Got the Agile Legs - Yay Runescape!

This is mainly just a quick update from the last time.  After the Runescape bonus exp weekend, I'd managed to get to level 85 Agility.  This gave me access to the Gnome Stronghold Advanced Agility Course, without having to recourse to Summer Pies.  Since Summer Pies give 5 levels of agility, I could have gone anytime after achieving level 80, but it seemed like the odds of failing an obstacle would be too high that way.  Even at 85, I was failing about half the time.  There's only one obstacle that can be failed on that course, the part where you run across the big billboard sign.  But after failing it just a smidgen too often, it was time to load up on Summer Pies.  Grand Exchange, place an order, and now there's half a million summer pies in my bank.  That should help me level up... quite a few times!

The Gnome Stronghold advanced course is pretty cool, goes quickly, and is my favorite agility course so far.  I really liked Ape Atoll for a long long time, but it eventually wore out.  Never really cared much for Dorgesh-kaan agility course.  It was okay for a change, but too easy to get tired of.  Now the Gnomes hold my favor.  Really fun course.  It also comes with a bonus.  If you get 250 perfect laps (and they don't have to be in a row, thankfully) they give you a pair of Agile Legs.  This is leg armor that reduces your total weight by 10 kg when worn.  In conjunction with Boots of Lightness and Spottier Cape, it's an excellent benefit when you're running a lot.

Even better, at level 90 (or sooner with boosts) you can access the Barbarian Advanced Agility Course.  I haven't tried it yet, so don't know how fun it'll be, but 250 perfect laps there will earn the Agile Top, a matching piece to go with the Agile Legs.

Last night I was grinding out laps at the Gnomes, and got the Agile Legs.  Very nice reward, a great motivation to keep going, and something I'll use in other aspects of Runescape.  I've got about 69k to go before getting 86 Agility.  Kind of excited about the Agile Top, and thinking that maybe those Summer Pies will take me into the Barbarian Advanced course to 'get a leg up' on getting the Agile Top.  After all the earlier training, it's great to have legitimately useful rewards!

The bad news... I still haven't beaten Jad.  At this rate I'll never get a fire cape.  Took the exp weekend off from Jad because my combat levels are all maxed, and didn't want to waste bonus exp.  That's why I went up so much in Agility.  But once I get level 86 Agility, it's time to face Jad again.  I'm hoping to do better this time around.  He's killed me too many times, I need to return the favor!

This is not me- wish it was!

Once Jad's done, I'll be happy to get back to Agility.  Work up to 90, collect all my Elite Achievement rewards, and I'll be a happy Runescaper!

Runescape Bonus Experience Weekend Final Results

Well, Monique and I took the bit in our teeth and ground out about 19 hours of play during Runescape's Bonus Exp Weekend.  When I got up this morning, it was still active, so I managed another 30 minutes before work.  When it was all said and done, I'm pretty pleased with the results. 

Monique leveled up some Herblore, and some Agility, even a bit of fishing.  Even now, while I'm writing this, she's still leveling something up every time I turn around.  She just went up a level on Construction, using the Sacred Clay Hammer she got from Stealing Creation before the weekend started.
I stayed with Agility the whole weekend.  My reward for running around in circles for 19 hours?  4 levels of Agility!  Doesn't sound like much, until you realized it's levels 82 - 85. Started off with Ape Atoll, because after level 75, you no longer fail on it.  But after a long while, that got boring, so it was time to visit the Dorgesh-kaan agility course.

 Didn't need ranging experience, so the entire trip was done on the eastern half.  It's pretty fast experience, but it... feels... slow.  So after gaining a level and a bit, it was back to Ape Atoll.
For those who haven't done it, Ape Atoll has a beautiful Agility course.  Lush hills, plenty of greenery, a variety of agility hazards.  It's probably the most attractive agility course in all of Runescape (I haven't been to the Advanced Barbarian course yet, but I don't expect it to look any better.)  There's a Fairy Ring access point, but you have to have done Fairy Tale III, Battle at Ork's Rift before you can use it.  After the quest, you go back and unblock the log, then you have full access to the fairy ring (access code CLR).

The fairy ring takes you to the middle of the agility course, on top of a hill a bit east.  You have to be wielding a small ninja greegree to use it, but that's the best greegree for running the Ape Atoll course anyway.  It's kind of fun seeing your character and everybody elses running around as monkeys.  Still, the fun wears off after a few hours.  It helps to find a mental zone where you lose track of what you're doing.  Sometimes music helps, or maybe I'll play an old favorite movie.  (Has to be one that won't distract me from making the rounds, so I pick old ones I can listen to and know what's going on.)  Or call a friend and talk on the phone.

When all this finally wears off, just grit your teeth and keep reminding yourself how much closer the goal is getting.  I hit this point with about 168k to go, to finish level 84.  Kept at it until achieving 85

Then it was time to head over to the Gnome Stronghold Advanced Agility Course.  Worked that one for about 200k, then it was bedtime, and the end of Bonus Exp Weekend.

Maybe it's because of the newness, because I'd never been to the Gnome Stronghold advanced agility course before, but it was a lot of fun.  Plenty of variety, fast-paced and fun graphics/animation.  The only thing I didn't care much for is that I failed running the sign about half the time.  At first, it was okay.  After a while, it got frustrating to lose so much time whenever the sign slowed me down.  So I bought about half a million Summer Pies.  They raise agility by 5 levels.  Hopefully that'll let me earn at least enough levels to not fail so often.  If I'm lucky, it'll get me to 89 agility, at which point I won't fail the Advanced Gnome course any more.

Of course, by level 90, the Barbarian advanced course will be calling my name.  I'm looking forward to getting the Agile Top and Agile Legs.   The Agile Legs are earned by making 250 perfect runs (not consecutive) around the Gnome advanced course.  The Agile Top is earned by making 250 perfect runs around the Barbarian advanced agility course.  Both reduce weight, and will be very nice for any skill where I need to run a lot.  I can see a lot of Runecrafting in my future wearing this gear.  And, definitely for Penguin Hunting!

I'm in the back... but this guy in front looks pretty cool!

So, it was a great weekend, got a lot done, and very happy with the progress we made.  Now it's time to get back to normal.