The single best memory for me in Runescape was the moment when I joined members after 2 years of F2P (level 90 combat with F2P skills around 50).
I paid by mailing cash to Jagex@Cambridge lol with my account name and password written on an A4 paper (waited around 2 weeks, worried that my payment didn't go through until I got the message announcement in inbox) because Credit Cards were a luxury back then that even my parents didn't have. It's not even the right currency but I made sure it was enough after converting to pounds. Felt silly paying that way but I really wanted members and I have never thanked Jagex for actually accepting my monthly payment for five months until I got a friend to use his debit card.
Entering Taverly's gate for the first time and being greeted by my P2P clan mates really signified the first step into the world of Runescape.
I remember being so overwhelmed that day, walking around in my full Rune and banking every loot and resources I got. I didn't even accomplish much on that day but I spent the whole night walking around and examining things.
That day marked the end of my farming Moss Giants in Varrock Sewers for big bones, fishing lobsters and swordies for sale in Edgeville and merching coloured gloves using Flash/Wave text.
And the worse experience? Five years ago, the gripping fear of knowing that I just logged into a fake Runescape forum trying to find a 130+ Combat PC world because Heart Unit/ZPC was slow that day. I tried to delay logging out but I panicked and forgot to bank my valuables.
Lost AGS (80m~ period), full Bandos, Robin Hat, Ranger Boots, Karil set and Ahrim sets. I continued to PC with Guthans and whip, got my 99 range at PC and I quit 2 days later. I just joined again and was pleasantly surprised that all of my lost goods were obtainable again for much lower costs.
Remembering all this really makes me happy, sad and nostalgic. I had so much respect for anyone over 120 combat, remembered seeing The Old Nite once while cooking sharks at Thieving Guild, missed the Durial massacre, attended the Falador Riots, witnessed one of the first few Godsword that entered the game, walked through Falador Park dreaming of rares while I was trying to sell runes, dancing in Varrock Square, running around low level Edgeville trying to scavenge, FFA clan wars in Greater Demon area, luring bots to their death, running away from Random Events, hating MEP2 and remembering getting excited about drops like Abyssal Whip, Dark Bow, the myth of Dchain from dust devils, tip.it forums and that famous stats signature, RSOF rants section, saw my friend got PMod, and the best? mIRC! Trout slap.
Sorry to hear that you're leaving RS but I'd be glad to give the acc back whenever if I got it because I know how you feel right now but also know that you'll remember RS every once in a while and that's an even worse feeling than quitting :'(
