Changes: Free-to-play

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Free-to-play, also known as 'F2P', is the free version of RuneScape. Players who play the free version are known as 'free players', 'F2Ps', or 'non-members'.

Overview

The free part of RuneScape is a sample, and members is the full version. There is no limit to the amount of time free players are able to continue playing for free. Free players only enjoy about 10% of everything RuneScape has to offer. If they want to, they can then pay a monthly fee and become a member (granting access to more skills, locations, items, etc.). F2P (free-to-play) is recommended if one is only playing rarely (less than 2 days a week). Formerly, the free-to-play RuneScape was its only form, prior to the introduction of members and the subsequent creation of RS2. The P2P servers were intended to benefit all of RuneScape.

With respect to gameplay, the majority of new updates within RuneScape are restricted to members. Except where the update concerns graphics or the addition of new servers, the free version of RuneScape has remained static since the introduction of members' servers and the 3-D RuneScape 2. Free-to-play servers have seen the addition of one new quest, one highly limited skill as a direct result of that quest, the tutorial island, a handful of prayers, token ranging equipment, and the Stronghold of Security, along with twelve bank spots, in contrast to the near-weekly updates given to members. In addition, the in-game area open to non-members has decreased slightly, and most outside-of-game features (such as the forums) are open to members only. Most recently, Jagex has changed access to RuneScape Classic, making it members-only.

Advantages

Listed below are some of the advantages non-members have over members.

No cost

Players are not required to pay, nor is there a cut-off period. Free-to-play now acts as a demo to most players: some may find they do not enjoy the game, and are able to leave without losing money, and others may use the free-to-play version to learn the basic skills of the game before launching themselves into membership or may even play as a non-member for the rest of their life.

Simpler play

As restricted as the play is, players are able to devote more time to social or fun activities. That is, free players can relax, not feeling as if they are wasting in-game time (and the money spent in order to get this time) they could use to train, make money, or do quests.

Greater sense of achievement

Because skills are generally easier to train on members, some players consider getting a certain goal on the free version to be bigger of an achievement than getting it on members.

Less chance of death

As a member, you have to worry about certain monsters that have poison abilities. Free players do not have to worry about getting poisoned as it is a shame to be a high level player, get poisoned without knowing it, dying, and losing a lot of money. But of course there is a disadvantage to that, as you yourself can't use poisoned weapons.

Disadvantages

Despite the advantages of free play, there are numerous disadvantages to F2P, which Jagex has no intention of addressing.

Smaller world area

The world which free players have access to is very small compared to what members have. Free players have access to 10% of RuneScape, whereas members have access to the whole world.

Few quests

Free players can only complete 18 quests, whereas members can complete an additional 100+, with 1-3 new members quests being added monthly.

No Capes of Accomplishment

Free players can train skills to 99, but cannot buy any Capes of Accomplishment.

Limited access to skills

Free players have access to 15 skills whereas members have access to 24 skills in total. Free players also have limited access to the skills available to them. For example, free players cannot cut maple trees whereas members can (although maple logs can be bought and burned in F2P servers).

Fewer items

Free players have access to under 1,000 items, whereas members have access to over 8,000. In addition, many of the items members can access are more powerful, have unique abilities, are more valuable, or a combination of all three. Members items in free worlds are known as Members objects.

Less equipment

Free players cannot use as many weapons or as much armour as members can. Free users can only use certain rune equipment, while members can get more advanced equipment such as Dragon armour and Barrows equipment.

Slower Training

Free players do not have access to as many locations which allow for fast leveling of skills/combat. In addition, the free worlds are often crowded, and players often have more competition for monster and item respawns. Also, for most skills, there are fewer methods that allow training. For example, training prayer on members is about 20 times faster (given the right resources) and a fraction of the cost.

=== bob

Less Bank Space

Free players have a 68-item maximum in bank, although free players do not have as many items to store as members. Proportionately, however, this bank space is far less than what members receive. Additionally, members can store numerous items in the player owned homes.

Rare Updates

The free game is rarely updated. There have been very few new free-to-play quests or areas released since the launch of the pay-to-play version of RuneScape. Some exceptions include the Rune Mysteries quest, the Stronghold of Security, Bounty Hunter, Clan Wars, the new ability to fight in the Duel Arena[new quest] (although f2p cannot access the tournament feature), The Grand Exchange and the Party Room (which was moved from a members area to a free-to-play area). Generally, the only updates which affect non-members are interface, music, and graphics updates. Free-to-play servers are added consistently, however. Usually, the free game does get holiday items every year.

Rule-Breakers

Due in part to the larger crowds, Free-to-Play is prone to contain more scammers and general rule-breakers. Most notable of these are the macro users: players using programs to repeat specific tasks. This is especially common at areas containing Yew Trees. Most scammers make accounts with long or hard to remember user names (example: bjngjnjnjtr45) This username requires letters from different parts of the keyboard. So that if he/she ever scams the scammed player would not remember the username to report. Most scammers can easily make a level 3 account and scam, for example be aware of all these hints.

Less rule enforcement

Although the same set of rules apply to members and non members alike, recent evidence including an announcement by Jagex have indicated that they are focusing their resources to catch rule-breakers in P2P worlds. This means that while free-to-play players are not immune to prosecution, they are less likely to come under Jagex's eye.

Other

Free-to-play friend and ignore lists can only hold 100 people while pay-to-play friend and ignore lists can hold 200 people.
Cannot post in the Jagex official forums.
Members have a priority in Customer sevice.
Can only vote in some polls.

@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 Free players do not have access to as many locations which allow for fast leveling of skills/combat. In addition, the free worlds are often crowded, and players often have more competition for monster and item [[respawn]]s. Also, for most skills, there are fewer methods that allow training. For example, training [[prayer]] on members is about 20 times faster (given the right resources) and a fraction of the cost.
+=== bob
-=== Lower maximum combat level===
-When [[Summoning]] was released in January 2008, free-to-play players only have a maximum combat level of 126, whereas members can train up to level 138 combat. This is because Summoning is members only (As of January 12 2008) and adds to combat as well. However, the raised combat level due to Summoning will not appear in free-to-play worlds.
 ===Less Bank Space===