There are still places that offer the games. Just have to look around. In the Runegame.com
boards is the "Rune for PC&Mac" forum. Might have to do a "search" but we get several members asking "Where can I find" and community members come in to help them. All links must be legitimate, of course. There has been a push to make Rune "freeware" but Human Head wants to keep proprietary rights and because there are come legalities involved. Eventually, they do want to make a sequel. Just a matter of "when".
There were three releases. Rune 1.00, HoV 1.06 and RuneGold. The last one has both RUNE SP/MP AND Rune:Halls of Valhalla MP only in one jewelcase. The latter has RUNE SP but its MP is patched to 1.06.
You can read what the Patches do
here There is a
Mods page too but I keep my own
"Runegame Goddess" Home&Info website updated more often. From there, you will find more Mods and their links (or old ones w/ updated links)
Here Same thing with any newer tutorials, community download resources, clans et.c..... Along with Viking Age stuff (when not being "Admin", I act as resident "Viking Answer Lady" for the Official website)
So...which MP is played the most? Rune 1.00 or HoV? It depends on which gameplay you like. Or do you like playing Single Player? (Rune's SP does not leave you "hanging" with a "to be continued") To explain these more fully would take one of my long "manuscripts" to explain. But here is how it was explained to a new poster back in 2006:
With Rune: Halls of Valhalla (HOV) release in early 2001, HoV has steadily gain more popularity with new and old players for a variety of reasons. Both versions' fast and furious "in your face" melee style combat makes them unique compared to any similar style 3rd person MP games. Part of older version's problems dealt with server crashing by spammers or script kiddies exploiting some bugs. However, there have been community developed mutators to take care of this problem.
There has been many past lively, passionate "debates" in Runegame.com as to which version is the best MP overall. Both communities share a deep, intense and very passionate feeling for RUNE in general. However, there are Rune Clans whose loyalties hold fast to one version or the other but few to both. Partially due to the inability to crossover from one version server to the other.
A HOV owner could not play in RUNE 1.00 MP servers without owning the original retail version SP game with the 1.00v MP included. HOV does not use the few SP files used in that original MP version. (Why Dark's Coop cannot be played by HOV players without downloading the needed files to make it work. But uppatched 1.06/1.07 RUNE players can) Yet the new textures and movements in HOV made it impossible for Rune 1.00 players to enter HOV servers until the 1.06 and 1.07 patches were released. These did correct a few MP problems while adding the new HOV movements, new skins and textures. This also allowed you enter to enter HOV servers and their DM maps. BUT you were unable to return to the 1.00 Version servers unless the original retail game was reinstalled into another folder to use the 1.00 version again.
If all you have is RuneGold you are still unable to enter 1.00 servers because that Rune MP version is already patched to 1.06 (HOV is unchanged).
From
post #8:
RUNE 1.00 physics means more movement realism. If you have played the demo or have the retail RuneGold to play Rune in SP, you would know what I mean. "Back peddle" for example, is slower than moving forward as it would be in real life. "Strafe" is more realistic too. There is no equalization of movement in all four directions as in 1.07 (same thing in HOV). This actually began with the 1.06 patch released in early 2001. The RUNE included in the "RuneGold" package does not come as original retail 1.00 version for Multiplayer. It is 1.06. So this means the MP "strafe" and "back peddle" were made as fast as a forward-run. So, with the Original retail 1.00 (and any RUNE 1.00 patched to 1.01) you have to develop better battle tactics to survive.
The rune powers are abit more powerful, though, (toned down alittle with the later patches) but you have to collect three runes to activate the Lightening sword, for example. In a fast hectic melee, it's alot harder than it sounds.
Throwing weapons takes more skill. You can block with shields while fighting in upclose "hand to hand" but not against thrown weapons. The sheilds are not as strong in 1.00 and this was improved with patches.
There is no blocking thrown weapons by swinging yours in defense in 1.00. But really, in real life....to block one of those huge Dwarven hammers with an itty bitty handaxe with a "baseball bat" motion seems abit "strange" wouldn't you think?
Saying this, the patches were needed although with pros and cons. A debate developed within the community between those who preferred the Original MP gameplay over those using the newer patches (although most agreed some 1.00 MP problems needed to be addressed).
This went further after HOV came out with it's same speed movement. The new patches did to improve MP (especially netcode) but many wished there was some way to play the patched version using the original movements. Twofer and Chavez of "WhyLabs" developed a "RuneRetro" mutator for their "WhyLabs: RuneRacing Mod" for people to play in the special "Flying" maps in this fashion. Later he offered it as a seperate download to use in any Rune 1.06/1.07 MP (or HOV) servers.......
The community made HoV 1.08 patch (with "redirected downloads!") also has a retro movement mutator included, but the same crossover problems still stand.
From an early 2001 post about the 1.06 patch, Ted Halsted of Human Head Studios put it this way:
Many of the gameplay tweaks are going to alter the game's nature...and though we tried not to be too intrusive, there were definitely some modifications that were going to make some people happy and others not.
It is of course disappointing to us that we can't make it so that everyone is happy, but it seems impossible. Too many opinions out there to do so.
So, we went with what we thought was right, regarding issues like RunePowers and weapons balancing. With issues like the increased strafe and back-up speed, we ultimately thought it was a good gameplay element. It also was programmatically necessary.
So whether by choice or by gamers wanting or needing changes.....developers try to do their best. But not always able to satisfy everyone. Something I am sure you all understand.
I would love to download Lugaru during its "free" period, but my dialup precludes this (very rural lines at 26.4 Kpbs) so will probably buy the game instead. So, my best wishes to the game's developers here!
