So, you're thinking about diving into the world of Old School RuneScape (OSRS)? Awesome! You're in for a treat. OSRS is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that throws you back to the golden days of RuneScape, circa 2007. It's a game packed with nostalgia, endless possibilities, and a surprisingly addictive grind. But where do you even start? Don't worry, guys, this guide will walk you through the basics and get you on your way to becoming a RuneScape legend.

Creating Your Account and First Steps

Alright, first things first, you'll need an account. Head over to the Old School RuneScape website and sign up. Once you've got your account sorted, fire up the game. You'll be greeted by a character creation screen. This is where you get to customize your avatar. Pick a name you like, choose your gender, and tweak your appearance. Don't stress too much about this; you can always change your look later at a barbershop in the game. Now comes the important part, where do we start in Gielinor? Upon entering the game for the first time, you will find yourself under the guidance of various NPCs each of whom are experts in their individual fields, such as combat, mining, or fishing. You will begin in Tutorial Island. Tutorial Island is a completely isolated area in RuneScape. It is designed to teach new players the very basics of the game, before they venture out into the main game. This guided tutorial is fantastic for getting acquainted with the game's interface, basic mechanics, and the world of Gielinor. Follow the instructions carefully, complete the tasks, and you'll earn some initial experience points and basic equipment. Each instructor that you meet with will guide you through different parts of the tutorial, and upon completion will grant you experience in different skills to begin leveling them up. The tasks are pretty straightforward, such as learning how to mine ore, smith it into a bronze bar, cook some shrimp, and fight some rats. Pay attention to the dialogue and tooltips; they're there to help you understand what's going on. After completing all the tasks given to you in Tutorial Island, you will be prompted to leave the island by speaking to the Magic Instructor. After a short trip you will arrive in mainland Gielinor just north of Lumbridge.

Understanding Skills and Stats

Skills are the backbone of Old School RuneScape. There are 23 skills in total, covering everything from combat and crafting to gathering and support. Each skill has a level ranging from 1 to 99, with higher levels unlocking new abilities, items, and areas. Let's break down some of the most important skills for beginners:

• Combat Skills: These include Attack, Strength, Defence, Ranged, Magic, and Hitpoints (HP). They determine your effectiveness in combat. Training these skills allows you to equip better weapons and armor, deal more damage, and withstand enemy attacks. If you're planning to fight monsters and complete quests, focusing on combat skills is crucial. Early on, melee combat (Attack, Strength, Defence) is generally the easiest to train.
• Gathering Skills: These include Mining, Fishing, Woodcutting, Farming, and Hunter. These skills allow you to collect raw materials from the world. Mining lets you extract ores from rocks, Fishing lets you catch fish, Woodcutting lets you chop down trees, Farming lets you grow crops, and Hunter lets you catch animals. Gathering skills are essential for making money, crafting items, and providing resources for other skills.
• Artisan Skills: These include Smithing, Crafting, Cooking, Firemaking, Fletching, Runecrafting, Construction, Herblore, and Agility. These skills allow you to process raw materials into finished products. Smithing lets you turn ores into metal bars and equipment, Crafting lets you create jewelry and armor, Cooking lets you prepare food, Firemaking lets you light fires, Fletching lets you create bows and arrows, Runecrafting lets you create runes for magic, Construction lets you build and customize your own house, Herblore lets you create potions, and Agility lets you navigate obstacle courses. Artisan skills are vital for creating useful items, earning money, and unlocking new content.
• Support Skills: Prayer and Slayer. Prayer lets you use prayers for various bonuses, while Slayer assigns you monsters to kill for rewards. Prayer can provide temporary boosts to your combat stats, protect you from certain types of damage, and even heal you. Slayer is a great way to earn money and experience while exploring different parts of the game. Training these skills can enhance your gameplay experience and provide additional benefits.

As you train each skill, you'll gain experience points (XP). Once you accumulate enough XP, you'll level up, increasing your stats and unlocking new content. Keep an eye on your skill levels and set goals for yourself. Whether it's reaching level 20 in Woodcutting or level 40 in Attack, having something to strive for will keep you motivated.

Exploring Lumbridge and Beyond

After finishing Tutorial Island, you'll find yourself in Lumbridge, a peaceful town located near the River Lum. This is a great starting point for new players. Take some time to explore the area and familiarize yourself with the surroundings. Talk to the NPCs; they often have quests or useful information to share. Some of the notable locations in Lumbridge include:

• Lumbridge Castle: This castle is home to Duke Horacio, who can give you a quest to retrieve his lost amulet. The castle also has a kitchen where you can cook food and a dungeon where you can fight goblins and other low-level monsters.
• The General Store: This is where you can buy and sell basic items, such as weapons, armor, and food. The prices are usually higher than in other stores, but it's convenient for getting essential supplies.
• The Church: This is where you can pray to restore your prayer points and talk to Father Aereck, who can give you a quest to bury some bones.
• The Cow Field: This is a great place to kill cows for their hides and meat. You can sell the hides to the tanner in Lumbridge for a profit or use the meat to cook food.

Once you're comfortable with Lumbridge, it's time to venture out into the wider world. Some of the nearby locations you might want to explore include:

• Varrock: This is the largest city in RuneScape and a major hub for trading and socializing. It has a variety of shops, banks, and training areas.
• Falador: This is the capital of the human kingdom and a center for mining and smithing. It has a large park, a castle, and a dungeon.
• Draynor Village: This is a small village located near the River Lum. It has a bank, a market, and a haunted mansion.

Combat Basics

Combat is a fundamental part of Old School RuneScape. Whether you're fighting monsters for experience or battling other players in the wilderness, understanding the basics of combat is essential. There are three main combat styles:

• Melee: This involves using weapons like swords, axes, and maces to attack enemies at close range. Melee is generally the easiest combat style for beginners because it doesn't require any special equipment or ammunition. It is based on three skills: Attack, Strength, and Defence. Attack determines how accurately you hit your opponent, Strength determines how much damage you deal, and Defence determines how well you can withstand enemy attacks.
• Ranged: This involves using bows and arrows or crossbows and bolts to attack enemies from a distance. Ranged is more expensive than melee because you need to buy ammunition, but it allows you to attack enemies without taking damage. It is based on two skills: Ranged and Defence. Ranged determines how accurately you hit your opponent and how much damage you deal, and Defence determines how well you can withstand enemy attacks.
• Magic: This involves using spells to attack enemies or support yourself and your allies. Magic is the most versatile combat style, but it requires runes, which can be expensive. It is based on two skills: Magic and Defence. Magic determines which spells you can cast and how accurately you hit your opponent, and Defence determines how well you can withstand enemy attacks.

To engage in combat, simply right-click on an enemy and select