Why hello there, and welcome back to another thrilling episode of Trader Steve’s journey across Gielinor! For those who are just tuning in, Trader Steve is on an ambitious quest to collect as many rare items as possible while navigating the treacherous world of Old School RuneScape (OSRS). His journey began in the Grand Exchange chunk, but with each rare item worth more than one million OSRS gold, he unlocks a new adjacent chunk of the map. His ultimate goal? To earn the prestigious Quest Cape, a symbol of mastery over Gielinor’s most challenging quests.
The Grand Exchange Beginnings
Trader Steve’s journey started in the heart of the economic engine of OSRS—the Grand Exchange. From this central hub, he’s methodically expanded his reach, unlocking 22 new chunks by collecting 22 rare and valuable items. Each chunk unlocked represents not just a piece of land, but a strategic stepping stone toward his grand goal. As the list of unlocked chunks grows, so does the challenge, with the cost of rare RuneScape items steadily climbing.
In the previous episode, Trader Steve took a bold step westward into the region of Kandarin, focusing on enhancing the profitability of his runecrafting endeavors. This move brought him closer to unlocking new areas in Ardougne, an essential region for his questing needs.
The Power of Runecrafting and the Wealth It Brings
Runecrafting has been a cornerstone of Trader Steve’s strategy. In the last episode, his efforts culminated in a significant milestone—accumulating a five million gold cash stack. This was one of the largest sums Steve had managed to gather, and it opened the door to acquiring powerful and expensive items that would be crucial in the mid-game.
One of the first major purchases with this newfound wealth was the Toxic Trident. Although Trader Steve didn’t have an immediate need for this potent magical weapon, it was a wise investment. The Toxic Trident, valued at 3.6 million gold, is a versatile tool in the mid-game, capable of delivering strong magical attacks. While Steve doesn’t have a specific boss unlocked that demands the Trident’s power, having it on hand will make him ready for the challenges that lie ahead.
The Quest for Ardougne Teleport
Trader Steve’s journey hasn’t been without its frustrations. A prime example is his struggle to complete the Plague City quest. Initially, the goal was simple: unlock the Ardougne teleport for easier access to the western regions of Kandarin. However, this endeavor proved far more costly than expected, with Steve investing in four different chunks just to reach the quest’s key locations. Despite the high cost, completing Plague City was a significant achievement, granting him the Ardougne teleport scroll and, with it, much easier access to the western map.
With Plague City out of the way, Steve turned his attention to another crucial quest—Biohazard. The completion of Biohazard was necessary to unlock even more of Ardougne, setting the stage for further progress toward his quest cape goal. However, this questline, too, came with its own set of challenges, including the need to unlock additional chunks to reach NPCs who were just out of reach.
Strategic Planning for the Mid-Game
As Trader Steve continues to expand his reach across Gielinor, strategic planning becomes ever more important. The map is vast, with over 450 chunks to potentially unlock. Steve knows that careful consideration of his path is crucial to avoid wasting time and resources on less profitable or dead-end areas.
In the last episode, Steve debated three potential routes: the Elven Lands of Tirannwn, the desert, and Morytania. Each route offers unique opportunities and challenges, but after careful consideration, Steve has decided to focus on Morytania.
The Case for Morytania
Morytania presents a compelling mix of opportunities. The region is home to some of the best money-makers in the game, including the Theatre of Blood, one of the most profitable raids, and Darkmeyer, a city that offers numerous high-value activities. Unlike the Elven Lands or the desert, which have large stretches of low-value chunks, Morytania has a gradient of mid-game money-makers like Barrows and various activities in Mort’ton.
The decision to focus on Morytania isn’t just about the potential for wealth, but also about maintaining an interesting and dynamic journey for Steve. Every few chunks in Morytania promises a new money-making opportunity, ensuring that Steve’s journey remains engaging and rewarding.
A Brief Rebuild and Preparation for the Road Ahead
After spending nearly all his money on the Toxic Trident and other necessary items, Trader Steve found himself with just 26k left in the bank. But in true Steve fashion, he quickly set about rebuilding his wealth. Utilizing the resources available to him, Steve focused on charging air orbs, a reliable method of making money while also training his magic.
Through a combination of charging air orbs and selling off other assets like his glories, Steve managed to rebuild his cash stack to 1.3 million gold. This was enough to fund his next big purchase—the Ring of Elements. This ring, which teleports the wearer to various elemental altars, opened up new money-making methods for Steve, particularly in runecrafting.
The Path to Morytania: A New Chapter Begins
With his focus now firmly on Morytania, Trader Steve mapped out his next steps. The first task is to complete the Priest in Peril quest, which will grant him access to the haunted lands of Morytania. To reach the quest’s starting point, Steve needs to unlock the Lumbridge Sawmill chunk, a task that he’s particularly excited about because of the potential money-makers it holds.
One such money-maker involves crafting mud runes at the Earth altar, which Steve can now access quickly thanks to the Ring of Elements. While mud runes aren’t the most valuable, the ability to teleport directly to the altar makes this method efficient and potentially lucrative.
However, not all plans go smoothly. During his attempts to craft mud runes, Steve faced the issue of his rune pouch degrading, which put a damper on his plans. But ever resourceful, Steve didn’t let this setback stop him. He quickly shifted gears to his backup plan—creating planks at the Sawmill, another profitable method that benefits from the teleport capabilities of the Ring of Elements.
Looking Forward: The Journey Continues
As Trader Steve’s journey continues, the focus will shift to unlocking and exploring the depths of Morytania. With the potential for high-value rewards and engaging challenges, this region promises to be a rich and rewarding part of Steve’s adventure.
The road to the Quest Cape is long and fraught with challenges, but with careful planning, strategic investments, and a bit of luck, Trader Steve is well on his way to achieving his ultimate goal. Stay tuned for more episodes as Steve ventures deeper into the world of Gielinor, unlocking new chunks, collecting rare items, and inching closer to his dream of mastering every quest OSRS has to offer.
Whether you’re an OSRS veteran or a new player, Trader Steve’s journey is a testament to the excitement and unpredictability of RuneScape. His methodical approach, combined with a willingness to adapt and change strategies, showcases the depth of gameplay that keeps players coming back to Gielinor time and time again.