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Other Combat Skills to 120?

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Deltaslug

Deltaslug

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Necromancy is coming soon. It will be a combat skill (same family as Magic, Melee, and Range, just new type.)
It will be the first combat skill to go to 120.
It will raise the combat level max to 152.
The other combat skills however will remain at 99.

Think this is a test for the other combat skills before they get raised to 120 as well?

09-Jun-2023 23:28:14

H 1 L D A
Apr Member 2020

H 1 L D A

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I certainly hope so. I can think of a number of reasons 120 Necromancy probably -should- be the precursor to 120 Melees, Magic, and Ranged.

1. Balancing - even though damage potential may be mitigated by not being able to hit for effective damage with Necromancy, you also won't be able to splash, and with 21 more levels that threshold for damage could be higher.

2. RuneScape's longevity - Having more equipment and gear thresholds gives players more goals to reach for in the future, which prolongs the interest that PvMers have with the game in the long term.

3. Aesthetic - It's gonna look weird if you have to explain that you don't need to train your other combat stats past 99, but you do need to train Necromancy.

Officially, Jagex is on the record of saying that they will modify the other combat styles to match Necromancy if the update is particularly well received on launch. It remains to be seen if that includes making the skills true 120s however.
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09-Jun-2023 23:52:00 - Last edited on 09-Jun-2023 23:52:33 by H 1 L D A

Deltaslug

Deltaslug

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Thing is, the bump in combat is probably an issue unto itself and a major development project.

They could have raised Constitution at any point on its own and it not would have been a moderate improvement in combat (12k LP base, more with effects from bonfires and gear). But it also would have been the 1 combat skill that they wouldn't have had to really add anything to the existing skill guide between 99 and 120 (not that there is too much in the skill in the first place ... sure a few combat abilities and effects ... but compared to other combat skills, it is kinda bare)

Summoning and Prayer could also be raised but it does become a matter of adding some content between 99 and 120.
New prayers/curses ... unless the plan would be to add upgrades to existing ones.
New summoning familiars for 20 Levels, but needing to ask do you rely on existing mechanics or introduce something entirely new for post 100.

Primary combat ... we're already seeing T95 gear make it into game.
It would also have the base advantage in increased damage and accuracy and passive defense, even without "new stuff".

But from a developmental, the question of how much would they really need to add for each combat style?
Add a few basic abilities or like greater slice/dragon breath/piercing shot (upgrades to the existing basics). Maybe a new threshhold and ultimate in each and then wait to add other newer ones over time?

10-Jun-2023 00:15:46

H 1 L D A
Apr Member 2020

H 1 L D A

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I do think that's the point though.

Necromancy seems to be a testing ground on whether or not they can seriously update combat in a meaningful way that players can experience without breaking the game outright or alienating players who are averse to change. By introducing a new combat style and leaving the other three untouched, then localizing the experimental aspects of what Jagex thinks combat should look like in the future to that skill, it allows the company to gather player feedback and support for a greater combat rework over time while also being more transparent than ever before.

When it comes to the other combat styles, I think Necromancy being the prototype buys the company time to answer all of those concerns you brought up too.

The playtesters came out of their experience at Jagex gently hinting that this is something like an "E.O.C. 2.0" - so if it seems like a very large project, I think Jagex is well aware, and they're trying to prime the community in a much more intentional and gradual pace than they did back in 2012.
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10-Jun-2023 01:02:29

BrunoNutto
Feb Member 2023

BrunoNutto

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I'm still puzzled as to why Prayer and Summoning aren't being raised immediately to 120 alongside the Necromancy release.

Too much to take it in all at once maybe? Or Jagex perhaps would worry that some players might think Necro doesn't deserve to be a new skill and just be a Pray/Sum extension instead.

Regardless of that speculation though, I agree that all combat skills (and all non-combat skills too) should be 120 for real rather than virtual lvls.

10-Jun-2023 10:48:31

Bertel62
Aug Member 2023

Bertel62

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BrunoNutto said :
I'm still puzzled as to why Prayer and Summoning aren't being raised immediately to 120 alongside the Necromancy release.
Probably because a lot of players already have the XP for level 120, and they would just have instant access to whatever the new levels offer. For a new skill, everyone starts equal, and have to level up to 120. For existing skills though, it is another matter.

13-Jun-2023 11:32:42

BrunoNutto
Feb Member 2023

BrunoNutto

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Yeah, good point. I guess players also wouldn't be too happy if bones quadrupled in price for training Prayer as well as Necro for those who haven't reached 120 (like me,lol).

But Summoning though; since Necro will mostly be trained via combat and also lead to more combat afterwards (presuming it's popular after the initial surge) would seem a good time to raise to 120 and not have all those newly earned charms just sitting there.

13-Jun-2023 13:03:13

Dilbert2001
Jun Member 2006

Dilbert2001

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If they have a lot to add to the 3 basic combat style content in the making (higher level mobs and bosses, plenty of new prayer and summoning updates etc) then we will see level 120 in other combat styles. Otherwise, it won't be for a while.

This year is The Year of Combat, but next year it probably will be more balanced as usual, especially when they are following the Runescape Remastered agenda, combat is only one of the many other initiatives.

13-Jun-2023 17:50:37 - Last edited on 13-Jun-2023 17:51:21 by Dilbert2001

Rikornak
Oct Member 2013

Rikornak

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I probably wouldn't overestimate the effect on your actual power. Combat level is only a number without any value, for a lot of reasons. Secondly - necromancy does not have a dedicated aura available, which is a huge difference in your damage dealt. Thirdly - necromancy "only" has equipment up to 95 - being equal to what the other styles currently have to offer.

I'd rather expect necromancy will have some areas where it will shine and it will be viable enough in some other places. But all in all I think it will be fairly equal to the other styles - you won't use it all the time, but I'd imagine there are places in which you'll start using it over something else.

For a real 120 extension for other skills they'll either get rid of the existing berserker auras - or they'll introduce one for necromancy.

Bertel62 said :
BrunoNutto said :
I'm still puzzled as to why Prayer and Summoning aren't being raised immediately to 120 alongside the Necromancy release.
Probably because a lot of players already have the XP for level 120, and they would just have instant access to whatever the new levels offer. For a new skill, everyone starts equal, and have to level up to 120. For existing skills though, it is another matter.

They hadn't had a problem with slayer, herblore and farming for that matter. And you always can lock things behind other stuff than just levels. Improvements: Tooltip / (F2P) QoL v2
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16-Jun-2023 06:30:16 - Last edited on 16-Jun-2023 07:05:32 by Rikornak

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