We witnessed our the last Double XP event of 2021 in the year that ended the previous one in November. In the last few decades, there's usually just four events per year for obvious reasons. They're required to be big!
When looking towards the next one it was predicted that we'd have it around February. This turned out to be true. . Since as far back as 2014 there has been a double or bonus XP event at this time. If you look at how the past few events have performed and we don't anticipate any future changes since Jagex seem to have perfected the formula.
Players get 48 hours worth of DoubleXP time to use over the course of about 10 days. There was one exception where the event ran for 21 days but the 10 day events are more likely to draw large numbers of players due to their limited duration.
For those who aren't in the know, RuneScape is a major deal. A darned big deal. It is, at least, to people in the MMORPG world. Now entering its 21st year it's one of the biggest MMORPGs in existence and most likely the best free one. The theme is high fantasy and has a strong medieval flavor throughout it . A combination that is extremely effective; just inquire with J.K. Rowling.
RuneScape is significant for me personally because of three tiny points: being the first MMORPG I played; it was the first game I could be said to have been hooked on; and the first game that I discovered that could be described as "online" although it's far from being the most enjoyable. Still, that's three gaming milestones not to be overlooked.
After a brief but basic instruction on the appropriately named Tutorial Island, I found myself dumped in the uneventful however, quite pleasant riverside town of Lumbridge. In Lumbridge, each new player gets the fundamentals down of the game, such as how to make fire, or deposit money into the bank. It's important to keep in mind that, in RuneScape it is a game where everyone begins in a fair playing field (weirdly in the 3rd level).
There aren't any set classes or prescribed builds of skills, instead, you should focus on your strengths, towards making sure that each person reaches the maximum of 99. But, as that's not feasible or even desirable for the majority of us It's best to focus on just a few. However, the total character or combat level has the maximum that is the number 126 (or 123 in RuneScape Classic). I think I made it to an 82-level before I decided to make it a day. Maybe the school year started again.
There are also five attack types to master: stab, shlash, crush and ranged. My initial prey was goblins as well as chickens, but there's plenty of bigger and more dangerous food sources out there. Predators, too. Absolutely, RuneScape has a steep learning curve to begin with. Once I got those base capabilities mastered, it's all done and I began to find it hard to walk away from the computer screen.
Yes, 232 total, spread across a generously-sized world map with OSRS gold enough variety to delight my 12-year-old self. Each one a unique little short story that has a wacky plots and humorous dialogue. Personal favorites include solving the mystery of a missing chicken found at Draynor Manor and sneaking into the seemingly inaccessible Black Knights' Fortress on behalf of the opposition White Knights of Falador.
But none of that can match getting rid of the dragon Crandor as the greatest and most memorable feat a free player can complete. The quests can be unlocked more when you become a paid member of RuneScape, which I duly did. This also allows access to huge portions of the world map with a whole host of other things that helped me stand out from the lowly noob I'd been.
Of course, you can roam around in the vast plains and deserts or venture east into the dark and dark swamps of Morytania ideal by listening to the Bobby Pickett song 'Monster Mash playing to the backdrop. Speaking of songs, entering an area for the first time , unlocks the appropriate soundtrack(s) for that area. There are some really appealing tunes. I remember having an old Christmas tune playing.
In addition to the action, role-playing is the massively multiplayer aspect that I enjoyed immensely, and it was enjoyable to have thousands gamers to play in trade and to compare my performance against. RuneScape is also a complete game with friend lists and on-screen chat and proved to my PS2-configured brain that gaming can be a communal as well as a single experience.