FAQ
General
Is there a hosted version I can play?
No. XRSPS is a self-hosted project — you clone the repo and run it locally. See the Setup Guide to get started.
What cache version is supported?
Check the target.txt file in the repo root for the current target. The cache is downloaded automatically from the OpenRS2 Archive.
Where can I see what's being worked on?
The project roadmap and task tracking is on Trello.
Can I contribute?
Yes. Fork the repo, make your changes, and open a pull request. Join the Discord if you have questions.
Gamemodes
Should I extend BaseGamemode or VanillaGamemode?
Extend VanillaGamemode unless you're building something radically different (e.g. a minigame-only server). Vanilla gives you banking, shops, combat, all skills, and all UI widgets out of the box. Override what you need, inherit what you don't.
How do I switch which gamemode the server runs?
Set the GAMEMODE environment variable or add "gamemode": "my-gamemode" to server/config.json. The default is vanilla.
Can I use vanilla's combat system without extending VanillaGamemode?
Yes. Import the provider create functions directly from server/gamemodes/vanilla/combat/ and register them in your initialize(). See Reuse vanilla providers from BaseGamemode.
Where does gamemode-specific player data get stored?
Each gamemode gets its own directory under server/data/gamemodes/{id}/. Player state is saved to player-state.json in that directory.
Extrascripts
What's the difference between a gamemode and an extrascript?
A gamemode defines server identity — XP rates, drop tables, tutorials, progression. An extrascript is a universal module that works on any server — debug tools, admin commands, content that isn't gamemode-specific. See Gamemodes vs Extrascripts.
Custom Content
How do I add a custom item?
Use CustomItemBuilder and CustomItemRegistry. Custom items use IDs 50000+ and can clone properties from existing cache items. See Custom Content.
Do custom items work on any gamemode?
Yes. CustomItemRegistry is a core system — both gamemodes and extrascripts can register items, and they're resolved automatically on both client and server.
How does custom content reach the client?
Via getContentDataPacket() on GamemodeDefinition. The engine sends this packet during login. The client unpacks it and registers items/widgets into their respective client-side registries. See Architecture — Custom Content.
Development
How do varps and varbits work?
Varps are player variables. Varbits are bit-packed sub-variables within a varp. The server sets them, sends delta packets, and client-side CS2 scripts react to update widgets. This is the same system OSRS uses — no custom UI packets needed. See Architecture.