Old School RuneScape is working on its first-ever new skill, Sailing, and has an update today about how the refinement process is going.
The latest update concentrates on the core systems, primary, secondary, and tertiary gameplay that we can expect with how they’re shaping Sailing, as well as some examples and other details. In addition to a devblog detailing the mechanics and systems, there's a video to accompany those details and explain them in another way.
When it comes to Sailing, a thing to remember is that it is a skill, and those are basically defined as a useful character attribute that you can progress by doing certain actions and increase levelsin. When it comes to Sailing, you earn XP by interacting with the facilities on your ship. Once you get a ship, that is. because you will have to do that first and your choices include buying one, building one, or even stealing one.
This doesn't give you XP, but it gives you a space to train and earn that XP in other ways. Earning it could be from something as simple as fastening the sails. If you don't fasten the sails, your ship will lose a speed boost, because wind is a mechanic that you will have to react to and read while you are exploring.
However, this is just one way, and there will be many more. Sailing XP can also come from charting the sea and documenting as you explore in your Captain's Log, salvaging shipwrecks, and Port Tasks. There will be task boards at ports around the map. Sometimes you'll be the delivery person, and other times you will have to investigate or find something lost.
For a little more intensity, you'll also be able to earn XP by ship racing. This is going to test your navigation skills. If you do like the intensity, another option is ship combat. by engaging in naval warfare, you earn Sailing XP,not regular combat XP. Ship combat is entirely optional.
Other ways that you might see yourself earning Sailing XP include deep-sea trawling, mineral dredging, and even hunting sea monsters.
To get more of an idea, the full video is worth a watch and the accompanying devblog gives us a deep update on just how this might look and work, including customization, upgrades, and so much more.
The Old School RuneScape team will hold a Twitch Q&A tomorrow on Sailing core gameplay.
