The Rise of the Phoenix

Target Audience: New and low leveled players.

The Black Arm is overpopulated. Simple enough. It's too easy to stumble across the Black Arm's hideout and if the ratio isn't 50:50, completing the Shield of Arrav quest can become VERY annoying!

At each entrance to Varrock, players will find members of the Black Arm and Phoenix Gang in battle with each other; with the guards intervening in an attempt to control the violence. Standing smug against a nearby wall or shouting taunts into the mayhem, gang generals representing each clan are available to talk to. When you're done helping the guards (or otherwise), these generals will offer to teleport you to their gang's respective base of operations.

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Additional Ideas;
The Streets of Varrock, a new mini-activity similar to the White Knights' Rank. As players kill Phoenix and Black Arm members their reputation will shift respective to the kill. As a new player, this reputation will sit at 0 — -1000 is pure-Black Arm and 1000 is pure-Phoenix. Upon completion of the Shield of Arrav, you will earn 250 points in your chosen direction.

Fight Club, another activity in conjunction with the Streets of Varrock, involves a small fight pit beneath the Blue Moon Inn. Players can fight here in fisticuffs (no armour, weapons, magic, prayers, etc) to gain additional points.

As you climb the ranks in your gang, you will unlock access to purchase Phoenix and Black Arm aligned equipment. It is also possible to convince the rival gang that you've had a change of heart (at the cost of 500 points, thus requiring either -500 or 500 in the direction you wish to go).

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Alternatively, Jagex could update the Shield of Arrav quest to feature an npc companion—similar to Zanik in the Dorgesh'kaan saga—who will play the role of a second player even within the Heroes' Quest. Perhaps one of the signature heroes they have been itching to release for a while now? This doesn't need to replace the two-player aspect, merely offer an alternative to players without any rival-friends.

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At present, Phoenix members are able to complete their Heroes' Quest section multiple times - even after they have completed the quest! The same might also be the case for the Black Arm, but I can only vouch for Phoenix.

Mmmm... I like the idea of an activity

Problem

For an activity to function properly, teams would have to be equal, and the only way I see to do that is to allow switching

That, or have some awesome double agent scenario...

There?

Mumble grumble my vague quests plans...ruined.

Oh dear