Dev Blog - Prestige

I'm happy that we're seeing a poll done, but it also worries me slightly as getting the poll done right will be almost as difficult as getting prestige itself done right. Just very slight changes in how the prestige system will work will make a massive difference so it doesn't make any sense polling before feedback has been taken into account and the prestige system adjusted accordingly. For example, there's still a lot of discussion with Mod Jack about whether or not those who have trained past 99 should be given extra credit in the new system.

I also hope that in order to vote there's a few basic questions about how the system works which you must answer correctly or you'll have your right to vote temporarily revoked (just for a few hours or something, plenty of time to vote later). Reading the RSOF, many of the questions people are asking are already answered in the dev blog itself and even many of the complaints are from those who haven't understood the system.

I'm not saying that there aren't valid reasons to oppose prestige, there are, but the confusion around it is leading to a snowball effect of negativity. Considering the client doesn't display news many players aren't hearing about the update from the official source, but from the more vocal, negative half of the community. So there will be many voting against prestige when all they really know about it is "People say Jagex don't care about players!!!!!"

We also have to bear in mind that the only time the playerbase voted on a game changing update in the past was about free trade. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I'm assuming the majority agree with me that bringing back free trade was bad for the game. Sure, Jagex mess up a lot, but their track record is better than ours.

I'll be voting yes, probably, but I'll be happy with either result as long as it's done fairly. Usually I'd be concerned that we'll end up with a poorly thought out compromise but Mod Jack seems clued up enough to make it a success.