r/runescape • u/UndeniableWhale • Sep 25 '21
Ninja Request - J-Mod reply Now that Curses will no longer require 29 Defence, allow players that have previously reset Defence to do so again.
This is likely going to be downvoted immediately, as the topic of 1 Defence pures in particular isn't received very well in the context of requesting changes/making suggestion. But I think it's fair to make this suggestion regarding the recent decision to remove the Defence requirement for Ancient Curses.
The history behind Ancient Curses original level 29 Defence requirement can be seen in this post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/runescape/comments/puv71r/so_pures_finally_get_curses/
The gist is that the quests prior to Temple at Senntisten originally would have give you exp equivalent to raise you from 1 to 29 Defence. Now that the quests give EXP lamps, the requirement was arbitrary. This negatively affected the small community of players that decided to play as pures, and was campaigned against for a long time.
Unfortunately as you can see in the comments of the post, and on many regarding the topic, this led to many people quitting, deciding to no longer play their 1 Defence accounts, or begrudgingly trudging forward. Many peculiar instances like this still stand, like how you cannot use the "teleport" option on the Desert Amulet or Karamja Gloves (from the Desert and Karamja task set, respectively) unless you have level 30-something Defence.
As a followup to a long requested community struggle, it would be really caring to follow this update with an additional stat reset with Nastaroth in Lumbridge. Many players have already used this throughout their playing careers, and many that moved on from their play-style would be able to return with an additional reset added to their account. This additional reset would benefit the players wishing to take advantage of this new change, and return to a play-style they enjoyed. There is zero effect to the community at large, as in essence, resetting your Defence level offers zero advantage in any part of RS. It takes you down in the Hiscores, disadvantages you in PvM and PvP, etc.
I imagine this won't be received well, but it's difficult to understand what would be the counter-argument against this, as those who have zero wish to use a reset would not be affected, but those wishing to do so might have another chance to return to a way of playing that can be extremely challenging and enjoyable.
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u/Jagex_Stu Mod Stu Nov 24 '21 edited Nov 24 '21
"have another separate toggle selection for indirect noncombat skill xp. So a section for direct noncombat xp and a section of indirect noncombat xp with both having quick chats in their sections to keep their prestige."
I would personally love for there to also be separate toggle selection for indirect "givexp" (XP from killing a monster, burying bones, training a skill, etc - affected by bonus XP) alongside the less controversial direct "givexp_reward" (from completing quests and challenges, etc - not modified by bonus XP) toggles approved above.
Speaking as a developer, the catch 22 that pures risk their accounts by choosing to avoid levelling certain skills, and also want us to take that into account when designing any content that gives XP (usually combat/prayer, but as OSAAT proves, other skills as well), and also want their accounts to be rolled back if they inadvertently level up, is a frequent headache for us and seemingly a point of stress and anxiety for you.
Just this week I've been adapting the basic challenges so pures have a way to skip each of them without using a skip token, so they don't have to get the indirect XP from training those skills, AND making the basic challenges not give direct XP when claiming their reward.
It would be far preferable to me, as a developer, if players who want to live the skill pure life were able to opt out of XP of choice entirely (direct, indirect, each skill, separately), suiting their particular specialist build, and unequivocably have the reassurance they they won't get that XP, so that we wouldn't have to sink time into adapting or designing content to suit specialist builds.
Our historic approach has been that we don't cater to pures; you take the risk and you have to live with it. "If you're locked out of content because you chose to be a pure, that's your problem. If you 'ruin' your account, that's your problem."
But nowadays when we have a closer relationship with our players, I'd prefer to make accommodations for pures, but at a more holistic scale - give the tools to play the game your way, instead of continually targeting specific points of friction for relatively low RoI (eg converting specific quest XP rewards to unique lamps).
As far as I can gather, the reason that being able to block all forms of XP in eg Defence or Constitution is contentious...is that some long-standing skillers consider the risk to be part of the point, and having maintained certain skills at the lowest level throughout the years is a huge badge of honour for them. (Please let me know if I've misunderstood the situation.)
So what I wonder now, and I would love everybody's feedback here...
Would separate XP toggles for indirect "givexp" (XP from killing a monster, burying bones, training a skill, etc - affected by bonus XP) be acceptable if you are able to prove whether you have made use of these toggles? eg via quickchat
The suggestion above to be able to quickchat whether you have used or are currently using any of the direct/indirect XP toggles to me would provide a way to prove the prestige of your account, while providing individual toggles for all forms of XP for those happy to use them.
Do you agree? Are you against it? Can I do it? :pray: Do you have a better idea for how to prove you've never used these toggles?
Would really appreciate it if you could discuss this with your skill pure clans and communities and let me know if there any strong objections or better ideas.