Runescape and Old School Runescape (OSRS) are two of the most time-honored MMORPG titles on the market. Unfortunately, as EuroGamer highlights, Runescape has lost some of its edge. Continuing in the vein of poor decisions made in the past, such as the removal of wilderness PvP between 2009 and 2011, the most recent version of the game needs to do more to attract gamers. For those that love PvP, OSRS and its weaponry can give a real old-school PvP experience.
The basics
Runescape is a fairly simple game to get into but PvP requires some fairly close control over your character and its abilities. According to fan community RuneFanatics, the key is in learning about preparation and crafting. Items like the dragon crossbow, and agility preparation, can make you that much stronger in PvP. The combat mechanics in OSRS are fairly straightforward, so just being the best prepared you can be will get you ready to go.
Picking a build
The OSRS wiki highlights a number of builds currently in-game. Mauler, Hybrid, Tribrid, Berserk pure, Str pure are just a handful of player builds that you can deploy in PvP content – the key is knowing what you want. Look into builds and find one that clicks with your playstyle and is going to be powerful enough to help you dominate the competition. However, beware – no matter how strong your current build, there will always be someone bigger. Unfortunately, that can also sometimes be due to illicit reasons.
Staying above board
The PvP scene in OSRS is not without its history. As Rock Paper Shotgun highlights, a seminal PvP tournament back in 2017 was ruined by cheating. As a whole, the low barrier to entry the game presents makes it fertile ground for people looking to ruin other people’s fun. Be aware of cheaters, and stay protected against them – before you head out into the wilderness or to PvP tourneys, be prepared. Stay active in the community and look for warning signs – often, hackers will be picked up long before you reach an area where they can harm you.
Aside from that – enjoy. PvP in OSRS is a great spectacle, something from the long-gone era of MMORPGs. Modern games cannot compare, in most cases, when it comes to RPG-PvP interactions. OSRS provides a window into history to be cherished.
