Hardcore ironman is plain stupid in emps imo. Runescape itself has only a few decent hardcore ironman players due to the difficulty, a normal ironman mode is enough.
''Only a few''
I don't know about osrs, but RS3 has a shit ton of great hardcore ironmen. There's even a guy with 1,3 billion total xp already lmao
1,3b exp is practically 130m in osrs and that goes in my 'decent category'. And I think both you and me know the difference between emps and rs3 player population?
When the hardcore mode releases here I can already tell 10+ players will set goals and have fun in the beginning but it will only last for 1-2 weeks max then die like the emps-wars minigame.
Thomy should rather spend his time on more important content like the Grand Exchange.
The main difference is that RS3 simply has many more things to do, of course, and that is also the main reason why those 10+ players you mentioned got bored of it. It's just less grinding. You get skilling supplies literally everywhere, and you don't have to spend so many damn months training a single skill. More endgame and less grind is the reason why I think RS3 > osrs.
In games like oldschool RS and Emps, there will be very few people who will actually manage to achieve something in the ironman mode. The effort that it requires is something that everyone cannot handle. People even complained about Snape Grass being too hard to get in EMPS rofl.
As you said, Thomy should definitely focus on adding content that will, ultimately, make more than 10 people happy.
I respect your opinion about why RS3 > 07. I think osrs is better simply because it brings back the oldschool nostalgia and they constantly add fun custom updates. I also enjoy it because its somewhat more easier gameplay compared to rs3, also the fact that obtaining 99 requires work. Oldschool has quite alot of popular and talented ironmen players like Mr mammal, Joe, B0aty and alot more! Hell, b0aty manages to kill 15 bandos bosses on his ironman by just 4-way pray flicking.
osrs
http://services.runescape.com/m=hiscore_oldschool_ironman/overall.wshttp://services.runescape.com/m=hiscore_oldschool_ultimate/overall.wsrs3
http://services.runescape.com/m=hiscore_ironman/rankinghttp://services.runescape.com/m=hiscore_hardcore_ironman/ranking
Anyway, back to es, ironman players lack potential because they are used to buy everything and they pretty much dont manipulate their skills, thats the damn point of the iron challenge. Get snape grass via fishing not pvming. I made a ironman myself, but never bothered due to the fact that the majority of this community are either trolls or don't know how to appreciate anything.
I look at emps as rs3 and 2009 emps as osrs.