New RuneScape: Dragonwilds Major Update Finally Adds Two Critically Missing Features

RuneScape: Dragonwilds has, unfortunately, not had the greatest of early access launches so far. Longtime series fans have criticized it for lacking major features that noticeably detract from the experience. Although the developers released an expanded roadmap post-launch for Dragonwilds that promised to address community concerns, some players have grown impatient after being kept waiting.

Now, those who observed patience may see it finally paying off. In a long-awaited update released today called Eye on Ashenfall, RuneScape: Dragonwilds is finally adding a fully functional ranged skill to the game, as well as introducing creative mode. These fan-requested features have been teased in development blogs for months, but it’s taken until now for them to be added to the game.

Dragonwilds Is Starting To Feel Like a Proper Title

While still in Early Access, this new major update, 0.9, brings RuneScape: Dragonwilds closer to feeling like a complete game. Plans for creative mode were revealed back in a July development blog, and Jagex teased the range skill and 0.9 back in August. The new creative mode is essential for setting up games with your friends that offer true freedom and replayability. This feature is complemented by the introduction of over 40 world settings to create a custom world for yourself or your co-op buddies.

In line with previous Dragonwilds updates and my personal player preference, magic also got a boost in the form of new spells. Character slots have also doubled in this update, giving players less pressure to limit the types of builds they go for.

Here are the patch notes for the new Eye on Ashenfall update, courtesy of Jagex:

The Ranged Skill has arrived!

• Skill up to Level 50 and enjoy a slate of new Spells, a fletching table for the new sets of arrows, and much more.
• Stop your foes in their tracks with the new Snare ability (which is later upgraded to Venomous Trapper!).
• Use the new Ability Hunter Sense to gain awareness of nearby foes.
• Enchant your bow with Astral Magic, allowing arrows to pierce multiple enemies.
• New Archery target buildable
• 1-Handed Crossbows are here! Now! Along with that, plenty of new bolts to unlock and use.
• Tons of other abilities are there to be unlocked, so have a look!
• For more information around the ranged skill, check out our blog post “Introducing the Ranged Skill!”.

Creative Mode is now available!

• You will need to create a new “Creative Mode” character to access worlds that are Creative Mode enabled.
• For those that just want a relaxing, chill and build experience. Check out our blog “Introducing Creative Mode!” with Mod Deluxe for more details.

Custom World Settings

• You will need to create a new “Custom World” character to access worlds that are using Custom World settings.
• When creating a Custom World, click on Advanced in the upper left to access the World Settings.
• Over 40 settings are exposed, from damage, thirst, hunger, to XP rates and processing.

Controller Support (Alpha State)

• As mentioned in our blog post last month, “The Road to Fellhollow: A Check-In form our Product Director” with Mod bitf0x, controller support is being updated however we believe it still needs polish.
• Players will be able to lock onto enemies, navigate through menus, and we’ve refreshed / reoptimized input bindings.
• We’ll be keeping you updated on when we’ll be releasing the next round of polish to make these feel good on the sticks.
• Functional Keyboard Rebinding implemented
• New multiplayer protections have been added:
  • Gravestone Protection: A new option in gameplay settings so that other players will not be able to loot your gravestone.
  • Build Protection Totem: We have added totems with a sphere around them that will prevent other players from building within that area. You will have 8 to place.
  • Chest Privacy: Chests can now be locked by the owner. Just open the chest and check the box labeled Private.
• Updated Character and World List UI
  • As part of adding Custom Worlds and Creative mode, new icons have been added on character selection and the world selection screens to denote the type of world.

• Character Slots increased from 4 to 8.
• Antipoison potions have been updated:
  • Antipoison now uses Marentill rather than Haarlander
  • Antipoison now resists poison buildup, rather than fully preventing it. This effect stacks with the fungal fortitude buff from certain foods.
  • The “fungal fortitude” buff from food now fully prevents buildup of poison.

Additional Fixes

• Status effects will now persist correctly on reloading
• Fixes to places where players or AI could get out of bounds
• Floating Rune Essence will be appropriately damaged by secondary staff attacks
• Clock widget will now display night correctly for clients
• Improvements to desync in AI combat
• Ranged projectiles should display correctly
• SFX added in multiple places where it was missing
• Multiple UI and icon display fixes
• Text updates for some incorrect information in quests and the journal
• Abyssal Whip special attack will now damage Velgar as expected
• AI will no longer attack through Palisade Walls
• Clouds are more visible when it is raining
• Player waypoints will appear on the compass
• Many fixes to foliage clipping through terrain throughout the world
• Some improvements to unnatural animations and poses in specific scenarios
• Various performance and stability improvements

Known Issues

• Controller Support still needs work to get it feeling how we want it to
• Custom World Setting values displayed are not always fully accurate
• We are tracking the specific settings that are acting up and will hot fix them in the coming weeks.
• Host & Clients’ weather state may not be in sync
• A restart may be needed immediately on launch, particularly with AMD GPUs
• Temporary Freeze when the Protection Totem is first placed in the world
• Unlock notifications will incorrectly display for building pieces in Creative Mode

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!