[HDBalab]

Over the years, Runescape has evolved from a 2D, simplistic game to an MMORPG that has absurd graphics and a bajillion active accounts. However, many people - including myself - would not say that the absolute most recent version (the one that's played now) is the best. In between the start and present point of Runescape's 8 or 9 year lifespan, the game has had ups and downs, twists and turns, gold eras and dark ages. If you could go back to a point on the game's time line, where would you choose? The pre-auto days of RSC? (I guess that's sort of an oxymoron...) The first days of RS2? When the dark bow was released? After RFD came out? Upon the unveiling of the Grand Exchange? The PvP worlds? I don't really know the details of the time period from mid 08 to now, but god knows that's what you guys are here for - to fill me in.

A personal opinion of mine that I believe with full conviction is that the some of the best days in Runescape's life were those right before the trade updates in 07. The economy was prospering, the wild and the duel arena still existed, the future was full of hope but not because the past was all screwed up. The acronym RWT was not yet a household word, and even if it existed no one was really worrying about it except for the dudes up in Jagex headquarters. Of course, this opinion of mine is highly influenced by the fact that my staking career was rolling at that point - it was the first time I'd been able to afford a party hat (who am I kidding? the last time as well..) and I was having a blast tearing it up in the duel arena. But that can be part of the fun of the thread: while you are to choose and discuss the golden eras of the game of Runescape, your decision can be influenced by how you were doing in the game at the time. Of course, you're allowed to choose the present - but don't expect me to refrain from calling you a newb.

[Shiveron]

Definately gonna have to go back to the days of free roam merching, old wildy and especially old staking.

[I H Q 6 9]

Back to time i started making pk vids :) old rs2 wildy(old items) + staking, good times..

[k00L]

i can see a lot of "wildy and staking" times being posted here or back to when p hats were a mere 1k/just came out by our old school players ;D, id say it was to any time that staking was around for me

[Ink]

Back to when I was a utter nobrain at RuneScape, knew where nothing was or what anything did, I miss being clueless about the game, I used to like not knowing what I was doing randomly doddering around the cities listening to the RuneScape music xD.

[Jetstream300]

id have to agree with you actually, before the trade updates, before the ge, old wildy was there, it was all good

[My name is Connor]

The golden times of RuneScape Classic, when the best armour was rune and Smithing was more than just a cool 99, it was one of the best money makers and every clan had to have a high leveled smith. Hang on, I can still go back to my golden age! ;)

[funnybutcher]

The times where the shops still respawned till 5000 runes. Rushing home from school to be there before they updated the game and made sure you were in a magic store :P Just 2-3 weeks after my friend told me this tip they took it away dont really know when they changed it :P

I know it is a bit weak to say it was a great period but I really liked it I was only able to make money of it for 2-3 weeks but still it was a lot of money to me in those days.

Alex

[Scott]

I'd go back to 2006, simply because that was probably the peak of my RuneScape career. It was my first full year as a member, and I was a forum mod for the majority of the year. I really enjoyed RuneScape then, and had a lot of friends in-game and on the forums. Times were good.

[bolshevik]

It really depends because even though I like a lot of the things that have been implemented into the game nowadays, I also would like a bit more freedom that was available during the older days of the game. I think i'd have to venture back to when the whip was first released, and/or when the special attack bar was in its oldest form. The oldest days of the game was when it was a lot more carefree, and no one really bothered to deal with RWT or any of the rather large problems that we now see/face today. I liked the game when there was quite a bit of freedom, and a lot less pressure to do things, people had a lot more fun in the older days because of said freedom.

I dunno, the game is alright now, but I prefer the past a hell of a lot more.

[Pope_Smotage]

I'd go back to when I had almost one of every holiday item... and then keep them.

I'd also go back and not play my first two characters and focus solely on pope and hero, because then they would be quite better chars.

[Maxman]

I think everyone fantasizes on going back in time and gathering as many holiday items as possible. I do, and I would definitely do it, then swoop back in modern time; it'd be great!

I miss the adventure I used to have back in 2005-2006. For some reason, I loved it better than I do now, which you would think is ironic, because I'm a much better and experienced player than I was back then. Speaking of experience, I think the thought of being a 'newb' back then made everything more exciting. I mean, yes, RuneScape still is exciting at times, but back then, it was just such a joy to log on.

Another thought would be your age. I don't necessarily think it's a disadvantaged now, but it's easier to say I had a lot more fun as youngster.

[jb rules10]

i'd have to go back when there was no trade limits.. my freind was going to quit runescape and was going to give me all his money =/ (bout 100m) anddd to the present date i've only gotten above 1 million gold pieces once (hmm wonder what i would have with that 100m...)

This post has been edited by jb rules10: 09 February 2010 - 05:49 PM

[Majingokulv4]

I would love to go back. I really took Pking for granted. When I took a long break from Runescape I just always assumed that it would be there for me when I returned. I don't feel like I got enough out of Pking which kind of sucks.

[rino_tank]

Early days,when farming got out. I was f2p, and the game seemed so "wow" i couldnt stop playing :P

[QQQQQQQQQQ]

Picking right now.

I totally prefer the game at this point. With the GE, buying/selling is way easier, with the trade limits, scamming/price manipulation is nigh-impossible. I don't do PvP enough to care, and when I do, it's just rushing, so I'll pick right now.

[lBRADl]

Just a thought - I wonder, if runescape started out with trading limits, the ge, and all that stuff, and then later Jagex introduced staking, the wild, free trade, and got rid of the ge, would players complain about this change as well, wanting to go back to a time with the ge and no RWT. I bet many would. Too many players, including me, are just afraid of change. Even though I don't like to admit it, all of these anti-RWT updates weren't the worst things in the world.
If I could go back, I would pick 4-5 years ago, although I didn't choose this because of the updates. This time was the most fun to me because almost my entire class at school was playing Runescape. I really miss the times when I was competing with and helping my friends, and trying to learn this game. Unfortunately, for most players after years of playing, Runescape just turns into a grind-fest.

[`Killer]

Definitely agree with you HDB. All of these restrictions they're placing is just making it complicated, and hard to understand. I like the simplistic, friendly RuneScape. I miss making one pure after another, drop-trading materials for training and PKing.

[Fresh Off Tutorial Island]

I started playing in '04; as I can't really say I would know how it was before then, I'd like to relive '04-'07.

[Tendo]

I would most definitely go back to the first days of RS2. Those were amazing days where certain elements in RuneScape made it extremely fun. It was just the feel of excitement and adventure that ran through me while having a Membership which in my opinion gave me so much freedom over the whole game. It was one of the parts of the life that I think I wont forget for a long time.