We'd like to introduce you to our first new, community event: Grid Master!
If you can't see the player above, click here.
If you can't see the image above, click here.
Not too long ago, we spoke about delivering Community Events. These special, limited-time experiences will allow us to safely explore new ideas while giving you, an enjoyable and unique experience.
While we weren't quite ready to share what we were cooking up for our first event we're excited to finally talk about Grid Master, which launches on October 15th!
This is our first in a series of experimental Community Events we’ve been brainstorming to bring you more Old School RuneScape, with unique and interesting experiences.
If you can't see the fantastic video by Amentos above, click here.
When looking at what to work on for our very first project, we wanted to take inspiration from things you're currently doing and incorporate elements that are already embedded and well known within the community.
While Leagues are a core part of OSRS and aren’t going anywhere (as we're already in pre-production for the next one), we’re always looking for new ways to deliver exciting content.
So, with inspiration from Leagues and this community's love of Bingo, Grid Master is a fun new experience with a focus on challenges, theorycrafting and most importantly, mastering the grid your way! It’s designed to be approachable and rewarding for everyone, regardless of playstyle.
For 4 weeks, this event will be hosted on exclusive worlds, outside of the main game - with each player starting from a fresh save, to make sure the experience is the same for everyone. Oh, and let's not forget a base accelerant of experience to really let you hit the griddy (we're so sorry, we had to).
We're also offering something completely new with Grid Master as Free-To-Play players will be able to participate in a handful of tile challenges on separate worlds and experience some of the powerful rewards, a great way to get a taste of the event even without membership!
So what do you need to know?
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Akin to Bingo, all your challenges will be presented on a brand-new, in-game interface for you to interact with across your journey. This 7x7 grid will be the foundation of your time in Grid Master and showcase challenges but it is down to you to pick what order you take on these challenges and to plan your preferred route.
Although you'll be taking on these challenges by yourself, you won't be alone as completing each task will reward you with a juicy boost to your gameplay. This could be in the form of previous player-favourite relics, auto-completion of whole questlines or maybe you can actually grow that bush which spawned Tbows.
Not only will each task give you a nice reward, but akin to the Bingo-spirit, completing a line (either horizontal or vertical) will give you even more power, providing you all kinds of crazy powerups and previous Leagues items.
To celebrate our very first Community Event, we want to make sure we can give you something to show off your participation once Grid Master is over. For each task you complete, you'll be rewarded Grid Points and those points will let you purchase cosmetic rewards inspired by our event.
We want the rewards to be available after the event is over and we'd like to give players the opportunity in the future to acquire these fantastic cosmetics even if Grid Master doesn't make a return. Future Community Events, whatever form they take, will use this reward shop allowing people who didn't participate in the event to be able to earn and claim them in the future - much like the Leagues Reward Shop.
These rewards are going to be polled as they can be purchased within the main game, so let's take a look at what's on offer:
Grid Tabard
First up is the a funky piece of FashionScape inspired by the very event it's coming from. This Medieval style Tabard features a grid-like pattern with different colour variations, so you can make sure it fits whatever gear you're wielding.
If you can't see the image above, click here.
Question #1:
Should we add the Grid Tabard as a tradeable cosmetic into the main game. This would be purchased using points accumulated through the Grid Master event.
Grid Swords & Emblem
To keep with the grid style, our second cosmetic reward fits nicely alongside the first as you'll finally be able to wield swords and a shield on your back with the Grid Swords & Emblem. This cosmetic will also come in various colours so you can keep your theme consistent.
If you can't see the image above, click here.
Question #2:
Should we add the Grid Swords & Emblem as a tradeable cosmetic into the main game. This would be purchased using points accumulated through the Grid Master event.
Login Screen Chapel Cosmetics
Finally, as this event is a celebration of the community we want something that is instantly recognisable to all! Decorate your Chapel just like the iconic login screen as these cosmetic overrides will transform your Incense Burner and Chapel Icon into the archway and braziers every player sees before hopping in.
The burner cosmetic can only be used on the Marble Incense Burner, so make sure to get that Construction to 69. Nice.
If you can't see the image above, click here.
Question #3:
Should we add the Login Screen Chapel Cosmetics as tradeable cosmetics into the main game. This would be purchased using points accumulated through the Grid Master event.
One of the most exciting elements of this specific event is that the work we've put into creating our brand-new system isn't just for Grid Master. From the recent Game Jam pitch to the countless different styles of player-run events, we know there's a healthy appetite for a Bingo system in the main game.
So, once this event is over, we'll be looking to implement the system into the main game... without all the accelerants of course! Which means anyone and everyone will be able to create Bingo events inside Old School RuneScape... hopefully giving all of those Bingo admins a little less to keep on top of. We'll have more to say on exactly how the system will work in the main game after the event and we'll be making sure to also poll its implementation next year to ensure this is something you want!
That's a wrap on our latest announcement and we hope you are all excited to get stuck into Grid Master. Be sure to check out the FAQ below and make sure to mark your calendars!
Who can participate?
Grid Master is open to all OSRS members and you'll be starting on a Grid Master specific world with a fresh character.
We’re also introducing Free-to-Play Grid Master specific worlds, so F2P players can get involved too by being able to complete a handful of challenges!
Can Ironman accounts participate?
Yes! Since you'll be starting on a Grid Master specific world with a fresh character, Ironman accounts can participate without affecting their status.
How do I access Grid Master in-game?
When you login into Old School, you'll see Grid Master specific worlds. You'll need to go onto one of these worlds to start playing Grid Master.
Is this a team or solo event?
Grid Master is a solo challenge - but that doesn't mean you can't play alongside your friends and clannies!
Why is there no multiplayer?
We know that the team-based nature of Bingo is part of what makes it so fun and we absolutely see potential for team-based Community Events in the future. For Grid Master, however, there were significant technical challenges that would’ve required far more time and resources than originally scoped. Rather than delay the event, we focused on delivering a solid solo experience as our starting point.
That said, we’re excited to share that next year, we’ll be giving the Grid Master UI and system functionality to the community, so you can run your own Bingo-inspired events with friends and clans.
When will the whole grid be revealed?
Before launch, we’ll be revealing a number of tiles in the lead-up, but we’re keeping some under wraps so there’s still something left to surprise you!
What is the difference between a Community Event and a Game Mode?
Community Events are designed as one-off (or returning-by-popular-demand) experiences that explore new ways to engage with OSRS. These might include tournament-style formats, limited-time playable content, or other experimental ideas.
We’re leaning into the idea that these will be smaller, more varied events that are quick to jump into and fun to play, offering fresh ways to enjoy the game between larger seasonal content.
By contrast, Game Modes like Leagues and Deadman Mode (DMM) are recurring and foundational experiences within the OSRS roadmap.
As we continue to explore and experiment with Community Events, these special, time limited events will operate for you to safely explore and enjoy entirely new types of gameplay and concepts. This could even be a space where you can trial new content before it potentially makes its way into the main game via the usual polling system. You'll play a crucial role in these experiments as it's your feedback, ideas and enthusiasm that will play a key role in what these events become in the future.
Why not just do a League instead?
Leagues are a core part of OSRS and aren’t going anywhere! (We're already in pre-production for the next one!) But we’re always looking for new ways to deliver exciting content. Community Events like Grid Master give us a chance to try fresh ideas without the long-term commitment.
Think of it as a fun experiment, one that might become a recurring favorite if the community wants it back.
Do I need to complete the entire grid to earn the cosmetic rewards?
Nope! As you progress through the grid, you’ll earn 'Grid Points', a currency you can spend in the event reward shop. Completing individual tiles is enough to start racking up points, but the more rows and columns you complete, the more you'll earn!
(A full breakdown of cosmetic reward costs will be shared closer to launch.)
How do I claim my cosmetic rewards from Grid Master?
Cosmetic rewards will be claimable in the same way as League and Deadman. At the end of Grid Master, a dedicated reward shop will become available where you can spend the grid points you've earned throughout the event. You'll also be able to trade these cosmetic rewards in the main game in the same way you can with Leagues and DMM cosmetics.
You can also discuss this update on the 2007Scape subreddit, the Steam forums, or the community-led OSRS Discord in the #gameupdate channel. For more info on the above content, check out the official Old School Wiki.
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