Members


 * See also Free-to-play

Pay-to-play or Members are users who have paid subscriptions, and are sometimes referred to as "p2pers". The Members version of RuneScape was first announced on October 4, 2001 and launched on February 28, 2002. Most updates to RuneScape only concern members. Members have many more privileges and usable features in the game and on the RuneScape website.

Payment
Membership costs $5 USD/£3.20/$8.20 ASD GBP per month via credit card, although other methods cost more. This is a relatively low price compared to other MMORPGS (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) such as Guild Wars, which is bought on a compact disc for anywhere from $20-$60 depending on the campaign, although it has no monthly payment, and World of Warcraft, which costs $20-$80 for the disc depending on whether the expansion pack is included, and is additionally $12 a month for game play. RuneScape is also unique among MMORPGS in that it also has a free-to-play version, and is hosted on a web site rather than being distributed on discs. For more detailed payment information, see below.

Payment Methods
There are a wide variety of payment methods for RuneScape. Several payment providers who have agreements with Jagex process the transactions, and compete to offer better prices and availability.

The provider PayByCash also provides a number of payment methods. PayByCash offers different costs for different lengths of payment. Costs are listed in the table below, while the payment methods that PayByCash offers are in the table below that.

Note that costs are taken from |the RuneScape Knowledge Base, where an asterisk next to the cost listings for PayByCash states:

''Cost per month dependent on chosen payment method. Exact amount will be displayed during subscription process.''

Quite interesting that the cost per month of the 12 month plan is actually higher than the cost per month of the 6 month plan. It appears that the 6 month plan gives the better deal, however in the Knowledge Base article above, the cost is claimed to be $5.50 USD per month for the 12 month plan. This claim is unverified at the present time.

Note that PayByCash also accepts several other payment methods. See |PayByCash's complete list of accepted payment methods for details. Note that not all of PayByCash's payment options are available for all services or to people in all countries.

Extra Features
Membership unlocks many features of RuneScape that are not available to free players. Almost all recent updates to RuneScape are available to members, but not to free players. There are very few quests available to free players, while new quests available to members are added at a rate of 2-3 a month. There is a condensed list of features unlocked with membership below:


 * Extra skills
 * Higher capabilities in other skills
 * Use of several transportation systems
 * Three times as much explorable map area
 * More accessible servers (members can access free-to-play worlds and pay-to-play worlds, although they cannot access members only features in free-to-play worlds)
 * Mini-games and other features, such as dueling under set rules and risks
 * Better equipment, such as Dragon, Barrows, and Crystal weapons and armor
 * More bank space (Non-members get only 60 bank spaces while members get 400)
 * More items available
 * Many more quests
 * More music and sound effects
 * More space on the Friend list and Ignore list (Members get 200 spaces while non-members get 100)
 * Use of the Forums on the RuneScape website
 * Ability to vote in polls on RuneScape website

It is important to note that these benefits will only be available if the member logs onto a members server. If a members-only item is on a non-members server it will not be usable. The name of the item is replaced with "Members Item" and the examine is "Login to a members server to use this."

Members Only Skills
Currently there are seven skills in RuneScape that are only available to members out of a total of 23 skills. The members only skills are listed in alphabetical order below:


 * Agility
 * Construction
 * Farming
 * Herblore
 * Hunter
 * Thieving
 * Slayer

There are many benefits to unlocking these skills. Many members quests have members skill requirements. Agility allows run energy to recharge faster, and allows entry to certain areas and use of many shortcuts. With Construction, players can build their own player-owned house. Farming allows players to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, and trees that only they will be able to cut. Herblore lets players make potions to aid them in combat. Hunter unlocks new items. Thieving allows entry into certain areas as well as being an easy money source. Slayer unlocks new monsters and items, as well as the Magic Dart spell.

Because free players do not have access to these seven skills, they cannot be raised. This makes it difficult for free players to be listed on the hiscores, and makes them look less experienced overall. Members only skills make up almost a third of the total number of skills to train in RuneScape.

Members Only Areas
Free players have very limited access to the world of RuneScape. Free players can only access the kingdoms of Asgarnia and Misthalin, a bit of Karamja and most of the Wilderness. Membership allows full access to the entire map. Remember that these new lands bring with them new quests, people, activities to explore.

Here is a short list of some, but not all of the lands reserved for members (Regions and cities/towns/notable features included):


 * Morytania
 * Canifis
 * Port Phasmatys
 * Mort'ton
 * Haunted Woods
 * Mort Myre Swamp
 * Burgh de Rott
 * Meiyerditch
 * Slayer Tower
 * Kharidian Desert
 * Menaphos
 * Sophanem
 * Pollnivneach
 * Nardah
 * Kalphite Lair
 * Bedabin Camp
 * Bandit Camp
 * Ruins of Uzer
 * Kandarin
 * Ardougne
 * Catherby
 * Seer's Village
 * Yanille
 * Tree Gnome Stronghold
 * Tree Gnome Village
 * Fremennik Province
 * Trollweiss Mountain
 * White Wolf Mountain
 * Eagle's Peak
 * Waterbirth Island
 * Port Khazard
 * Piscatoris
 * Witchaven
 * Tirannwn
 * Lletya
 * Isafdar
 * Prifddinas
 * Arandar
 * Tyras Camp
 * Large amounts of Karamja
 * Brimhaven
 * Shilo Village
 * Tai Bwo Wannai
 * Kharazi Jungle
 * Cairn Isle
 * Fremennik Isles
 * Neitiznot
 * Jatizso
 * Miscellania
 * Etceteria
 * Feldip Hills
 * Gu'Tanoth
 * More of Asgarnia
 * Burthorpe
 * Taverley
 * Ape Atoll
 * Miram

All of those areas and several more are exclusive to members.

Minigames
All of the minigames in RuneScape are members only. Minigames are cooperative competitions between players and other players or just a game players can play on there own or in teams. Minigames can be good methods to gain experience in combat or non-combat skills, or just fun competition between players. Minigames are one of the most enjoyable aspects of RuneScape that are restricted to members.

Here is an alphabetical list of the currently available minigames, along with a short explanation:


 * Agility Pyramid - An excellent way for players to quickly train Agility, as well as a decent source of money.
 * Barbarian Assault - A fun team combat minigame which unlocks new armor.
 * Barrows - An enjoyable, challenging single player combat minigame which has valuable rewards, including the desirable Barrows equipment, which is among the best armor in the game!
 * Blast Furnace - An efficient way to smelt bars of metal, as well as a good source of experience in several different skills.
 * Brimhaven Agility Arena - A great Agility trainer for players with moderately high Agility levels.
 * Burthorpe Games Room - A room where players can compete in various board games.
 * Castle Wars - An extremely popular competitive game of combat Capture the Flag, in which two teams infiltrate each the enemy castle and fight to score. Tickets rewarded to the winners can be exchanged for decorative Castle Wars armor and capes. Complicated strategy and tactics have been developed as well!
 * Champion Challenge - Engage the titans of eight different races of monsters in special rules battles! If you defeat them all, you can face the human champion!
 * Duel Arena - Tensions abound in the famed Arena where players face off in a one-versus-one battle to the death. Customizable rules, fine-tuned strategy, and stakes ranging from nothing to millions of coins fill the Arena with a sense of excitement.
 * Fishing Trawler - An interesting fishing minigame in which players sail along the sea trying to keep a leaking ship afloat while they fix their net and catch some fish! Rewards are fish up to your fishing level, so the higher the better!
 * Gnome Ball - A challenging Agility minigame where players try to pass and charge with a small ball towards a hoop to score a goal, while defending gnomes attempt to tackle them before they can throw it. Players earn both Agility and Ranging experience if they're successful!
 * Gnome Restaurant - Players try their hand at delivering food to hungry customers in record speed! A variety of unique items and other rewards are available.
 * Mage Arena - Learn the legendary God Spells and earn your God Cape and God Staff! These spells powerful additions to any magic user's aresenal.
 * Mage Training Arena - One of the fastest ways to earn Magic experience; the Arena offers four different minigames each involving a different type of magic. If you are successful in these games, you can earn Pizzazz points to exchange for runes or the valued Infinity Robes!
 * Pest Control - This immensely popular team combat minigame involves protecting the vulnerable Void Knight while you fight incoming monsters. Commendation Points which can be exchanged for experience in any combat skill as well as a selection of items are rewarded to successful teams.
 * Pyramid Plunder - A source of extremely fast Thieving experience. Combat is interestingly integrated into the game.
 * Ranging Minigame - A fast way to train Ranging which can even be profitable! Players can even exchange tickets earned as rewards for coveted rune arrows.
 * Rat Pits - Players can train their cats to be a fierce hellcat or a clever Wiley cat in these arenas of battle between cat and mouse, then show off their fully trained cats to their friends!
 * Rogue's Den - Players show their deft abilities as they navigate this tricky maze filled with traps and obstacles. Fail and be teleported out! Depending on success, players earn fair amounts of Agility and Thieving experience as well as Rogue Armor displaying their skill.
 * Shades of Mort'ton - Build up a temple and defend it from attacking evil spirits! One of the best ways to train Crafting, a good source of Firemaking experience, or a good way for players to test their prowess in combat and see how long they can last against the shades while they train up their combat skills!
 * Sorceress's Garden - Players attempt to sneak around watchful elementals guarding their gardens to get the a Sq'irk Tree to pick Sq'irk fruits. If caught, they are teleported out! Excellent Thieving experience.
 * Tai Bwo Wannai Cleanup - Help clean up the village of Tai Bwo Wannai. Beware, as players may encounter dangerous Bush Snakes and Broodoo Victims! Players earn the village currency of trading sticks for a reward.
 * Tears of Guthix - Collect the tears of the God of Balance in a sacred cave guarded by his faithful snake servant Juna. The tears give the best reward of all - experience in the players' worst skill.
 * Temple Trekking - Escort citizens through the dangerous Mort Myre Swamp in Morytania to a temple on the River Salve. If successful, players earn tokens exchangeable for a random reward, including resources such as herbs or ores, or tomes exchangeable for experience in specific skills!
 * Treasure trail - Players follow cryptic clues on wild chases to valuable rewards. Rewards include runes, Holy Book pages, Trimmed Armor, God Armor, Third Age Armor, and much more!
 * Trouble Brewing - Two teams compete as each try to brew the most bottles of rum! Experience in a variety of skills can be earned for performing the many complicated tasks needed in the process of rum production.
 * TzHaar Fight Cave - Players fight alone against an army of Tzhaar monsters! If they can withstand the masses, and defeat the dreaded TzTok-Jad, the most powerful monster in the game, they can earn the coveted Fire cape! Winners as well as less fortunate participants earn varied amounts of the Tzhaar currency of Tokkul.
 * TzHaar Fight Pit - Players are thrown into pits where they fight an every-man-for-himself battle to the death! Deadly alliances and betrayals are all a part of the game. Tokkul is rewarded to the winner of each round.

Most members try out all the minigames at least once. Each is enjoyable, and most of them have excellent rewards.

Unlockable Capabilities in Skills
Free players are limited in their access to free-to-play skills. Since areas and training methods are also limited, it can be difficult for free players to obtain high levels in these skills. Free players cannot use members items for combat and use some of the capabilities reached at higher levels in the free skills. Many guilds are located in members only areas. Membership brings full access to not only several members skills, but also the free skills.

Here is a list of some capabilities in free skills available to only members:


 * Attack
 * Ability to wield salamanders (also have Ranged and Magic requirements)
 * Use of poisoned daggers and spears
 * Dragon weapons at level 60
 * Barrows weapons as well as Abyssal Whip at level 70
 * Defence
 * Granite armour at level 50 (also requires 50 Strength)
 * Dragon Armour at level 60
 * Barrows armor at level 70
 * Strength
 * Granite maul at level 50
 * Granite armour at level 50 (also requires 50 Defence)
 * Obsidian maul and Dragon halberd at level 60
 * Hitpoints
 * Just the skillcape at level 99, although it can be more difficult for free players to get to level 99 Hitpoints
 * Ranged
 * Ability to wield salamanders (also have Attack and Magic requirements)
 * Use of poisoned arrows
 * Use of thrown weapons including darts, throwing knives, throwing axes, javelins, Grey Chinchompas, and Red Chinchompas
 * Use of metal (past bronze), special, gem-tipped, and enchanted bolts
 * Ability to wield metal crossbows
 * Dorgeshuun crossbows can be wielded at level 28
 * Hunter's crossbows can be wielded at level 50
 * Magic longbows and Magic shortbows can be wielded at level 50
 * Blue, Red, and Black dragonhide armor can be worn at levels 50, 60, and 70 respectively
 * Crystal bow can be wielded at level 70
 * Karil's crossbow and Karil's armor can be equipped at level 70
 * Magic
 * Ability to wield salamanders (also have Attack and Ranged requirements)
 * Mystic Robes and Splitbark Armour can be worn at level 40
 * Ahrim's Robes can be worn at level 70
 * Prayer
 * The prayers Retribution (level 46), Redemption (49), and Smite (52) are only available to members
 * Cooking
 * Ability to cook monkfish at level 62
 * Ability to cook sharks at level 80
 * Woodcutting
 * Access to maple trees and hollow trees at level 45
 * Ability to use Dragon axe at level 61
 * Access to magic trees at level 75
 * Fishing
 * Fly fishing at Shilo Village for faster training
 * The Fishing Guild can be entered at level 68
 * Sharks can be fished at level 80
 * Firemaking
 * Better logs can be burned
 * Use of Bullseye lanterns at level 49
 * Crafting
 * Ability to spin flax into bowstrings at level 10
 * Ability to craft Yak hide armour
 * Ability to craft Snakeskin armour
 * Ability to craft Dragonhide armour
 * Ability to craft Dragonstone and Onyx Jewellery
 * Smithing
 * Ability to smith Rune items at level 85+
 * Mining
 * Access to Coal Trucks for faster coal mining
 * Ability to mine pure essence at level 30 (also requires completion of Rune Mysteries quest)
 * Ability to mine gem rocks in Shilo Village at level 40
 * Ability to mine runite ore at level 85
 * Runecrafting
 * Ability to craft mist runes at level 6
 * Ability to craft dust runes at level 10
 * Ability to craft mud runes at level 13
 * Ability to craft smoke runes at level 15
 * Ability to craft steam runes at level 19
 * Ability to craft lava runes at level 23
 * Ability to craft cosmic runes at level 27
 * Ability to craft chaos runes at level 35
 * Ability to craft astral runes at level 40
 * Ability to craft nature runes at level 44
 * Ability to craft law runes at level 54
 * Ability to craft death runes at level 65

Members Only Quests
The vast majority of quests in RuneScape are restricted to members. These quests unlock important features, new areas, new transportation systems, and new skills. There are currently 18 free quests, and 103 members only quests. A complete list of members quests is below:


 * Animal Magnetism
 * Between a Rock...
 * Big Chompy Bird Hunting
 * Biohazard
 * Cabin Fever
 * Clock Tower
 * Cold War
 * Contact
 * Creature of Fenkenstrain
 * Darkness of Hallowvale
 * Death Plateau
 * Death to the Dorgeshuun
 * Desert Treasure
 * Devious Minds
 * Digsite Quest
 * Druidic Ritual
 * Dwarf Cannon
 * Eadgar's Ruse
 * Eagles' Peak
 * Elemental Workshop
 * Elemental Workshop II
 * Enakhra's Lament
 * Enlightened Journey
 * The Eyes of Glouphrie
 * A Fairy Tale Part I
 * A Fairy Tale Part II
 * Family Crest
 * The Feud
 * Fight Arena
 * Fishing Contest
 * Forgettable Tale of a Drunken Dwarf
 * The Fremennik Trials
 * The Fremennik Isles
 * Garden of Tranquility
 * Gertrude's Cat
 * Ghosts Ahoy
 * The Giant Dwarf
 * The Golem
 * The Grand Tree
 * The Great Brain Robbery
 * The Hand in the Sand
 * Haunted Mine
 * Hazeel Cult
 * Heroes Quest
 * Holy Grail
 * Horror from the Deep
 * Icthlarin's Little Helper
 * In Aid of the Myreque
 * In Search of the Myreque
 * Jungle Potion
 * Legends Quest
 * Lost City
 * The Lost Tribe
 * Lunar Diplomacy
 * Making History
 * Merlin's Crystal
 * Monkey Madness
 * Monk's Friend
 * Mountain Daughter
 * Mourning's Ends Part I
 * Mourning's Ends Part II
 * Murder Mystery
 * My Arm's Big Adventure
 * Nature Spirit
 * Observatory Quest
 * One Small Favour
 * Plague City
 * Priest in Peril
 * Rag and Bone Man
 * Rat Catchers
 * Recipe for Disaster
 * Recruitment Drive
 * Regicide
 * Roving Elves
 * Royal Trouble
 * Rum Deal
 * Scorpion Catcher
 * Sea Slug Quest
 * Shades of Mort'ton
 * Shadow of the Storm
 * Sheep Herder
 * Shilo Village
 * Slug Menace
 * A Soul's Bane
 * Spirits of the Elid
 * Swan Song
 * Tai Bwo Wannai Trio
 * A Tail of Two Cats
 * Tears of Guthix
 * Temple of Ikov
 * Throne of Miscellania
 * The Tourist Trap
 * Tower of Life
 * Tree Gnome Village
 * Tribal Totem
 * Troll Romance
 * Troll Stronghold
 * Underground Pass
 * Wanted!
 * Watch Tower
 * Waterfall Quest
 * Witch's House
 * Zogre Flesh Eaters

Extra Servers
Members can access and log into servers reserved for the pay-to-play version of RuneScape. If members wish to, they may also log into free-to-play worlds, although on these servers they can't use many in-game features that are accessible only in pay-to-play worlds. There are 59 members only worlds out of a total of 138 worlds.

A list of worlds that are members only:


 * World 2
 * World 6
 * World 12
 * World 18
 * World 22
 * World 23
 * World 24
 * World 26
 * World 27
 * World 28
 * World 31
 * World 36
 * World 39
 * World 42
 * World 44
 * World 48
 * World 53
 * World 54
 * World 56
 * World 58
 * World 59
 * World 60
 * World 64
 * World 65
 * World 66
 * World 69
 * World 70
 * World 71
 * World 76
 * World 77
 * World 78
 * World 79
 * World 82
 * World 83
 * World 84
 * World 88
 * World 89
 * World 91
 * World 92
 * World 97
 * World 98
 * World 99
 * World 100
 * World 103
 * World 104
 * World 110
 * World 111
 * World 112
 * World 114
 * World 115
 * World 116
 * World 120
 * World 121
 * World 124
 * World 129
 * World 130
 * World 131
 * World 132
 * World 137
 * World 138

Additional Website Features
Players who opt for pay-to-play are given access to a few sections of the RuneScape website that are unavailable to free players. Currently only two parts of the website are reserved for members:


 * The forums - Free players may view forum threads but cannot add posts to threads or create new threads. This makes it more difficult to use a valuable method of communication, which can limit contact with other players in the Marketplace, Game, RS-Classic, and Community forum sections for trading, clan recruitment, clan discussion, game discussion, or other reasons, as well as removing the only easy way to contact Jagex: the Support section of the forums, which allows for suggestion of updates, rants, complaints, and feedback.
 * Polls - Free players also cannot vote in polls. Polls are important because they are a main method of receiving feedback for Jagex. Poll results often affect future updates.

Membership Strategy
In order to save money, some players will pay for a few months of membership and then cancel or end payments. Before becoming a member, they will prepare for the new features by obtaining items that will allow them to quickly train members only skills and do members only quests. After they have completed their desired goals, they will cancel their membership and begin preparation again. While most members do not chose to switch like this, it is a good idea to obtain items that new members will need in large amounts before beginning membership.

Soon-to-be member checklist:


 * Regular, oak, and willow logs to quickly train Fletching
 * Food such as cakes or lobsters to train Agility quickly
 * Vials and secondary ingredients for Herblore
 * Enough coins to pay for all the equipment and skill items that you plan to buy once you are a member
 * Items to utilize new capabilities in free skills that come with membership
 * Items required to do basic member quests you plan to complete
 * All free quests done (Yes, Dragon Slayer is absolutely necessary)

Recommended Skill Levels

 * 60+ Attack, Strength, Defense, Hitpoints, and Woodcutting
 * 50+ Magic, Ranged, Fishing, Cooking, and Mining
 * 43+ Prayer
 * 40+ Smithing
 * 30+ Crafting, Runecrafting, and Firemaking

Recommended Members Quests

 * Immediate Quests (these quests open the members world to you) - Complete the following quests within a week of membership (you should already have the items):
 * Druidic Ritual - Unlocks the Herblore skill
 * Elemental Workshop - Basic members quest that gives good experience and is required for further quests
 * Fishing Contest - Allows use of passage under White Wolf Mountain
 * Gertrude's Cat - Great basic introductory quest
 * Priest in Peril - Unlocks the region of Morytania
 * Plague City - Basic members quest that allows use of Ardougne Teleport spell and begins a long series of quests


 * Short term quest goals (these will unlock new features and build your list of completed quests) - Complete the following quests within a few weeks to a month of membership (some items should be gathered):
 * Biohazard - Easy, continuation of Plague City series
 * Death Plateau - Don't be afraid to take on trolls
 * Dwarf Cannon - Allows use of Dwarf multicannon
 * Fremennik Trials - Begins exploration of Fremennik Province, good skill rewards
 * Family Crest - Great reward, not too difficult
 * Holy Grail - Excellent reward
 * Jungle Potion - Begins Karamja quests, gives Herblore experience
 * Lost City - Allows Dragon longsword and Dragon dagger to be wielded and allows access to Zanaris
 * Merlin's Crystal - An important cornerstone quest


 * Development quests (these will expand your members knowledge and prepare you for further questing) - Complete the following quests within 2 or 3 months of membership (build on quests completed previously):
 * A Fairy Tale Part I - Have you been training Farming?
 * Eagle's Peak - How about Hunter?
 * Ghosts Ahoy - Explore Morytania
 * Grand Tree - Continues Gnome series
 * Hero's Quest - Allows Dragon battleaxe and Dragon mace to be wielded and allows access to Hero's Guild
 * In Search of the Myreque - Build on your work in Nature Spirit
 * Nature Spirit - Travel in the Mort Myre Swamp
 * Shilo Village Quest - Welcome to Shilo
 * Tourist Trap - Working towards Desert Treasure
 * Tree Gnome Village - The Gnome series begins
 * Troll Stronghold - Reward is Trollheim Teleport spell and law talisman
 * The Feud - Easy desert quest that helps with Thieving
 * Underground Pass - Slightly difficult but reward is Iban's Staff
 * Waterfall Quest - Difficult but very rewarding


 * Long-term quests (these are where you begin to become a strong player) - Complete the following quests within 6-8 months of membership:
 * One Small Favour
 * Tai Bwo Wannai Trio
 * Monkey Madness
 * Regicide
 * Roving Elves
 * Shades of Mort'ton
 * In Aid of the Myreque
 * Legends Quest
 * Horror from the Deep
 * Fight Arena

Conclusion
This concludes the guide to RuneScape membership. Membership should be a carefully planned step made by prepared players. Players who prepare, plan, and set goals for the first few months of membership will experience easy success and soon be well on their way to becoming an advanced player.

Disclaimer
All information pertaining to RuneScape membership payment methods, prices, available locations, payment method providers, or other payment related information was taken from the above sources. Prices under the jurisdiction of JaGeX Limited, and subject to change at their choice. The RuneScape Wiki, Wikipedia, and the Wikimedia Foundation take no responsibility for incorrect or out-of-date misinformation.