Castle Wars

Thanks go to Leroy for writing this guide

Long Intro
Playing the Game
Items and usable objects you will encounter
Jobs
Tactics
What to Take

Long Intro

Castle Wars is a mini-game located south west of Ardougne. Just get an emerald ring and enchant it, much quicker. It's the RS version of "Capture the Flag", incase you didn't know. First, there are 2 teams. You select which RS god to support (blue is Sara, red is Zammy). However, if you don't really care on which team you are placed, going into the green (Guth) portal will send you to the team that needs it most (Depends on current players, their lvls, and current wins/loses). If there are too many on the team you are trying to enter, then you wont be able to enter until it equals out enough.

One game is 20 minutes long, with a 5 minute waiting period between games incase anyone needs time to access the bank there. At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins. Each member of the winning team will get 2 tickets, while the losing team gets 0. If it's a tie, everyone gets 1.

When you get enough tickets, you can talk with the NPC there and exchange them for items, including decorative armor and capes from the game. Also, if you get bored of your items and wish to get better, you can sell your items back to the NPC for the same amount you payed.

Now, when you go into a team, you cannot wear any capes or head items (helms, hats, ect). When you enter, you will go into your team's repective waiting area and automatically get a cape and hood of your team's colors. Just like in the Wilderness, everyone will be blue in your mini-map on your team since you're wearing the cape. (Only exceptions are animals... Explained later #1)

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Playing the Game

When you start the game, everyone is teleported into your starting area with a bandage table. If you go up a level, there are stairs to a 4th. Going up will lead you to the flag standard. If you go down to the main level, you can find multiple items and objects.

To win, your team must have the most amount of points. When you (or someone from your team) goes and infiltrates the other team's castle, you must go to the top floor and grab "capture" the standard (flag). It will take both weapon and shield spots, so make sure you have enough room to put your items away. Take that back to your castle and click on where your standard is, even if it's not there. Do that and it will be teleported back to the starting place with 1 point added to your team's score.

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Items and usable objects you will encounter:

Bronze Pick-axe

If you go to the basement, you will come across large boulders that you can't run through. Using a pick will move the rock away to allow passage. Also, if there is no boulder, you can mine the sides and cause the cave to collapse.

Rope

Around the castle is an outer wall that is elevated so that Rangers and Mages can have the first hit to the other team. However, the skilled fighters will take a rope and use it on the edge of the wall to climb up. Instead of going the long way around to get up, it's a 1-click access to the top. Anyone will be able to use it (lasts about 5 mins), but it's only to go up.

Barricades

This will be your best friend since it has MANY purposes. Actually, just 1, but it does it very well. It blocks your foes from going from 1 side to the other. Each team can have a maximum of 10 of these up, so use sparingly. When you're running, setting it up will make people stop and have to go around. If there is a line of them set up, then the only way is to destroy them and go through. They are a large annoyence to many since they have low defence, but 50 hp.

Explosive Potion

Little vials with orange-ish fluids. Use 2 on the boulders in the dungeon and it goes bye-bye. Use one on the wall and a new boulder comes. Use on a barricade and THAT goes bye-bye. Same with a catapult... bye-bye. They are used really quick, so going through barricades will be little problem. Just 1 problem... if you 'drop' them, then it will fall and hit the ground, causing you to take 15 damage. They are lethal, so you can and will die if you drop too many.

Tinderbox

A bit hard to find, but there's one in the starting area and one in the main area. Use on barricades to set them aflame, it'll take about 10 seconds, but the baricade will go away even if you don't damage it. Also, take it and use on the Catapult to set THAT aflame, which makes it unusable.

Catapult and Rocks

On the table is a rock supply. Take one and head up to the outside castle wall. In the foremost corner will be a catapult... the MOST hated item in the game for many reasons (Explained later #2). If you have a rock in your inventory, then click on the catapult and a map will show. The direction buttons can be used to aim the device, going from just infront of the wall all the way to the far point of the middle island. Does up to 20 damage and has an area effect of 4 spaces.

Tool Box

If someone uses a tinderbox or explosive on the catapult, then you can use this item to repair it back to the original state. Also, the side double-door can be fixed up with this. Not much to having this... rarely even seen or talked about.

Bucket and Faucet

There are 2 bucket spawns in the main area and a faucet near the ladder to go down. You can fill a bucket with water and use for later. When someone uses a tinderbox on the catapult or barricade, you can use a waterfilled bucket to put out the fire. Also, not really seen or used...

Doors

The main door used in Castle Wars would have to be the left one. It can be easily opened and closed by anyone. However, if you are trying to open your opponent's door, you will try to pick the lock on it. Having a higher thief level does have an advantage over low. The other side has a double door. It can easily be opened and closed by the same team, also opened by the other team from the inside. If the opposing team trys to get in from the outside, they will have to break it open. It does have life, so when it hits 0, it won't be usable again until repaired by a tool kit.

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Jobs

Wall Defender

Mainly mages, rangers, and halberd users go onto the wall and deliver the first blow to those who seek your team's flag. 6/10 people who try to enter will suffer harsh deaths since they usually leave their castle with no equipment or healings.

Castle Defence

They use most of the barricades to keep the enemies at bay while others pound the living daylights out of them. The first group of enemies won't have explosives or tinderbox's, so they'll either attack the barricades or fight you. Mages and melee group together in this since they do the most damage in a short amount of time against armor.

Flag Grabber

These are the one of the most wanted when it comes to people with high defence. They go into the enemy's castle, take the flag, and run back to score. Explosive potions and bandages are a MUST to survive, and the skilled grabbers take and use barricades very skilled. Whether it be on the surface or underground, know your ways before attempting to do this since it takes knowledge to be good.

Mass Killer

Usually, you'll come across people that play for the fun of "Nooby Killing". They are in it for the shear joy of killing anyone and everyone. Usually, teams of people will be formed beforehand, and many battles will be fought either in the middle, just outside the walls, or even ON the walls. Not many battles can be won or lost here, just for one team to show the other who's better.

"Others"

There are other people who usually go aimlessly around doing wierd things. Well, not always. When the castle doors break down, someone would go repair it. Others would go and give the better players aids when they get low. Also, you'll have your constant catapult users. Mainly for lower levels, but some mid levels can do multiple things.

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Tactics

Advanced Snare Tactic for Multi-play

One VERY common thing for a team to do it wait just outside the castle walls and wait to kill the other person with the flag. Many people wait around, ready to use anything and everything to kill the person. However, the #1 person that could be in that group is the single mage that uses snare "tricks". Use on the victim, they're a standing duck for the flood of your teammates to slaughter. Someone with higher defence and armor? No probs, curse spells work WONDERS. -10% def really has an effect.

One thing about the snares, when they are on the jumping stones in the corners, they can still hop around. No, they won't go far, but it's annoying when melee trying to hit someone who wont be still.

Single Player Snare Tactic

Sometimes, you'll want to do this, but won't have anyone to help you. Well, no problems... Wear the best mage armor and boots you have, steel gauntlets (gives bonus to attack), god book (nothing if you don't have), and all runes needed for the spells. Just snare, run in front of them, and start wacking. Make sure to leave your spell page on since it only lasts a short time. If people are comming after you, remember that you can snare them too, even in dragon leather.

Make sure at least half of your inventory is filled with bandages since you'll probably get a beating from the others protecting thier guy.

Holding your own Flag

First and foremost, don't grab and run with the flag if someone there is 2+ levels over you. Might only be 2-3 defence levels, but that's still better than 0. Second, if you DO have the flag, RUN! Unless you don't see anyone from the other team in the mini-map, don't stop unless you have enough support. Having spare dragon armor in case mages come with their own snare is a plus. It's not 100% effective, but it will help in tight spots. Also keep in mind, arrows and magic spells can't go over barricades, so putting one down when running in a straight line will protect from missles. Finally, unless you're being teamed by 5+ melee people, don't use prayer protect. I'm not saying dont use prayer, but the +15% defence should be good enough. Also, it drains slower than protect.

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What to Take

When you enter the game, you may want to take either too much, or not enough. The skilled CW'er knows what to take, and always has just enough for other items. Going pure melee? Well, don't just take your armor and 1 weapon. What if you fight mages from far away? Dragon armor could easily take care of it. Fighting a mage with a battle axe? Not a good idea. Should always take a quick weapon (dagon or scimitar) for "light weights", weither it be mage cloth or lower levels.

In the same, take a nice power weapon in case you go against full rune, perhaps dragon (very often). Axe/Scimitar combo is always great, but also taking a halberd for long range is benificial. Range for those too far, mage for snare and curse spells.... Find out your weaknesses and take items to improve next time. If you didn't really find a use for something, try without it next time around. Everyone is different, no one will ever have the same items and feel different about things, even those in full dragon with whips.

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Explained now:

#1 - When you enter a team, you will show up just as you would if you were to play. However, if you are wearing a god item (armor, staff, ammy, book) that is different from the portal you go into, you'll have a different appearence. If you wear a Zammy or Guth item when you enter the Sara portal, you will become a bunny. If you wear a Sara or Guth when going into the Zammy, Imp. Sara or Zammy item going into the Guth portal will make you a sheep in either area. If you put the item on after you enter, it will have no effect.

When you are in as an animal, you can only access your stats page, friend/block lists, attack style, and log off. The rest of the pages will be gone until you are human again (going out of the area by portal or starting of game).

#2 - The catapult is the most hated item since it hurts ANY one and EVERY one around the blast. It can do upwards of 20 damage, which is serious in close fights with low HP left.

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