Old School RuneScape (OSRS) has captivated gamers for over two decades, thanks to its nostalgic yet timeless gameplay, immersive world, and its blend of questing, skilling, and combat. While the base game offers plenty of content, the world of OSRS truly opens up when players become a member. However, for those just starting out, it’s important to make the most of the free-to-play (F2P) content before diving into the world of membership.
Before you take the plunge and subscribe to become a member, there are several things you can do to build a solid foundation for your journey. Membership unlocks a wealth of new content—quests, skills, locations, and other exciting features—but many aspects of the game are also available in the F2P world. By completing the right tasks and goals before becoming a member, you’ll set yourself up for success and get the most out of your membership once you have access to the expanded content.
In this article, we will explore 8 essential things to do before becoming a member in OSRS gold. These activities will help you maximize your time in the free-to-play areas, making the transition to membership much smoother and rewarding.
1. Max Out Your Free-to-Play Skills
Before diving into membership content, one of the best things you can do is to focus on leveling up all of your skills in the free-to-play (F2P) areas of the game. Many of these skills are useful and can prepare you for the more advanced content available in the members-only zones.
Some of the skills, such as Attack, Strength, Defence, Prayer, and Hitpoints, are essential for PvE (player vs. environment) content, while others like Mining, Fishing, and Woodcutting are great for gathering materials you can sell or use in crafting.
Here are some key skills to max out in F2P before becoming a member:
Fishing: Focus on reaching level 99 Fishing, which will provide access to more profitable fishing spots, especially once you’re a member. In F2P, you can reach level 99 through Lobsters or Swordfish.
Mining: Training Mining in F2P can be rewarding since ores like Iron and Coal are valuable. Plus, once you’re a member, you’ll have access to additional mining spots that will boost your wealth.
Cooking: This skill provides a consistent source of experience and is an excellent source of income if you sell the food you cook. Salmon and Trout are easily obtainable and helpful for training.
Crafting: A great F2P skill that will be useful once you gain access to the many members’ crafting locations, such as Gemstones and Leatherworking.
Maxing out your skills in F2P will give you a solid base and confidence when you eventually unlock the advanced skill training areas and methods.
2. Complete Free-to-Play Quests
While Old School RuneScape’s questing system is far more extensive for members, the free-to-play version of the game still has a decent number of quests that offer important rewards and experience. Completing all F2P quests should be your next major goal before transitioning to a member.
These quests provide valuable rewards, including experience, items, and unlockable content that will help in your progression as a member. Some quests even prepare you for the transition to the members’ world by offering abilities and unlocking new locations.
Here are some essential F2P quests to complete before becoming a member:
Cook’s Assistant: This simple quest provides an early introduction to the questing system and will help you get familiar with the basics of the game.
The Restless Ghost: This quest will give you experience in Prayer, which will be essential for combat and other activities.
Romeo & Juliet: While it’s one of the more straightforward quests, it’s a nice quest to complete for its experience rewards and insight into OSRS questing.
Demon Slayer: A combat-related quest that helps you hone your skills and gives you some extra XP in Attack or Strength.
Priest in Peril: This quest unlocks access to Morytania, which will be valuable once you get your membership and are looking for more content.
By completing these quests, you’ll familiarize yourself with the mechanics of questing and the rewards system in OSRS, setting you up for success once you get access to the members’ quests.
3. Unlock Essential Free-to-Play Areas
Before becoming a member, you should make sure you’ve explored all the important areas in the free-to-play world. These areas offer various resources, training methods, and profitable activities that will help you gather experience and supplies for your transition into the members’ world.
Here are some key F2P areas to explore:
Varrock: The bustling city of Varrock is central to F2P content. Completing various tasks in Varrock, including the Varrock Museum and Varrock’s shopping areas, will prepare you for tasks you will face in the members’ world.
Lumbridge: This area is the startinghub of the game, and it provides essential services, including quests, skill training, and shops.
Edgeville: Close to the Wilderness, Edgeville offers access to important resources and locations, such as the Wilderness and Yew trees, which are vital for your Woodcutting training.
Falador: Another major city for F2P players, offering easy access to Mining and Smithing training areas.
Exploring these areas will not only give you the resources and experience you need but will also prepare you for the more expansive locations unlocked with membership.
4. Master the Basics of Combat
Combat is a huge aspect of OSRS, and understanding the basic mechanics before you become a member will give you a strong foundation for taking on tougher challenges and higher-level enemies. Whether you’re training Melee, Ranged, or Magic, getting comfortable with combat systems is essential.
You can spend time leveling up these combat stats to unlock better gear and improve your PvP and PvE capabilities. Additionally, focusing on Prayer will provide you with significant boosts in combat. F2P players can also take on the Stronghold of Security to earn additional combat experience, as well as significant rewards.
Melee: Focus on maximizing your Attack, Strength, and Defence to maximize your damage output and survivability in combat. F2P combat training methods include Flesh Crawlers or Chaos Druids.
Ranged: Using a bow or crossbow, focus on training your Ranged skill by using a range of ammunition or equipment. It is helpful for fighting enemies from a distance.
Magic: This skill requires you to train through spells. Try completing certain quests that give useful Magic XP, and be sure to take advantage of the spells you’ll be using later.
Mastering basic combat and understanding what gear works best for each combat style will help you in your membership journey, where you’ll be facing even more powerful enemies.
5. Prepare for Money-Making Methods
While membership unlocks some of the most profitable activities in OSRS, there are still several viable money-making methods available in the F2P world. It’s a good idea to start building your in-game wealth before becoming a member, as it will provide you with the funds you need to purchase useful items, gear, and supplies once you unlock the member’s content.
Some top F2P money-making methods include:
Mining and selling ores like Coal and Iron.
Woodcutting and selling Yew Logs or Maple Logs.
Fishing for Lobsters or Swordfish and selling them for a profit.
By exploring these methods and getting comfortable with making money in the F2P world, you’ll have a good financial foundation once you become a member and gain access to more advanced methods like Flipping or Bossing.
6. Build Your Slayer Skill
The Slayer skill is a major part of Old School RuneScape, and it’s something you’ll want to work on before becoming a member. This skill allows you to kill specific monsters for valuable rewards, including gear, coins, and experience. Slayer unlocks in both F2P and membership areas, with some monsters only available in the members’ world. Focus on leveling up your Slayer to unlock new creatures to hunt, especially ones that can provide you with useful drops in the future.
7. Explore the Wilderness and PvP
The Wilderness is an iconic and dangerous area in OSRS, and while it’s accessible for both F2P and members, it’s worth exploring while you’re still in the F2P phase. Engaging in PvP combat will help you develop skills in risk-taking and fighting other players, which will be especially useful when you become a member and unlock access to the Deadman Mode or PvP worlds.
8. Complete the Achievement Diaries
Before you dive into membership, complete the F2P Achievement Diaries. Completing these tasks gives you valuable rewards, such as experience boosts and useful items, which can benefit you once you unlock members’ content. Some tasks may also unlock shortcuts or teleports, which will make your future adventures in the members’ world easier.
Conclusion
Old School RuneScape offers a thrilling journey, and preparing for membership by completing these essential tasks in the free-to-play world will make your transition smoother and more rewarding. Whether you’re leveling up skills, completing quests, mastering combat, or preparing for buy RuneScape gold, there are plenty of ways to set yourself up for success. Once you unlock the full content of OSRS as a member, you’ll be ready to explore even more, with better gear, more quests, and opportunities to further your adventure.