Old School Runescape Sailing goes to the polls as its first new skill

Outdated Faculty Runescape unveils its first new talent, Crusing, and the group at Jagex desires to know when you prefer it sufficient to maintain. The OSRS Crusing talent would be the first ever talent launched to the basic MMORPG since its launch a decade in the past, however it’s solely staying if Old School Runescape gamers vote to maintain it. It’s already trying somewhat spectacular, although, so learn on to set sail and see what you consider Jagex’s new creation.

The will for a brand new talent has been sturdy among the many OSRS group – when Jagex initially polled participant curiosity within the thought of including a talent, the outcomes got here again with 80.9% of gamers in favor. It’s thrilling information, as a result of together with the talent itself comes new coaching strategies, quests, and even locations to discover – that means it’s rather more than a easy quantity.

Crusing, then, is the talent that the group has developed. First pitched in March 2023, the talent has now been absolutely fleshed-out to create “a diverse utility talent that’s all about journey and discovery.” The group says it hopes Crusing efficiently “retains an Outdated Faculty really feel whereas offering recent new content material so that you can get pleasure from.”

As you may count on, you’ll begin your Crusing journey by visiting a port, the place your ship may be saved safely when you go about your on a regular basis, on-land enterprise. These are pure group hubs for different budding sailors. You’ll have the choice to purchase, construct, and even steal a ship, and may then improve it utilizing Crafting, Development, or Smithing to enhance the likes of its well being and protection, pace, and steering.

There’s all method of customization choices, after all – new appears may be unlocked with ranges and the correct supplies, and you may rent and handle NPC crewmates that will help you really sail the factor. You’ll be capable of head out and tackle Crusing-specific requests, in addition to discover oceanic loot on the market as you sail, which might then be bought to or traded with retailers if you return again to port.

So how does Crusing work in Outdated Faculty Runescape? It makes use of the usual point-and-click controls, though you’ll must take care of the pure turning circles. There are three completely different ship sizes – small, giant, and colossal – so you may select to be mild and nimble or go for a extra sturdy vessel with extra services, able to stocking up on crewmates and storing your plunder.

The ship controls are dealt with individually out of your character, so that you’ll be capable of management your precise character and work together with their environment even whereas the ship is transferring. There are three ocean sorts to discover – shallow seas, open seas, and deep seas, with the latter being notably harmful to navigate in something however the largest ships.

You’ll achieve Crusing XP any time you work together along with your numerous ship services – this contains trimming the sails to catch the wind because it shifts route, in addition to all method of different duties inside the classes of Skilling, Fight, and Utility. Skilling contains the likes of utilizing harpoons and trawling nets, Fight covers the varied weapons together with cannons, ballistae, rams, and spears, and Utility entails sustaining lanterns, the cargo maintain, the crow’s nest, and so forth.

There are additionally ‘pure Crusing actions’ together with charting the ocean, ship fight, shipwreck salvaging, port duties resembling courier jobs and safety assignments, and even ocean trials run by a gaggle of thrill-seeking sailors often known as The Barracudas. These can be extra intensive than the essential interactions however will reward suitably extra XP because of this for gamers who need to have interaction with them.

There’s additionally a complete vary of lower-tier ‘secondary gameplay’ actions, which embrace diving into coral reefs (which makes use of your Farming talent), deep sea trawling (tied to Fishing), mineral dredging (Mining), and looking fearsome sea monsters (Hunter and Slayer). Then there’s much more to do, together with expeditions, ocean raids with multiplayer, ship-on-ship PvP fight, ocean-based treasure hunts, and the choice to domesticate your individual Aquarium.

That’s an enormous quantity to do and see – personally, I’m already bought. In case you are too, you may vote to confirm that you simply need to see Crusing added to OSRS completely. If it passes the vote, it’ll be transferring into beta, the place extra group suggestions and polls will assist refine precisely how the ultimate model of Crusing appears. I can’t wait to hit the excessive seas!

Have a look by means of our OSRS beginner’s guide if all of this has you tempted to check out Outdated Faculty Runescape for the primary time. Alternatively, we’ve picked out one of the best classic PC games you could (and may) nonetheless play at the moment.