[Neo Avatars]

We've just published a blog about a new project:
Distraction and Diversions: Court Cases

It's in the early stages but I'll answer what questions I can about it. Hope you enjoy!

Thanks,
Mod Nancy

16-17-343-59852417

Court is in session

When I wrote King's Ransom over two years ago, we introduced a judicial system to RuneScape, by way of the Seers' Village Court House. It seemed a shame that you only get to use it during the quest and the rest of the time it just sits there.

I've been toying for quite a while with the idea of involving the Court House in either another quest or possibly making a minigame out of trialling cases. No quests I worked on really needed a trial, though, and a full-on minigame seemed as though it would be difficult to code and very boring.

This month, my workload finally cleared up enough that I had a chance to start concepting a new Distraction & Diversion to take place in the Court House. I wanted to use a lot of the same mechanics we had in King's Ransom, but add some new ones and give it some spice.

Getting the format of the D&D wasn't hard, since I had King's Ransom to work off of, but I hit a roadblock when it came to what cases should be about. Who in RuneScape should go on trial?

I happened to mention this idea to Mod Osborne and Mod Srowley (the RuneScape editors), seeing as they create the Postbag, and they had tons of ideas! I also went through the website's area guides to see what interesting characters from all over RuneScape might have an issue they'd want resolved in court. You'll see a lot of familiar faves in court including a few that used to be familiar, but were recently retired...

I've coded a prototype case involving a certain 'Mugger (level: 6)'. Mod Mark played through it and loved the gameplay, so I've been given the go-ahead to code the rest of the project.

Currently, you'll be given a case and get to choose whether you want to prosecute or defend the accused. Then you read a few documents on the background of the case and do a bit of sleuthing. When you feel ready, you start the trial and present all your findings to the jury, just like you did in King's Ransom, but with a few new surprises...

In a follow-up blog, I'll hand you over to the RuneScape editors who are going to be writing a few of the court cases.

If you'd like to discuss our support for community events this blog on the forums, check out this thread.

Various replies from 16-17-343-59852417

Spoiler: Click to Toggle the Spoiler.

Page 3

@ Ace Lev - Some of the more difficult cases will require some leg work to interview witnesses. I'm trying to keep this to a minimum, though.

@ Xaror - Great questions! We are planning on having a bit of an informal tier system with the caes. So there will be some pretty easy ones, some intermediate ones, and some difficult ones. Difficult in the sense that they are more complex or require more leg work to get the facts.

As for researching the case, that will depend on difficulty. Easy ones most of the facts will be presented to you, difficult ones may involve some actual sleuthing at the scene of the crime. Less sure on that one at the minute, as I'm still toying with how it will work.

It's unlikely the event will release cases on a weekly basis. Right now we're thinking maybe something more like Treasure Trails where you get a 'Court Summons' in a drop. That way you won't plow through them too fast!

Page 5

@Nightgunner - For right now, you won't be able to repeat a case once you've completed it. It's still early stages, so that may change, but that's how it currently stands.

@HeavenlyEvil - I don't want it to be as rare as a Champion Scroll either. That's why I said like Treasure Trails, which are much more common. This bit is still in the air, so don't worry too much about how you'll get a case. Lots of things can change between now and release. But thanks for the feedback!

Page 6

There is dancing! But no babies.

Page 7

@Matman 1966 - The problem with time based things is that it quite often comes down to how good your internet connection is, and that's not really fair. That's why there aren't very many time based things in RuneScape, and I'd rather not do it in this instance.


For everyone asking about the rewards, we haven't really decided on anything concrete yet. We'll probably discuss it in the next blog, but we will hopefully have some visual rewards so you can show off your accomplishments in the court room.

Page 11

Yes, as of right now the event will require King's Ransom to play. As always these things may change, but it makes sense to have done it.

[Close]

[Extreme Steak]

Hope it might be f2p someday

EDIT: First post!!!

This post has been edited by Markbalex: Nov 12 2009, 11:13 AM

[Ruin]

This will only be cool If We get an emote where we point and yell objection! during the trial.

[Lord Earth]

To me, this just sounds like another mini-game people will try a few times after it's first released, then completely forget about it. I just can't see this kinda thing being appealing unless there was massive rewards.

Oh well, good luck to Jagex.

[Jethraw]

To me, this just sounds like another mini-game people will try a few times after it's first released, then completely forget about it. I just can't see this kinda thing being appealing unless there was massive rewards.

Oh well, good luck to Jagex.

It's a diversion&distraction, not a mini-game.
So there's a high likelihood of the rewards being xp based, probably on a daily/weekly basis.
Judging by how obscure the D&D is in relation to any skills, it's more likely to be
-Clothing rewards (like circus)
OR
-Optional XP (like pengs)

[Neo Avatars]

It's a diversion&distraction, not a mini-game.
So there's a high likelihood of the rewards being xp based, probably on a daily/weekly basis.

Read the answers in the spoiler and you'll see that it'll probably be a bit like the Champion's Challenge scrolls, but with TTrail drop rates.

"It's unlikely the event will release cases on a weekly basis. Right now we're thinking maybe something more like Treasure Trails where you get a 'Court Summons' in a drop."

Sounds fun, but it'd be another thing that you need to kill stuff to obtain.

If you could find pieces of 'Incriminating Evidence' or something in between the branches of a tree or cracks in a rock when skilling, it'd be reasonably easy to spread it out into various skills rather than simply combat (though that idea may not fit in with the 'Choose if you prosecute or defend' concept).

...a special one could become available at 99 Thieving...

[Razorlike]

It's a diversion&distraction, not a mini-game.
So there's a high likelihood of the rewards being xp based, probably on a daily/weekly basis.

Read the answers in the spoiler and you'll see that it'll probably be a bit like the Champion's Challenge scrolls, but with TTrail drop rates.

"It's unlikely the event will release cases on a weekly basis. Right now we're thinking maybe something more like Treasure Trails where you get a 'Court Summons' in a drop."

Sounds fun, but it'd be another thing that you need to kill stuff to obtain.

If you could find pieces of 'Incriminating Evidence' or something in between the branches of a tree or cracks in a rock when skilling, it'd be reasonably easy to spread it out into various skills rather than simply combat (though that idea may not fit in with the 'Choose if you prosecute or defend' concept).

...a special one could become available at 99 Thieving...

At 99 thieving you would be the one prosecuted!

~Razorlike

[Jethraw]

It's a diversion&distraction, not a mini-game.
So there's a high likelihood of the rewards being xp based, probably on a daily/weekly basis.

Read the answers in the spoiler and you'll see that it'll probably be a bit like the Champion's Challenge scrolls, but with TTrail drop rates.

"It's unlikely the event will release cases on a weekly basis. Right now we're thinking maybe something more like Treasure Trails where you get a 'Court Summons' in a drop."

Sounds fun, but it'd be another thing that you need to kill stuff to obtain.

If you could find pieces of 'Incriminating Evidence' or something in between the branches of a tree or cracks in a rock when skilling, it'd be reasonably easy to spread it out into various skills rather than simply combat (though that idea may not fit in with the 'Choose if you prosecute or defend' concept).

...a special one could become available at 99 Thieving...

Didn't see the spoiler
That definately sounds a lot better than another run of the mill D&D then

Seems like if you received a 'court summons' via a drop, it could be used as another treasure trail type thing to find evidence?
Not sure if that would work

[Its a Liger]

This will only be cool If We get an emote where we point and yell objection! during the trial.

Dang he said it first

[Easl]

I wonder what rewards it will have, but I will be buying a powered wig now

[Mohorak]

Could this be the new skill? What starts with B that in Britain is related to law...

And LOL, when I first saw the title of this thread, I thought Jagex was being sued by someone because of the Distractions and Diversions

[Redicaluss]

I'm thinking that it could be more of a problem-solving and logic minigame. Although, a computer defendant probably wouldn't be able to lie very well...

[Easl]

I'm thinking that it could be more of a problem-solving and logic minigame. Although, a computer defendant probably wouldn't be able to lie very well...

Or could he...

Is anyone else thinking Sunny from Irobot?

[Lord Earth]

To me, this just sounds like another mini-game people will try a few times after it's first released, then completely forget about it. I just can't see this kinda thing being appealing unless there was massive rewards.

Oh well, good luck to Jagex.

It's a diversion&distraction, not a mini-game.

D'oh, I knew that too. Maybe it's because I see D&D as mini-games.

[zhangliao100]

To me, this just sounds like another mini-game people will try a few times after it's first released, then completely forget about it. I just can't see this kinda thing being appealing unless there was massive rewards.

Oh well, good luck to Jagex.

OBJECTION!
it clearly states this will be a distraction and diversion not a mini-game

[Poke]

Could this be the new skill? What starts with B that in Britain is related to law...

And LOL, when I first saw the title of this thread, I thought Jagex was being sued by someone because of the Distractions and Diversions

Barrister.

To me, this just sounds like another mini-game people will try a few times after it's first released, then completely forget about it. I just can't see this kinda thing being appealing unless there was massive rewards.

Oh well, good luck to Jagex.

OBJECTION!
it clearly states this will be a distraction and diversion not a mini-game

Overruled, the defendant clearly sees his mistake. See Evidence B below.

It's a diversion&distraction, not a mini-game.

D'oh, I knew that too. Maybe it's because I see D&D as mini-games.