Introduction
RuneScape has a very effective and efficient control system. Once you learn the various aspects of the system, using it becomes second nature.
Main Article: Movement
Every single task in Gielinor can be accomplished using the mouse. To perform the default action associated with an item, move the mouse pointer over it and click the 'action' button. This is the left button on a two-or-more button mouse, or the button on an one-button mouse and then select the first option from the menu.
Items and objects in RuneScape have multiple actions associated with them. To view and select an alternative to the default action of an item or object, a player using a multiple button mouse should click the right mouse button, while the mouse pointer is over the item or object. A menu of other actions that can be performed on that item or with the item will be displayed.
Main Article: The Camera
The camera determines your viewing angle into the game. You can adjust it using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
The left arrow key rotates the camera view clockwise, while the right arrow key rotates the camera view anti-clockwise.
To adjust the viewing height of the camera, press the up arrow key to tilt the camera downwards or the down arrow key to tilt the camera upwards.
Main Article: Chat
Chatting in RuneScape is a major part of the game and you'll find that there are many ways to keep in touch with your friends, organise trades or interact with other players. You can chat to those around you simply by typing into the chat box or by using the Quick Chat feature.
The chat box at the bottom of the game window shows you any messages you send or receive. If you find yourself being sent a lot of messages, you might find it useful to adjust what types of message you want to receive.
The chat window
The nine buttons along the bottom of the RuneScape screen control how you interact with the chat system.
The first eight buttons are chat controls that can be left-clicked, and will cause the chat box to only display the selected information/chat. These buttons can also be right-clicked, giving you a set of options to restrict whether or not you will receive those types of messages at all.
The red Report Abuse button, when clicked, displays the Report Abuse window, allowing you to report players who are in breach of the Rules of RuneScape.
The Game Window
| Name |
Purpose |
| Minimap, compass and world map |
A minimap with a compass to help you navigate around Gielinor. The world map globe will open a map of the surface of Gielinor in the game window. By clicking the compass you will reset the camera so it is facing north. |
| XP Display Globe |
Allows you to monitor your experience gain in up to 3 separate counters |
| Status globes |
A read-out of your drainable statistics:
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| Money Pouch Globe |
Allows you to store and track changes to your money. |
| Log out |
The 'X' icon at the top-right of your game window can be used to log yourself out of the game (returning to the login screen) or going back to the lobby |
| Game window |
The main window that displays your view into Gielinor. |
| Action Bar |
Allows you to set up quick actions to perform. This is mostly used for combat, but can assist with skilling. |
| Chat window |
The lower section of the game window where you can view and respond to other players' messages. There are a number of buttons you can use to customise how you view chat and game information. |
| Control panel |
Section to the bottom right of the game window. This allows the player to change and access other aspects of the game. |
Location Indicators
As you approach certain areas in Gielinor, an icon will be displayed in the lower right hand corner of the game window to indicate the type of area it is. The icon will stay there until you leave the area.
Below is a table of all the indicators in Gielinor and their meaning.
| Location indicated |
Icon |
Purpose |
| Duel Arena |
 |
Tells the player when they have entered the duelling area. |
| Rat pits |
 |
This icon is displayed while the player is in the Rat Pits. |
Since the launch of the Evolution of Combat, some of the icons have been removed. Below is a table showing the indicators that aren't used anymore.
| Location indicated |
Icon |
Purpose |
| Multicombat zone |
 |
Tells the player when they are in an area where they can combat more than one opponent. |
| Wilderness |
 |
This icon is displayed when a player is in the Wilderness. |
Minimap
The minimap and status globes
The minimap, shown in the picture to the right, is in the top right hand corner of the game window.
You can navigate through Gielinor by clicking in the minimap window. This is good for moving further than is possible in the game window view.
When you rotate the camera, the compass and minimap rotate to reflect which direction you are looking. This may be different from the direction your character is facing or moving.
For example, you can make the camera face north to see what is in that direction while your character is moving to the east.
The minimap displays your immediate surrounding environment which includes buildings, streets, non-player characters, information icons etc.
Information icons are explained in the World Map section.
Below is a table of the colour dots in the minimap and their meaning.
| Icon Name |
Meaning |
| Red Flag |
Destination of last move command. |
| Red Dot |
Items that you can pick up. |
| White Dot |
Other human players. |
| Green Dot |
Players in your Friends List. |
| Yellow Dot |
Monsters and non-player characters. |
| Blue Dot |
Other players wearing the same team cape as you. |
| Purple Dot |
Other players in your Friends Chat channel. |
| Orange Dot |
Other players in your Clan Chat channel. |
Icons are shown on the map to mark certain useful features, including quest start points, banks and the entrances of dungeons.
For more information about the in-game world map, see World Map.
Status Globes
To the left of the minimap are a number of status globes giving you easy access to some important information on your life points, prayer points, run energy and summoning points. The numbers they display will change colour as they reduce (from being wounded, using Summoning points, etc.), and the life points icon will start flashing when it reaches a dangerously low level.
XP Display
Main Article: XP Display
The XP button on the top-left of the minimap lets you track XP changes. You can also turn off XP notifications from this button by right-clicking it.
Life Points Globe
The life points globe will change colour to indicate when you are poisoned or diseased (changing to green or yellow, respectively). If you have a potion that can cure you, you can then simply click on the globe to drink a dose of that potion. It will automatically take the dose from the least full vial you have.
Quick Prayers
Main Article: Quick Prayers
Here, you can select various prayers to quickly activate or deactivate. Very useful for tough battles and prayer point conservation.
Run Energy Globe
You can also click on the run energy globe to turn running on, or the Prayer globe to turn your quick prayers on or off. Further, you can right-click on the run energy globe and select 'Rest' to increase the rate at which your run energy and life points replenish. This is significantly increased if you do so near one of the musicians dotted around Gielinor.
Summoning Globe
Finally, the Summoning globe's left-click option can be customised to your needs. Right-click on the globe and choose 'Select left-click option', then choose from one of the following: follower details, special attack, attack, call follower, dismiss follower, take BoB (beast of burden), renew familiar. Confirm your choice, then whenever you left-click on this globe from then on, it will have that effect. As your needs change, simply choose a different left-click option. You can also access the Summoning interface from this globe's right-click menu.
Money Pouch
Main Article: Money Pouch
All your coins that you earn on your adventures are automatically stored here. You can right-click to retrieve them and place them in your inventory, if you wish but it is advised that you leave them in your money pouch where they cannot be dropped if you die.
Control Panel
The control panel is where players interact with their inventory and other aspects of the game. Each icon in the control panel relates to an area of the game you can configure or interact with.
| Icon Name |
Hotkey |
Explanation |
Combat |
F5 |
Allows you to control your combat strategy.
Sub-interfaces:
|
Pinned Tasks |
- |
Displays daily challenges, quests and achievements that you have and have not completed.
Sub-interfaces:
|
Statistics |
- |
Displays the skills and your current level for each one. |
Combat Academy |
- |
Allows a direct teleport to the Combat Academy - a tutorial on the combat system that RuneScape uses. If you have completed this tutorial, the stone will no longer display. |
Quest Journals |
- |
Displays a list of quests you haven't started, have started but not completed and have completed. Only shows if you have completed the combat tutorial in the Combat Academy. |
Inventory |
F1 |
Gives you access to your inventory of items. |
Worn Equipment |
F2 |
Gives you access to your equipped inventory.
Sub-interfaces:
|
Prayer List |
F3 |
Gives you access to your Prayers. |
Extras |
- |
Squeal of Fortune and Solomon's General Store. |
Ability Book |
F4 |
Shows the abilities and spells you can cast and basic information for them. |
Friends List |
- |
Allows you to manage your friends list and communicate privately with them.
Sub-interfaces:
|
Friends Chat |
- |
Allows you to manage your friends chat channel for group discussions |
Clan Chat |
- |
Allows you to manage your clan chat channel for group discussions. |
Options |
- |
Gives you access to various game settings.
Sub-interfaces:
|
Emotes |
- |
Allows you to express emotions or ideas through your character behaving in a certain way (e.g. waving, dancing, etc.). |
Music Player |
- |
Gives you access to the music player and songs available to play. |
Notes |
- |
A space for you to enter notes and reminders for easy access. |
Systems
There are several more advanced interfaces that you will encounter as you traverse Gielinor.
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| Trading |
| Swapping your valuables with fellow players. |
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| Banks |
| Store your well earned treasure in one of the many banks of Gielinor. |
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| LootShare |
| Share loot with your clan and friends. |
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| Shops |
| Buy and sell your items. |
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