Almost exactly 3 years ago, 17/7/2004 was held the biggest ever, at least the biggest in those days and a war that people still haven't forgotten. How this war became so big and how people still remember it, even now when we have 10+ hour returning wars, more higher level players and better set up fights? Note that this article is written by a man who was there and fought for RSD. Someone who was fighting for DI can see things differently.

Backrounds:
RSD was found in february 2001 and DI a bit before RS2 came. Even tho they don't share the same history in RSC, they were rivals from the first days of RS2: DI was found as a counterattack against RSD. As RSD had grown within the years from stricly skill based community into one of the best pkin clans, it had made many enemies too. DI offered an answer for that and they growth was impressive. One of the best training places at the early days of RS2, Axe hut in lvl 45 wildy, was also sometimes called DI hut in their propaganda. People wanted to be part of something powerful and DI was a good example.

Quite soon RS2 wilderness had been divided into 4 different poles: RSD, DI, smaller clans and random groups. Even tho there was many other good clans during those days, none of them could match against RSD or DI. Some alliances were also set up, but still those 2 remained the kings. Of course both wanted to be the best and many good fights between these clans were held. Eventually it led into a situation where a big war was what people wanted.

When the war was declared, both clans got many new members. People wanted to be part of something big and knew that the winner of that war would be the best of the best. Of course this led into a situation where both clans were claiming that the other was massrecruiting unfairly. In my eyes real massing didn't happen, even tho some people won't agree with me in that.

Strategies used by RSD:
As both clans were strong, wilderness options weren't the only thing that would judge the winner. Because of this, strategies almost first time ever became to the stage. As it was no return war (return wars were pretty much unseen in those days), leading was really important: with proper leading it would be easier to take down enemies one by one.

RSD solved this by dividing people into different groups and every group had a leader and a wise leader who would lead it if the leader died. The main thing was to kill DI leaders as fast as possible and then slaughter unorganised groups one by one. This strategy isn't used anymore by almost no imporant clans: now clans rather first take either 1 or 2 targets first instead of many like in that war.

Even tho RSD had more options, DI felt surprisingly easily. One reason for this was their weak leading: when the leaders felt, there was no1 to jump into their boots and fight back. As RSD was well organised, DI stood virtually no chances.

Importance:
To get an idea how important this war was, think it this way: in how many wars has there been many jagex mods even before the war has started and how many times have they known who is going to fight who? I've personally seen many wars in RSC and RS2, but never seen that anywhere else. If even Jagex knows about it, it must be something big and unseen.

The main importance was in the divitation of power. Both had many members who wanted to be the best and with the best. At worst point, this war could have been the deathcrush for the losing part. It would have shown which clan is better and stronger and which was just full of their propaganda. However, the result was something no1 had excepted.

Result:
As it has been mentioned, RSD walked away from the wilderness with glory and pride. However even tho they won the war, they lost the game: the next day Livinlarge21, the leader of RSD, decided to shut down RSD. This was something no1 could have excepted. Me and many others first thought it was a bad joke. However Livin had made his decicion even before the war was held, so the result of war didn't affect to the decicion.

Closing of RSD was the thing that DI needed the most: Even tho they had lost the war, they were now the only truely powerful group in the wilderness. Also many good clan members became clanles when RSD broke down. This led into a paradoxal situation: people who few days before had been killing DI, now became DI. Even still, over 3 years after the war, some of those people who left RSD are in DI.

To save something that was left, some RSDers were planning to start a new clan from the ashes of RSD. I personally was on the stage of registering forums with few other mates, but in the end it didn't happen and I joined Empire of Honour found by Tammy2288. It was supposed to be the new clan for RSD members, but unlike Phoenix, it didn't rise from the ashes to become the best again. It was more or less weak attempt to restart the old glorious RSD. Many important people went for DI, joined other clans or became clanless. There wasn't the same attitude anymore and eventually EoH became just a good attempt but nothing else.

Today:
Currently both clans are alive and active. RSD was refound by Livinlarge and currently it's one of the biggest growing clans in whole RS. Many old members are still in RSD, even those who were part of it in RSC. DI is currently one of the strongest, if not the strongest clan in Wilderness. Both have kept their heads up high and haven't gone into this current no honour trend.

Honestly have never heard of DI but I do remember hearing somethng about RSD.

DI is still *quite* famous to say the least.

I so wish i was Rsd at that time period, but then i would have probably gone to DI after Livin closed Rsd lol.

I am happy with Rsd now

DI:
# Total Members: 107
# Average Combat: 124.86
# Average Hitpoints: 98.84
# Average Overall: 1,828

Being ranked to number 1 at pretty much every clan rank list.

Not to many members but high combat which works better

I am not really a clan person and don't usually look for or find clan high scores and stuff lilke that.

Amount of active members is more important than names on the list for pkin clans.

Truedat

do RSD and DI still exist?

Both are top 10 clans.

Wish I was there. Nowdays you never see anything that large happening.

few things not mentioned in your post Hohto. RSD vs DI war was one of the ONLY if not the ONLY war to have the major Jagex team attend. Andrew , Paul , Ian and a few other jmods were there to watch.