Legacy Mode

Legacy Combat Mode, or simply Legacy Combat or Legacy Mode is an upcoming update which will allow players to select between the current EoC combat style and a revised version of the 2012 (Pre-Evolution of Combat) combat style, as well as the old interface layout (Pre-RuneScape 3). This was announced on 29 January 2014. 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 option for Legacy Mode won with 81% of the votes. More polls will pass soon again during its development.

Legacy Mode will be released during Summer 2014.

History
Legacy Mode was originally announced on 31 January 2014 and 1 February 2014. The planning history of Legacy Mode was revealed throughout other posts and Dev blogs released later.

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
On 11 April 2014, the first progress update was announced in a blog post. The following schedule was released as part of the post.

Polls
Polls help 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.

Background
Legacy Mode offers players to freely switch between;
 * The current RuneScape 3 EoC combat system and RuneScape 3 layout/interface, and;
 * A revised version of the RuneScape 2 Pre-EoC combat system and RuneScape 2 layout/interface on or before 19 November 2012

Specifically, Legacy Mode should directly refer to the Pre-EoC combat system only. On 11 April 2014 in a progress update blog, the Legacy Mode features were clarified.

Overview
Jagex made it clear that Legacy Mode will only provide a revised version of pre-EoC, meaning that a back-up would not be used, but rather "90% of the old combat gameplay, special attacks and the old game screens as an option that exists as a part of the new game". "There will need to a be few differences to make it compatible (and competitive) with current game, including dual wielding weapons, modern gear and inheriting the combat triangle rebalance which improved Ranged and Magic combat. There are certain features, like the old '138' combat level formula, which have an impact beyond just Legacy Mode, for which we’d need to work with the community to find a solution. That said, our aim is to make it look and play as close to the old system as possible."

- Mod Pips

This was made clearer in a thread released on 3 February 2014, stating a few clarifications that were made to what would be included in Legacy Mode.

Release
Legacy Mode will be released during Summer 2014, as stated in the first poll; however this has been the only source so far providing a release date. The beta will be released in June 2014.

Reception and controversy
Feedback on Legacy Mode has been polarised. 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 and has no point. 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.