20 December 2006 - A Christmas Reminder

As the festive season quickly approaches, we would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that purchasing in-game items or RuneScape gold for real money is completely against the rules and strongly discouraged.

For the safety of players’ accounts, it is very important that well-meaning parents who may think that this would be a nice Christmas present, are aware that any accounts involved run a very high risk of being banned. As such, please do not accept or give away any gift of this kind.

To help spread that Christmas joy, try to find a more suitable present; something that says ‘Merry Christmas’ in a way that no amount of gold pieces or rune armour could ever compare!

If you would like more information on Rule 12: Real World Trading, please see the RuneScape Rules of Conduct.

We would also like to reassure players that we have a very safe way of detecting this (by tracking back to known real-world traders). We DONT just look for unbalanced trades! So there is no need to worry about being banned unfairly. We are extremely cautious to avoid that, and are aware people often lend each other items, etc...

19 December 2006 - Fake websites

We're seeing a growing number of people in our game and on our forums advertising scam websites which are designed to steal your RuneScape password.

These websites generally offer you something amazing, such as a sneak preview of a forthcoming RuneScape update, thus tempting you into giving away your password in your excitement. Even if the website itself doesn't ask you to enter your RuneScape password, it might install malicious software on your computer that would steal your password the next time you type it.

In particular, we'd like to make it very clear that websites promoting sequels or spinoffs relating to our games are fake. Similarly, websites offering RuneScape benefits or the chance to become a moderator are fake. None of these websites should be trusted.

Think about it for a moment: If we had made something new and fun, we wouldn't hide it on a different website. We'd tell you all about it right here on www.runescape.com, like we did when we were working on RuneScape 2. So if you've found something that claims to be from us, but it's not mentioned on www.runescape.com or www.jagex.com then it is fake! We don't run secret websites.

If you see someone advertising a scam website in our game or forums, don't panic. You're safe so long as you don't visit the website. You can, however, help us by reporting them immediately, and we can take swift action to have their website removed by our Investigation Team.

If this happens in the game, please use the Report Abuse button at the bottom of your screen, selecting Rule 11: Advertising / website.

If the website is being advertised on our forums, please report it in the Forum Emergencies thread in the General forum, stating the thread's Quick-Find Code and the username of the player advertising the website. But don't post a copy of the website's address in the Forums Emergencies thread; that would help the scammers!

Thank you for your support. Happy holidays!

18 December 2006 - Cards, letters and area guides

The website gets a massive boost of Christmas cheer today, as we release all manner of lovely articles for your delight. First up, you can send RuneScape-themed Christmas cards to all your friends all across the globe. These cards have been designed to be printed out, folded, signed and sent to friends and family. With three fantastic designs, there's certain to be one that fits your needs. Postie Pete has been busily preparing himself for the season as he hops around RuneScape delivering letters and cards to everyone, and now he's had a chance to bring a few replies. Ever wondered what the graahks think about, or how Romeo got his cape? Read about all this and more in the latest Postbag from the Hedge. Reldo has finally rounded up the last of his roving researchers and the fruits of their labour are here with the last batch of the Area Guides. Now you can travel to Morytania, the Kharidian Desert, the Feldip Hills and Tirannwn with all the knowledge you need to make it home safely. And finally, we release a new batch of QuestHelps today. Now you can get all the help you need for Big Chompy Bird Hunting, Death Plateau, Garden of Tranquillity, Spirits of the Elid and Tears of Guthix. Remember, we're always adding quests to the QuestHelp system, so if you're stuck and we don't have it available yet, just keep checking back.

Christmas Update!

Bob’s bell rings, are you listening? In the land, rune is glistening - A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walking in a RuneScape wonderland. When it snows, ain't it thrilling? Find the kids, if you're willing - A pressie for me, and plant a new tree, walking in a RuneScape wonderland. Snow's fallen on Karamja Volcano and there have been some strange goings on. The childerkins of Musa Point have been childernapped and some say that the gublinch are to blame! Go and see Shanty Claws, the singing werewolf sailor, in order to get the details. You can find him on the small jetty just to the north-east of the Karamja volcano. If you do well, you'll be rewarded with a free to play festive hat. Additionally, if you are a member, you will get a seasonal tree to plant in your player owned house! In other news, the “trimmed” amulets from the new treasure trails are now appropriately marked with a (t) at the end of their object name. The Christmas update will be removed in the first update of January. However, the rewards for it will stay in the game. Until then, best wishes and festive cheer to all of you!

12 December 2006 - Players' Gallery - Christmas edition!

Postie Pete has been out gathering art again, and this time he's even managed to find a couple of seasonal Christmas pieces. The gallery is positively overflowing with cheer and merriment! Even the Wise Old Man is feeling the beginnings of a festive smile on his face.

For full appreciation of these Yuletide delights, Postie Pete has advised that you pour yourself a Guthix Rest, pull on some comfortable fancy boots and settle down to a selection that includes a comfortable dragon, the revenge of the Sandwich Lady and some comic encounters...

Don't forget to keep sending Postie Pete your artwork. He has become quite the art connoisseur these days, and has even taken to wearing a beret!

12 December 2006 - Animal Magnetism

Scientists in RuneScape's lands have always been a bit insane, with heroic sorts often dragged into the researchers' mad plans. Whether it has been Oddenstein turning assistants into chickens or Fenkenstrain making monsters from the sadly departed, their plans have never had much appeal to the common man. In these modern times, however, a new breed of scientist has emerged.

Professor Oddenstein's search for a reliable assistant continued after the affair of Ernest the Chicken and has finally been successful. Enter Ava, the newest inhabitant of Draynor Manor, now a proud resident of one of Draynor's most historic homes. She shows no interest in megalomaniacal plans and scoffs at persecuting hapless minions. Her living arrangements are free of unusual furniture and she has no strange pets. In fact, all she desires is a good night's sleep. She is not, however, without some signs of eccentricity. Not only is she looking for adventurers to help sort out her house, but she claims that animal magnetism may be in some way useful when wielding a bow...

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In other news...

The Cape of Legends developed a bug last week that caused it to display incorrectly if worn by a male character. Our team of highly skilled seamstresses has now restored the cape to its proper shape.

Players venturing into dark areas are now prevented from extinguishing their light sources. However this will not stop them being extinguished if something else tries to put them out, so be careful around underground rivers and giant moles!

The new dragonhide armour released with last week's new treasure trail rewards now has a level 40 defence requirement.

5 December 2006 - Treasure Trails, spiders and sheep

RuneScape players, dust off your spades, gather up your items and practice your emotes: new treasure trails are here! Emote-based treasure trails have been added to the types of trail available by the shifty-looking Uri and his team of agents. These will be dropped from now on amongst the existing clues you have grown to know and love. Uri's clues will tell you where to go, what to wear and which emote he wants to see you perform in order to advance the treasure trail.

If you're lucky, your reward may include some of the new items, such as elegant clothing, new versions of old amulets, shirts featuring Bob the cat, full helmets bearing the heraldry that adorns the kiteshields already available and composite bows. The luckiest players will be given items from the 3rd Age sets, which cover all combat styles and consist of level 65 armors whose stats justify the rarity of their appearance.

Are you feeling lucky? Read all about the new items, and get details on the emote trails in the knowledge base today! Everyone, get trailing!

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As you trek about the world searching for treasure, don't forget to pause and take a look at the creatures that have been updated. New, shiny, woolly and scuttley versions of sheep and spiders have appeared today with the aim of brightening up the landscape. The ogre city of Gu'Tanoth has also had a makeover, as have the Watchtower Wizards and the arcane machinery they guard. So whatever you do, don't forget to take time out from the digging and dancing to take a look!

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In other news...

The mighty Guthix, in his wisdom, has decided that it is now safe for his Tears to award Hunter XP to adventurers for whom that is their lowest skill.

A bug has been fixed that prevented players from moving for a moment after arriving on Entrana.

The Rock Golem random event has grown tired of sitting behind rocks and glaring at pesky human miners, and has started training his Ranged skill. He's now talented enough to chuck rocks at anyone who annoys him, so watch out for stony missiles when you're mining!

The special attack of the Granite Maul has had a bug fixed that was draining too much of players' special attack energy while only performing one attack if they accidentally double-clicked on the bar.

1 December 2006 - Behind the Scenes - December

This month, we will kick straight off with a new batch of treasure trails, featuring new challenges based on emotes and items to get you to that crucial next part of the trail. High level trails will require even more thought, but this batch will also come with a huge new set of more than 100 rewards, featuring composite bows, high level prayer gear and new high quality versions of old favourites, such as glory amulets. We're also going to release heraldic helms to go with your armour and some really rather glorious looking posh and emote-improving gear.

All this, and we haven’t even mentioned the utterly unmentionable Third Age items! Items that will be even more difficult to obtain than a Champions Scroll from a pesky imp! Items that will be more sparkling than a wizard's lucky bead! Items so... ahem. Well, we'll let you find that out for yourself.

Reldo and his Knowledge Base team will also be releasing more of the popular area guides to places like Tirannwn, Gu'Tanoth, Morytania, the Kharidian Desert and Ape Atoll, as well as updating some of the older quests to use the Quest Help system.

Speaking of quests, this month's adventure will be an archetypal damsel in distress quest. Sort of. Well, it's going to have a damsel in it, and she'll be in a spot of trouble... as anyone would be if they had taken up residence inside Draynor Manor. Will you stop by later this month to assist her with a rather poultry matter? Those who do are bound to find a use for her and her rather odd interpretation of Animal Magnetism.

We will also release a festive edition of the gallery, featuring some of your Christmassy submissions (keep sending them in), plus a few rather special comics. Naturally, Postie Pete's been especially busy preparing for the Christmas rush, but he tells us that he'll still be preparing another batch of letters for your yuletide enjoyment.

The ogres have been petitioning Bandos for a while for a new look fortress, and this December they will get it! He has agreed to give the city of Gu'Tanoth a lick of paint and a spot of spring cleaning, so keep your eyes peeled for a general area improvement of this mysterious, yet rather thuggish place.

And finally, the Christmas Update! This year, the little known Shanty Claws (the Sailor Werewolf) has heard terrible stories about evil activities underneath Karamja Volcano. Apparently children are going missing in the area, and for some strange reason, snow is predicted for the first time on this tropical island! What is really going on here? Are the TzHaar to blame, or is something more sinister up to some rather goblinny tricks? When this update is released later in the month, members and non-members alike will be welcome to join and earn a new seasonal object, and members will receive an additional treat for their player-owned houses.

We hope that your holiday breaks bring you happiness and celebrations, wherever you are!

28 November 2006 - Postbag from the Hedge

RuneScape's mail service is second to none, as many of you will know: Postie Pete goes about his job with a cheerful grin and many a joke on his, err, lips. He may only be a head with a bag and a hat, but no one knows how to get around the lands of RuneScape like Postie Pete.

He's been working hard again, and now he brings you the latest replies from such diverse characters as the Evil Chicken, Miss Schism, Burnt Meat the troll and Reldo. On top of that, he's even managed to snag another of the Wise Old Man's Wise Old Tips!

As always, Pete enjoys taking your letters into caves, houses, swamps and graveyards, so don't hesitate to put your quill to paper.

Click here to check out November's Postbag from the Hedge.