Steps

Getting Started

1. Open http://www.runescape.com/.
2. Click on "Create a Free Account (New User)."
3. Fill out your age and location.
4. Choose a good user-name, there are two good wikiHow article on choosing a user-name:

• Create a Username
• Create the Right Runescape User Name for You

1. Read the terms and conditions.
2. Understand the rules of the game before starting. Players can report others, which screen captures the last 60 seconds of the game.
3. Choose a good password. There are good articles about passwords in the internet security section.
4. Go to 'Website Features' on the homepage. Open the world map in a new window, this will help you keep from getting lost, and find places mentioned in this guide.
5. Click on "Play Game (Existing User)".
6. Click on the detail level you would like your game to be. This can be changed every time you play. The higher the detail, the better the graphics look but the slower the game runs, unless you're playing from a fast computer.
7. Select the world that you would like to go on. In the beginning choose a relatively empty world so you don't need to compete for monsters and mining ore.
8. Follow the in-game tutorial to become familiar with basic game controls.

Gameplay

1. Decide which one of three available combat types you would like to be. You can read the article How to Find the Right Runescape Combat Type for You for more information.
2. Have some knowledge of what players are saying. The lingo of Runescape can get confusing at first, but very easy as you go along with it.
3. Avoid Scams. Usually players take advantage of newbies (or people that first start playing/have no or little knowledge of the game). Don't fall for any of these.
4. Have fun earning money. Merchanting is by far, the most popular way to get money. There's other ways to make money in Runescape.

Tips

• Try to make friends; it will make the game more fun. You can help each other out and PK (player kill) together in the wilderness.
• To trade with or follow another player, use your "right click" on them.
• If you can spare $5 a month(or £3.20), you may want to consider becoming a member. Being a member lets you have more than twice the amount of bank space, a long list of quests, new skills such as Construction, Herblore, and Fletching.
• Do quests! They are some of the fastest ways to get experience, GP, and items.
• Use the world map link from the top of the screen. It shows where everything is, along with a legend.
• If your character dies, the most three valuable items in your inventory stays. You also come back to life at Lumbridge.(This is reduced to none if you attack another player, only carry things you can afford to lose in the wilderness)

Warnings

• Remember not everybody on Runescape is nice.
• If someone knows your password it is a huge problem. There is a good chance that he/she will steal all your items. Change your password immediately!
• If you scam other players, Jagex (the game owners) will probably block your account.
• Set your recovery questions! They help when you lose or forget your password.(Don't have an answer like "my favorite food is pizza because" it's an easy guess and a quick way into your account)
• Read all of Jagex's set rules before playing.

Things You'll Need

• A computer with java
• An internet connection (RuneScape runs best on broadband)
• Patience (for some skills)