Getting started in RuneScape is a quick and easy process. Within a few minutes you can create an account and start playing the game!
Creating an Account
You can create a new account by clicking 'Play Now'. If this is your first time to RuneScape, you may be asked for permission to find the best graphical options for your computer. This will only take a minute or so, and will create the optimal RuneScape experience for your computer specifications.
If you are presented with a screen that asks for your login details, click 'Create Account Now' at the bottom of the interface. This will take you to a screen that requests several details from you. Input those details and click 'Continue' to be taken in-game, where you will be able to create your character (see below) and choose a character name. You are now able to begin your RuneScape adventure!
If you are instead presented with a screen that requests several details from you, including your email address, then input those details and click 'Continue' to be taken in-game. Here you will be able to create your character (see Character Creation) and choose a character name.
Playing RuneScape
To access the RuneScape game, click 'Play Now' on the RuneScape main page, as shown in the 'Creating an Account' section. The initial download process will then start. Once complete, you will be taken to the login screen, where you will need to input your login details. You will then be taken to the RuneScape lobby.
The RuneScape Lobby
The RuneScape Lobby brings together a number of useful features before you get into the game proper. The lobby has five sections accessed via the tabs at the top of the screen:
- Player info - shows where and when you last logged in, status of email registration, recovery question status, how many messages from Jagex are in your Message Centre, how much credit you have left, and the message of the week.
- World select - this shows a list of all available worlds. This is more fully explained in Themed Worlds.
- Friends chat - shows your Friends List and Ignore List, and lets you chat to your friends before you log in. This is more fully explained in Friends Chat.
- Clan Chat - lets you log into a Clan Chat channel before heading into the game. This is more fully explained in Clan Chat.
- Options - these are the display options, letting you set your display mode, screen size, and graphics and audio settings. This is more fully explained in Display Options.
All tabs have the 'Click here to play' button and your favourite worlds for instant access. The Friends Chat and Clan Chat tabs both have the Report Abuse button, should you need it.
When you log out of the game, you can choose to come back to the lobby, so will not need to re-enter your password when you click to play again. To fully log out of the game, click on the 'x' next to the lobby's Options tab.
Character Creation
Character creation interface
If you have logged into the game for the first time, you will be presented with an interface to create your character, as shown on the left:
The interface presents a wide variety of outfit options for your character. Choose an outfit and it will be displayed in the bottom-right corner of the interface; you can then 'Modify Further' to change character details like skin colour, hair, torso, legs, boots and facial hair. Later, you may pay some characters in-game to change your look. See the Makeover Guide to read about changing your look in-game.
Once you have finished, you should click the 'Confirm' button. This will take you to an interface where you can choose the character name for your character: the name that all other players will see when you log into the game. Once you have a name that has not been taken by any other player, you can launch your character into the opening quest, Unstable Foundations, where some friendly and not-so-friendly citizens of RuneScape await you.
First Steps in RuneScape
You will begin the game defending the town of Burthorpe from the invading trolls. Each step of the way you will be given a task to perform. The Task interface will give you an overview of what you should be doing. If you get lost, an arrow will be beneath your feet to show you the direction you should be going and another arrow will show the location of your target or destination on your minimap. Between yourself and your target there will also be a breadcrumb trail so you don't have to refer to your map if you do not want to.
Tasks are grouped into stages. As you complete each stage, you will be offered suggestions as to optional tasks to perform before moving on to the next stage. Moving on to the next stage is as simple as clicking "Next Stage" on the Task interface; this will highlight your next destination/target.
The stages are:
- Stop Them in Their Tracks - an introduction to Combat.
- Machinery of War - an introduction to Smithing, Mining, and Crafting.
- Hell's Kitchen - an introduction to Farming, Hunter, Fishing, and Cooking.
- The War Profiteers - an introduction to Thieving. The Let Them Eat Pie quest.
- The Corrupted Depths - an introduction to Slayer, and Prayer.
- The Spirit Masters - an introduction to Summoning.
- Watery Grave - an introduction to Ranged combat, Fletching, Woodcutting, and Firemaking
- The Hand of Guthix - an introduction to Herblore, and the Members Loyalty Programme. The Druidic Ritual quest.
- Troll Warzone - an introduction to Agility. The Death Plateau quest.
You can find out more about the start of the game in the Beginners' Guide.
