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 customisable, 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 or your Combat Settings.

Interface
When Legacy Mode is enabled, the RuneScape interface changes to an interface that looks similar to 2009. The interfaces are not exact:
 * Several new buttons have a slightly different style to them.
 * The inventory is fully opaque, whereas in 2009-2011, the inventory was slightly transparent.
 * The chatbox transparency can be customised.
 * Toggle off "always-on chat" (option found by right-clicking the "All" button in the chatbox).

Unlike in RuneScape 3, the ability to customise, move windows around and have multiple windows open is unavailable, because before RuneScape 3, that was not included.

Before implementing Legacy Mode, Jagex considered multiple different interface styles: blue or brown. Most players preferred the older, brown-themed interface from 2009-2011.

Combat
Legacy Mode re-introduces the combat system that existed before Evolution of Combat. This means that abilities are not able to be used. Legacy Mode users have the overall damage increased. According to Jagex, players using abilities should only have a slight damage per second advantage over Legacy Mode players. To help suppress any effects this would have on PvP between Legacy Mode and Evolution of Combat players, Legacy Mode only and EoC only worlds were implemented. In addition to that, players see the old hitsplat numbers. Life points are divided by 10 from Evolution of Combat player's and NPC's health.

Whereas no abilities are usable in Legacy Mode, special attacks can be used. In order to activate your weapon's special attack in Legacy Mode, you must go to the Combat Settings pane (the tab with the two swords crossing).

Comparison with EoC and Pre-EoC
* The combat team will try to get as close to optimal as possible

Initial 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 resizeable 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. Keep in mind many players left the game when the EoC was released, so these percentages may not be accurate.

Considered options
Due to the polarised feedback from players on Evolution of Combat, Jagex found it difficult to find a viable solution to create a win-win situation for both players who enjoy Evolution of Combat 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.

Reception and controversy
Feedback on Legacy Mode has been mixed. Some players believe that legacy brought back former RuneScape players who have left since the release of Evolution of Combat, while others believe that legacy did not bring back players and even made some current players leave. However, the Power to the Player poll results suggests that the majority of players have given positive feedback and that Legacy was largely anticipated. Minigames that were previously low on attendance such as Soul Wars, and the purple portal at Clan Wars have gotten a big surge of players since the release of Legacy Mode.