Spiral Knights - A timer for changing gates

A timer for changing gates

9 replies [Last post]

Fri, 08/19/2011 - 20:06

Hyorinryu

As many of you may or may not know, levels of certain depths rotate between several different choices(arena, graveyards, etc.) You can tell what level you're going to get by checking the gate map or the monitor above the gate. What I would like is a timer that tells you how much time you have before the level changes. One of the most annoying things that can happen is just missing the arena option, resulting in you and your teammates having to wait a certain amount of time (I don't really see an agreed time, though it's pretty long.) It's frustrating, especially when you reach a Basil level. Because then, if there is an arena, you're rushing as fast as you can to buy your recipes and change your equipment, while being nagged at by your teammates because no one wants deal to with the wait. It's a huge period of time where you can't do anything.

If you could AFK, it wouldn't be so bad, but because there is no reliable amount of time you can wait, nor are there any signals pointing out the level is going to change(maybe have the level symbol blink, or perhaps making a sound when the level is going to/though change. Those might work.) As a result, you have to sit there eyes glued to the screen, waiting for the monitor to change.

If we have a timer, then we can do whatever because we know when the gate will change without staring at it 24/7. Another option maybe is to have some kind of veto system that be used to determine the level, though I think the timer is easier.

So, what do you guys think?

Fri, 08/19/2011 - 20:08

Bigfootm

Search bar fool. It's there for a reason. XD

Someone said this like 6 hours ago...

Use the search bar. -_-

Still +1

Fri, 08/19/2011 - 20:09

Bekjan

I think it is a good idea. As

I think it is a good idea. As you said a sound signal 10-15 secs before the gates change/rotate would be great.

Fri, 08/19/2011 - 20:11

Bigfootm

And it takes 15 min to switch

And it takes 15 min to switch out. I'm pretty sure of it

Fri, 08/19/2011 - 20:39

Hyorinryu

Sorry

I tried searching for another topics talking about similar things. I used "timer." What I found were topics relating to the auction house, and the gate map hotkey topic. I thought I might try again, but then there were so many different words that I would have to use that I gave up. I probably should have tried a few more words, but eh...

That said, I tried searching "gate" and "timer gate," and I still haven't found the topic you were talking about.

Also, thinking about the veto option more, maybe a "holding" option that would stop the level from changing so you could take your time prepping your gear and buying your recipes would be good too.

Fri, 08/19/2011 - 22:35

Quasirandom

That's moving in the wrong

That's moving in the wrong direction. It would be better if the level were chosen randomly from those available, like on the graveyard/treasure vault depths. Encouraging players to frequently stand there AFK for several minutes is bad game design.

Wed, 08/24/2011 - 11:22

Leafxc

they should just give more

they should just give more gates , that access to different theme . be generous !

Sat, 09/10/2011 - 02:51

Fifiesj

They absolutely need a

They absolutely need a countdown timer to show when the level will rotate. There is simply no reason not to show it. We know it's going to happen, and it's within a finite time window, so why make us sit there and watch?

There is simply no point in hiding the timer except to frustrate players.

Wed, 09/14/2011 - 15:39

Psychorazer

Wed, 09/14/2011 - 17:41

Antistone

Legacy Username

On Level Rotation

Different levels take different amounts of time to change (I've timed changes from 1:45 to over 15 minutes), but a given gate at a given depth seems to always take the same amount of time. So if you plan to run the same gate more than once, you can time (once) how long it takes the level to change, and then you know the duration on future runs. For example, in the current Iron Serpent gate, waiting on depth 15 for the arena on depth 16, it takes roughly 7.5 minutes for each level change.

I've posted information and speculation on the level rotation mechanics here (wiki editor subforum).

Of course, if you've just started watching the gate, it could be about to change any second, or it could have changed just before you saw it and have the full time remaining. You may find it helpful to look at your gate map (under main menu) before you reach the elevator on the current level. But at least if you have to wait through multiple level changes, once you see the first change, you can calculate the remaining time.

I wouldn't mind a visible timer, though I think the underlying problem is that the rewards for different levels vary too much. If arenas didn't give 2-3 times as much money as most levels, then most people wouldn't bother waiting for them. I suggested several possible methods for rebalancing level rewards in this thread (suggestion subforum).