u/AutarkV

I'm calling it upgrade skilling, not sure if it has a true name, but I am referring to skilling methods which give you a base item and you have to upgrade it each time with a sacrafice choice at the end:

TLDR:

Jagex has designed 4 different upgrade skilling methods and Runecraft is by far the worse, Fletching close second. Read below and tell me I'm wrong.

• Smithing (Burial)
• Crafting (Adorned)
• Fletching (Martial)
• Runecrafting (Ascended)

It is this last one which has really put the differences into sharp focus.

Smithing

• Starts at level 40
• Can sell all variations (+1 - +5) for differences in profit and xp/hr
• Massive variation of different items to make
• Increased xp/hr as you go through the tiers
• Can set up a full invent of unfinished items in one click
• Works from the metal bank
• Dedicated locations near bank (not that you need one)
• Benefits from Juju pots and prayers

Crafting

• Starts at level 100
• Can sell all variations (+1 - +5) for differences in profit and xp/hr
• Smaller variation of items to make due to the level req
• Increased xp/hr as you go through the tiers
• Can set up a full invent of unfinished items in one click (if I recall correctly, tell me if I'm wrong)
• Works from a stacked item in the inventory
• Dedicated locations near a bank (not that you need one)
• No Juju or prayer benefit

Fletching

• Starts at level 100
• Can only sell Base and Mk.5
• Only two variations based upon level
• Increased xp/hr as you go through the tiers
• Need logs to start process so can only set up to the amount of logs you can carry
• Requires log box (to be filled manually)
• Dedicated locations near a bank
• No juju or prayer benefit

Runecrafting

• Starts at level 100 (but for best xp, starts at level 104)
• Can only sell Base, Meagre and Saturated
• Only three variations based upon level
• No increased xp/hr as you go through the level, only afk time
• Can set up unfinished item one at a time (extra click for Base and right click for Meagre / Saturated)
• Requires ess, filled using preset
• Requires travel to Altars, different alters give different xp
• No juju or prayer benefit

So this is mostly from memory, if things are wrong or I'm missing strats please let me know.

Anecdotally, I did Smithing ages ago, with autoheater (I did not put that above) it's basically afk for excellent xp/hr, hyper profitable and all around a good time.

I did Crafting next, very afk, from my recollection, during Leagues and was also a good all round time.

I initially started the Fletching grind, but OMG is the xp/hr terrible for everything sub Martial so I forked out to buy what I needed and did the final step only.

I'm finishing with Runecraft and, while way worse than the first two, Fletching was still too good to bother making this kind of post over, but Runecraft really deserves it.

I'd almost rather be doing Souls or Runic Attuner but I'm trying to 'afk' at work (with the right setup you can get 4 mins afk with a 30 second restock).

Setting up the unfinished items is a slog, gettin rsi right clicking every single meagre staff I have (300+).

Running to the body alter to do a 4 min invent is terrible comparatively.

With higher levels giving the same exact xp per hit, it doesn't feel at all rewarding and with Saturated staves sitting at 5m each, doing the last step only just isn't viable.

All in all, this is not the most fun version of the 4 by a long way.

My question is why they designed it to be so terrible? Crafting / Smithing were both amazing times, very profitable and good xp/hr. Fletching definitely not, but at least you were at a bank. This last one is just frustrating, but the show must go on (115 RC and the last one until 120 all).