The Evolution of Combat update is regarded by many as the end of a particular style of gameplay. Everyone is perfectly entitled to their opinion, but they should keep in mind that we are currently dealing with a closed beta - this means that the beta is limited to a select group of players. When information is limited, any information, including broad assumptions, become seen as true. So, even if a fact is not necessarily accurate, it can have widespread implications.

After doing research using livestreams and personal accounts from players and clan mates, it has been shown that it will not be the end of RuneScape.

RuneScape has stayed the same for many years; to those who have played the game for a while or are semi-retired - so drastic change is thought of as being detrimental. Newer players, however, tend to compare RuneScape more with other popular MMOs such as World of Warcraft - the aging combat system being a part of the determining factor in whether or not to stay with the game. So therefore the move should be seen as an attempt to become competitive with these other MMOs. With the advanced mechanics of these games, it should only be expected that as a part of this competitive basis that such a major update is necessary in order to help ensure the game's continued survival.

What a lot of players don't realize, or choose to conveniently ignore, is that RuneScape's combat system has changed before. In what is now referred to as RuneScape Classic, you could not retreat after three rounds of combat had passed.



Though looking back this might not have been quite as monumental as far as craps go, as compared to the beta, it cannot be denied that the community benefited greatly from those changes. If Jagex kept the game as it was back then, the "golden years" of RuneScape back in 2006-2007 would not have happened. Players need to stop restricting the game based on nostalgia and actually consider future updates that will benefit the game in the long run.

As a clanner, I have been paying attention to the thoughts of others in regards to this update. Many claim it's the death of clanning as we know it, so let me address this misguided claim.

Yes - the clan world may have to change its ways to accommodate for the combat update in good time, but many of my clanmates (and more) have played around in the beta and feel that though it will take some getting used to - by no means does it spell the total death of warring clans. For example, some even feel that it will bring more tactics into warring compared to what there is now. Perhaps to test the F2P part of the update, there should be an F2P beta server that the existing crowd has access to. After all, a beta can't properly test the entire game if it's restricted to just one side of it.

There are a few problems with it, of course, such as the inability to switch styles effectively. However,we're still dealing with a beta so there may be still more updates to come. This means that it can be fixed, or there may be alternatives offered altogether. There's also the lag that's associated with the beta servers. What has to be understood is that when they create new updates, they are unable to test them under strenuous conditions until they are filled with players. FPS issues have been fixed in the past, and I imagine it will be fixed by the time the beta is over just the same.

I encourage all of those players who are doubting the update to try it when it becomes live. To those who have access to the beta, become a part of the solution and suggest anything that needs changing. Whining about X aspects of the game without contributing possible alternatives or even why it will not work is not helpful to the game's development. Those are one of the many benefits to having a beta. Normally players would not have much input at all, if any. With thousands of players being allowed to test it, there is a broader spectrum of playstyles that will be taken into account.

It will take getting used to and it will take some time before the right tactics are discovered, but at the end of the day, this is just like any other major update that was held. Players are placing too much energy into being doomsayers instead of trying to adapt.