For months Josh searched for ways to make the dragon grind tolerable. Melee tactics were off the table without dragon breath protection, so he tried long-range methods — at one point firing through 50,000 precious arrows — and when that proved insufficient he had to rethink his approach.
The workaround dramatically accelerated progress. As Josh and a team of helpers on Discord refined the tactic, they created spawn setups where dragons were effectively prepared and ready to be finished off for loot. Some participants were motivated by the massive in-game reward — a Visage can sell for hundreds of millions of gold — and the group’s long hours staring at the two dragons inspired a bit of in-game theatre.
The pair of black dragons acquired nicknames: Greg and Janice — a divorced couple who still share a lair “for the tax benefits.” According to Josh, Janice is effectively “the one in charge.” Those playful touches underline the communal spirit of the run; these collaborators were unusually good-natured about the whole ordeal.
Eventually, with kills accumulating far faster than before, Josh finally secured a Draconic Visage after enduring what he described as the “endless struggle” — after 7,802 kills. Celebrating with fellow creators, dragon hunters, and a supportive partner, he said the relief was profound: “I literally feel like I just got my life back” now that the grind is over.
“That kind of community-driven discovery is what RuneScape is really about,” he reflected — and watching players find inventive ways to tackle long-standing MMO challenges, it’s hard to disagree.
Two years ago another MMO player trapped himself in a virtual cage by choice — after 10,000 hours he finally broke free.
Source: gamesradar.com
