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TruthScape Sneak Previews - Analysis of Upcoming RuneScape Features and Updates Preview of The Grand Exchange - How it Will Work is Still a Grand Mystery

Published: November 14, 2007

At the end of its November Behind the Scenes article, Jagex posted a “tease” about “something very, very big on the horizon” that is due next year. While conjecture and guesswork run rampant about what that might be, most players don’t realize that we already have a huge update right on our doorsteps: the Grand Exchange (GE). This new system will allow players, for the first time, to conduct trades with others regardless of what world they are logged into. It may not seem that a new way of trading would be that big of a deal, but it is my belief that once it comes out, the GE may end up being seen as the most important update since RuneScape 2 was launched.

I had not intended to even write this article—after all, the GE will be out in just a couple of weeks, so why bother theorizing about it only a week or two before it is released? As I set out to work on other guides and articles for TruthScape, though, I quickly found myself getting stuck. Every time I started on something, I realized that I was thinking about RuneScape as it is now, before the GE comes into effect. The more I thought about the GE, the more I came to the conclusion that it is going to result in large changes to many ways that the game is played, from resource gathering to skilling to merchanting and more.

This realization that everything was about to change, in combination with some of the truly ridiculous predictions I’ve seen about the GE—especially all the “economy is about to crash” foolishness—made me believe that many would find this article helpful, even if it’s only valid for a short time. Besides, this way I am going on the record with my predictions, so you can all either be in awe of my awesome predictive awesomeness, or laugh at my stupidity when the update actually happens. J

In this preview I will provide you with a comprehensive look at how the Grand Exchange is likely to work, how it will impact the game, and what the major issues are. This includes an overview of how I expect the GE to function, and an explanation of why I think it will be so important. I’ll explain which items, markets, marketplaces and types of players will be more and less affected by it. I’ll also discuss some potential abuses that I hope Jagex will address ahead of time, and hopefully put to rest the ignorant claims by some that this will lead to a “crash of the economy”.

NOTE: The analysis here is based on both my knowledge of the RuneScape game and its markets, and my own real-world experiences with analyzing markets and running several businesses. That said, this is still a preview of an unreleased feature, the details of which only Jagex knows. Be sure to keep this in mind, and only make decisions that you feel comfortable with based on what you read here.

TruthScape Sneak Previews - Analysis of Upcoming RuneScape Features and Updates Preview of The Grand Exchange - How it Will Work is Still a Grand Mystery