Random events

Random events exist in RuneScape to discourage cheaters from using macros to play the game for them. Some random events are harmful, yet others will benefit the player, if they are responded to correctly. Random events replaced the "fatigue" system in RuneScape Classic.

Monster levels
The level and max hit of some monsters depends upon player level:

Guardians
Guardian random events are monsters that will attack players. They are usually quite powerful and often the best option is to run away, because they won't pursue for very long. Players who feel up to the challenge can try and defeat them, collecting the items they may drop. The level of the monsters depend on your own combat level.


 * Rock golem - Mining
 * River troll - Fishing
 * Shade and zombie - Prayer
 * Tree spirit - Woodcutting
 * Watchman - Thieving (Discontinued)



Gift givers
Some random events in RuneScape will simply give players gifts if they take advantage of them. Note that some random events can simply be avoided by running away from the area that you're in... others cannot be avoided at all. For example, you can run away from the Drunken Dwarf, Rick Turpentine or a Security Guard (though they will follow you until you get quite a distance away!) but you cannot run away from the Sandwich Lady or any event that transports you temporarily to another location such as the Mime event. Those randoms such as the Sandwich Lady will keep teleporting themselves to whatever location you choose to run to. If you go up or down ladders or stairs or teleport, they will STILL follow you! However... they can sometimes be ignored completely without having to run, depending on what repetitive task you're doing. For example, if you have at least 300+ Nature runes and the same amount of noted items to high alch, you can repeatedly high alch those items over and over and over again... all the while ignoring the random event. As long as you keep doing the same task, the random has no chance to interrupt you... and eventually, they will disappear. Ironically, if you keep high alching, you might get two or more random events at the same time. Having this happen tends to raise the attention of other players so be prepared to be accused of macroing.
 * Beekeeper (members only) - Mandatory task
 * Candlelight (members only) - Mandatory Task
 * Certers - Avoidable
 * Dr. Ford (discontinued)
 * Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (members only) - Avoidable
 * Drill Demon - Mandatory Task
 * Drunken Dwarf - Avoidable [[Image:2_dwarfs.PNG|frame|right|Even though rare, it is posible to get more than 1 random event without alching.]]
 * Freaky Forester - Mandatory Task
 * Frogs - Mandatory Task
 * Genie - Avoidable
 * Grab the Evil Twin - Mandatory Task
 * Gravedigger - Mandatory Task
 * Lost & Found office (also known as the Abyssal network) - Mandatory Task
 * Lost Pirate - Avoidable
 * Maze - Mandatory Task
 * Mime - Mandatory Task
 * Mysterious Old Man - Avoidable
 * Pillory (members only) - Mandatory Task
 * Pinball (you're sent there by the Mysterious Old Man) - Mandatory Task
 * Pirate's Combination Lock (members only) - Mandatory Task
 * Prison Pete - Mandatory Task
 * Quiz Master - Mandatory Task
 * Rick Turpentine - Avoidable
 * Sandwich Lady - Avoidable
 * Strange Box - Mandatory Task
 * Strange Plant (members only) - Avoidable
 * Security Guard - Avoidable
 * Surprise Exam! - Mandatory Task
 * Evil Bob - Mandatory Task



Dangerous Random Events
Most random events are beneficial or at least not too much of a bother. Most NPC's involved with random events can be done away with by answering their request to acknowledge them or talk to them. There are some random events which should generally be avoided due to the risk of losing items or even killing the character, especially lower level characters and players who are not prepared for battle.


 * Ent - Stop cutting the tree ASAP or your axe will break!
 * Evil chicken - Run away or fight it to the death. Protect from magic prayer can be used to avoid all damage (as long as your points last). It can be worth slaying for the feather drop.
 * Exploding Rock - Stop mining the rocks or your pickaxe will break & you will take damage!
 * Poison Gas (members only) - Run away!
 * Swarm - Although not very dangerous, the swarm cannot be hit, so the best thing to do is run away.
 * Tangle Vine (discontinued)
 * Shade - Run away or fight it to the death. Protect from melee prayer can be used to avoid all damage (as long as your points last).
 * Strange Plant - can be attacked but pick the fruit to heal you if it poisons you.
 * Zombie - Run away or fight it to the death. Protect from melee prayer can be used to avoid all damage (as long as your points last). Zombies can sometimes drop several dragon/big bones.
 * Tree spirit - Run away or fight it to the death. Protect from melee prayer can be used to avoid all damage (as long as your points last). It can be worth slaying for the drop.
 * Rock Golem - Stop mining the rocks & run away or fight it to the death. Protect from melee or range prayer can be used to avoid damage (as long as your points last) though the revised Golem will also range you by tossing smaller rocks from a distance so it's important to have the right protection prayer engaged.
 * Big fish - Bites onto your equipment and spits it away up onto the bank nearby. Grab your fishing gear or it WILL disappear! Note that this event isn't actually dangerous nor will you get anything from it.
 * Whirlpool - Move away from it or your fishing gear will be tossed from you. Note that this event isn't actually dangerous nor will you get anything from it.

Discontinued
Some random events few people know about because they only ran for a short time, were very buggy, or were taken out for balance reasons or not finished and never released.


 * Dr. Ford
 * Tangle Vine
 * Watchman
 * Axe handle/axe head

Annoying, Non-Rewarding
Many players find most random events useless and time wasting because they do tend to happen whilst doing something important (such as training a skill, doing a quest, etc). Many players consider the Mysterious Old Man's box event very annoying, constant, and rewards they don't need or want. Some, however, enjoy the rewards granted, especially the costumes.

Trivia

 * In the feast cut scene of the Recipe for Disaster quest, the Duke gets the strange box random event, and Evil Bob teleports Osman away, which is probably a reference to how players find them annoying and interrupting.


 * Many random events occur at the grand exchange. In a busy world, there will be at least one a minute.