World map
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An interactive map is available here. Locations may be clicked on, which link to their respective pages.
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The World map interface is a large, scrolling map of the entire surface of Gielinor. On the map are the names of cities, towns, islands, kingdoms, mountains, caves, dungeons, rivers, lakes, and countless other geographic features as well as information icons for specific locations, buildings, and quest starting points. After an update, Unknown was removed from the World Map.
Contents
Use[edit | edit source]
To access the World Map, the "World Map" button located on the Minimap must be clicked. Doing this will change the game screen into the World map view. World map view cannot be accessed during combat nor certain other activities. This version of the map is dynamic. Players can search it using keywords, quickly move from one location to another one, view the "Key" list where all of the icons are explained and can be clicked to reveal all of the locations of the certain icon. The dynamic map may also be zoomed, depending on the player's preference.
As of 9 November 2009, other players can now see that you are busy looking at the world map. While the map is displayed, your character will appear to be looking at a scroll of parchment, presumably containing a map on it. This should prevent other players from assuming you are paying attention to them.
Features[edit | edit source]
Scrolling[edit | edit source]
The World map, once loaded, will show the current location of the player. With the 7 October 2009 update, players can now scroll using the arrow keys, instead of having to click and drag using the mouse though dragging the mouse can still be used to browse throughout the world map.
You are here[edit | edit source]
The "You are here" feature was added on 27 January 2009. It shows the location of the player on the map. While looking at another part of the map, the "You are here" arrow can be left-clicked to scroll automatically to the current location.
The yellow marker is also used on the advisor system when doing any of the tutorials or when plotting an arrow to a nearby enemy/quest start.
You can turn this marker off.
Quest starting point/Place marker[edit | edit source]
A quest start point can be selected to be shown on the World map by right-clicking the quest name and selecting "Show on the World map" or setting the quest as your objective. The starting point of the quest (if it starts in a dungeon, the dungeon entrance) will be shown as a cyan arrow similar to the "You are here" one. The quest name will become cyan, and the arrow is kept until logout, choosing another quest or switching it off (right-clicking quest name). This was removed from the game. However, if you set a quest as your objective, the Quest Starting Point icon will appear on the world map. Unlike other markers, the quest start marker does not glow and clicking on it will not centre the map to it, the text of the quest start marker uses a different font and colour. However, if you plot an arrow to the quest start, the marker will become yellow and will be able to be centred, just like any other markers.
Players can also set markers on the world map for easier travelling. Double clicking a spot in the map will set a marker, and a blue arrow will appear on the minimap. When the marker feature was released, the only way to remove a marker is to click on the legend tab (The "?") and press "Clear your marker" or right-click on your marker and press the clear your marker option. However, on the 25th August 2010, JaGex released an update along-side the release of the Conquest minigame. This update helped if you already have a marker on the world map, by allowing you to remove it quickly by right clicking on the globe button and selecting "clear your marker".
Gravestone marker[edit | edit source]
If you have died recently and have a gravestone, there will be a mark on the world map similar to the "You are here" arrow.
Multiple markers[edit | edit source]
It is possible to have up to 5 markers at the same time on the world map, this can be done by setting a quest as an objective, placing a custom marker, turning on "You are here", having a gravestone, and starting a tutorial/plotting an arrow to nearby enemy using the advisor. Plotting an arrow to a quest start will replace the blue quest marker with a yellow marker allowing only 4 markers to placed.
Additional map views[edit | edit source]
On the 27 May 2009 Jagex released maps of many dungeons. This feature was later updated to its current state [source needed], in which many other areas of RuneScape could be viewed as higher-definition maps within the world map interface. To use this feature, you can select one of many other RuneScape map views from the drop down list at the top-left of the map, or click on the entrance to one of the dungeons on the world map.
Buttons[edit | edit source]
Zooming[edit | edit source]
The Zoom button is used for zooming the current World map view. To obtain a wider or a more detailed view, the map can be magnified accordingly. There are five zoom buttons available: 37%, 50%, 75%, 100% and 200%. The 100% zoom level corresponds to the zoom level of the player's minimap.
| Zoom | Pixels / Game Square |
|---|---|
| 200% | 8 |
| 100% | 4 |
| 75% | 3 |
| 50% | 2 |
| 37% | 1.48 |
Key list[edit | edit source]
The Key button, basically shows icons describing specific locations within the map, and is located on the left-hand side on the World Map. When an entry in the Key list is clicked, yellow circles will flash on the World Map. This shows where the building (or location) is located on the map.
Searching[edit | edit source]
To search for a location within the World map, the "Search bar" can used to type-in keywords. This is located at the bottom of the World map, next to the Key button. As words are typed, suggested locations are displayed within the Search bar.
Minimap[edit | edit source]
The Overview button, located on the far right-hand side, is used to show a minimap showing the entire RuneScape world. The area shown on the World Map is highlighted in a red square.
This red square can be clicked and moved to quickly move around the World Map. This minimap can be useful in conjunction with the Key button, as yellow circles will also flash in this minimap even when these circles are not flashing in the current World map view.
Help[edit | edit source]
The Help button can be accessed at the top-right corner, providing a short tutorial for the features of the World Map. This offers information about exploring the map with mouse keys, how the key list functions, where other maps can be found, using the search bar, as well as placing map markers.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
The very first map ever made of RuneScape, by then called DeviousMUD
One of RuneScape 2's oldest world maps
The full world map including members areas
A map showing all different regions of Gielinor
A map showing areas available to free-to-play players
The map inside of the Betrayal at Falador book
The map inside of the Return to Canifis book.
A removed feature showing a quest's starting point
Developers discussing the map
Update history[edit | edit source]
Historical versions of the world map can be viewed here.
- RuneScape Mobile:
- Improved the performance of the world map.
- RuneScape Mobile:
- patch 12 August 2019 (Update):
- Hunter training icons can now correctly toggle visibility via the world map.
- patch 22 July 2019 (Update):
- The world map view of Anachronia has been tweaked slightly to better represent the terrain.
- patch 15 July 2019 (Update):
- Big Game Hunter locations will now more accurately be shown on the world map, with extra information included.
- patch 11 March 2019 (Update):
- Fairy rings now have a new map icon. After discovering each one's transport code it can be viewed again via a tooltip on the world map.
- patch 25 February 2019 (Update):
- Fixed a bug with world map backgrounds not appearing as the correct colour.
- patch 28 January 2019 (Update):
- Players can now open the world map while in combat stance before or after engaging in combat.
- patch 21 January 2019 (Update):
- The Varrock south-east mining icon now includes tin ore (but not enough to spawn rockertunities).
- patch 14 January 2019 (Update):
- Fixed an issue that caused the minigames interface to appear over the world map when it opened with the minigame interface on screen.
- patch 7 January 2019 (Update):
- All mining sites have been rearranged to include the new ores. The world map now shows what rocks are available at each mining site.
- Gem rocks have been split into multiple tiers with different drop tables. Which gems drop at which sites is visible on the world map.
- The legacy map icons toggle will no longer be reverted on logout.
- patch 24 September 2018 (Update):
- Opening world map while in Zanaris Fairy HQ no longer crashes the client.
- patch 10 September 2018 (Update):
- A new category for Skill Training has been added to the Activities section of the world map, with an icon for all non-elite skills. The Agility, Combat and Hunter training icons have been moved into this category and re-labelled for consistency.
- The Construction Tutor icon at the Lumbridge crater beach has been replaced with a Construction Training icon.
- A Combat Training icon has been added to the Lumbridge Combat Academy.
- The Divination Tutor icon on the Islands That Once Were Turtles has been replaced with a Divination Shop icon.
- ninja 28 August 2018 (Update):
- An issue with the worldmap quest icons for these quests (that prevented them from being toggled off) has been corrected: Impressing the Locals, Sliske's Endgame, The Jack of Spades, Gower Quest.
- Skill tutor icons in Burthorpe/Taverley now display a tooltip when hovered on the worldmap.
- ninja 9 July 2018 (Update):
- Quest start tooltips on the world map now always state if they are member's only when on free-to-play worlds.
- patch 22 January 2018 (Update):
- A help button has been added to the World Map.
- The World Map opening tutorial is now only one page long, as the tutorial can now be repeated by using the help button on the map.
- ninja 22 January 2018 (Update):
- Icons have now been added to the World Map for Goblin Raids and Demon Flash mobs in the style of the WildyWyrm. This feature can still be hidden using the Doomsayer toggle system.
- patch 15 January 2018 (Update):
- The world map icon has been updated to use its own recoloured graphic in Legacy interface mode.
- An incorrect dungeon map link has been replaced with a dungeon icon on the Zanaris world map.
- patch 8 January 2018 (Update):
- An issue has been fixed where certain toggleable icons were still appearing on the world map when players attempted to hide all icons.
- patch 20 March 2017 (Update):
- The ramp by the Fishing shop previously leading into the Lumbridge Crater has been removed from the minimap and worldmap.
- patch 17 October 2016 (Update):
- The font size of map labels has been changed to minimise overlapping.
- ninja 8 February 2016 (Update):
- World Map icons for General Store, quest start, Dungeon links and Daily challenge icons are now on by default.
- patch 11 January 2016 (Update):
- The yew tree in Lumbridge cemetery is now marked with the rare trees map icon.
- ninja 5 October 2015 (Update):
- The World Map agility shortcut icon for the northern Shilo Village shortcut now correctly states a level 74 Agility requirement and the Elite Karamja Diary complete, instead of a level 21 requirement.
- ninja 28 September 2015 (Update):
- A World Map icon has been added for the World Gate.
- patch 27 April 2015 (Update):
- An issue that was preventing players from being able to use the Wilderness lodestone via the World Map has been fixed.
- Players can now teleport to the Prifddinas lodestone via both the RuneScape Surface and Prifddinas world maps.
- patch 6 October 2014 (Update):
- Pressing the map shorcut key (default 'M') will now also close maps as well as open them.
- patch 21 February 2012 (Update):
- The Dorgesh-Kaan minimap and worldmap lower levels have been fixed.
- patch 14 September 2011 (Update):
- Several duplicate dungeon icons have been removed from the world map.
- patch 19 April 2011 (Update):
- Transportation icons now appear on the world map for canoes on free worlds.
- patch 6 May 2009 (Update):
- A dungeon icon has been placed back on the world map for the Keldagrim Mine.
- update 14 July 2008 (Update):
- RuneScape HD leaves beta and is opened to all players: In-game dynamic world map made generally available.
- update 1 July 2008 (Update):
- RuneScape HD beta opens for members: The world map is now accessible in-game by clicking the "World Map" button located on the Minimap. The dynamic world map replaces the game screen, which returns when closing the map.
- update 9 August 2004 (Update):
- Dynamic applet released: Today we have released a superb replacement for our existing world map in the form of an applet. With the new applet you can scroll around and zoom in and out with ease. The applet also contains all the new areas that have been discovered in RuneScape, including Mort Myre Swamp and Death Plateau! Saving the best to last, clicking items in the key highlights their placement on the map - helping you locate all sorts of useful places much faster.
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- The World map, along with Quick chat, has been known for leaking features before they are released.
- The globe in the Wise Old Man' house in Draynor shows other continents which may be accessible in the future.
- Prior to the High Detail update, the map opened in a new window, or could be accessed directly from the RuneScape home page.
- The player can walk and hold the world map. This is done by opening the world map as your character is walking.
- The Runecrafting Altar map in the Runecrafting Guild does not show any unexplored, black areas like the world map. Additionally, it has inaccuracies. For example, Dragontooth Island is clearly missing.
- While you're viewing the world map, your status at the friends list, friends chat, and clan chats will show you at the lobby.
- Trader Stan has mentioned in Postbag from the Hedge 32 that pirates encouraged use of maps with black spaces to help protect their businesses. Then people came up with an idea that these places were dangerous and only travelled through by professionals. However, they are neither "dangerous nor empty, and anyone could travel through them if they had enough nautical knowledge and a sturdy ship (and a more accurate map, of course!)."
- As part of a player survey to guide the future of RuneScape games, a poster of a world map of Gielinor was planned to be given out to five participants. This world map contains locations that only exist in Old School RuneScape, such as Old School RuneScape's version of Fossil Island, and Zeah, as well as RuneScape exclusive locations like Ashdale, Daemonheim and the Lost Grove.
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