Legacy Mode

Legacy Mode is a combat and interface option within RuneScape that allows players to select between the current Evolution of Combat combat style and a revised version of the old combat style before the Evolution of Combat. Legacy Mode also includes an interface layout inspired by the one prior to RuneScape 3.

Players using Legacy Mode do not have access to abilities or any of the Combat Settings -- attacks are either auto attacks or special attacks. Damage and life points are all scaled down by a factor of 10, although this is only a visual effect. Most of the interfaces are simpler and less customizable, and look similar to those in older versions of RuneScape.

The release of Legacy Mode also brought a number of changes from the Combat Improvements Beta to the main game, including special attacks, a changed combat level formula, and removal of life point bonuses from most armour. The release also reintroduced skulls and removed the previous Wilderness mechanic of losing all items upon death.

Legacy Mode can be enabled by ticking the "Legacy Mode" box in your Game Settings.

Development
Players voted in-game using the Power to the Players poll system for or against Legacy Mode throughout 31 January 2014 to 14 February 2014. The planning history of Legacy Mode was revealed throughout other posts and Dev blogs released later.

Legacy Mode includes:


 * Traditional RuneScape combat, with no abilities.
 * Interfaces styled from the pre-RS3 - both resizable and fixed.
 * Old-style minimap icons.
 * Life points back to a max of 990.
 * Old-style combat animations and stances

Initial research
The history and planning of Legacy Mode was first revealed in a Dev blog posted on 31 January 2014. The idea for a solution to the negative feedback from players with the Evolution of Combat update has been developing throughout 2013. At the end of 2013 when Power to the Players started, over 10,000 active players were surveyed through e-mail on their preferred combat system.

Original solutions
Due to the polarised feedback from players on EoC, Jagex found it difficult to find a viable solution to create a win-win situation for both players who enjoy EoC and for those who don't. These were the options they considered.

Polling
As announced on 31 January 2014, the addition of Legacy Mode was polled on Power to the Players throughout 31 January 2014 to 14 February 2014. The option for Legacy Mode won with 81% of the votes, confirming its development and release. There will be many more polls in the future as Legacy Mode's development progresses.

Progress update
The first few progress updates clarify the features intended for Legacy Mode. On 3 February 2014, few clarifications that were made to what would be included in Legacy Mode. On 11 April 2014, the first progress update was announced in a blog post. Two images were released, showing Jagex's intentions of Legacy Mode. It was also announced that the beta would be released in June 2014.

On 24 April 2014, a forum post was added asking for feedback on the style of the buttons in legacy mode.

A stream took place on 16 May 2014 from 15:00 to 0:30 GMT.

On 12 June 2014 it was announced that the beta will be released on 16 June 2014.

Polls
Polls helped shape and design Legacy Mode through the players' opinions. Each poll is polled through the Power to the Players poll system. There are more polls coming soon.

Comparison

 * The combat team will try to get as close to optimal as possible

Reception and controversy
Feedback on Legacy Mode has been mixed. Some players think that this may bring back some former RuneScape players who have left since the release of EoC, but some argue that this idea will not help, has no point, and could even draw players away from RuneScape. However, the Power to the Player poll results suggest that the majority of players have given positive feedback and this update will be highly anticipated.

Trivia

 * Currently, monsters fought in Legacy Mode give the same amount of experience points as their Evolution of Combat counterparts, despite having 10% less maximum lifepoints. It is unknown if this is an oversight or not.