The Year Overview

As a new year is ahead of us, we all look back. Back into the long gone Christmas of 2003, back into the New Year’s day of 2004. And then, once all of that is said and done, we look at ourselves now. We see how things have changed since the last year, and how they could continue to change. Thus leading to the resolutions, which is a subject that I, and surely many others, would like to avoid.

2004 has been referred to more than once as the ‘stepping stone year’. While the reason it was called this seems unclear at first, it takes less than a moment before becoming blatantly obvious. Huge names and faces have come and gone through the year, and clan power has been flourishing. Aside from that is the hugest update Jagex ever released; Runescape 2.

The strongest clan in all of Runescape, RSD, reigned supreme power just 2004. Never would they dream they would be completely gone long before New Year’s, whilst countless clans have come from virtually no where to spring onto the top ten lists. The charts have gotten a total make over with large names disappearing to be replaced with completely new clans, yet to make a good war reputation. The Devils, Damage Inc, and many more made their debut just this year; burying RSD and Golden Helms, whilst many others probably fell out of power while no one was looking. It seems that the only thing that has endured this year is The Alliance, and that isn’t news.

Runescape 2 had its debut around early 2004, give or take a month. Springing from wobbling 2D men, our characters transformed into strutting 3D figures. A gigantic two hander could be separated from a tiny dagger, and people were throwing away their slow and obnoxious two-handers to grab the scimitars, now evolved from their shamed RS1 version. A multi combat system added a new dimension to the wilderness. A new skill turned the rune stone economy on its head. There was the new matter of weapon speed as well as power. And aside from all of these important changes came many more. Undeniably, Runescape 2 would change the game forever.

And it did. Arguably due to the new multi zones Jagex invented (which makes quantity over quality a more safe strategy), clans have been greatly affected. The standard number of a good clan’s member count has nearly doubled in the past year. Wars are faster, more deadly, and much more vicious. Levels don’t matter when you’re outnumbered, even by as little as ten men. Thus numbers became top priority, and the strength of clans has leaped so far in only a year.

From empires collapsing and new ones arising from the ashes, the evolution of graphics and combat, to clans doubling over in their strength, the concept rings through everyone’s head. It’s so obvious, so clear that you wonder why you never noticed it yourself. The words ‘stepping stone’ are now an understatement. This year has been, to put it simply, nothing short of a revolution!

~Igna
~Proofread by gydot
~Coded by steve-loser