With more and more players crossing over from games like World of Warcraft, Jagex recently released a written "new player guide" for Old School RuneScape (OSRS). While helpful in RuneScape gold parts, it doesn't really capture what the game feels like-or how to actually get started in a way that's fun. So here's a comprehensive beginner's guide that not only explains the basics but also gives practical advice to help you thrive in Gielinor.

First Steps: Tutorial Island and Account Types

When you first log in, you'll go through Tutorial Island, which introduces core mechanics like combat, skilling, and navigation. You'll also choose your account type:

Regular account - the standard way to play.

Ironman - self-sufficient mode, no trading or help from others.

Group Ironman - team-based version of Ironman.

Pick whichever style matches your goals. New players should generally stick to regular accounts unless they want the extra challenge.

Improving Your Visual Experience

OSRS is charmingly old-school, but with modern clients like RuneLite, you can make it look and feel much smoother.

GPU Plugin - massively improves graphics quality. Playing without it feels outdated.

Animation Smoothing - controversial, but worth trying. Some love the polished look, others prefer the jagged nostalgia.

Roof Toggle - type:toggleroofs or adjust settings so roofs vanish, letting you see inside buildings.

117 HD Plugin - reimagines the game in a more modern style. Some find it immersive, others too flashy-try it for yourself.

Stretched Mode - lets you play full-screen in classic fixed mode without tiny visuals.

UI Customization - switch between fixed, resizable, or modern layouts. In resizable mode, you can move your chat box, inventory, or minimap anywhere on screen.

These tweaks don't change gameplay but make your experience smoother and more enjoyable.

Essential In-Game Settings

Before diving in, make sure you adjust a few key settings:

PK Skull Prevention - prevents you from accidentally attacking another player in the wilderness and losing your gear.

Player/NPC Attack Options - set both to left click where available. This avoids misclicks and ensures you always attack what you intend to.

Keybinds - assign useful shortcuts:

F1 = Combat

F2 = Inventory

F3 = Prayer

F4 = Magic

F5 = Equipment

Escape to Exit - lets you leave menus instantly by pressing Escape.

Shift-Click Drop - hold Shift to quickly drop items, invaluable for training and inventory management.

These changes may seem small, but they make a huge difference in long-term play.

Understanding Skills

OSRS has 23 distinct skills, ranging from combat stats like Attack and Magic to gathering and crafting skills like Fishing and Smithing. Every skill serves a purpose-unlocking resources, quests, gear, or bosses.

Don't burn yourself out by grinding one skill endlessly. Instead:

Try different activities early to see what you enjoy.

Use quests to level up faster-many offer skill XP rewards.

Mix AFK training (like chopping trees or fishing) with more active methods (like Slayer or bossing) to keep things fresh.

Remember, progression is about long-term goals. Focus on skills that support what you want to do, whether that's PvM, questing, or making RuneScape gold.

Use the Wiki (Seriously)

The OSRS Wiki is one of the best game resources ever made. It contains everything-from XP rates and quest guides to drop tables and obscure mechanics.

Pair it with RuneLite's Quest Helper plugin, which walks you step by step through quests. A task that might take hours blind can be done in minutes with cheap OSRS gold the helper. Unless you're specifically doing a "guideless" challenge, don't hesitate to use these tools-they save time and frustration.