Between the modern RuneScape 3 and the classic Old School RuneScape, which is the “better” game to play?
RuneScape has been around for more than two decades – 21 years, to be exact. During these years, the game had evolved thanks to numerous patch updates. The results of these changes saw the emergence of spin-offs from the original game. Now, two versions of RuneScape exist: RuneScape 3 and Old School RuneScape. RuneScape 3 is undoubtedly the more modern version, while OSRS sticks to its roots before huge changes were made to the original RuneScape. What’s the better game to play? Is farming RS3 gold in RuneScape 3 more fulfilling compared to OSRS? Let’s find out.
Getting to Know RS3 and OSRS
RuneScape 3 is the third era of RuneScape and began when the Evolution of Combat was introduced. The game adopted World of Warcraft-style abilities and revamped the equipment and combat triangle in 2012. During this time, RuneScape 3’s player base went downhill, with most deciding that it simply wasn’t the game they used to love anymore. The changes Jagex did to the title and quests to farm RS3 gold were simply too much – change is good, but like anything in life, too much of it can be bad.
This led to Old School RuneScape being released to the public in 2013 – a year after RuneScape 3 came out. To put it simply, OSRS is the 2007 version of the RuneScape game. This was released due to popular demand from a nostalgic group of players and long-time RuneScape lovers who didn’t care much for the new combat system. At this point, Jagex was under pressure, thanks to the rise of RuneScape private servers and people demanding a reversal of the combat update.
When both of the titles were out, Jagex decided to separate Old School RuneScape and RuneScape 3. OSRS gained a massive following quickly, while RuneScape 3 only had a small active player base left. That’s not to say that RS3 is dead – it just took a lot of time before it found its footing again. Now, RuneScape 3 has a solid number of active players who are consistently playing the game. While the numbers aren’t as big as Old School RuneScape’s, it’s still enough for Jagex to continue investing in it.
The Combat System
OSRS’s combat, when compared with RuneScape 3’s, is more simplistic. This style appeals to many since it doesn’t take much to learn all about it. At the same time, it can also be complex for those that take the time to push the system to its limits. You have three combat styles in OSRS: Magic, Ranged, and Melee. These combat styles are affected by certain bonuses based on the level of your combat-related skills and the equipment that you wear. For example, Magic is affected by your Magic skills, while Melee is affected by your Attack and Strength.
Meanwhile, RuneScape 3’s combat works in a similar fashion, but with extra bonuses that OSRS players don’t have access to. For starters, in RuneScape 3, you have the summoning skill, which gives players a familiar that increases their character’s combat bonuses. Furthermore, both players and creatures have an adrenaline bar they have to manage when performing abilities in combat. The bar must be recharged before some commands can be performed again, but there’s always the option to disable it if you choose the legacy combat style.
Item Trading
One of the most apparent differences in RS3 and OSRS is the implementation of rare, and oftentimes, discontinued Runescape items. Jagex never intended for rare items to exist in RS3 in a way that they would be worth an absurd amount of GP. A prime example of this would be the party hats which were discontinued two decades after a seasonal event. In RuneScape 3, you’ll have to buy them for around 2 billion gold each, and there are six party hat variants to choose from. That could easily set you back 12-13 billion gold!
For OSRS, Jagex wanted to ensure that they wouldn’t make the same mistake as they did in RS3. This leads to players getting access to the previous tradeable rewards in the seasonal events, regardless of what the year is. This not only ensures that there will be a constant resupply of rare items, but they’ll also stay at a relatively low price.
In A Nutshell
Old School RuneScape and RuneScape 3 each have their massive differences, hence the reason why Jagex created two separate games instead. If you want a game that has an active community that’s easy to get into, then OSRS could be the one for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a little more oomph when in your combat system and challenge while farming RS3 gold, then RuneScape 3 might be the perfect fit. In the end, no game is “better” than the other, and everything boils down to your personal preference.
