This suggestion aims to touch on the following staples of Spiral Knight Suggestions:

• Addition to the Arcade
• Swarm themed content
• Radiant Crystal farming

"Due to a gremlin's greed, the core is unsealed and knights will now see an effect from this in the lower Clockworks."

What is the suggestion

What I envision is the ability for arcade runs to dip into the Core for 3 levels: a Dreams and Nightmares-style randomized floor, a multi-round arena floor, and a treasure floor that would return players to Haven upon completion.

In addition to this, I feel all applicable foes should have a small chance to be replaced by their Swarm-equivalent when on depth 28. Like all members of the swarm, these arcade versions will at most drop hearts.

How would this be done?

Knights would have the ability to buy a keystone from Basil at depth 23. If he's selling keys, may as well sell a useful one. This keystone must then be brought to depth 29, The Core, the path is sealed where it can used to activate the furthest elevator to partake in the aforementioned content. I believe using the keystone should lock the party, similar to using a Shadow Lair key and Fiendish ID card.

It has been shown that the gate map can be changed mid-run and that a run can extend beyond depth 29, a continuation of an arcade run is possible.

Why is this needed?

After the pomp and circumstance of the new missions, Herex and the entrance to the Core being opened, I had hoped for a bit more than Yet Another Mission to Grind. I feel more could be done on the Arcade side of this, especially with regard to the exclusivity of Radiant Crystals. Enemy replacements help to make the deeper levels feel more "infected," the swarm has many eyes and arms and seeing an apparition of it would break the monotony of current Arcade play. There have been many (some recent, too) ideas for swarm-themed content and arenas, but creating "endless" or "tower defense" material doesn't sit right with me [or my computer]. Having an approach like this, of an opt-in helping of a shorter version of a mission to properly end an arcade run or bolster what otherwise would be a pitiful rarity count, is a better and feasible fit for Spiral Knights.

Outstanding areas of concern

Keystone Cost

What price (and currency) would players feel is fair to extend their journey into Rad Zone?

Swarm Arena

So as not to copy DaN so transparently how should an arena be created? How many rounds, any randomization?

Treasure Room

How much loot in relation to key price, is enough? For this short but difficult excursion, what is a good compensation