Free-to-play

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Free-to-play, also known as F2P, is the free version of RuneScape where no payment to Jagex is required to play. Players who play the free version of RuneScape are known as "free players", "F2Ps", or "non-members". This is in contrast to members, who pay a fee for access to a much larger map and a multitude of skills, items, quests, and activities, which are not available to Free to Play users.

Overview

RuneScape free map — Areas accessible to free players.

F2P Level Cap — F2P are limited to only 5 levels on certain skills.

The free part of RuneScape is described by Jagex as being the game with close to 5,000 hours of skills to train to reach the maximum level of 99, while members is considered the expansion version. There is no limit to the amount of time players are able to continue playing for free, although free players are only able to enjoy about 20% of everything RuneScape has to offer. Free players can upgrade and become a member at any time by paying a small fee, granting access to more skills, locations, items, etc.

Formerly, the free-to-play version of RuneScape was its only form, prior to the introduction of members and the subsequent creation of RuneScape 2. The pay-to-play servers were intended by Jagex to benefit all of the RuneScape community.

With respect to gameplay, the majority of new updates within RuneScape are restricted to pay-to-play members with the exception of updates concerning graphics or the addition of new servers. When the members service was announced, Jagex acknowledged that the free version would not be updated as often as it used to be.

Updates since launch of members version

The following are free-version updates that have been made available since the launch of the members service:

Most holiday events
RuneScape 2 in March 2004
- Runecrafting and the Rune Mysteries quest
- Ability to cut trees up to yew
- Random events (later removed for all players)
Various graphics updates
Various bank space increases
Various ranged equipment
- Up to maple bows and mithril arrows in March 2005
- Magic bows and rune arrows at launch of Evolution of Combat
Some community events, such as the Cryptic Clue Fest
The Tutorial Island and its later incarnations (has since been removed for all players)
The Stronghold of Security in July 2006
Party Room moved to Falador
The Grand Exchange in November 2007
The Duel Arena in November 2007
The Misthalin Training Centre of Excellence and Stronghold of Player Safety
Fist of Guthix
RuneScape High Detail
Lumbridge and Draynor Tasks
- Some additional tasks when the achievement system was reworked
The Crafting Guild and Make-over Mage in May 2002
Some new Wilderness areas in May 2002
The Mining Guild
Revenants
- Corrupt dragon equipment
- Ancient artefacts
- Forinthry Dungeon on free trade return
Team capes
The Runecrafting Guild in August 2008
Beefy Bill (sells items in Lumbridge. Will bank your cowhides, raw beef, and pots of flour)
Musicians and rest
The Blood Pact quest
- Lumbridge Catacombs
- Mask of Dragith Nurn
Lumbridge Fishing Supplies in September 2009
Faruq's Tools for Games
The Dungeoneering skill and some resource dungeons in April 2010
Ability to use the anvil next to the Lumbridge furnace in June 2010
Swept Away and Myths of the White Lands made permanently part of free game in June 2010 (were temporarily available in 2008)
Gunnar's Ground quest and swanky boots
Full access to Thessalia's services
Wind Rush spell (removed for all players following Evolution of Combat)
The sling (later changed to chargebow)
The make-x feature in October 2010
The ability to compare and change equipment while banking
Clay rings and the Ring of Devotion
Pottery urns in February 2011
- Access to the water well in Barbarian Village and five new clay rocks
Access to the Artisans Workshop in March 2011
Access to canoes in February 2011
The Clan vexillium for clan members in April 2011
Money pouch and toolbelt in December 2011
Squeal of Fortune (replaced with Treasure Hunter in February 2014)
Access to the Lodestone Network in March 2012
Dungeoneering toolbelt in April 2012
The Runespan in April 2012
Bonfires in May 2012
Solomon's General Store in July 2012
Botany Bay
Stolen Hearts in September 2012
What's Mine is Yours (replaces Doric's Quest) in October 2012
Evolution of Combat in November 2012
- Magic bows and rune arrows
- Imphide, spider silk and batwing equipment
Access to Burthorpe and Taverley in March 2013
- Ability to train every members' skills up to level 5
- Access to more items (such as potions and summoning familiars)
- Four new quests (Death Plateau, Druidic Ritual, Let Them Eat Pie and Wolf Whistle)
Dragonstone armour in June 2013
RuneScape 3 and the Battle of Lumbridge world event in July 2013
The Death of Chivalry in August 2013
The Bird and the Beast world event
Daily Challenges (up to two at a time)
1.2x experience gain during members' double XP weekend in February 2014
Magic notepaper (made available at launch of Treasure Hunter)
Veteran capes on 17 February, 2014
Hiscores returned in April 2014
Bank organization feature (7 April, 2014)
Medium XP lamps for free skills (7 April, 2014)
A Shadow over Ashdale (22 April, 2014)
The RuneScape Authenticator (June 24, 2014)

In addition to the differences described above, the majority of features outside the games (such as the official RuneScape forums) are open to members only, but also to F2P players with at least 2.5 million total experience or a skill total of 350. This requirement was 12.5 million total experience or a skill total of 500 before an update by Jagex on 15 March 2010.