Make sure you know that the Bonus XP weekend is now active! Hover your mouse over the XP amount that shows up after you click the round "XP" button to the left of your mini-map. Don't waste time and gain tons of XP as fast as possible!

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Zybez Blogs are some really well-written articles about RuneScape. Now, the Zybez Blogs team is growing and we need intelligent RuneScape players to step forward and join the team.

Apply to join Zybez Blogs

The RuneScape Bonus XP weekend will be your greatest opportunity to earn lots of extra XP for most of the training you do in RuneScape. You'll start off making 270% the XP for almost any action, such as burying a bone, harvesting your herbs, or cooking a fish. You'll have to be quick though because after the first 30 minutes, the bonus will drop to 255%. It will continue to drop for about 10 hours after which it'll remain at 110% for the rest of the weekend. So, make sure you train quickly and gain as much XP as fast as possible. Some people have bought Dragon bones and they will bury hundreds of them to gain Prayer XP. Other people have bought planks to get ahead in their Construction skill. Good luck!

Please note that Jagex is making this available to RuneScape Members only.

What skill will you be training - and how - during the Bonus XP Weekend? Personally I'm going to be training Slayer.

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Canada_Grrl has penguin locations for you to help you with the Penguin Hide and Seek activity. Hop onto world 60 and join the world60pengs clan chat. If that's full, try W60_penguins, W60pengs, or W60pengu.

1. Draynor – Crate - one point

2. Digsite – Rock – one point
Anywhere at the Digsite east of Varrock.

3. Mort Myre – Bush * two points
Look around the Nature Grotto where Filliman Tarlock is found.

4. Observatory – Crate – one point
Often in west Ardougne castle.

5. Castle Wars – Bush – one point
Anywhere from Oo'glog to Yanille. Often in Yanille south wall.

6. Brimhaven – Bush – one point

7. Neitiznot – Rock – two points
Take a boat from Rellekka.

8. Ape Atoll – Bush * two points
Teleport to Ape Atoll or talk to Daero

9. Lunar Isle – Rock – two points
Requires partial completion of Lunar Diplomacy quest. Talk to Lokar in Rellekka.

10. Wilderness – Rock – two points

11. Polar Bear –North Ardougne well one point
Requires Hunt for Red Raktuber, The quest. The polar bear is always in a well.

Penguin Hide and Seek

I've uploaded all the pics I took at RuneFest onto three albums on Facebook. Check them out using the following links and tag yourself if you spot yourself.

Album 1 | Album 2 | Album 3 | RuneFest discussion forum

Event Over

Join Zybez to take down Commander Zilyana!

Event: Zybez Vs. Saradomin Godwars
Date: Saturday, 21 August 2010
Time: 01:00 PM EST, 05:00 PM GMT
Place: Meet outside the Saradomin GodWars room with KC
World: 84 (Members)
Host: Cthulthu
Clan Chat: Cthulthu
Irc Channel: #zybezevent

Recommendations:
- 70+ Range if ranging
- 70+ Attack/Strength if melee
- 70+ Defence/Constitution
- Ability to use Magic protection

Requirements:
- 70 Agility
- If it's your first time to Godwars, you need 3 ropes.
- If it's your first time to Saradomin, but not to the dungeon, bring 2 ropes.
- You must be combat level 70+

More Info: Zybez vs. Saradomin God Wars Event | Zybez God Wars Guide

When: 4th August 2010
Time: 7PM GMT (BST inclusive) or 1PM EST
Host: Man Bon
Clan chat: Zybez Events
World: 84
What to bring?: Only bronze armour and weapon up to rune.

More Info

Event Over

The Great Guard Invasion is the largest event in RuneScape with hundreds of people that parade around RuneScape wearing guard uniforms.

World: 16 (Free)
Date: July 31 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 3:10pm EST
Start Location: Grand Exchange

Details | Route Map

Poor? Bored? Blood-thirsty? Then join Combat-X! Hosted by the Zybez Events Team, this brand-new event will be sure to make you very rich indeed! Combat-X consists of several teams all battling it out to create the most money in monster drops over a one-week period. Sign-ups are only open for another week so sign-up now on this forum thread. All players, regardless of combat or experience, are welcome for this (possibly) once in a lifetime experience!

Sign Up

Graphical

• Fixed some of the particles on various locations in Daemonheim.
• Fixed an issue with the spotted cape in some of the more detailed game modes.
• The taxidermist in Canifis no longer has hair sticking through her hat.
• Fixed an issue with the mudskipper hat, most noticeable when used for forum avatars.
• The Wise Old Man's chathead should display correctly during any quest he's involved in.
• When killing juvinates, the smoke effect now shouldn't hide other NPCs.
• Removed some stretching when wearing a hat with the dragon hairstyle.
• Corrected the colours of the grimy and clean versions of some of the herbs found in Daemonheim.
• Fixed a problem with various hats and banners.
• Fixed the chathead when trying to enter the shady grove.
• The elite black full helm has now been modelled internally to fix a problem.
• Fixed the female NPC wield positions of swords.
• Corrected the colour of white firelighters when burning.
• Various hair and other issues have been resolved.

Audio

• Corrected some of the sounds and tracks playing in the wrong location.
• Added an unlock hint to one of the music tracks.

Quests/Achievement Diaries

• Fixed a problem if you click out of chat too early in Back to my Roots.

Activities/D&Ds

• The Pest Control lander now correctly refers to Commendations.
• Increased frame rates in the Fist of Guthix area.
• Corrected a Quick Chat message used in Conquest.

Miscellaneous

• All bound items in Dungeoneering can no longer be alched or sold to the smuggler.
• Adjusted the code dealing with teleports while sitting down.
• Added a message to clarify when you can actually wear proselyte armour.
• If you have the party interface open and teleport in a dungeon, it should now stay open.
• You will now correctly gain Woodcutting XP on the occult floors in Daemonheim.
• Corrected the syntax of some Hunter level-up messages.
• Corrected the information about the herbicide item in the Herblore skill guide.
• You can now correctly withdraw Cryptic Clue Fest items from your toy box.
• It should now be clearer that the swordfish gloves from Fist of Guthix will not offer protection when picking belladonna, for example.
• Rewrote some of the Smithing code, specifically that which deals with gold and silver.
• Added info about the Rigour prayer to the skill guides and to level-up messages.
• Adjusted an obstacle course challenge room in Daemonheim to prevent disconnection issues.
• The bone crusher will now work with bones dropped by the Guardians of Armadyl.
• Enlarged the click zone for rope swings.

Graphical

• Rotated a spinning wheel in one of the new Daemonheim challenge rooms as it was causing issues.
• Removed a couple of pillars in the Yk'lagor the Thunderous boss room.
• Fixed the models used by the revenant goblins, specifically their heads.
• Corrected the colours on the ancient mitre.

Quests/Achievement Diaries

• Rewrote some of the code used in the Swan Song quest and related cutscenes.
• Adjusted the quest list sort name for the A Void Dance quest.
  

Miscellaneous

• Fixed an issue with the XP counter and its maximum value displayed.
• Corrected a problem where the bound versions of hailstorm daggers and flameburst defenders didn't do as much damage if they were bound items.
• Rammernaut should now be consistent between the game and the Adventurer's Log.
• Removed some extraneous text in the Summoning skill guide.
• Adjusted some of the text on the RuneScape loading bar.

Audio

• Fixed a couple of music tracks that weren't unlocking correctly.
• Prevented repeat voices occurring for a few lines in the tutorial.
• Music will now play correctly during Myths of the White Lands.

Quests

• Fixed a rank issue with an NPC in A Void Dance.
• Adjusted the Quest Journal for A Void Dance to give you the correct info about the elite black knights.
• Allow players to continue in the While Guthix Sleeps quest if they disconnected during a specific cutscene.

Activities/D&Ds

• You should now always be able to get another chart from the professor at the Observatory if you need one.
• Corrected information in the skill guide about the recent Treasure Trail bows, and on the Knowledge Base about the composite bows.
• Fixed an issue that could cause the directional arrow for elite trails to spin wildly, which isn't particularly helpful.

Miscellaneous

• The bonecrusher now works for Bork.
• Corrected a few typos in Treasure Trails.
• The Group Gatestone Teleport spell now lights up correctly when you have the runes to cast it.
• Adjusted the costs of runes in Dungeoneering and increased the rate at which you craft them.
• Added a couple of Quick Chat phrases under General -> Comments.
• We've increased the size of the rope's clickable area in the Living Rock Caverns.

Graphical

• Adjusted some of the humidify animations.
• Various ranger headwear including the Saggitarian coif had the wrong models on chatheads when worn.

Activities/D&Ds

• Ancient effigies now use your base Summoning level rather than current level.
• Added some quick options for Hide 'n' Seek to Larry and Chuck.
• Clarified some chat when talking to Larry and Chuck about penguins.

Miscellaneous

• We've relaxed the Grand Exchange restrictions on kegs of beer.
• Fixed a potential issue with the ring of slaying and switching slayer masters.
• Charms have had their config cost reduced to prevent them being kept over other more useful items.
• Prevented certain items from being alched in Dungeoneering.
• Updated raw jubbly on the Grand Exchange so that jubbly hunters can get a better price for their catch.
• Added a message to the Assist System to let you know when a player can next assist if they’ve hit the experience cap already.
• There is now a chance for your subjects to find raven eggs in birds’ nests on Miscellania.
• Optimised some of the more combat intensive NPCs to reduce overall server load. This affects the God Wars Dungeon NPCs, creatures in the Dagannoth area and various other NPCs.

Miscellaneous

• You should now be able to use bones from various bovimastyx on prayer altars in Daemonheim.
• Reworked some of the core bank code used throughout the game.
• Updated the bank leaflet to reflect more recent changes.
• Adjusted the spawns of the rare implings so they're not just restricted to Mos Le'Harmless,which was unintended.
• If a player leaves your dungeon party, any keys the player had will now be dropped in the start room (as opposed to a room the rest of the party couldn't potentially access!)
• The 'Blaster' version of the ring of kinship should now snare stuff for a longer period of time. This was previously wearing off too quickly.
• Updated the text explaining that the 'Berserker' ring benefits are only applicable in an aggressive stance.
• Prevented the alching of certain dungeoneering items whilst in a dungeon.
• Rewrote Rammernaut's combat scripts and charge mechanic so it should now work correctly and as originally intended.
• The experience rewards from While Guthix Sleeps can now be spent on the Dungeoneering skill.

The Bonus XP Weekend has now started! The next time you log into the game, your bonus XP modifier will come into effect. The modifier will begin at 2.7x the usual rate of XP you would earn from standard training activities, and will decrease every 30 minutes (of in-game time) in line with the table below. Your multiplier will then remain at 1.1x until the Bonus XP Weekend finishes on Monday.



The XP button left of the minimap will give you information on your current XP modifier and how long until it next decreases via a tooltip. To get a clearer idea of what actions will and will not be modified by the Bonus XP Weekend, and for more information in general, please read the Second Helping blog and the announcement newspost.

Enjoy!

The RuneScape Content Team

You may have proven yourself in arguing your case, be that for the Prosecution or the Defence, but now you have to do some real legwork. Interviewing witnesses in the field is now a key part of building a case; for example, how do you prove that Evil Dave is evil? Ask his mum! Or how about finding crucial evidence at a crime scene, which could make or break your case? Would finding chicken feathers in Professor Oddenstein’s lab prove he performed illegal transmogrification tests on Ernest?

Not all cases are so black and white either. Do the wizards of RuneScape deserve compensation from the barbarians for an invasion that happened over a century ago? Is the sawmill operator running an illegal monopoly or is he just protecting his intellectual property rights? Cases like these have no easy answers!

With more challenging cases come bigger rewards, including larger amounts of Attack and Defence XP and more items from grateful clients. Also, the Court House likes to reward you for your hard work too, so, once you've completed 10 and all 16 cases respectively, you'll receive a barrister's top and a gavel to match your barrister's wig.

Mod Nancy
Senior RuneScape Content Developer

Summary:



In other news...

If you’ve got a keen eye, you’ll notice that players and other humanoid NPCs have gained some important facial features. That’s right, some character now have eyes!

We've streamlined the amount of effort it takes to get through Shantay Pass. Chatting to the guard is now quicker, right-clicking the guard can now pay him from your bank or inventory, and if you have a pass you can go through unobstructed or bribe the guard easily enough if you don't. The bribe amount has increased slightly to compensate for the ability to take payment from your bank.

The character rotate on Thessalia's clothing interface is now optional. Clicking on either side of the representation of your character to start spinning. Clicking again will stop the spinning and return the representation of your character to normal.

Romance blossoms during September in a brand new free-to-play quest, coupled with some rather elite achievements for our most experienced of members. If you’re not busy planning for the Bonus XP Weekend, why not swat up on your legal drama, as we prepare for the latest batch of court cases?

Court Cases: Back in Session

It’s been busy recently at the Seers’ Village courthouse, with cases closed and wrongs righted by those of you skilled enough to argue, examine and accuse, all while wearing a stylish wig. The court case update will consist of 11 new cases (as mentioned in the Back in Session blog), each far more fiendish than those released earlier in the year. Interrogate witnesses in the field, use viewing orb magics to investigate crime scenes and discover incriminating fingerprints for yourself as you uncover the truth behind some of our most popular personalities.

Cases once again navigate through a wide range of issues and characters from Barbarians vs. Mages (looking at RuneScape history from two conflicting perspectives), round Evil Dave, past Professor Oddenstein vs. Ernest, and taking a sharp left turn at the Sandwich Lady. Rewards still focus around Attack and Defence XP, but also include a barrister’s top, and a judge’s gavel that comes with an appropriately themed emote to let you conduct your own brand of justice.

Bonus XP Weekend

As you know from the newspost last week, we’re planning a second Bonus XP Weekend to take place from 3-6th September. We’re taking a slightly different approach this time, though, so do read the newspost or the Second Helping FAQ blog to learn more about this update. It’s a great time to train up those skills you’ve been neglecting, as well as work on your main attributes, with plenty of time to mix and match between all sorts of content.

Elite Achievement Diaries

The Elite Achievement Diaries update is one we have been discussing in our blogs as early as November last year and, finally, we can talk about the release. We are adding some epically high-level diary tasks to all of the Achievement Diaries, and some new hard tasks to the Lumbridge diary. Requirements include stats as high as 95 Prayer, 96 Fishing, 93 Slayer and 92 Firemaking with an inferno adze.

With new challenges come new rewards, of course, and the elite clothing comes with some useful perks. The highlights are access to a new mining area where there’s an NPC who exchanges ores for certs, more Slayer points from Lapalok, High Alch spells for the explorer’s ring and log chests for the beacon network. Not only that, but there are also improvements to the existing diary rewards AND some huge XP lamps? FTW!

Z-buffering

Improvements to our engine will bring a major graphical improvement to the game in the form of z-buffering. This means you will experience less 'clipping' issues (objects/scenery cutting other objects in half or sticking through each other) and find that scenery 'layers' on top of each other in a more predictable way. This will see improvements to high-paced game content like PKing and allow players to better see the threats around them.

Upon release, the end result will be fewer graphical glitches in software mode and we get faster OpenGL! This also bodes well for the future, as we can now design even more impressive areas and characters, particularly for OpenGL. It also allows us to improve the interaction between players in the future, such as multi-player emotes.

Gunnar’s Ground

Love is in the air in this month’s planned quest: Gunnar’s Ground. What can happen when a dwarf poet is rendered speechless by his love for a Fremennik chieftain’s daughter? You’ll face RuneScape’s first poetry composition puzzle and learn about the history of how the Barbarian Village came to be.

This is a brand new quest for the free-to-play game and will be replacing the old Romeo and Juliet quest. As we have often said in the past, we’re always trying to improve our existing content, but some elements just don’t age well and are often best removed entirely from the game; we feel that’s the case with Romeo and Juliet. Don’t worry, though: nobody will lose out on Quest Points or rewards.

In other news...

We also plan to speed up the Shantay Pass, give compost bins the ability to tell you how full they are, increase the clickable area of rope swings and allow you to define the colour of your Clan Chat.

Have fun!

Mod Mark
RuneScape Lead Designer