Drone Monsters
- A new class of monsters called 'drones' have been added to the Clockworks
- Drones are not part of any monster family
- A drone is completely immune to damage unless it stops and exposes its weak point
- A golden drone will never stop and is completely immune to damage
- There are two types of drones: 'shankles' that deal damage and 'wisps' that cause status conditions

Here are the official names for all drones:
Shankle
Sharp Shankle
Sage Shankle
Dark Shankle
Golden Shankle
Golden Sharp Shankle
Golden Sage Shankle
Golden Dark Shankle

A new energy pack has been released and we're offering it at a crazy sale price for a limited time!

The Explorer's Pack
1,000 Crystal Energy
2 Week Elevator Pass
7 day Heat Amplifier
1 Silver Key
1 Stranger Hat Costume helm

Normally this pack will cost $14.95, but just for the Holidays, it's yours at a staggering 80% off, only $2.95!

Best of all, you can buy as many as you like!

Sale dates:
December 19 - January 2, 2012

About the Stranger Hat:

Lockdown - Frostbite
- Opened up north path to allow players to bypass the center CP
- Made CPs on either end of the map easier to defend by their respective 'home teams'

Bugfixes

- Fixed a scenario room with an airlock that could create dead ends on rare occasions
- Fixed a scenario room with a broken text description
- Disable the Event Hub button when the HUD is locked
- The Event Hub no longer shows yourself as a party to join
- The Event Hub no longer shows training hall parties

Winterfest!
Winter has come to Cradle and all of Haven is covered in a soft blanket of snow. Snipes and monsters alike are in the holiday spirit and the Haven Arcade is being visited by Impostoclaus!
- A new Lockdown level, Frostbite is now available. Frostbite features snowballs that you can throw at your opponents and turn them into snowmen!
- Until January 9th, you can use Krogmo Coins to purchase Santy Hats from Sullivan in the Haven Arcade.
- All Santy Hats expire on January 23, 2012

Event Hub

As part of a release that's coming later today, the Spiral Knights game and site will be down for a time, and that includes our forums. We'll be posting any relevant status updates over on Twitter during that time. Join us!

Featured Auctions
Featured Auctions are special auctions run by the Haven Treasury. They often contain unique or rare items. Featured Auctions can be buyout only with set quantities. Quantities represent the number available currently and are not representative of future quantities. However, you never know when a new batch of items will show up, so if you see something you like, go for it!

Featured Auctions will be displayed by default when opening the Auction House. They will also appear in standard category searches.

For a limited time Energy and Shadow Keys are on sale!

The $9.95 Energy pack is is available for $7.50. You save 25%!

Shadow Keys are also 25% off, normally 1,800 CE, now only 1,350 CE! Shadow Keys can be purchased from Boost, the special items merchant in any town.

Take advantage of these great deals while they last!

I'm proud to announce that SEGA has acquired Three Rings. This is a good thing for all, especially players of Spiral Knights!

There is an announcement posted to the front page of threerings.net -- please read that for more information.

Various news outlets will pick the story up today, here's a post from Gamasutra.

I've added a discussion thread so you can share your thoughts and questions can be asked and answered.

Arsenal Stations
Many levels within the Clockworks now feature 'Arsenal Stations' that allow you to change your gear or loadouts before facing the challenges of a level. So long as you have a wide variety of equipment, a difficult stratum with varying themes will be no match for your arsenal!

There are also one-way barriers positioned after each Arsenal Station. Choose your equipment wisely and use loadouts to save time!

Energy Blasts

Arcade
- Gates in the arcade will now automatically activate when you walk up to them

Bugfixes
- Fixed issue that was causing Drab Canteen's name to display as 'Fancy Canteen' when equipped.
- Fixed issue causing knights to be invisible.