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[[Image:Runescapemining.jpg|right|thumb|Screenshot of RuneScape.]]

[[Image:Runescapemining.jpg|right|thumb|Screenshot of RuneScape.]]

'''RuneScape''' is a popular web-based [[MMORPG]].<ref>[http://www.runescape.com/ RuneScape official site]</ref> It was developed and supported by Jagex, Inc., and based in [[Cambridge]], [[England]]. RuneScape is offered in a free version or a actively updated subscription version.  

'''RuneScape''' is a popular web-based [[MMORPG]].<ref>[http://www.runescape.com/ RuneScape official site]</ref> It was developed and supported by Jagex, Inc., and based in [[Cambridge]], [[England]]. RuneScape is offered in a free version or an actively updated subscription version.  

Control of one's character in the game is mostly done by mouse, including character movement in the game world, purchasing items, selling, picking up or dropping items and changing a character's attire.  The graphics interface is intuitive to most players.

Control of one's character in the game is mostly done by mouse, including character movement in the game world, purchasing items, selling, picking up or dropping items and changing a character's attire.  The graphics interface is intuitive to most players.

==Setting==

==Setting==

RuneScape takes place in the fictional world of Gielinor, which is based off medieval Europe and the folk lore of the time period. It is divided into the three major human kingdoms of Misthalin in the east, Asgarnia in the center and Kandarin in the west. Alongside these are the vampyric kingdom of Morytania in the eastern swamps, once under the control of the forces of saradomin, the divided communities of the southern desert and the tribal villages of Karamja, the viking based Fremennik in the northwest and the elvish clans in the far west beyond an impassable mountain range, amongst other races and their cities.  

RuneScape takes place in the fictional world of Gielinor, which is based off medieval Europe and the folk lore of the time period. It is divided into the three major human kingdoms of Misthalin in the east, Asgarnia in the center and Kandarin in the west. Alongside these are the vampyric kingdom of Morytania in the eastern swamps, once under the control of the forces of saradomin, the divided communities of the southern desert and the tribal villages of Karamja, the Viking-based Fremennik in the northwest and the elvish clans in the far west beyond an impassable mountain range, amongst other races and their cities.  

===Ingame History===

===Ingame History===

The world was '''molded''' (not ''created'') by the god Guthix at the start of the First age, from which it created various species and through other means brought humans from what is heavily implied to be earth. Around the same time the God Seren, a giant crystal like being, arrived with her elves. At the time guthix had direct contact with It's world, giving them the basics for what they needed to survive, and then, at the end of the first age went into a deep slumber, leaving the world in a state of peace.

The world was '''molded''' (not ''created'') by the god Guthix at the start of the First age, from which it created various species and through other means brought humans from what is heavily implied to be earth. Around the same time the God Seren, a giant crystal like being, arrived with her elves. At the time guthix had direct contact with It's world, giving them the basics for what they needed to survive, and then, at the end of the first age went into a deep slumber, leaving the world in a state of peace.

Soon after however, other gods would find Gielinor and begin to carve out empires, the primary deities being Armadyl in the west, the desert pantheon in the south, saradomin in the far east and center, and zaros in the north and east. Most were hostile to each other, and a stale mate existed in that no god could get a advantage over the others without the others uniting in opposition and defeating the aggressor, usually zaros against the rest. This went on for a while until one of Zaros's generals, the Mahjarrat Zamorak came into possession a weapon of of the god Armadyl, and with it lead an Coup d'état against zaros, in the process accidentally gaining some of his powers and becoming a god, for which he was banished. The other gods, seeing zaros no longer there to protect his own empire or keep the others where they were, set in on his realms. Zamorak would return a few years later and take control of the collapsing remnants of the empire, with few zarosians remaining loyal to their god.

Soon after however, other gods would find Gielinor and begin to carve out empires, the primary deities being Armadyl in the west, the desert pantheon in the south, saradomin in the far east and center, and zaros in the north and east. Most were hostile to each other, and a stale mate existed in that no god could get an advantage over the others without the others uniting in opposition and defeating the aggressor, usually zaros against the rest. This went on for a while until one of Zaros's generals, the Mahjarrat Zamorak came into possession a weapon of the god Armadyl, and with it lead an Coup d'état against zaros, in the process accidentally gaining some of his powers and becoming a god, for which he was banished. The other gods, seeing zaros no longer there to protect his own empire or keep the others where they were, set in on his realms. Zamorak would return a few years later and take control of the collapsing remnants of the empire, with few zarosians remaining loyal to their god.

This began the third age, a four thousand year period more known as the '''God Wars''' that included numerous major conflicts, such as the zamorakian/Saradomist genocide of the remaining zarosians, the fall of Hallowland (morytania) into vampyric hands and the general destruction that would come from a constant state of war for four thousand years. Many species were wiped out or went into hiding and many others became more aggressive due to the small amount of cities for culture to develop. This period ended after the wars became so harsh that the planet itself began to die, causing guthix to reawaken, from where it proceeded to return to the surface and order all fighting to end immediately. It then declared that should another conflict on the scale of the wars begin again, it would destroy all of Gielinor and remold it anew, and that all gods (besides the Desert pantheon as they are only a powerful threat when united) do not directly interfere with Gielinor.

This began the third age, a four thousand-year period more known as the '''God Wars''' that included numerous major conflicts, such as the zamorakian/Saradomist genocide of the remaining zarosians, the fall of Hallowland (morytania) into vampyric hands and the general destruction that would come from a constant state of war for four thousand years. Many species were wiped out or went into hiding and many others became more aggressive due to the small amount of cities for culture to develop. This period ended after the wars became so harsh that the planet itself began to die, causing guthix to reawaken, from where it proceeded to return to the surface and order all fighting to end immediately. It then declared that should another conflict on the scale of the wars begin again, it would destroy all of Gielinor and remold it anew, and that all gods (besides the Desert pantheon as they are only a powerful threat when united) do not directly interfere with Gielinor.

So began the fourth age, a period of rebuilding. At the start few cities existed, the once prosperous region in the north had become a barren scar known as the wilderness, and most intelligent species were tribal. The existence of humans as a race was threatened wherever they were, with this being the age of great hero's; such as avvarocka who defeated the goblin tribes and secured what would become misthalin's border with them. As time passed and humans became more civilized, other species such as the gnomes would reemerge, having spent the previous age in hiding. At this time the only major human state would be misthalin, in constant conflict with the vampyre to the east and the horrors of the wilderness to the north. What would become asgarnia  and Kandarin were currently either still tribal or under the rule of a soon to collapse elven empire.  

So began the fourth age, a period of rebuilding. At the start few cities existed, the once prosperous region in the north had become a barren scar known as the wilderness, and most intelligent species were tribal. The existence of humans as a race was threatened wherever they were, with this being the age of great hero's; such as avvarocka who defeated the goblin tribes and secured what would become misthalin's border with them. As time passed and humans became more civilized, other species such as the gnomes would reemerge, having spent the previous age in hiding. At this time the only major human state would be misthalin, in constant conflict with the vampyre to the east and the horrors of the wilderness to the north. What would become asgarnia  and Kandarin were currently either still tribal or under the rule of a soon to collapse elven empire.  

Saradomin, the god of [[order]] is portrayed in a way very similar to that of to [[God the Father]], both in appearance and characteristics. He is worshipped by a majority of the game's humans, primarily in a [[Catholic Church|pseudo-Catholic]] way. However, all is not well - He is arrogant, uncaring (although of the three he maintains the most public interest in the well being of his followers) and deceitful. His followers include H.A.M., an extremist group very similar to the [[Ku Klux Klan]] and a knights Templar/chivalric order like group named the Temple Knights which many players and characters ingame feel are only using his name as a reason to control the masses.  

Saradomin, the god of [[order]] is portrayed in a way very similar to that of to [[God the Father]], both in appearance and characteristics. He is worshipped by a majority of the game's humans, primarily in a [[Catholic Church|pseudo-Catholic]] way. However, all is not well - He is arrogant, uncaring (although of the three he maintains the most public interest in the well being of his followers) and deceitful. His followers include H.A.M., an extremist group very similar to the [[Ku Klux Klan]] and a knights Templar/chivalric order like group named the Temple Knights which many players and characters ingame feel are only using his name as a reason to control the masses.  

Among other deities are mysterious jungle deities closely linked to an in-game version of [[voodoo]], a desert pantheon loosely based on [[Egyptian mythology]], as well as many others that play a role in the backstory of the game more then the current game world.  

Among other deities are mysterious jungle deities closely linked to an in-game version of [[voodoo]], a desert pantheon loosely based on [[Egyptian mythology]], as well as many others that play a role in the backstory of the game more than the current game world.  

==Criticism==

==Criticism==