October Update
24 Oct 2024
At this year’s Summer Summit we announced Project Zanaris, A.K.A. Old School’s very own Community Servers. This exciting update will let you customise your very own server to your liking by modifying elements of the game world and inviting other players to experience it with you. You can find out more on the Project Zanaris homepage that was released alongside this year's Summit!
Since then the team has been hard at work developing the core features of Community Servers. We want to involve you as much as possible as we move through development, so we’ll be releasing newsposts like this one about once a month to show off the new features we’re working on. We’ll also have livestreams, Discord Stages, and other opportunities to peek behind the curtain – so keep your eyes peeled!
In fact, we had a Discord Stages call recently with Mods Sarnie and TJ that covered a bunch of questions and concerns from our community. You can find the full video and accompanying transcript in the Zanaris-FAQ channel on the Official Discord.
Without further ado, let's show you what we've been working on this month...
General Progress
We’ve been working on two of the most important features: the World Creation Screen and Player Lists.
The World Creation Screen is something any budding host will want to get familiar with. After accessing Zanaris through the Jagex Launcher, you’ll arrive in the Project Zanaris Portal, your hub for everything Community Servers. Whether you’re playing or hosting, this is the place to be!
For hosts, the World Creation Screen is where you’ll fire up your own server and adjust its parameters. There’ll be plenty of options to choose from, so each parameter is categorised so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll also be able to change your world’s settings after creation from this same screen.
Player Lists function similarly to your Friends List, in that you’ll see a big list of people playing on the same server as you. Of course, you’ll also have your familiar Friends List, so no matter where or how you’re playing, you can still message your favourite people.
Character Parameters
We’ve seen lots of discussion around how you’d like to setup your world – whether you’re limiting the skills people can train, setting everyone to Ultimate Ironman, or any number of other crazy ideas! The Character portion of the World Creation Screen will help you do all of this, and more.
You’ll be able to set minimum and maximum levels for skills, Ironman status, quest and Achievement Diary completion and even unlock music tracks. You also have the option to let your players set these options themselves – if you’re brave enough!
World Parameters
These options don’t just affect your players – they change how the world works! Since it’s spooky season, we thought we’d reveal some of the scarier options first…
Wipe Bank and Inventory on Death
We want you to play exactly how you want on Community Servers, and if that means inflicting Bank and Inventory wipes on death, then so be it. This setting means that everything players have gathered will be gone, permanently, if they die. No reclaiming them from Gravestones or Death’s Coffer. Our initial pitch is that this should include all your items, forever – although we’re open to giving players the option to save some of their most valuable items from oblivion if requested.
Wipe Bank and Inventory on Death
We want you to play exactly how you want on Community Servers, and if that means inflicting Bank and Inventory wipes on death, then so be it. This setting means that everything players have gathered will be gone, permanently, if they die. No reclaiming them from Gravestones or Death’s Coffer. Our initial pitch is that this should include all your items, forever – although we’re open to giving players the option to save some of their most valuable items from oblivion if requested.
Reset Player Save on Death
Rounding off the reset roster, this option forces a complete account reset on death, sending players straight back to Tutorial Island. Of course, this only counts for unsafe deaths, so if a Hardcore Ironman could survive it, your players will be able to as well. However, we plan to implement a version of this parameter that will count for any death… so watch out!
Disable Banking
This next parameter is straightforward, and simply removes the ability to use Banks. Essentially, this means everyone will be an Ultimate Ironman – although they’ll still be able to trade, and other storage methods will still be available for certain items.
Disable Gold and Platinum
We love NoCurrencies’ unique take on snowflake accounts and thought it’d make an interesting parameter! This one removes the use of any Gold (or Platinum) in the game, taking us back to the days when West Varrock was a lively trading hub!
Disable Picking Up Ground Items
Another one for Ironman fans, this parameter prevents players picking up anything an Ironman can’t. With other elements of the world left open, this could create interesting new ways to find and acquire certain items.
Disable the Use of Slot Equipment
We’ve stopped you picking up items – how about removing the ability to wear them? This option is granular, so you can block any number of equipment slots. How many of you could take on Jad barehanded? Time to find out!
Basic Gathering Resources Don't Respawn After Gathering
Lastly, this option makes the world of Gielinor a little more realistic, and turns the deforestation of Lumbridge into a reality. This parameter stops gathering nodes such as trees, Fishing spots, and so on from respawning, forcing you to carefully manage your resources and use them sparingly.
Test Content
Second Content section will live here
Character Parameters
We’ve seen lots of discussion around how you’d like to setup your world – whether you’re limiting the skills people can train, setting everyone to Ultimate Ironman, or any number of other crazy ideas! The Character portion of the World Creation Screen will help you do all of this, and more.
You’ll be able to set minimum and maximum levels for skills, Ironman status, quest and Achievement Diary completion and even unlock music tracks. You also have the option to let your players set these options themselves – if you’re brave enough!
