RuneScape, the popular MMORPG created by the lovely Brit at Jagex, has received its new beginning world Today, players are allowed to start from scratch by resetting the economy and all the unique quirks that aspect offers. Old School RuneScape players won’t have to wait too long either, as the title’s fresh start world is also due on October 19th.
What’s the reason to hone new roles again? These new starting worlds come with unique cosmetic bonuses, including capes, auras, and other funky gear. Set to last for a limited time, characters and loot earned in these New Beginning worlds will later be transferred to a core world along with all of their stuff. Good news for those who put in the time, but also raised some concerns. We’ll talk about this later.
To access these brand new start worlds, players will need to create a brand new account and purchase a new membership according to the official support site. It’s not a burden for new players who can use these new servers as an opportunity to enter the same level as everyone else, but for existing RuneScape fans it means cashing out pre-existing funds along with their second subscription account.
Once in, the accelerated XP and gameplay boosts can be used to push you to get what you want to prioritize. You’ll also need to put together a game plan, as a brand new highscore table is here along with a brand new start world, so the most dedicated players can get exclusive accolades.
But let’s take a moment to consider the wider impact these servers have on RuneScape. I love fresh servers. It brought me back to classic World of Warcraft recently, and I believe it offers players an opportunity to rejoin, or dive into a long-term live-service title for the first time that they feel they may have missed. However, some intricacies of RuneScape have left me scratching my head.
First, it’s worth noting that the brand new economy and big exchange can be both a blessing and a curse, thanks in large part to the eventual character migration to the core world. On new servers, prices are usually high due to economic supply and demand. If you’re one of the few players on your server that can get your hands on a great end-game gear, you can sell it for a premium.
It’s entirely possible that wealthy players will use the new server to rush into some key content, rent out high-end gear, sell it at a premium, and then sit on their newly acquired riches until they’re teleported to the main server. Either that, or they might bring Come with an inventory full of valuables, thereby spiking supply and lowering the usual price.
Also, it’s hard not to feel heartbroken for these existing players who want to join but need to get a new subscription. Of course, new content costs money, and there’s nothing wrong with charging for new servers. Yet three full months of real-world money for a world destined to fold back into the main world? Personally, there are aspects of it that make me uncomfortable.
It also raises the question of who the new server is for. In my opinion, according to Fresh World’s FAQ, the fresh servers and the new economy they created are a boon for the greens, who want to test the game and experience a bustling world before the market and players settle down. However, high-score tables, transferable exclusive cosmetics (many of which may be tradable) can satisfy players who have already invested. There seems to be a lot to entice older players to join, which is certainly good for Jagex, but could be bad for their wallets and much of the community’s in-game wallet.
So it seems like an interesting idea, but it contains some head-scratching details. The full impact it will have on the wider RuneScape experience and economy is something the community will have to wait and watch. Anyway, if you haven’t gotten into RuneScape, now might be a good time to get into RuneScape, and if you have some spare cash, if you’re already deep into MMOs, this might be a great way to make some sweet moolah.
But what do you think? Are these concerns a little too dramatic? Or are you really worried about the ramifications of the Fresh Server role shift? Let us know below!
