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26 August 2008 - All Fired Up

Increasingly concerned by Morytania mischief makers and invaders from the Wilderness, King Roald has a burning desire to increase homeland security. This has taken the form of a beacon network that will warn Varrock of invasion. The beacons have been built and firetenders have been assigned to look after them; the only problem is that they are yet to be tested – and that's where King Roald could use your pyromania...

After you learn the basics of lighting and maintaining the beacons in a sizzlingly short quest, you are free to use the beacons as you please. Why not challenge yourself and see how many beacons you can keep simultaneously alight? Rewards are in store for those who succeed, not to mention some Firemaking experience for flashy firetenders.

Summary
Where to start the All Fired Up quest:

Talk to King Roald in the Varrock Palace throne room.
Requirements to complete the All Fired Up quest:

Level 43 Firemaking
Priest in Peril
Access to:

A new way to train Firemaking
Some flaming-brilliant Firemaking rewards

In other news...

The level 86 Plank Make spell now has the option to skip the warning message when converting logs to planks. At this level, we feel that most players are aware that it costs money; so, after one cast, you can opt to turn the message off.

Various dyes have had their Grand Exchange price ranges adjusted to allow for a built-in 'delivery' cost. This compensates those players who have taken the time to gather dyes in larger quantities.

A new option has been added to allow the collection of Grand Exchange purchases in note form. Don't worry: you can still choose to take the objects directly, but for larger quantities this option should be cert-ifiably handy!

22 August 2008 - RuneScape in Guinness World Records!

RuneScape has entered the record books this week. The game has been recognised as the most popular free MMORPG in the world for the second year in a row, with a certificate awarded by Guinness World Records. That's one record that Usain Bolt didn't manage to get!

The presentation took place at the Leipzig Games Convention in Germany, where RuneScape has been showcasing RuneScape HD.

22 August 2008 - Jagex Store - Official Launch!

The Jagex Store has expanded to include a range of official RuneScape merchandise. If you visit it today, you'll find that it includes the following items:

* T-shirts
* Hoodies
* Mousemats
* A wireless optical mouse
* Mugs

None of these items are available anywhere else - they are exclusives to the Jagex Store. The official RuneScape novel, Betrayal at Falador, is also available from the store.

We have more merchandise planned for the near future, so keep an eye on the RuneScape front page for more announcements. We've even got some items in the pipeline that are based on your feedback!

Anyway, enough from us - get to the Jagex Store and check out the official accessories and apparel for yourself!

18 August 2008 - Wallie Card Update

We recently introduced a method of making direct payments using Wallie Cards for RuneScape. With the recent price increase, existing Wallie Card subscribers will be pleased to find out that they are able to keep paying a lower price. Wallie cards are available in lots of stores in the EU and Switzerland, and can be used for longer, multiple-month subscriptions.

18 August 2008 - Price Change - Starting Today

For players who create a new subscription, the monthly cost of RuneScape membership has increased 30p in the UK, $0.95 in the US and by similar amounts in other currencies. These are examples of credit card prices - all other payment types have been increased by a similar margin.

For a list of the new prices, please view the Billing Options page.

If you have an existing subscription, set up before the 18th August, then this price change will not affect you. You will continue to pay the lower price for as long as you keep your membership valid. As long as you do not allow your membership to lapse for more than two weeks (after the 18th of August), you will continue to pay at this lower RuneScape price.

We are also offering a 'loyalty' rate, for those of you who have paid at the slightly increased price for a long period. If you pay at the higher rate for 12 months (without a gap of more than 14 days) you will be offered the lower, $5 (£3.20) rate at the end of the year.

For those of you who pay by Surfpin or PaybyCash, there are some points to note due to the way your payments are made:

* If you make a payment at the lower price, but have an account that is charged at the higher price, then you will receive fewer days of credit.
* If you make a payment at the higher price, but have an account that is charged at the lower price, then you will receive more days of credit.

15 August 2008 - Future PvP Updates

The most frequent request we have received over the last few months has been to put more PvP back into the game. We want to let you know that this request hasn't gone unheard, and that we've put a lot of research into how we can introduce new PvP mechanisms. The aim is for PvP content that better replaces the old Wilderness, but without reintroducing RWT.

Hopefully, you’re already aware of the imminent Clan Wars release (see the September Behind the Scenes in a couple of weeks for more information), but there are also plans afoot for the most exciting and "old school" PvP update we have ever considered – unique PvP worlds.

As many of our long term players know, in the old RuneScape Classic days you could actually fight players just outside the gates of Lumbridge, before the days of duelling and even before the days of the old Wilderness itself. Players could hunt each other down, chasing them away from favourite resource points and generally "owning" large areas of the map.

So, in 2008, we will be bringing you special 'PvP worlds', where you can fight other players almost anywhere! In addition to all the usual content you might expect to find in RuneScape, they will also include:

* Optional sign-up – choose between PvP danger or stick to ordinary play by simply switching worlds.
* High danger with items dropped on death.
* High rewards for kills. To avoid any RWT issues the reward for a successful PK will be generated by the game, similar to when you kill a monster at the moment. We're creating generous drop tables based on factors like your levels and the impressiveness of the kill.
* These drop tables will include "PvP world specific" items like XP-modifying gear, lvl 70+ equipment and new, glorious, short-term but hard hitting gear. These will once again make PKing a viable source of income.
* PvP across 99% of the world, including the old Wilderness.
* Attack any player within a certain level of your own. Level range depends on the area, similar to the old Wilderness levels.
* ...And all sorts of other twists on interesting content... Just think of the possibilities when you can PK anywhere!

Naturally, we also have other PvP-orientated content, like Stealing Creation (a resource control game where skillers and PKers work together, creating equipment and beating up the opposition) and Mobilising Armies (a real-time strategy game where you use your hard made bows, swords, etc. to equip your own armies in 4-player battles).

Add all this to a healthy schedule of quests (featuring Arrav and the sequel to Spirit of Summer), holiday events and some unique puzzle content... and the rest of '08 has something for almost everyone.

Finally, we'd like to let you in on a little secret – we're currently working on our highest level, longest, most exciting quest ever. Not necessarily for launch in '08 (it's not something we want to rush, after all), it’s already had more development time than the entirety of "Recipe for Disaster"... but you’ll have to wait to find out more. We're adding secret hints and references all the time about this one, so if you need to know more, just look around! Leave no stone unturned....

14 August 2008 - Players' Gallery - Barrows Brothers

There's been a bit of a Barrows Brothers theme recently, with our wallpaper being followed by a Players' Gallery. If you like your warriors purple and ghostly, go here to see some ghoulish pictures.

12 August 2008 - Runecrafting Guild and Game - For All Players!

Ever since a brave adventurer rediscovered Runecrafting, mages from the Wizards' Tower have been working hard to figure out its intricacies. In fact, so many have been drawn to Runecrafting's secrets that a guild has formed.

Not everything is rosy and happy in the guild. An argument has raged over the magical reaction that creates rune stones: are green or yellow orbs more important in the process? Agree to resolve their conflict and you'll find yourself in our newest minigame, The Great Orb Project!

The purpose of this team-based minigame is very simple: collect more coloured orbs than the opposing team. Watch out, though, as they will be pushing your orbs out of the way to stop you winning. This frenetic minigame offers few rules and a great alternative to conventional Runecrafting - all with a range of rewards, of course. Expect rune essence, Runecrafting XP and new magical equipment if you wipe the floor with your opponents.

The Runecrafting Guild also offers a number of features that are not tied to the minigame. The rune altar map helpfully shows the location of all altars; one mad wizard has learned how to repair abyssal pouches; and the head of the guild is working on a marvellous omni-talisman that combines the powers of all existing talismans into one.

Note that the guild is available to both free players and members - the Runecrafters want all the help they can get!

Summary
Where to find the Runecrafting Guild:

The guild can be accessed through a portal, upstairs in the Wizards' Tower.
Requirements to access the Runecrafting Guild and minigame:

Level 50 Runecrafting
Rune Mysteries
The guild is available on F2P, but some individual features are for members only
Access to:

A new guild
A fast-paced, team-vs-team Runecrafting minigame - The Great Orb Project
Various new items for runecrafters, including a new outfit

In other news...

Beyond the Runecrafting Guild, this update brings you a few small things that should make your lives easier...

Kazgar, Mistag and Dartog have been given right-click options so you can quickly ask them to guide you through the Lumbridge Swamp Caves. Elkoy, the guide from the Tree Gnome Village maze, has been given a similar option.

When you previously right-clicked on a chat message from another player, you were always offered the option to 'Add friend' and 'Add ignore'. If that player was already on your Friends list, those options weren't very useful, so we've replaced them with a new 'Message' option. This is identical to what would happen if you clicked on your friend in your Friends List. (This is not available on Quick Chat-only worlds.)

Tai Bwo Wannai village welcomes its newest arrival, Imiago. If you've completed Jungle Potion, he'll be willing to protect your calquat trees from disease in exchange for eight poison ivy berries.

The gardeners who protect bush patches have always demanded payment to look after poison ivy bushes. It's been pointed out on the Forums that poison ivy bushes never get diseased anyway, so the gardeners no longer offer to look after them.

We've also fixed the following bugs:

* Treasure Trail sliding puzzle boxes were getting stuck, making them impossible to complete.
* The roof of the Grand Exchange was failing to disappear correctly when you stood underneath it. Similar bugs were affecting the front of Varrock Palace and bits of the Warriors Guild.
* The Amulet of Catspeak was incorrectly positioned on female characters.
* The Amulet of Fury was not rendering correctly with the Bandos chestplate on male characters.
* If you wore a blue snelm, your chathead was appearing yellow.
* The 3D models for skillcapes were using too many polygons, resulting in bizarre graphical glitches. They have now been remodelled to resolve this problem; their appearance is largely unchanged, but you may notice some slight changes.
* Mud pies were positioned incorrectly when you wielded them.
* Flared trousers were rendering incorrectly with most boots.
* The 'fine shirt' base kit had a glitch affecting the neck area on male characters.
* The mind tiara was missing part of its model.
* Baba Yaga's hair was clipping through her hat.
* The progress hats from the Mage Training Arena were not rendering correctly with players' hair.
* Radimus Erkle, master of the Legends' Guild, had a rendering problem with his cape.
* The obsidian cape was rendering incorrectly with certain tops.
* Bogrog was checking for the wrong Summoning level when players tried to exchange praying mantis pouches for shards.
* Trimmed chaps and Wilderness capes were rendering incorrectly on female characters.
* The mime mask and zombie mask items were displaying incorrectly during dialogue.
* Players could walk through a rope barrier in the Varrock Museum.

8 August 2008 - Wallie Subscriptions

This week, we have released a new method of making Wallie payments. You can now make payments directly to Wallie instead of using PayByCash. This means that we can offer a faster and easier payment process when paying for RuneScape using Wallie.

You can still make Wallie payments using the PayByCash payment option; however, you may find that your subscription works out cheaper if you pay directly to Wallie, especially on longer subscriptions. In the future, we hope to offer an even lower price with Wallie Card.

Wallie direct payments are available in Mexico and most of Europe.

Wallie cards can be purchased from local stores or from the Wallie website. They can then be redeemed on www.runescape.com by selecting 'Upgrade Your Account' on the RuneScape front page (under the 'Account' drop-down menu) and following the prompts for using the Wallie Card payment method.

5 August 2008 - Resizable Game Window

Resizable Game Window

We have introduced a new and optional way of viewing RuneScape HD: a resizable game window. This feature is available to both free players and members.

The new feature will adjust your RuneScape HD game window to fit the size of your browser. So, if you expand or maximise your browser, your game window will expand too, filling all of the available space. If you reduce the size of your browser, your game window will reduce with it.

This feature is completely optional. You may activate or deactivate it via the Graphics Options, either on the login screen or in-game (accessed via the spanner icon).

The resizable game window is only available for RuneScape HD. It is not available for the RuneScape version of the game.

How does this differ from fullscreen?

The main difference is that fullscreen will completely fill your screen. It will do so if your browser is minimised, maximised or anywhere inbetween. The resizable feature allows you to view the RuneScape game at whatever size you want - just reduce or increase the size of your browser and the game window will follow.

When playing RuneScape HD using the resizable game window, your interfaces will be arranged in the manner as fullscreen mode. This means that your tabs will be arranged across the bottom of the game screen.

Unlike fullscreen, the resizable game window is available to both free players and members.

Note: If you have a slow computer and you make the resizable window very large, you may find the game slows down a bit. If this happens, just make the window a bit smaller or, if you prefer, turn it off using the Graphics Options menu.

5 August 2008 - Meeting History

Having helped Jorral in Making History, it's time to pay him another visit in Meeting History. He's been busy digging around old and dusty manuscripts and has come across a set of interesting notes about the Enchanted Key; so, with the 'hot and cold' key in hand, get ready to discover another of its bizarre abilities! You can guarantee that it'll give you a greater insight into the past of RuneScape.

Many questions will be answered as part of this sequel to Making History.

Summary
Where to start Meeting History:

Speak to Jorral in the Outpost, north-west of West Ardougne.
Requirements to complete Meeting History:

Making History
Druidic Ritual
Access to:

A new area to explore
The chance to understand more of RuneScape's early history

In other news...

Our Graphics team has been busily fixing bugs again, including the following:

* The Grim Reaper hood from 2007's Hallowe'en event was causing your head to disconnect from your neck
* The Amulet of Fury was looking different depending on whether you were male or female
* Armoured skirts were stretching if you used the bone crossbow
* The Wilderness Agility Course stepping stones weren't very well aligned with their lava pit.
* The roof in the Burgh de Rott shop wasn't disappearing, even if your Graphics Options said it should.

We've also adjusted Commander Zilyana's behaviour in the God Wars Dungeon, so she's less inclined to wander aimlessly in the middle of the room while people shoot her from the edges.

Monster Database And Item Database Now Available

Yes that is indeed correct. It's partially the reason that I haven't emailed you guys for so long. I've been getting monster and item details from a ton of people and resources (Mainly email submissions from you guys and other contributors) and then I've paid a few coders a nice some of cash to put it all into a unique and readable database.

I'm still working on the images at the moment and there's not a lot of descriptive data about each individual monster or item, HOWEVER, the very clever thing that I've had done, that no other fansite has ever done before EVER, is linked the monster database AND item database together.

This means that if there's an item that you want to get a mass amount of and you want to find out which monsters drop it, it's VERY easy. Just search for the item in the item database and it will also show you a list of monsters that drop that item. Farming for items has never been so easy ;)

There's loads of things I plan to integrate into those databases to make them even more useful and fun to use, such as visually displaying to locations of all monsters and items.

When that next update comes, I'll let you know right away. It cost me a lot of money to get up so far, so I hope you enjoy it :)

It's an on-going project that eventually all members will be able to help with, everything needs more detail and images, I'll let you know when you can help if you want to.

1 August 2008 - Behind the Scenes - August

Upcoming updates (planned for August)

It's pretty hard to imagine the first days of RuneScape. For a start, there were no monsters, no Zamorak and no god wars, which would imply that RuneScape was a breeze. Surely you could just wake up, have a cup of tea with Guthix and settle down for some farming. Easy peasy, right?

Erm, no. The first quest of this month, Meeting History, will reveal the struggles that the first settlers faced on RuneScape. This sequel to Making History will encourage you to get more hands-on in your research of the past, giving you insights into the world's quiet beginnings and its harsh realities. It will even divulge the beginnings of magic and strange objects called 'runes'.

Man's knowledge of magic and runes has come on leaps and bounds from the time of Meeting History. Just take a peek at the next release: the Runecrafting Guild!

In the guild, wizards will be bent over books, trying desperately to unlock the secrets of Runecrafting. How is a rune made? Why are yellow and green orbs released when the reaction occurs? For Runecrafting scholars, these questions pale in comparison with the following: which is more significant - green orbs or yellow orbs? For years arguments have raged on, and two wizards will be creating something that'll end the debate once and for all: the Great Orb Project!

The Great Orb Project will be a fun minigame for two opposing teams who have been given one simple task: collect more orbs than the other team. Only problem is, your opponents will do all they can to stop you winning - including pushing your orbs away before you can get to them! This fast-paced and manic minigame will offer you a great alternative for training your Runecrafting, with minimal fuss, tutorials or complex rules.

Not content with updating one skill this month, we've decided to reignite Firemaking too. In Varrock, King Roald has become increasingly wary of the evil eyes casting greedy looks at his city, so he'll be taking precautions: fourteen warning beacons, running from the River Salve to the western end of the Wilderness. The problem is, no one will be available to test them out, so - surprise, surprise - you'll become the most suitable candidate.

So begins All Fired Up, a sizzling new quest that acts as a simple and very short tutorial for beacon lighting. What can you do with large cauldrons full of sticks, you may ask? Well, your task, if you should choose to accept it, will be to light as many as possible at one time, offering you an entertaining and alternative method for training your Firemaking - oh, and the rewards will make you the toast of firemakers everywhere...

Behind the Scenes of the Behind the Scenes:

In the coming months, we'll be making some changes to the Behind the Scenes, offering you a more attractive look and a better idea of upcoming content. So, if you'd like a tour of what we've got in store, please read on...

The first change is screenshots. Instead of just telling you about our updates, we'll be bringing you images of them in glorious technicolour - and in RuneScape HD, of course.

We've also got plans to hint about future content, outside of the month's releases. The 'glimpse of the future' section will include handpicked updates that excite us, and that you'll be excited about too. So, what better way of getting you used to this new feature than producing one for this Behind the Scenes?

Glimpse of the Future (Updates in development and planned for later than August)

One update that just missed this month's Behind the Scenes was the Clan Wars update. This is a priority for us, and we'll be releasing it as soon as we feel it is ready, featuring bucketloads of new arenas and game options, plus two 'free-for-all' PVP battlegrounds where you can fight in any way you please. Check out the preview of the Clan Wars setup screen below...

The minigame additions don't just end with Clan Wars: PvP fans will be pleased to know that there are three PvP minigames planned, all coming in the last few months of the year! If you're more interested in single-player content, however, you can expect a range of updates to keep you busy. One we can mention now: the concluding part of the Spirit of Summer series will be released at the end of the Summer, and it'll be throwing some pretty daunting obstacles in your way.

There's room in the Behind the Scenes for your ideas too, so please feel free to suggest features, articles and additions on the Forums. If your ideas are good enough, you may see them in the larger and improved Behind the Scenes, coming soon!

31 July 2008 - Wallpaper - Barrows Brothers

The Barrows Brothers, six of the most feared undead creatures on RuneScape, were not always the incarnations of evil that they are now. Once, they were the mightiest of Saradomin's warriors, their fall orchestrated by a mysterious stranger who visited them in the night, bestowing on them powerful gifts that began to corrupt their pure souls.

Even as the darkness within them grew, they fought on into the heart of Morytania. Our latest wallpaper shows them on the eve of their final battle with the darkness of the east - a battle that took their souls...

31 July 2008 - Christmas Poll Results

It’s time for the Poll Orks to take a well-earned rest. They’ve been working overtime to make sure that your votes are counted in time. Thank you to everyone that voted in the Guaranteed Content – Christmas 2008 poll. The options were a combination of our own wintery ideas and some excellent suggestions from you, with every event idea having plenty of supporters. These are the winning options that will be making it into December's event:

Christmas Event - Winner:

Jack Frost has an evil plan. Can you get to him before he covers the whole of RuneScape with ice? – You will need a cool head to foil Jack Frost’s sub-zero plans for Gielinor this Christmas.

Christmas Format - Winner:

A quest is the most popular format for the holiday event this Christmas, so, expect to do some adventuring!

Christmas Rewards - Winner:

It’s been a close race for the top three reward options. The winner is a Santa suit so, if you successfully complete the Christmas quest, you will be rewarded with a cosy costume to warm you up.

Christmas Emote - Winner:

It’s been an even closer race between the top two emote options! What’s clear is that the vast majority of you want to see your character become more than a little bit frosty. The winning option is 'turning into snow and melting'!

The Poll Orks don’t have a very long break, as we have a brand new poll for you to vote in. There’s an opportunity for you to imagine how different life could be in this week's Living in RuneScape poll.

29 July 2008 - Spirit of Summer

Stuck on a different plane, parallel to the Wilderness, itself a long walk from any RuneScape city or town, one family has gone a long time without even seeing a human being. That doesn't mean they don't need your help, however, as the time has come to leave the homestead and move to pastures new.

This magical story calls for you to befriend a loving family, find some essentials for their journey and reunite the daughter with some misplaced possessions. You'll be able to explore a previously unexplored realm and even take a glimpse into the imagination of a little girl.

Needless to say, some hurdles will need overcoming if you and the family are to reach the destination and claim your reward. Some family members are less than communicative with outsiders and their only neighbour is understandably unhappy about them leaving. It shouldn't be a problem for an adventurer with your experience...right?

Summary
Where to start Spirit of Summer:

Seek out the young girl outside of the ruins, east of Bounty Hunter and north of Varrock.
Requirements to complete Spirit of Summer:

Level 40 Construction
Level 26 Farming
Level 35 Prayer
Level 19 Summoning
The Restless Ghost
Ability to survive in the Wilderness
Access to:

A new realm for you to explore
New areas for Combat and Woodcutting

29 July 2008 - Item Lending Update

Over the last couple of weeks, many players have been using the Item Lending system to lend out items for profit. That's not really what we designed the system to achieve; it was intended to be a simple way for players to once again share objects with their friends. Since some players seem so keen to rent out their valuable items, though, we've adjusted the system to let them do it safely.

Instead of 'using' your items on the borrowing player, you should send them a trade request. This will open the trade screen, where you can right-click on an item and choose to 'Lend' it.

Once you've offered the item for loan, it will be visible to both players in the trade offer screen, within the 'Loan' box. A button will appear underneath the item, allowing you to choose the duration of the loan. Your trade-partner can then offer to pay you or lend you another item in return. Of course, you can still offer to lend an item without receiving anything in return.

Item Lending does not affect your trade limits if you are lending or receiving an item for nothing in return. Your trade limits will be affected, however, if something is offered in return for the lent item.

Do remember: If you borrow an item 'until logout', its owner might log out or take it back at ANY time, so you should be cautious about paying for this kind of service.

In other news...

We've been busy again, fixing a number of graphical or minor bugs that you may have spotted. Read on for a few of the more noticeable changes included in this update.

There have been a few additions and modifications to the bank this week; most notably, we have added the 'Withdraw All-But-1' option, so you can leave placeholder items with ease. The bank's scrollbar speed has also been increased, so you can get to your items faster.

On a slightly different note, you can now retrieve your lent items from the wandering bankers that are typically found outside minigames like Fist of Guthix or Bounty Hunter.

Players can now take the Summoning skillcape into Bounty Hunter. It seems this latest skillcape wasn't permitted, so Bounty Hunter has been adjusted to bring it in line.

When playing in HD fullscreen mode, you now have the option to hide the chatbox. The tabs below it will still flash when you've been sent a message by a friend or someone requests to trade with you etc, so you shouldn't miss anything!

25 July 2008 - RuneScape Novel Released!

The RuneScape novel - Betrayal at Falador - has been officially released and is available for you all to purchase! Go to the Jagex Store to grab your own piece of RuneScape history. If you took the opportunity to pre-order the novel from our brand new Jagex Store, you can expect to curl up on the sofa with it very soon.

We have also drawn the Betrayal at Falador prize winners. Ten lucky people have been notified that they have won a RuneScape novel signed by TS Church, Andrew Gower, Paul Gower, Jagex CEO Geoff Iddison and the cover artist.

This competition was open to anyone who pre-ordered Betrayal at Falador from the Jagex Store.

24 July 2008 - Postbag from the Hedge

This month in Postbag from the Hedge, you'll be able to find out why Evil Bob kidnaps people, what Tarn Razorlor thinks of tea and the Chaos Elemental's opinion of RuneScape HD.

There is even a kebbit risotto recipe, for those wanting to improve their real-life Cooking level.

22 July 2008 - Two More Weeks of RuneScape at Lower Price!

When RuneScape HD launched early this month, we released a newspost about the planned price change for new subscribers. We would like to remind you of that price change.

For new subscribers becoming members on or after the 18th August, the monthly cost of RuneScape membership will increase by 30p in the UK, $0.95 in the US and by similar amounts in other currencies. These examples are of increases on credit card prices - all other payment types will increase by a similar margin.

If you have an existing subscription (or you set up a subscription before the 18th August) this price change will not affect you. You will continue to pay the lower price for as long as you keep your membership valid.

If you are an existing member and you allow your membership to lapse for more than two weeks (after the 18th of August), you will be charged the new rate when you re-subscribe.

You may have noticed that the date of the price increase has changed from the 4th to the 18th of August. We have delayed the date to allow new and free players more time to take advantage of our lower membership cost. So, if you're a free player who is considering signing up to the larger, regularly-updated and fullscreen members' game, then click here to find out how to subscribe at this lower rate.

17 July 2008 - Players' Gallery

The Gallery is back with another selection of fine images received by Postie Pete.

This month he's decided to bring you a wide selection of styles, from pencils to pastels, charcoal to chainmail. There's even an impressive world map for those who get lost on the roads of RuneScape.

14 July 2008 - Bank Update and Item Lending

Bank Update:

To help you with some belated Spring cleaning, we have introduced a few changes to your bank. Tabs and search functions are here to help clear the mess!

Up to eight separate tabs can be created to organise your bank. To create a new tab, simply drag and drop an item from the main bank tab (marked with an infinity symbol) to the tab marked with a '+'. Once a new one is created, you can move items into and out of it. For easy identification, each tab has its own icon, which it takes from the item that sits in the first slot of that tab. Of course, the use of tabs is entirely optional; you can choose not to use any and simply leave your items stored in the main bank inventory as normal.

No matter how immaculately organised your bank is, everyone has difficulties finding items from time to time; thankfully, the bank rework has a solution in the form of a search function. Clicking the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the interface, you can type in a word or part of it ('shield' for example) and the bank will list all of those items that include it (for example 'Round shield' or 'Black kiteshield'). This feature will make organising your items into tabs a breeze, since you can drag items into existing or new tabs from the search results view.

We have added a counter in the top-right hand corner of the interface, which allows you to keep track of how much bank space you are currently using. We have also given you the ability to repeatedly withdraw/deposit the number of items you last entered using Deposit-x/Withdraw-x.

Finally, thanks should go to everyone who suggested bank ideas on the Forums - you came up with so many of the ideas that went into this update.

Item Lending:

This week's update also brings you a new way to help your friends. With the Item Lending system, you can lend out a wide range of handy items, including many of RuneScape's best weapons and armour. Once the loan is over, you can retrieve your stuff by speaking to a banker.

How do I lend out an item?

Use the item on a friend who has Accept Aid turned on. You'll be asked how long you're willing to let them keep the item (any number of hours from 1 to 24). Make your choice, and wait while they consider your kind offer.

What can I lend?

Visit the Knowledge Base article here for the full list.

Where does the item go when my friend's finished with it?

Speak to a banker. When you've lent out an item, they'll have a chat option for seeing your Returned Items box. This is where your item will be.

Suppose I borrow armour from my friend, and it goes back to them while I'm wearing it in combat! I might die!

When you borrow an item, you'll be told how long you can keep it. You should make sure you're not depending on the item at the time when the loan is due to expire. Remember, if you agreed that the item would be returned to its owner when one of you logs out, they might log out or claim it back at any time, so be careful.

What happens if I lend someone an item and they drop it, trade it, alch it or die with it?

They won't be allowed to trade it or alch it. If they drop it, you'll still be able to get it back at the end of the loan period by speaking to a banker and asking to see your Returned Items box.

If your friend does die while they've got your stuff, the borrowed item will be protected over anything else they've got, so it'll be one of the three (or four) items they keep on death.

If they do end up losing the item on death, such as because they're skulled, you'll still be able to get it back from a banker in the usual way. They won't be allowed to take the item into Bounty Hunter.

I've borrowed an item for a fixed period, but I want to give it back early. Can I?

Sorry, technical limitations prevent us from returning items early if they've been lent out for a fixed period. You're welcome to discard the item, though. Its owner will get it back at the end of the loan period.

Are there plans to add any more items to Item Lending?

We intend to add more objects to the list of lendable items in the future. Our plan is to read your feedback and highlight those items that you would like to lend to each other.

14 July 2008 - Three Cheers for Lumbridge!

New Tutorial:

Since we first released the tutorial, a huge amount has been added to the game. New content, extra skills, new-look interfaces: all of these combine to make the old tutorial seem a little outdated. So, we've gone back to the drawing board and completely reworked it: from the creation of your character right through to your first explorations of RuneScape.

No longer will new players be trapped on an island; instead, they will be introduced to something similar to a quest involving a White Knight whose actions will decide the fate of Lumbridge. It seems that there are more than just goblins in the caves beneath Lumbridge, and a budding adventurer is required to assist the White Knight, learning a few things while they're at it.

All players will receive a Quest Point for completing the tutorial, whether they completed the old tutorial or the new tutorial (and any content with a Quest Point requirement will be raised as a result). Also, all players can collect two experience lamps, worth 200xp each, whether they completed the old or new tutorial. These can be found by chatting to Sir Vant, beneath the house to the north-east of Lumbridge Castle.

Lumbridge Moneymaking:

Following a lengthy seminar about industry and trade, the Skill Tutors and other Lumbridge locals have become much more commercially minded. Having noticed the swathes of inexperienced adventurers who pass through Lumbridge, they've decided to employ them to help supply all manner of items.

This means that, in return for completing their tasks, players can receive a modest, but prompt, payment. So, if you are reasonably low-leveled and your money is running low, the people of Lumbridge will help you to recover your finances - in return for a little hard work.

Lumbridge and Draynor Village Achievement Diary:

Explorer Jack, famed wanderer of RuneScape, has taken a much needed rest in Lumbridge. Instead of putting his feet up, however, he's encouraging a new generation of explorers. Visit him in the house north-east of Lumbridge Castle to begin achieving.

There are Beginner, Easy and Medium tasks in the Lumbridge and Draynor Achievement Diary, but no 'Hard' tasks. Lumbridge is, after all, a beginner's town, so the tasks can be completed by all but the newest of players. The rewards are aimed for everyone to appreciate, though!

In other news...

Every week we receive thousands of abuse reports on the subject of Rule 10: Misuse of Customer Support. Often, these are from players reacting to reports made against them, with only 1% showing any evidence of a broken rule. Since we can identify those who break Rule 10 ourselves, we have decided to remove the option to report players for Rule 10: Misuse of Customer Support. The rule itself will not be removed or changed and we will continue to take the appropriate action against those who break it.

9 July 2008 - Jagex Store and RuneScape Novel

In the coming months, you can expect a lot from the Jagex Store. Plans are afoot to bring you a range of RuneScape merchandise to buy, including many that you voted for in the 'Shop till you Drop' poll.

One of these items is available for pre-order now: the first ever official RuneScape novel, Betrayal at Falador by T.S. Church. This fantasy epic opens with the discovery of a mysterious woman, found close to death within the walls of Falador Castle. Sir Amik and the White Knights are determined to reveal the identity of her attacker, thought to be a monster seen attacking travellers on the outskirts of Asgarnia. The question is: can the monster really be the blacksmith Doric, newly arrived from Keldagrim?

This Limited Edition hardback is available for pre-order now, and will be released on the 21st of July. Visit the Jagex Store to find out more, and keep an eye out for more news on available RuneScape merchandise.

7 July 2008 - Behind the Scenes - July

It really is the most impossible of impossible missions: how do you follow the graphical improvement of an entire game? Have a nap for a month or two? Boogie with Party Pete? Go on holiday to Brimhaven? Well, we've taken a different approach, following RuneScape High Detail with some updates that have been anticipated for a very long time...

Take your bank, for example. Many players have called for a better way of managing it, to help sort and organise the mess of herbs, long forgotten quest objects and holiday items. So, this month we will be adding a few features, the most prominent of which will be a new tabbing structure. This will allow you to order your bank according to categories that you define: you could gather your runes together on one tab, for example, and food on another. There will also be a search button and extra options for banking and removal that will aid you when moving quantities of items about.

'Moving items about' leads us neatly to our second anticipated feature: Item Lending. This superb service will allow free players and members to use their own wealth for the benefit of their companions by lending them handy items, powerful weapons, valuable armour and a few fancy hats too. Only one item will be lendable at any time, for a number of hours up to and including 24 hours, or until either of you log out. More information on release!

It's at this point in the month that we look back with rose-tinted glasses and get a little nostalgic. Do you remember your first days in RuneScape: leisurely wandering round Tutorial Island, making bread, catching fish and firing arrows at rats from behind a fence? Good times! A wind of change has been blowing about Tutorial Island, however, and it's brought a whiff of danger with it...

The next update will move the Tutorial from Tutorial Island to a quarantined Lumbridge, where a three-headed dragon will be terrorising people and generally being a nuisance. Luckily for the citizens, a passing White Knight, Sir Vant, will be on hand to hold back the beast. Far from being able to handle the situation on his own, he'll be after a willing adventurer to keep him supplied and do a spot of fighting.

The new Tutorial will be more quest-like and exciting, giving players a reason to create a new character and give it a go. If that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, any player will be able to collect the new Tutorial's reward - two experience lamps - whether they have completed it or not.

The Tutorial is not the only planned improvement to Lumbridge. There will be the Lumbridge Achievement Diary, packed with Beginner, Easy and Medium tasks. High-level players will have no trouble completing these assignments, but there are certainly some interesting rewards to be had. Be prepared to craft, mine, explore and tan your way to success!

You thought Lumbridge was only for learning the ropes, respawning and chefs with cake issues? Well, you'll find that there's more to the running of Lumbridge than meets the eye, as a number of NPCs will be looking to employ hard-working and diligent low/mid-level players with their day-to-day tasks. Deliveries need to be made, goblins killed and resources gathered, all in the name of a decent wage.

Our final update this month will be a first for RuneScape: a Wilderness quest. You'd be forgiven for thinking that means relentless combat, stark landscapes and the odd revenant sending you back to Lumbridge (to complete some Achievement Diary tasks, perhaps?); rather unusually, it centres on a small girl, who will have other ideas.

Beginning in the Wilderness but then moving to a parallel realm, Spirit of Summer will require you to meet the young girl's family and prepare them for their first holiday in decades. There's the small issue of a neighbour who's reluctant to let the family leave, but you've dealt with larger problems before, right? A charming adventure awaits, with a few surprises thrown in.

Less of a surprise will be the website updates. The traditional Players' Gallery and Postbag from the Hedge will be on hand, with a wallpaper that shows some RuneScape favourites in a different light.

So, you thought July was only about the graphical updates? It would seem that RuneScape has other ideas...

4 July 2008 - RuneScape HD Beta Round-Up

Compatibility with your computers:

So that RuneScape HD can be played by as many players as possible, we have released some FAQs. These are available to help those who are having trouble loading RuneScape HD. Today we have updated them with some of the more commonly asked questions:

- I am getting a black screen which says my graphics card is not good enough, but I know it is good enough and I have updated to the latest drivers. What can I do?

- My computer seems to be encountering hardware conflicts; what should I do?

- Help, I am receiving the following error message “Error_loader_savefile - Unable to save to cache.

You can visit the FAQs to find out the answers to these questions.

You can also visit the Technical Support Forums to receive help from players who have experienced similar issues.
Graphical Improvements:

RuneScape HD is at a Beta stage, so your feedback is important to us. In many cases the feedback will lead to changes; for example, you pointed out that male characters' midriffs look larger than they should when seen through clothing. We plan to do something about this very soon.

We are looking to make a series of changes based on your feedback, so you may expect other differences over the coming weeks. Keep leaving feedback in the Forums!

1 July 2008 - RuneScape HD - Members-Only Beta Launch

RuneScape has been reworked and now looks better than ever! If you are a member, you will be able to access this update by following the directions below. If you are a free player, you can expect to be playing RuneScape HD as soon as the Beta period is over. Free players who select RuneScape HD will receive a preview of the new graphics, meaning they can see how it runs on their machines, but will be unable to play in it.

NOTE - this is a live Beta. This means that if you lose or win an item, die or gain experience, it is for real - the effects will remain on your account even after the Beta period is over. Please do not throw away items thinking that you will get them back after the Beta period.

Playing RuneScape HD:

You will notice that the website has been given a fresh lick of paint, but your path to the game remains as simple as before. Click 'Play RuneScape' on the new RuneScape front page to get to the Detail Select page. Then click the right-hand button, 'RuneScape High Detail', to select the new version. Finally, choose your world, and then start playing.

To play RuneScape HD, your computer will need the following system specifications:

* 1.5 GHz processor or higher
* 256MB of RAM or more
* 64MB 3D Graphics card, such as Nvidia(R) GeForce(TM) 3 or above
* Sun Java 1.4 or higher

Once the game has loaded, you can use the in-game Graphics Options menu, within your Options tab (the one with the spanner), to further increase or decrease your level of detail. You can also change them on the log in screen. So, if you are experiencing slowdown, try reducing the number of graphical features.

The new fullscreen mode can also be toggled on or off in the in-game Options tab or the log in screen.

When you have set your preferred graphics options, your settings will be remembered as the default every time you log in on that machine. You may change these graphics options at any point.

If you have further questions, or are having trouble playing RuneScape HD, please visit the FAQS, found here.

Playing in the old detail modes:

To access the old High or Low Detail modes, click the left-hand 'RuneScape' button on the Detail Select page. This option manages to be both the old detail modes, rolled into one! You will be able to use the in-game Graphics Options menu to choose the exact level of detail you wish to play in. If you turn everything to minimum you get the old Low Detail mode, and if you turn everything to maximum you get the old High Detail mode.

1 July 2008 - Price changes for new subscribers

For new subscribers becoming members on or after the 4th August, the monthly cost for a RuneScape subscription will increase 30p in the UK, $0.95 in the US and by similar amounts in other currencies. These are examples of the credit card prices - all other payment types will be increasing by a similar margin. If you are an existing member, or you subscribe before the 4th August, this price change will not affect you, as long as you keep your membership valid.

If you are an existing member and you allow your membership to lapse for more than two weeks (after the 4th of August), you will be charged the new rate when you re-subscribe.

RuneScape subscription costs have not changed since RuneScape memberships started in 2002, over 6 years ago! Inflation and exchange rates mean we are having to adjust our prices slightly.

1 July 2008 - New Website and Much More...

As if launching RuneScape HD wasn't big enough on its own, we have released several other updates at the same time! These include a reworked website, several city improvements and a new world map.

The New Website:

For most people, the first improvement they encounter will be the new RuneScape website. You will notice that the links on the left side of the front page have gone, replaced with tabs across the top of the page that drop-down to reveal their contents. These have been grouped together according to subject, making your chosen section easy to find. The path through to play the game remains the same as before.

In-Game Improvements:

Aside from RuneScape HD, we have made several graphical updates that also affect the old detail modes. A deep breath is needed here: three of the largest cities in RuneScape - Al Kharid, Lumbridge and Ardougne - have been reworked to give them a new, improved look; Castle Wars has been given a fresh lick of paint; your teleport animations and your emotes should now be more impressive; and the fires of RuneScape have an improved, crackling flame.

World Map Integration:

To make RuneScape easier to navigate, we have introduced an in-game world map. At the simple press of the globe icon in the top-right of your screen, next to the minimap, you are able to view your position in the world and see where you want to go, without opening any separate windows.

In Other News:

The Behind the Scenes for July will be released at the start of next week. We have some other great things planned for this month, but we do not wish to distract you from the graphical updates just yet.

A vital change has been made to purple sweets. An issue with their scripting meant that they could keep a player alive forever, which is certainly not what we intended! The purple sweets are now back to normal.

19 June 2008 - PayByPhone for Netherlands and Belgium

We are pleased to announce that the PayByPhone payment service is now available to both the Netherlands and Belgium. If you live in one of these countries and would like to subscribe using this method, please access the Account Management section of our website.

If you are not from the Netherlands or Belgium, you may still be able to pay using this simple and accessible payment option. Please check the Account Management section to find out if you are eligible to pay by PayByPhone in your country of residence.

18 June 2008 - FunOrb - Arcanists Update

As RuneScape applies the final touches to the upcoming graphical improvement, the FunOrb team have been busy revamping their most popular game. The free to play and multiplayer game 'Arcanists' has now received a large chunk of new content.

They have created some new maps to master, including one that takes its cues from Mos Le'Harmless. More spells are on offer, including two new spellbooks - Sea and Nature - while familiars have been introduced, which could turn current Arcanist tactics on their head.

With more Achievements to unlock and awards to obtain, there's plenty new to play in Arcanists.

FunOrb is a website created by Jagex, makers of RuneScape, which offers a diverse selection of games for you try out and play for free.

16 June 2008 - Development Diary and System Specifications

In the first Development Diary on our graphical improvements, we showed you the results of textures, texture blending, shadows and fog. In this, the second and final Development Diary on the release, we shine a light on the other effects we have been using.

Minimum specifications:

To play RuneScape's new detail level you will need:

* 1.5 GHz processor or higher
* 256MB of RAM or more
* 64MB 3D Graphics card, such as Nvidia(R) GeForce(TM) 3 or above

Additionally, your graphics card should have the latest drivers installed, to ensure the new detail level plays with no problems.

If you need more information on your computer's specifications or how to update your graphical drivers, visit our Tech Support Forum in the RuneScape Forums.

When the graphical improvement is released, you will be able to increase or decrease the number of graphical features that are activated. This will be done in your in-game 'Options' menu (the one with the spanner icon). So, any problems playing the new detail mode may be lessened by reducing the number of graphical features that are activated.

We would advise that your computer exceeds the above requirements, so you will be able to play the new detail mode without any issues.

REMINDER - The existing Low and High Detail will still be available, as the graphical update is completely optional.

11 June 2008 - Rocking Out

There are many mysteries of the seas - hidden treasures, ghostly ships, pirate fashion - but few are as intriguing as the tale of Rabid Jack. Revered by a few, feared by many, his name is known by virtually all that sail the seas.

The problem is, no pirate is willing to talk of Rabid Jack. Whether out of terror or a determination to keep his history hidden, the pirates have taken an oath of silence on the subject: particularly annoying for any adventurer who wants to send Rabid Jack to a watery grave.

All is not lost, however, as one pirate has been given charge of the secret. Is it as easy as walking up and talking to him? Arrr, you should know better than that, landlubber! The pirate resides in 'The Rock' - an island prison for brigands and buccaneers - and he seems reluctant to pass on information without some assurances.

Needless to say, the path to your goal is a windy one, with some interesting stops on the way. Your path may even cross with the strong-arm of the Customs Office, some pirate implings and a multi-purpose seagull...

Summary
Where to start Rocking Out:

Speak to Bill Teach in Mos Le'Harmless or Port Phasmatys
Requirements to complete Rocking Out:

Level 60 Agility
Level 63 Thieving
Level 66 Crafting
Level 69 Smithing
The Great Brain Robbery
Access to:

A new way to train your Thieving skill
Pirate implings to hunt and catch
New pirate clothing, including reverse and double eye patches!

In other news...

The Menaphite action kilt was appearing as blue in your inventory even though it's red when you put it on. It's now correctly showing up as red in your inventory.

Similarly, the iron and steel gauntlets from the Fist of Guthix minigame were the wrong shades of grey, making the iron ones look like steel and the steel ones look like iron. Their colours have been switched round now.

Finally, you can now store broad-tipped bolts in your bolt pouches.

6 June 2008 - Reporting Academy Forum

We had a great response to our new Forum, the Reporting Academy, which contains useful information about when to send abuse reports. Thank you everyone who posted and asked questions.

The accuracy of the reports coming in has noticeably improved since its release. Due to the level of demand we’ve been experiencing, we have now opened the second section of the Reporting Academy, which is certainly a recommended visit. In the meantime, here are some of the top tips available from the Reporting Academy.

Noob:

Being called a noob can be annoying. You may have a bad game of Castle Wars, for example, and find that a player follows you around afterwards, calling you a 'noob'. As irritating as this may be to you, please do not report it unless there is something more serious that you'd like us to take a look at! If the player is really bothering you, add them to your Ignore List - that way, you'll have no more trouble from them.

Filtered language **** ***:

It may be that you have wandered RuneScape and seen someone activate the in-game chat filter. The filter removes inappropriate words, so you do not need to send us a report. If a person is annoying you by continuously using the filter, we would advise you to use your Ignore List. To sum up: don't report for starred-out language only, as the filter has done its job. Of course, if there is something other than starred-out language that you are concerned about, please send us a report about that player.

If you enjoyed those top tips, there are plenty more in the new update of the Reporting Academy. We look forward to seeing you soon on the Forums.

The Reporting Academy can be found in the 'Support' section of the official RuneScape Forums.

RuneScape Community Management

5 June 2008 - Smoking Kills

Someone new has moved to Pollnivneach and, by some twist of fate, they are not called Ali! This strange new neighbour is called Sumona, and she has lost something very valuable in the depths of the Pollnivneach well. Mighty rewards are on offer for anyone willing to return what she has misplaced.

Meanwhile, eery wails and vile stenches seem to be pervading the streets. This may be unlucky for the Pollnivneach tourist trade, but at least there is something in it for adventurous types. In fact, they may be turned to one's advantage when dealing with the mixed bag of unpleasantness beneath Pollnivneach...

With potentially epic, if unspecified, Slayer rewards on offer, this is a venture best-suited to those who risk their lives for curiosity. Let's hope that curiosity is better for them than it is for cats.

Summary
Where to start Smoking Kills:

Talk to Sumona in Pollnivneach
Requirements to complete Smoking Kills:

Level 25 Crafting
Level 35 Slayer
Level 85 Combat
The Restless Ghost
Icthlarin's Little Helper
Access to:

Two new dungeons to explore
An expansion to the Slayer skill
A new Slayer Master and some new Slayer gear

In other news...

We have introduced two new worlds for those who prefer to chat, or be chatted to, with Quick Chat. The worlds are 160 and 161. Conventional chat may not be used on these worlds - they are for Quick Chat users only.

NOTE - We would like to remind players that we have absolutely NO intention of removing free chat from the game, either now or in the future. Quick Chat is designed to be an optional alternative to normal chat.

Quick Chat users can now chat to their friends on FunOrb, and vice versa. Simply select a friend from your Friends List and then choose what you want to say from the 'General' and/or 'Inter-game' menus within Quick Chat.

We have made efforts to stop the strange 'dancing' effect that occurs when fighting monsters on the same square as you. You should find that, instead of moving from side to side, you find a more suitable position to attack the monster from.

Dragon square shields have been updated, thanks to observant players who noted that its two halves wouldn't make a square!

2 June 2008 - Behind the Scenes - June

Instead of beginning with a starter or main course, we will skip straight to desert this June! If that pun doesn't kill you, the beasties just might in Smoking Kills, our brand new desert quest. At the start, it won't seem too dangerous: a red-headed citizen of Pollnivneach has lost her sister down a well and wants you to retrieve her. Explore the depths, however, and you'll find yourself in situations more uncomfortable than sand between your toes.

Aside from a touch of trap-dodging and cat whispering, Smoking Kills demands the best of seasoned slayers, who will need to use their resources in innovative new ways to survive. Those who manage it will find their Slayer skill improved, with extra gear, a new Slayer Master and some pretty special rewards that will raise their Slayer game.

So, we've had the sun and the sand - now fer the sea, me hearties! Rabid Jack has been pretty quiet recently, seemingly taking a holiday from his nefarious ways. That would be the perfect opportunity to gather information on the old sea dog, but the pirates of the great seas won't say a word. Instead they will point you towards The Rock - the only prison in RuneScape where it's harder to get in than out...

This, the second of our quests this month, will have you punishing your liver with Braindeath's 'rum', finding imaginative uses for a seagull and getting up-close and personal with 50% Luke's wooden leg! It's all in a day's work for an intrepid would-be pirate who's used to Rocking Out once in a while.

At the end of the month, there will be a break of a couple of weeks with no game updates. These two weeks are hugely important to us, as they allow us to prepare for the major graphical improvement in early July. It's one of the most complex releases we've ever attempted, so we need the extra time to get it ready and make sure the launch goes smoothly.

You can read more about this update in our Image of the Future and Image of the Not-So-Distant-Future newsposts, along with our Development Diary - A New Look RuneScape. The second Development Diary on the subject will be released later this month.

Postbag from the Hedge

This month, Postie Pete has been travelling far and wide to speak to your favourite NPCs.

If you've been wondering where Charlie the Tramp's donations go to, why Kaqemeex won't teleport pollution or the motivations behind an angry tree spirit, then head to the Postbag from the Hedge now.

Finally, Pete brings you some groan-inducing jokes from the desk of the Wise Old Man.

Development Diary: A New Look RuneScape!

The pictures shown in the 'Image of the Future' newsposts were just a taster of what is to come with our graphical improvements. In this Development Diary, we get to go into more detail, as well as show you some new impressive-looking images.

You'll find information about why we decided to embark on this project and what it involves, including shadows, textures and fogging.

21 May 2008 - Quick Chat

Quick Chat:

This week brings the Quick Chat system - an optional method for chatting to players in RuneScape.

You may activate the Quick Chat system by clicking on your name in the chat window or the speech bubble next to it. This brings up the Quick Chat menu, which replaces your chat window. You may revert to the normal chat system at any time by pressing 'Esc' or the 'X' in the top-left corner.

The Quick Chat menu houses a list of requests, responses, greetings and other commonly-used sentences. You can choose from these by selecting them with your mouse or via shortcut keys. Once you have made your selection, your character will say your chosen chat option.

In some areas of RuneScape, you can press 'F10' to bring up 'context-sensitive' chat. This is a list of chat options that varies according to where you are or what you are training. You can then use this menu to talk about subjects related to the area or activity. We expect this to be particularly helpful in those situations where you need to give team directions: in minigames like Castle Wars and Pest Control, for example, you will be able to suggest tactics at the touch of a few buttons.

We have also made Quick Chat available to muted players. We believe that this is a more suitable action to take against those who have previously abused the chat system. Additionally, Quick Chat can be used to chat with players on German worlds, since the system will translate whichever chat option you choose.

Due to the nature of Quick Chat, we cannot entirely predict how players will use it or what players will want from it. So, we would encourage any feedback that you have, to help us tailor the system to your chatting needs. To offer feedback, please post on the official Quick Chat thread in the Suggestions Forum.

As we mentioned in this month's Behind the Scenes, Quick Chat is optional and an alternative to conventional chatting.
Changes to the 'F' keys:

Quick Chat brings some slight alterations to the handy shortcut keys:

* F4 now opens your inventory (which was previously 'Escape').
* F9 opens the quick responses of your Quick Chat menu.
* F10 opens the context-sensitive menus of your Quick Chat menu.
* F11 repeats the last phrase you said using the Quick Chat menu.

21 May 2008 - Level-up Messages

Going up a skill level can access a shedload of new activities, items and quest requirements. You need to know exactly what you're capable of at these new levels, so we've taken a fresh look at your level up messages and skill guides.

Level-up messages now give you much more information about any abilities you've unlocked when raising your skill levels. They'll tell you when you increase a Combat level, for example, or when you've met the requirements to start a new quest. Each of these important milestones will be highlighted by improved sounds and graphics, which get more impressive as you achieve harder-to-reach goals!

Extra information has also been added to the Skill Advance Guides, giving you a truly comprehensive picture of what can be done at your current level. If you have gained the ability to do anything with your new skill level, you can almost guarantee that it will be here.

Finally, you won't miss your level-up message if you're in the midst of combat. Once you advance a level in a skill, that skill's icon will begin flashing in the statistics menu of your side interface. You can then view your level-up messages by clicking on the flashing icon (as long as you stay logged in). In all other cases, clicking on the skill icon will open the skill guide as normal.

Summary
Access to:

More information in your level-up messages
More information in your skill advance guides
Improved animations and sounds when you gain a skill level
View level-up messages when you are ready

In other news...

There are a few unusual signs for you to discover across RuneScape, revealing bizarre statistics about the activities of the day. Ever wanted to know the number of cakes stolen from East Ardougne stalls? Well, now you can! There are signposts for you to find in the following locations:

* East Ardougne
* Goblin Village
* Lumbridge
* Lumbridge cow fields
* Varrock Palace

On the subject of signposts, you'll find that a number have been added around Runescape. These are very useful if you're lost and need pointing in the right direction. These are scattered in the area bounded by Ardougne, Fremennik Pass, Morytania and down to the Shantay Pass.

Various NPCs in Miscellania and Etceteria are more helpful and will tell you your approval rating. This should save you time and a trip to Advisor Ghrim.

Juna, from the Tears of Guthix minigame, now has a quick option for telling her stories. Also, she'll inform you more accurately about when you can return to the cave and collect tears again. If you are able to access the Tears of Guthix within the next two days, Juna will tell you when to return, to the hour. If you can access them within 4 hours, Juna will tell you when to return, to the minute!