now and if I played seriously I probably have more than enough total game time to have maxed several times over :razz: Every time I try powering my way to a 99, I quit part of the way through and don't end up touching RS for a long time after.

 

Do you vary your game play? If so how?

I don't log in with a plan for what to do. If I train, I train efficiently. If not, I'm bankstanding and trolling enjoying HYT chat or screwing around with outfits. If there's a quest out, I'll be doing that, because I like the RPG elements of the game.

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I've always played the game for fun, and it just happens that to do what i love the most, kill bosses in a number of different ways i need 1). Very high combat stats 2). Stats needed to unlock combat related things (quest requirements etc.) and 3). Lots of money to pay for these stats and equipment. The training makes a nice break from bossing when it gets a little old, and also moves me closer to doing the next boss. The bossing pays for the training and equipment.

 

Farming? Oh you mean "Get 65 to start this quest then forget it exists...ing?" Yeah. That's fun too. :unsure:

 

(Note that completionist cape, giving the best stats, technically is in this list. It's hard to say if the time is worth the benefit but if i havn't quit by then, it'll be something to do when i get bored of bossing.)

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Do you ‘power’ to 99? If so why?

Yes, sometimes. Powered my way to 99 range with chins, 99 mage with burst and HP came along for the ride. Woodcutting, no. I cut magic logs for quite a few levels because I enjoyed it, or rather enjoyed talking to other wc'ers. Side-note: people seem to be less talkative in-game now :(, maybe because they're inside their little friend/clan chats.

Why? I like mini-games but most of the mini-games I play are combat based so... training combat skills made sense. Otherwise, I try not to power-level anything.

 

Do you vary your game play? If so how?

Yeah time to time. Play mini-games a lot. Switch up what I'm training. Like now I could be continuing for 99 cooking, but I'm doing some firemaking. Or I just stand around and talk, like today when firemaking was borked. Sat at G.E. and talked with people there. This is probably why my skills are low compared to the amount of time I've played :unsure: .

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Longevity here. I powered up to level 99 cooking (pre-cook all, but at the ever lasting fire) though most of that was for tracking the burn rate with gauntlets. Only thing it taught me was not to do silly stuff like that again. Nothing wrong with grinding, but it doesn't work for some people such as myself.

 

Now, I decided to sell off 3 santas to get supplies for level 92 in the "buyable" skills. However, that's just to casually level skills in between D&Ds, JoaT, fruit tree runs and various quests and tasks. I choose 92 as it's the halfway point to 99 in addition being the minimum to get all steps of the effigies.

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I train every skill every week (well besides dungeoneering). I also make sure to do at least one quest (but usually more) each week.

 

I also do various D&Ds each week.. penguins, circus, tears etc.

 

The only thing I do every day is farming... When I log in I do a complete farm run to all trees/bushes/allotments/specials. While doing this tun I pick up my daily rewards (sand,pineapples,flax,essence etc) and do my kingdom stuff.

 

I dont think I could ever find it fun to grind one skill to 99. Do I have a goal to get 99s? Sure.. but they will come in time.

 

The only actual xp goal I set for myself is I try to do 1 mil total xp each week.

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There aren't many ways to train in F2P, but I usually take the most efficient ones. I don't power train to 99, I just train some xp's and when I get bored I start training another skill. I managed to get 5 99's en 10 90+ skills this way :D

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Why should you be concerned about the way other people play?

 

Because I am interested, that's the whole point :roll:

 

99 is certainly a goal I want to achieve, but I only 'power' through if I am willing to. I did power through several skills to get the 99. FM because it wanted its Emote. Then it was Magic, because it was my favourite combat style. 99 Constitution came naturally.

 

Unless I want to reap the benefit of 99 asap, I do try to use various methods to train, especially unconventional ones. I leveled magic to 99 with String Amulet spell before it was a well known training method, and I have been killing Vyrelords/ladies with Stakes for my ranged.

Some interesting reasons for going for 99, I like the idea of training 'unconventionally', probably some nice ideas there for others :wink:

 

Currently I'm only powering to one 99 - Mining. As to "why", that's hard to say. It's partially because it's been a goal of mine almost from the beginning, partially because it can be trained for virtually 0 cost (short of pickaxes) so it brings nothing but profit, and partially because I'm so close that I just want to get the damn thing over with! :P

 

Also, I find mining iron to be relaxing. After a hard day of work, or a particularly stressful week, the repetitive action is kind of soothing. It's something I can do that I don't really have to think about for a couple of hours. It's just a happy coincidence that it's also the most effective way of training the skill. :grin:

 

I thought goal setting was likely to be a more common answer, to give purpose. I totally agree about relaxing after work and thieving is my preference for that for exactly the same reasons as you and like Chenw my xp has come naturally (I think my xp is around 25m now).

 

Every time I try powering my way to a 99, I quit part of the way through and don't end up touching RS for a long time after.

 

I don't log in with a plan for what to do. If I train, I train efficiently. If not, I'm bankstanding and trolling enjoying HYT chat or screwing around with outfits. If there's a quest out, I'll be doing that, because I like the RPG elements of the game.

 

That is an element I don't understand with some players, as someone else has mentioned here. Why power to 99 if you end up hating it and as you said can end up putting yourself off the game!

I can see the fun in 'screwing around with outfits', I have a bank tab just for that :lol: I wonder if many other people just wear the same thing (except for armour) or have a bank wardrobe? That kind of thing is about having fun with the game and gives hope to the game longevity.

 

I've always played the game for fun, and it just happens that to do what i love the most, kill bosses in a number of different ways i need 1). Very high combat stats 2). Stats needed to unlock combat related things (quest requirements etc.) and 3). Lots of money to pay for these stats and equipment. The training makes a nice break from bossing when it gets a little old, and also moves me closer to doing the next boss. The bossing pays for the training and equipment.

 

Looks like you've found what you enjoy and if they keep doing updates like Dominion Tower that means you can keep boss hunting for a long time!

 

Yes, sometimes. Powered my way to 99 range with chins, 99 mage with burst and HP came along for the ride. Woodcutting, no. I cut magic logs for quite a few levels because I enjoyed it, or rather enjoyed talking to other wc'ers. Side-note: people seem to be less talkative in-game now :(, maybe because they're inside their little friend/clan chats.

Why? I like mini-games but most of the mini-games I play are combat based so... training combat skills made sense. Otherwise, I try not to power-level anything.

 

Yeah time to time. Play mini-games a lot. Or I just stand around and talk,....This is probably why my skills are low compared to the amount of time I've played :unsure: .

 

I must admit I have personally found people more chatty since the bot busting, not sure why we've had different experiences. Nothing wrong with talking, I suppose for some they may worry about falling behind in the competitive stakes. Mine are low for the amount of time I've played too. Did you put yourself off range and mage by doing 99 that way, or do you still enjoy it?

 

Longevity here. I powered up to level 99 cooking. Only thing it taught me was not to do silly stuff like that again. Nothing wrong with grinding, but it doesn't work for some people such as myself.

 

Now, I decided to sell off 3 santas to get supplies for level 92 in the "buyable" skills. However, that's just to casually level skills in between D&Ds, JoaT, fruit tree runs and various quests and tasks. I choose 92 as it's the halfway point to 99 in addition being the minimum to get all steps of the effigies.

 

Oh I am soooo with you on learning not to do it that way again, I did start that for one skill and stopped when I realised how much it was winding me up! Thats when I starting thinking about how long I would play RS for and nowadays I wonder if for some RS is just a short term game, with the aim to get all 99's and quit, or whether like you said aim for some longevity.

 

I train every skill every week (well besides dungeoneering). I also make sure to do at least one quest (but usually more) each week.

 

The only actual xp goal I set for myself is I try to do 1 mil total xp each week.

 

Sounds like you're a 'system's person, a logical and systematic approach to your game play. I can be a bit over the top about trying to keep all my skills fairly level but I'm not as organised as you :-D

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I like to set myself a goal, and just work towards that goal when I feel like it. For example, I set myself the goal of finishing recipe for disaster, then getting 70+ in all skills, and am currently working on 80+ in all skills. Once I've achieved this, I'm going to get all the quest req's for Temple at Senntisten and buy turmoil. Then I want to do all the hard tasks. Having lots of little goals like this helps keep me motivated, as you get that sense of achievement more often, instead of just saying, right I'm going for a max cape now, and feeling like you never get anywhere.

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