Balloon transport system

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A hot air balloon.

The Balloon Transport System or Hot Air Balloon is one of several transportation modes in RuneScape. During the Enlightened Journey quest it can be used for travel between two locations. After the quest is complete, four more locations are available to be unlocked by completing respective journeys to those locations. The 2006 track Floating Free plays during the journey.

Having unlocked all travel routes is one of the requirements for getting a trimmed Completionist cape.

Requirements

There are currently 6 locations that can be flown to, each needing a specific type of log and Firemaking level to attempt the flight. The player may not carry over 40 kilograms of weight when using the balloon. This weight limit does not include the log used to make the journey.

After completing the Enlightened Journey quest, a player can travel between Entrana and Taverley. To unlock the 4 new routes, a player must first start from Entrana with the required new logs, and navigate successfully through 3 screens to a new destination. Crashing the balloon will result in the loss of the remaining logs, and the need to start again in Entrana with a new set of logs. Once a destination is unlocked, players may travel there from any other unlocked location, using fewer logs, and without navigating the 3 screens.

Destination Initial Trip Firemaking Level Subsequent Trips NPC
Entrana Build balloon (during Quest) 20 1 Normal Log Auguste
Taverley 10 normal Logs (during Quest) 20 1 Normal Log Assistant Stan
Crafting Guild 10 Oak logs 30 1 Oak log Assistant Brock
Varrock - south of Lumber Yard 10 Willow logs 40 1 Willow log Assistant Serf
Castle Wars 10 Yew logs 50 1 Yew log Assistant Marrow
Grand Tree 3 Magic logs 60 1 magic log Assistant Le Smith

Note: For each of the 4 new routes that is unlocked, a player receives 2,000 Firemaking experience. And going back to Entrana to unlock the other destinations requires 1 normal log.

Ballooning

Balloon controls panel.
Balloon controls panel.

See the quest Ballooning section for a review of flying a balloon.

  • Each control always moves one "space" forward (horizontally to the right), and either up, down, or without change in altitude.
    • Drop sandbag: moves up two spaces (UP 2).
    • Burn log: moves up one space (UP 1).
    • Relax: moves forward (right), with no change in altitude (RIGHT).
    • Pull normal rope: moves down one space (DOWN 1).
    • Pull red rope: moves down two spaces (DOWN 2).
    • Bail: bails out the player from the balloon flight. (Note: "crashes" east of Falador and west of Draynor Manor.)

Destinations

There are 6 locations the balloons can fly to: Entrana, Taverley, Crafting Guild, Varrock, Castle Wars, and the Grand Tree. Entrana and Taverley are available after completing the Enlightened Journey quest.

Entrana is also the main entry point to unlock routes to new locations. A player must start at the Entrana site carrying the appropriate logs. For the first trip, a player needs to navigate through 3 screens avoiding birds, clouds, buildings, trees, and other hazards. Once the player completes the journey, the subsequent trips do not require navigation and the trip requires only 1 log of the appropriate type.

Due to an unknown update, a tinderbox is no longer required to unlock new routes, but the player must still carry the appropriate amount and types of logs needed to unlock the route.

If you log out during one of these screens, you will have to get new logs and start over.

Future Destinations

There are several rocks that look exactly like the balloon landing sites before completing Enlightened Journey.

In Rellekka Hunter area there is a snow or ice covered stone landing pad rock in the northeast.

Walkthrough

The following sections show one of several possible methods to get to the final destination.

Entrana

  • Entrana is the starting point for the Enlightened Journey quest, where a player begins the construction of the Balloon Transport System.
  • As a starting point, there are no screen routes available for Entrana.

Taverley

Crafting Guild

Screen 1 Screen 2 Screen 3
Relax (x3), Burn log (x2), Relax (x2), Pull RED rope, Relax (x4), Burn log, Pull RED rope, Relax (x2), Pull normal rope, Relax, Burn log, Relax. Relax, Pull normal rope, Relax, Burn log, Relax (x4), Pull normal rope, Relax (x3), Burn log, Relax (x6). Relax (x2), Drop sandbag, Relax (x6), Pull RED rope, Relax (x3), Pull normal rope, Relax (x3), Pull normal rope.

Varrock

Screen 1 Screen 2 Screen 3
Drop sandbag, Relax, Drop sandbag, Relax (x2) , Pull normal rope (x2), Relax (x2), Pull normal rope, Burn log, Relax (x2), Pull normal rope, Burn log, Relax, Burn log, Relax. Relax (x6), Burn log (x2), Pull normal rope (x4), Relax (x2), Drop Sandbag, Relax (x4). Relax (x3), Drop sandbag, Relax, Pull normal rope, Relax, Burn log , Relax (x2), Pull normal rope, Burn log, Relax,Pull normal rope, Relax, Pull RED rope (x2), Relax.

Castle Wars

Screen 1 Screen 2 Screen 3
Drop sandbag (x2), Burn log, Relax (x5), Pull RED rope, Relax, Burn log, Relax (x2), Pull RED rope, Relax, Burn log (x2), Relax (x3). Burn Log, Relax (x2), Pull RED rope, Pull normal rope, Relax (x7), Drop sandbag, Relax (x2), Pull RED rope, Burn log, Pull normal rope, Relax.

Burn Log, Relax (x2), Pull rope, Relax (x3), Burn log, Pull RED rope, Relax (x4), Drop sandbag, Pull RED rope, Relax (x2), Pull normal rope.

Grand Tree

Screen 1 Screen 2 Screen 3
Relax (x7), Pull normal rope, Relax (x12). Burn log, Pull normal rope, Burn log, Pull normal rope, Burn log, Relax (x2), Burn log, Pull normal rope, Relax (x2), Drop sandbag, Relax (x2), Pull RED rope, Relax, Pull normal rope, Relax (x2). Burn log (x3), Relax (x2), Pull normal rope, Burn log, Relax (x5), Pull RED rope, Relax, Pull RED rope, Pull normal rope, Relax (x2).

Uses of the Balloon Transport System

The log payments and the maximum weight requirement (40 kg) seems a major disadvantage of the Balloon Transport System. Of interest are the destinations where the log payment is relatively painless. The main uses of the Balloon Transport System are in combination with the use of a Ring of duelling teleport to the Castle Wars for banking. Typical trips start at the Castle Wars Bank, which has an entry to the Balloon Transport System close by. A trip can also start at Grand Tree if a player teleports his/herself there by using a spirit tree (the balloon is just north-east).
Examples of round trips to Balloon Transport System destinations, and possible activities are presented in the table below:

Destination Cost Activity
Entrana 1 log Law runecrafting at Law altar, Buy vials, Sand collection (Note: No weapons or armour allowed, including hatchets. [Although the Bronze hatchet on the toolbelt now works])
Taverley 1 log Access to Summoning Obelisk, Buy vials, Access to Tree patch and to the crystal key chest and also Player Owned House portal, and Choking Ivy.
Crafting Guild 1 Oak log Mining ores at Crafting Guild & Rimmington Mine (Tip: Using the Magic spell Superheat item GREATLY decreases the weight for return trips), Berry patch at Rimmington, also Player Owned House portal. Close to Port Sarim, and the (possible) Easter events. Can be used as an entry point into the balloon network in conjunction with a clan vexillum or charged skills necklace
Varrock 1 Willow log Earth runecrafting at Earth altar, Air runecrafting at Air altar, Access Alternate entrance for Chaos runecrafting at Chaos altar, Using the Sawmill, Woodcutting.
Castle Wars 1 Yew log Closest to a bank, often used as entry point into the balloon network in conjunction with a Ring of duelling.
Grand Tree 1 Magic log Tree patch, Fruit Tree patch, Spirit Tree Transport System, Gnome Gliders, Gnome Stronghold agility course

As one example, a player with 60 Woodcutting can equip Boots of Lightness, a Spotted cape, an Earth tiara, and rune essence at Castle Wars, leaving one inventory space free:

  • Cut some willow logs near the bridge that is directly north of the balloon transport area filling your inventory then go on the balloon and go on to Varrock right next to the Sawmill.
  • Craft runes at the Earth altar, which is also right next to the balloon. You could also use the Chaos altar just a little farther away, but its maze means a lot more running.
  • Step back out of the Earth Altar and cut oak logs near the Sawmill. Turn them into Oak planks, but leave one space free. Planks weigh less than logs, so even a full load is doable with minor weight-reducing items, such as the Boots of lightness.
  • Cut the Yew tree near the Earth altar, or the one on the west side of the Sawmill, to get a Yew log. Fly to Castle Wars and bank.

Repeat as needed for a much faster way to get both oak planks for Construction, and that always-tiring runecrafting experience, using less time and running energy than other plank or runecrafting options. Alternatively players may stock up on willow logs in advance, and use a ring of duelling rather than a yew log to return to Castle Wars.

See also


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