Your First Look at the Combat Beta (Under Construction)

Your First Look at the Combat Beta

Hey guys, Smallfib here. I have access to the combat beta and I'm creating this thread so that all of you who do not have access can look and see how the combat system will be different in days to come. This thread will be very rough for the first couple hours because I'm logged into Runescape at the moment and just making rough updates every once in a while. Right now I have to go through the tutorial as Jagex hasn't fixed the bug where you can import your account into the beta. Hopefully they'll fix this soon so I can bring you some high level content.

(screenies to be added later)

Logging into the combat beta!
When you first log into the beta (worlds 200-208), if you are not able to import your account, you must go through the member's tutorial. This means that you have to watch tons of cutscenes and do lots of time-wasting, nooby stuff you've no doubt done hundreds of times. This tutorial, combined with the ridiculous server lag makes it very hard to get anything done. So, if you can't access the beta, don't feel too bad. You're not missing out on much at the moment.

The first thing you notice upon first login is the action bar, located right above the chatbox. (I am playing in fixed screen, since the lag is so heavy that I DC if I use anything but minimum graphics).
On this action bar, you can pin actions like special moves, spells, prayers, food, and even skill-related actions, like fletching a log.
(action bar img)

Now, before you test the awesome features of the new combat system, you're gonna want some armor, weapons, and supplies to try out. Go to your bank and withdraw some varrock teleport tabs and a ring of Kinship.
At Daemonheim (tele with the Ring of Kinship), you can trade the Rewards Trader for free chaotic weapons, shields, and offhand weapons.
(chaotics img)
You can also teleport to the Grand Exchange. At the south entrance, there are seven traders who will sell you lots of high end goodies, from Torva, Pernix, and Virtus to abyssal vine whips and Armadyl Godswords. The trader in the middle sells runes, potions, food, and arrows.
(ge img)


(To be continued)

Other changes (Not necessarily combat related)

Two announcements:

Rigour + Augury: Rigour and Augury are now unlocked by doing the "Knight's Waves" miniquest after completion of the King's Ransom quest. They both unlock at 70 Prayer. If you already own either or both of those prayers (via Dungeoneering rewards), you will be refunded your tokens.

(prayers img)

Dragon Claws: Since Dual Weilding is now available, the Dragon claws have been changed into two different weapons: Dragon claw, and Offhand dragon claw. At the moment, they both have the same item picture.

(dragonclaws img)

Rhino Cape: The Tok-haar-kal has been updated! It has a particle effect that streams from the back of the cape.



Dragon Defender: The Dragon Defender is an offhand weapon, but it also provides a lifepoint boost and an armour (defense) bonus. As you can see in the top right-hand corner of the following screenshot, I have 980+ lifepoints but am dangerously close to dying. That's because my armor setup has increased my total lifepoints to over 7000.

(ddef img)

Food: Whoah! (more to be added later)

(monkfish img)

Overloads: You are now bound by your Herblore level to which potions you can drink. Meaning that you need 96 Herblore to even drink an overload. So much for boosting.

Brews: Saradomin Brews effect on Defense has been greatly decreased. At 99 Defense, it now only boosts you +4 levels.

Gloves and Boots: There are now several new sets of gloves and boots, including Bandos, Armadyl, Torva, Pernix, and Virtus. The Bandos armor set also has its own Helmet and Kiteshield.

Mage and Ranged Offhands: Mage and Ranged combatants now have their own offhands. Rangers get access to leather shields (leather shield - black dragonhide shield) and mages get their own books (Wizard Book - Virtus Book).

Sounds like world of warcraft.



Yup...that looks very much like a typical mmo task bar. **** ugly designed one but that's what it is.

Are people in RS excited for this having seen it? I don't play so it's a serious question. This is pretty standard in just about every MMO anyway.

They really, really, really need to improve the UI.

UI really needs to be bigger. very hard to select your skills right now.
need to separate the basic attacks, half adrenaline and full adrenaline skills. never know what is what until it is on the bar.
REALLLLY needs more skill bars instead of just 5.

i wish you could quick switch between the the different bars but it does make sense considering it would make pvp very deadly.
i think it's interesting so far, you can skill afk train if you wanted to and just press a few buttons once in a while.

what about weapon specific ability's ? it just De-value a lot of high end weapons (eg G swords) having the ability at insert levels is great dont get me wrong. also it takes away the versatility of the weapon (eg) 2h's with only crush.
also i found prayer is almost useless plus the icon looks too modern i cant tell whats what.

Can't say i remember ever complaining about the RS combat system. They've not really modernized it either what they've done is they've copied what MMO's were doing 5+ years ago. You've got new MMO's coming out that are moving past that system and devloping new, more exciting systems. As an example you talk about balancing the combat triangle well most MMO's are doing away with that sort of thing anyway. Look at guild wars 2 combat sysem you can do pretty much anything without restricting yourself and as a result they have a very deep combat system with thousands of possibilities and combos.

RS is always ten steps behind and when they finally get around to implementing a feature that's been around for half a decade they usually do a poor job of it anyway. I'm happy to be proven wrong but from the videos i've watched it doesn't look all that interesting.

I know I havn't tried the system yet, but what I've seen and heard, its actually good. Not going to argue about that ugly action bar however....

Overall I'm not too exited about this.. Slayer may be getting a bit faster, but I can't see how I'm supposed to train ranged with cannon getting nerfed.

I think the new system is a good system, it is way better than the system before where you click and wait for a monster to die. People whine about it because you have to pay attention...NO **** ITS A VIDEO GAME! IF YOU ARE PLAYING THE GAME, PLAY THE GAME, NOT YOUTUBE. This should the the thing especially with combat. My favorite part is that this system requires player skill, and strategy, instead of talent in fighting an interface. You have to be tactical with how you use your abilities to rack up the best damage rates and get defensive bonuses. In my opinion, this is a very good system, it is far better than the old one. RS needs this update, because after a while, combat can get pretty boring. Of course people rage because half of the rs community is 12 year old kids (aka creepy) who cry when their RS changes. And people just hate in general because they hate change. But this is a needed change, and it IS for the better.