Runescape Fan Sites

Out on the World Wide Web, are a multitude of Websites devoted to the Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game, Runescape. But You’re not reading this to find out about Runescape – Oh no! I’m Going to review some Fan sites and tell you which are the best!

I will be marking each of the communities based on how welcome they make their new members feel, the variety of posts, the atmosphere of the forum in general (Relaxed, tense Etc.) And an overall mark.

Recently, I have joined several Runescape Fansite Forums around the website, each time with a different name. I intent to review them by the experience i have had at each of them. There are some of the Main Ones that everyone knows: Zybez, RuneHQ and Sal’s Realm. And although, i will Review them – I also want to review some of the lesser known sites.

Zybez

Zybez Website. Maybe the top Runescape Fansite on the web. It has every Quest Guide, all the Skill Calculators, Everything a Runescape Player could want. But what about their Forums? Well, to begin. They have too big of a community. You can’t post to debate a topic without it being buried under several other posts in minutes. When i joined, immediately I was not recognised as new – and therefore not welcomed – and was flamed at for giving an opinion in the first few posts. This lead me to have an increasing dislike for it, as it seemed all the time i posted, i did not get responded to at all and ultimately it seemed as if my posts were forgotten and we’re worth the effort of posting.

Greeting: 2
Diversity: 5

Atmosphere: 3

Overall: 10/15

Sal’s Realm

Sal’s Realm is very much like Zybez. All the guides, Calculators…the works. So when i joined this site a day or so after Zybez, i was not very optimistic. However, on joining i received a very warm welcome via automated Private message with handy links. It has a site very welcome and soft on the eyes. Again, this forum was big. But much better than Zybez as the threads were not flooded. Also, a large portion of the members are all “new” so, this lead to slight confusion as who to ask. The moderators were also very helpful

Greeting: 4
Diversity: 5
Atmosphere: 3

Overall: 12/15

Rune HQ

This is the final “Massive” Fan site i joined, And again, i was expecting a very big community where i couldn’t get a word in edge-ways. I was pleasantly Surprised when i found quite a few ranked members posted in reply to a few questions and opinions i posted. At once i felt welcome with people replying to my posts, and being helped by many members trying to offer a different idea, and angle.

Greeting: 5
Diversity: 4
Atmosphere: 4

Overall: 13/15

Now, we move onto the less known communities, some of you may not have heard of. If this is so, just read what i have to say, and then If you have any Questions/want to know the URL please comment, asking.

Runescape Addicts

This small site i stumbled upon by accident. Its homepage is a Blog with Runescape news updated regularly, and a growing Quest Database. The forum link is rather concealed in a little Link pane at the side. Once on the forums – I felt warm and fuzzy inside before i registered because of their forum skin is so welcoming and matches that of their blog’s. Upon registering, the first post i made got a “Welcome to RSA” Which was very nice
Their Moderator body was absolutely delighted to answer any and all questions, no matter how stupid whenever i Messaged them or posted on their walls. They post a lot, and are exceedingly nice to all and handle things in a kind, jokey and calm manner – giving the whole forum a relaxed feel. The site admin is constantly asking the forum members opinions as to what to update and what they want to see, which was very nice to see! I got a slow but steady rate of replied on my posts, most referring to or arguing a point against mine. However, they don’t have a large variety of members, but a large collection of threads. I thoroughly enjoyed this community!

Greeting: 5
Diversity: 4
Atmosphere: 5

Overall: 14/15

Rs Boards

This site may not be classed as a “Fansite” as it does not offer any typical features such as calculators Etc. It is purely a forum. I am not entirely sure how well known RSBoards is known, however it seems a nice community, however it seem to be rather strict not allowing much “fun” some of the other offer. Their “Warm Welcomes” board offered a very nice welcome. Their homepage seems to offer “Free RS gold” if you win a contest, however i do not know how this works…Hopefully not a scam.
They have an array of forum topics and sub-forums in their main body with a good amount of threads and a reasonable amount of members posting fluently in them. I also noticed a great deal of advertising of other sites around theirs, which rather annoyed me.

Greeting: 5
Diversity: 4
Atmosphere: 3

Overall: 12/15

As you can see – Against what you may expect. The lesser known Fansite comes out on top! Although it is not famous for its tips – it was the nicest, politest and most relaxed and enjoyable community to be in. Where as the most popular ones are crammed with members which just aren’t that nice. It just goes to show you!

Final Rankings:

1. Runescape Addicts: 14 points
2. RuneHQ: 13 points
3. RSBoards: 12 points
4. Sal’s Realm: 12 points
5. Zybez: 10 points

Click the main titles *before the review* of each to be transfered to their page