Review of PvP state in Runescape

Good article about current state of PvP affairs in Runescape. I think it sums everything quite nicely. No comments.

Is Pking back in Runescape?

Take a look at this article that questions necessity of giving to much attention and resources to restoring pking in Runescape. While I know that clans are rejoicing PvP worlds, it looks like that vast majority of the players is simply ignoring them. And you can see it not only in number of players using these worlds, but also in a fact that prices for PvP supplies (such as blood runes) are down to the bottom limits.

So what is it? Too many pkers left a year ago and never returned? Or were there simply not that many pkers to start with?

Pking and PvP are coming back to Runescape

Not being a big fun of pking, I was shying away from writing about it for a while. But I guess I ought to dedicate at least one post to it now, as Jagex's plans to bring pking back into the game are indeed quite radical. The update is likely to shatter the whole Runescape world, despite a promise to allow pking only on dedicated PvP servers. Apart from minigames that would allure to both pkers and skillers and special PvP gear, it is inevitable that new life will be poured into "used to be" pking supplies market of super sets, sharks, blood/death runes and such. I don't know if the Runescape pking future will be bright, but it will definitely be very interesting. Can't wait!

And here is a link to a good article from Zybez about it, if you fancy to read more on the subject.

History of Runescape PK videos

Quite comprehensive research on Runescape PK video production history. You can clearly see the author being very passioned about it. Though I've personally never been a fan of PKing and PK videos, it is without a doubt one of the important aspect of Runescape world.

Can we bring the wilderness and pking back?

Good ideas on how to bring good old pking back into the game. I am not a big fan of pking, but I guess some of you, my dear readers, may want to support this one.

However, I personally don't think the wilderness will be made pking free zone ever - Jagex clearly has chosen a way of adding localized minigames instead.

Honor Pkers

I'd like to point you to two articles from Zybez blog today. Both about being an "honor" pker. The first one talks about the old wilderness and the second about Bounty Hunter. Interestingly enough, the issue is exactly the same in both places. The world changes, but people remain the same.

As to which side I'd take... I think, I would go with revenants. At least they do not verbally abuse their victims :-)

History of Runescape PKing

Well, not exactly. This article from R!Informer is not entirely about it, but it does give very colorful insight into how it used to be. Plus the article gives yet another view to the whole matter of the recent updates. Take a look.

Not only Summoning coming to Runescape in January

Yes, Summoning is a much anticipated new skill, but I am actually more exited to know that useful changes to the Grand Exchange, Pking minigames and possibly Gifts/Loans system are coming as well. I am also very pleased with the fact that Jagex seems to be changing their attitude towards the Runescape community and becoming a bit more open. I mean, look at the Word About Our Updates news! Have you seen anything like that before? I don't remember such occasions and this is definitely good news.
The news article hints about the coming updates, but there is also another evidence which is much more detailed. Take a look at Jagex Mod Mark message (it is somewhere on RS forums too, but I found it through TruthScape forum). I am really optimistic about Runescape future after it.

P.S. I am also glad to tell you that Google unbanned my blog after a human took a look at it :-) So only one day missed.

History of PKing

Interesting find by Kuemper regarding the history of pking in Runescape. You can clearly see how the emphasis on player to player combat is being gradually removed from the game.

End of Runescape or the new Beginning?

They've done it. You know what I mean... Not entirely unexpected, but sooner then I thought for sure. I expected only taming Wilderness this month and restriction on player to player trades sometime early next year, but we got the whole package at once.

Is it good? Is it bad? No, let's put it this way: is it devastating and will Runescape live after that?

No, it is not devastating. Yes, Runescape will live. Some people will quit (I know, people are quiting right now). OK, many players will quit. But the vast majority will remain, adapt and keep playing. With all these trading limitations and with very limited pking support, but also without RWT and without gold farmers.

Are there issues? You bet. But, in my opinion, not as many as it seems. I personally see only three things that really needs to be addressed for all this to work smoothly:
1. Grand Exchange has to be more flexible with prices in order to serve as the main (and the only) price control mechanism in the game. It should also be able to account for new items, rapid changes in the price demands and, yes, ALL prices must be set correctly there to start with.
2. Gifts and, possibly, loans mechanisms should be added to the game, so honest players could fully interact with each other.
3. Loot share function has to be modified, so it would actually work and give the participants equal shares! There are several ways to do so (mentioned in the Qeltar's article below).

Speaking of which... Take a look at the Qeltar's article from TruthScape with assessment of the situation and valid suggestions.

I also would like to point you to a few other posts of fellow bloggers. Despite an overall angry mood of the Runescape community, I am glad to find somewhat positive thoughts there, which is encouraging. Not all is lost!

Steve's post.
Timoty Gold's post.
Merch Gwyar post (this one is a perfect example why gifts/loans system is important!)

And, finally, a few words about the Wilderness updates. Quite simple, I think they are all steps in the right direction, but new pking areas could have been done much better. I actually tried the Bounty Hunter arena. What can I say, as Steve mentioned, you just get piled up by a clan there. Not much fun in it. I wasn't even able to find my target before 'the piling' happened...

Just because you can kill, does not mean you should

Very touching story by Merch Gwyar. PK may be fun (PK wars, lone wolves, autoers hunting and such), but it is frightening and disgusting when people start projecting cruelty and merciless this way.