The Great Orb Project

The Great Orb Project is a Runecrafting minigame released on 12 August 2008. The goal is to collect your team colour's orbs, and to prevent the other team from collecting their orbs. The opposing teams will be collecting two types of orbs - yellow and green. Players need level 50 Runecrafting or higher and must have completed the Rune Mysteries quest.

Location
⌊undefined⌋ The minigame is located in the Runecrafting Guild, through a portal on the first floor of Wizard's Tower. The tower is located south of Draynor Village, or through the East teleport in the Wizards' Guild.

Travel

 * Members may use the fairy ring code DIS, which will take the player behind the Wizard's tower, or an Amulet of Glory to the Draynor marketplace as faster modes of transport.
 * Free-to-play players can use the cabbage teleport of Explorer's ring.
 * The fastest way to get into the Runecrafting Guild is by using a Runecrafting guild teleport tablet, which can bought from Wizard Elriss for 15 tokens each.

Worlds
Worlds 60 and 61 are the official worlds for this minigame, as designated by Jagex. This was announced during the Distractions and Diversions update on 2 September 2008.

Requirements
To play this minigame players must have:
 * Completed the Rune Mysteries quest
 * Level 50 Runecrafting

Personalities

 * Wizard Korvak - Repairs and sells Runecrafting pouches. Binds omni-talismans into Runecrafting staves.
 * Wizard Acantha - Wizard of the green orbs.
 * Wizard Vief - Wizard of the yellow orbs.
 * Wizard Elriss - Exchanges rewards for Runecrafting Guild Tokens. Exchanges omni-talismans for regular talismans.
 * Wizards - Places players on the least populated team.

Objective
The objective of the game is for players to move as many orbs corresponding to their team colour as they can to the altars. The team with the most orbs when the timer runs out wins.

Starting the game
Talk to either Wizard Acantha (green team) or Wizard Vief (yellow team) to join the game. Each team requires at least two members to notify Wizard Elriss to open the portal to start the game. With the 19 August update, players can now join the least populated team by talking to wizards found within the Guild.

Rounds
There are 8 rounds for pay-to-play and 6 rounds for free-to-play, which are the Runecrafting altars, in the following order:
 * Air altar
 * Mind altar
 * Water altar
 * Earth altar
 * Fire altar
 * Body altar
 * Chaos altar (members only)
 * Nature altar (members only)

The Cosmic altar is not included so people who have not completed the Lost City quest will be able to play the game.

Equipment
Three wands are given when players enroll to either one team, namely Green/yellow attractor, Green/yellow repeller and the Green/yellow barrier generator. A hat is also given to distinguish which side players are on. The hat and attractor wand are equipped automatically.


 * {| class="wikitable"

! Image !! Name !! Use
 * [[Image:Runecrafter_hat_y.PNG]] [[Image:Runecrafter_hat_g.png]] ||Runecrafter hat||Helps identify team members, and opposition.
 * [[Image:Yrepellerwand.png]] [[Image:Repeller_wand.gif]]||Repeller wand||Pushes the orbs away from the caster.
 * [[Image:Yellow-attractor2.png]] [[Image:Attractor_wand.gif]]||Attractor wand||Drags the orbs towards the caster.
 * [[Image:Ybarrierwand.png]] [[Image:Barrier_generator.gif]]||Barrier generator||Blocks the way of members of opposing team and orbs of both colours from passing through.
 * }
 * [[Image:Yellow-attractor2.png]] [[Image:Attractor_wand.gif]]||Attractor wand||Drags the orbs towards the caster.
 * [[Image:Ybarrierwand.png]] [[Image:Barrier_generator.gif]]||Barrier generator||Blocks the way of members of opposing team and orbs of both colours from passing through.
 * }
 * }

Other useful items

 * Weight-reducing items, such as Spotted capes, Spottier capes, Penance Gloves, and Boots of lightness.
 * Runecrafting pouches - for storing extra pure essence.
 * Runecrafter robes of any colour- when equipped, they will allow the wearer to push and pull orbs across more of a distance (Not to mention they match the hat!).
 * Explorer's ring 3 for the extra runes effect on elemental altars.

Leaving a team
To switch teams before the minigame, players have to simply destroy any of the wands given BEFORE the game starts. Doing this will NOT result in the 10-minute time penalty for abandoning the game.

Abandoning a game
Abandoning the game will result in a 10-minute time penalty where players will be unable to play the next game until the penalty expires (similar to Bounty Hunter minigame). There are a number of ways to abandon an on-going game:
 * Getting disconnected.
 * Leaving an altar via the altar exit portal, rather than the portal created by Wizard Elriss.
 * Destroying any of the wands given before the game.

Abandoning a game will return the player to the Guild.

In the battle
To score points, orbs must be led to the 1-grid square around the altar, by either attracting or repelling the orbs. When the two teams finish scoring points within the two-minute time limit, they will need to step into the purple portal that appears in order to be teleported to the next altar. The next round then begins.

Every time a round finishes, some Rune essences or Pure essences (Pure essence in Members) will be given according to the number of orbs that players led to score marks and whether or not that team lost the altar. If players already have a full inventory of essences, the extras will be dropped to the ground.

Players can then choose to craft them into Runes at that altar (remember to pick up the extras if they had a full inventory) or to take them with them (either in the inventory or in pouches). This is identical to normal Runecrafting and the ability of the Explorer's ring and crafting multiple runes are in effect.

Barriers
At the same time, players can also set up barriers which block the way of orbs. Both teams can pass through any barriers regardless of colour, but no orb can pass a barriers even if it is the same colour as the orb. Members of the opposing team can destroy the barriers by simply choosing 'destroy' option without going near the barriers. Players may fail at removing their opposing team's barriers, but they can simply continuously try to remove it until they succeed. Multiple players can try to remove the same barriers at the same time. Players can remove their own team's barriers without fail.

Each member of the gang can only set one barricade each time. If a player has a barricade still up and tries to put another down, the original barrier will be removed while the new barrier is put in. If the player is standing where the other team is going to put their barrier, they can make a barrier on top of the other team's barrier, and then destroy it.

Fixed games
There is a method of playing known as 50/50 or altar sharing where players form an agreement that each team win an equal number of altars to create a tie game so each player receives a similar amount of Runecrafting guild tokens. This method is highly risky as it is likely that a team may not adhere to the arrangement over the course of the game, therein scamming the opposing team out of tokens. These arrangements tend to draw in fewer tokens than playing a competitive game. Due to this as well as the scam risk, the lack of competition, or it not being the nature of the game, several players see this as an unappealing option. The appearances of these arrangements have dwindled since the 19 August 2008 updates.

Tips

 * Always have at least 8 (or 6 for non-members) inventory spaces reserved for carrying the crafted runes. This eliminates the need of banking runes after each game.
 * Try to keep as many essence as possible until the last round, where Nature runes may be crafted. This is because Nature runes are the most profitable runes, selling for  coins each.
 * Similarly, save essence from the mind round for the water round, as these give more experience and more valuable runes than at the mind altar. The addition of water runecrafting gloves further increases the experience generated. The exception is if the player wants mind runes, when using the mind altar here saves a long and tedious route.
 * If you carry air runecrafting gloves, free players can save the essence from the body round and use it on the next game's air altar, increasing rune value yield and experience created. This is particularly pertinent with the rapid depreciation of the value of body runes following the game's introduction.
 * For free players, the experience per essence increases per round, but after the water altar, the rune value produced goes down at the same time.
 * Organize the team so that some team members are "anchors" and "barrier generators" while others are "scouts". Anchors usually stay close to the altar converting orbs into points for the team. Scouts generally lookout for new orbs to appear, and stray further away from the altar, bringing orbs closer to the altar. Barrier generators (usually found on the Yellow team) block the orbs from getting too close, and perform the barrier glitch. Until the opposing orbs stop responding, it is possible to interfere with them, particularly when the player controlling one has to change position.
 * When orbs are stuck behind a pillar, try standing diagonal to the orbs before attracting the orbs. This way the orbs will go through the Pi-shaped pillars.  If the orb is between the Pi-shaped pillar, try attracting it from BEHIND the Runecrafting altar.
 * Driving the orbs by standing behind them and using the repelling wand is often more effective when threading them through the corners.
 * Try not to attract orbs from team members, especially when team members are facing each other. This results in stalemates, where the orbs do not move in any direction.
 * It is possible to make orbs "stuck" so the other team can't get them back. Repel the other team's orb as far as possible until no one can get them.  This is a great technique to use when there are not many players in the game.

Rewards
When all the rounds are finished, Runecrafting Guild Tokens will be awarded. For each altar that a team wins, each player on that team receives 100 tokens with an additional 200 for the team that won the most altars. If both teams win the same number of altars, each player receives 100 additional tokens. These tokens can be traded with Wizard Elriss for robes, tablets, essences and talisman staves. Note that after the 19 August update, even the losing team may receive tokens based on their performance.

Runecrafter robes



 * {| class="wikitable"

! Image !! Name !! Tokens
 * [[Image:Runecrafter_gloves_g.png]][[Image:Runecrafter_gloves.gif]][[Image:runecrafter gloves y.PNG]]||Runecrafter gloves||1,000
 * [[Image:Runecrafter hat g.png]][[Image:Runecrafter_hat.gif]][[Image:runecrafter hat y.PNG]]||Runecrafter hat||1,000
 * [[Image:Runecrafter_skirt_g.png]][[Image:Runecrafter_skirt.gif]][[Image:Runecrafter_skirt_y.png]]||Runecrafter skirt||1,000
 * [[Image:Runecrafter_robe_g.png]][[Image:Runecrafter_robe.gif]][[Image:Runecrafter robe y.png]]||Runecrafter robe||1,000
 * }
 * [[Image:Runecrafter_skirt_g.png]][[Image:Runecrafter_skirt.gif]][[Image:Runecrafter_skirt_y.png]]||Runecrafter skirt||1,000
 * [[Image:Runecrafter_robe_g.png]][[Image:Runecrafter_robe.gif]][[Image:Runecrafter robe y.png]]||Runecrafter robe||1,000
 * }
 * }
 * }

Notes
 * All three sets may be stored in the Magic wardrobe in the Costume Room.

Bonuses:
 * Runecrafter gloves provide a +2 bonus.
 * Runecrafter robes provide a +3 bonus.
 * Runecrafter skirts provide a +3 bonus.

The bonuses provided by this clothing, in addition to how high the Runecrafting level is, allows the player to get the orbs to move at a slightly faster speed, whether it's attracting or repelling them, and also from a greater distance.

Talismans
All talismans except for death and blood talismans can be purchased with Runecrafting Guild tokens. Free-to-play talismans sell for 50 tokens, and member talismans sell for 125 tokens.

Runecrafting staff
Talisman staves are not actually part of the minigame, but players may utilise the Runecrafting staff rewarded from the game. Buying a Runecrafting staff costs 10,000 runecrafting guild tokens. It allow players to use them exactly as they would use a Runecrafting tiara, as well as distracting the eyes in the Abyss to help them sneak past. To bind a talisman to a staff, simply take the talisman and the Runecrafting staff to the talisman's altar and use either of them on it. A Runecrafting staff that does not have a talisman attached cannot be wielded.

Runecrafting Teleport Tablets
Runecrafting Teleport Tablets are identical in functionality to the teleport tablets that may be built in a player-owned house and may be used to teleport the player to any altar provided they have the requirements to craft the runes. However, players cannot craft their own Runecrafting teleport tablets.

Runecrafting tablets add yet another transport system to RuneScape. Each tablet teleports the user outside the respective rune altar's ruins, and thus require a talisman, tiara, or Runecrafting staff to use the altar.

Rune Essence
The last reward a player may buy with their Runecrafting guild token is essence. Though the reward screen says "Rune Essence", the type of essence received actually depends on the World they are on. Free players obtain Rune essence by exchanging their tokens while Members obtain Pure essence if they are exchanging their tokens on a members world. Players can specify the amount of essence to buy with a "buy X" option. The essence are noted for convenience.

Players can get a max of 1,000 tokens from each 16-minute game (2 minutes per altar; 12 minutes for free players earning a max of 750 tokens). The tokens may then be used to buy 1,000 Pure essence. This is much faster than mining the essence the conventional way unless the player is using an Abyssal titan to take their essence to the bank. In addition, if the essence is unnoted, this would be the fastest way by far for f2p, and a very fast way as well for p2p, to craft runes. A player could simply buy several tele tabs to rune altars and to the guild, and then buy a load of rune essence each time the player teleports back to the Guild.


 * {| class="wikitable"

! Image !! Name !! Tokens !! Details
 * [[Image:Rune_Essence.PNG]] || Rune essence || 1 || Rune essence is obtained if tokens are exchanged in a free world.
 * [[Image:Pure_Essence.PNG]] || Pure essence || 1 || Pure essence is obtained if tokens are exchanged in a members world.
 * }
 * [[Image:Pure_Essence.PNG]] || Pure essence || 1 || Pure essence is obtained if tokens are exchanged in a members world.
 * }

Trivia

 * There is a glitch where players standing in the barrier would disappear leaving only the hat and the wand.
 * There is another glitch where player can set an infinite number of barriers instead of just one. This happens when a player clicks somewhere and then double clicks the barrier wand. (Note that by using this glitch it is possible to create barriers adjacent to the altar, where normally it is not possible.)
 * Another glitch occurs when a player makes a barrier above the flames in the Fire altar (or on any other ground objects, such as on flowers in the Nature altar) and removes the barrier, this removes the object (i.e. fire, flowers, etc.)
 * The orbs move at one uniform speed regardless of how many players are pulling or repelling it at the same time.
 * This minigame is the first skill-related minigame that free players can play.
 * When the exit portal in each altar in examined, the info is, "Look at you, examining things when there's Runecrafting to do!" This could be a reference to the game, Portal. A similar line in Portal appears in the song "Still Alive" and reads: "Look at me still talking, when there's science to do."
 * The way the players attract the orbs looks similar to the stance of the character during dueling scenes in the Harry Potter film series.
 * When a player on either team wins the round and has items which do not allow all the rune essence won in the round to fit in their inventory, the remaining essence is dropped on the ground to be picked up when there is room. When this happens when standing in a barricade, the essence does not end up at the players feet but above his head. When the player moves outside of the barricade, the essence appears to float in the air.
 * Players in a runecrafting altar that are doing 'normal' runecrafting can see players playing The Great Orb Project.
 * Runecrafters not playing the game used to be able to destroy the barriers. This has now been corrected with the non-players only being able to pass through barriers.
 * On 18 August, there was a small update to the game. A wizard could place the player on the team with less players. A bug occurred in which some games had no players on one team and many on the other, leading to very easy wins. This is done by staying behind at a previous altar while the following happens: if enough players quit while at the altar one ahead, causing the teams to be too uneven and the game ended, any players remaining at the previous altar will not be pulled out of the game with the rest of the team. This bug has yet to be fixed.
 * There is also a glitch where when everyone except one person has gone throught the exit portal and the teams are unbalanced, everyone that went throught the exit portal is booted out of the game, leaving the one person left behind in the game to play by him/herself.
 * Another glitch has been observed, in which both the players and the orbs are unable to pass through certain gaps between the standing stones surrounding the altars. This may be due the the effect of barriers created in previous games, and has not yet been corrected.

Music
Music unlocked:
 * Second Vision