The entire direction of the game towards a generic combat-heavy MMO suited for grinders was building up to it, but the trigger was the removal of Free Players from the high scores. You're talking dedicated people who put time and energy into it just the same as the members, with only one difference. No immediate cash spent. So what. I see them the same way I see, say, grandparents in society. They contribute nothing of value, but the people who do contribute very often do have a sentimental appreciation for them that makes it worth keeping them around. When I got Membership, I lasted as long as I did because my f2p friends were still there to talk to and goof off with. When they lose interest or get shut out? That takes away a great deal of my appreciation for the game. When the bottom line passed the community for importance on that scale, that was it.

Only partially related, I pity the few good Jagex mods who were made to present Jagex's reasons for their bad decisions. I'm pretty sure it was Mod Emilee who had to keep quoting Jagex's bullshit wannabe-lawyer essay to anyone with genuine points or questions about the high score update, and so many people pitied her for being a good person defending a bad idea.

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Goten is dead!

I'm a better skiller than you bro.

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The shift of making F2P and trial was a big one, i agree. Maybe it was to help catch cheaters, but maybe now they should add free players back in. I recently took a health and aging class and agreed with something said in that class, which is how seniors are mostly invisible. Few things are made to target them outside of needs. There is little reason to stay a free player nowadays. Even less than before when you get messages to become a member and even a big subscribe button that i cant seem to get rid of when i log on. It stays on screen when i play.

That is obnoxious. How arrogant. To think that is how they treat their most important players.

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Yup, every time I do anything on free servers, I feel like there is some message bombarding me to be a member. Squeal of Fortune rewards, the Battle of Lumbridge crap, trying to train Dungeoneering and not having access to half the rooms, finishing quests. It's just annoying. I get it. I have been a member before. I've even paid for membership on FunOrb, Jagex's essentially dead attempt to create another website. Jagex just ain't what it used to be.

Edit: Well at least free players are still in the high scores on FunOrb.

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Ooh ooh ah ah!

I've never checked out that funorb thing. Whats it all about?

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Jagex's attempt at Miniclip.

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....but we already have miniclip.

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And we already have games like WoW, but you're seeing Jagex's attempt at that as well.

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Goten is dead!

Aside from EoC, in what way is WoW and RuneScape similar?

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Both are dying profit-focused grind fests with a lot of time spent trying to just barely outdo the best thing with a new best thing, particularly with equipment. The difference is that WoW's new bests actually bring back old players who can't let go of the grind, while Runescape's generally come with changes in staff or game style that make getting the new bests a bit of a pain in the ass.

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Goten is dead!

Compared to RuneScape, WoW's grind fest doesn't take nearly as long to get to max level, probably takes less time than it takes to get level 90 in RuneScape, depending on the skill. I agree with the directon of new content though. Something in WoW usually draws me back, but when I go back to RuneScape, it's not usually because of an update.

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I havent played WOW, but adding tiers to armor is making RS like it and others. I actually thought that RS was like Dragon age in terms of combat. Having abilities, cooldowns, and requirements for abilities, like a shield.