Difference between revisions of "Party"

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A '''party''' is a group of 1-4 knights adventuring in a gate or mission.
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[[File:Party energy.png|thumb|right|Party members as they appear in the party menu.]]
  
There is relatively little to no penalty for traveling in a party. Everyone will receive the same amount of [[crowns]] and [[heat]] as if they were traveling solo.  However, [[Monster]]s will become more durable to hits from players when the party is larger.
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A '''party''' is a group of 1-4 knights adventuring in a gate or mission. The knights collaborate to kill monsters and solve puzzles. Almost all of their treasure is shared. While in the [[Clockworks]], [[chat]] defaults to /party, allowing communication with everyone in the party, regardless of distance.
  
Parties are automatically restricted from having new knights join the party when the party is in a [[Treasure Vault]], a [[Treasure Trove]], a floor that hosts a [[Boss]], after opening a shadow lair, a few specific missions such as floor two and below on all danger missions, or when a party member that just joined goes solo, or when a party member that went solo returns.
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[[File:Party-Leader_Menu.png|thumb|left|The party menu while on an adventure.]]
  
While in the [[Clockworks]], [[chat]] defaults to /party, allowing communication with everyone in the party, regardless of distance.
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The party menu is the user interface for inspecting and managing party members. The party menu can be accessed in the top left corner of the screen, near the knight's portrait.
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{{clearright}}
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== Forming a Party ==
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=== Starting ===
  
== Starting or Joining a Party ==
 
 
[[Image:Gates-active_platform.png|thumb|right|The parts of an active gate platform include: The control panel and display monitor showing the gate symbol.]]
 
[[Image:Gates-active_platform.png|thumb|right|The parts of an active gate platform include: The control panel and display monitor showing the gate symbol.]]
Knights can start or join a party by going to an active [[gate]] in the [[Arcade]], standing in front of the control panel and using their "Attack" button. They will have to choose what [[Clockworks|tier]] to start in. Some tiers will be grayed out if the [[Spiral Warden]] does not deem you experienced enough to travel to that tier.
 
  
After choosing a tier, players can choose to join a party, or to create one. An option highlighted in dark blue means that is the current option selected.
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You can start a party by going to an active [[gate]] in the [[Arcade]], standing in front of the control panel and using the "Attack" button. Alternatively, you can start a party in the Arcade part of the Mission interface.
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You must choose which [[Clockworks|tier]] to start in. Some tiers may be grayed out, if the [[Spiral Warden]] does not deem you experienced enough to travel to that tier.
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You must also choose one of these three options:
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* '''Create Public Party''': Anyone in the game will be permitted to join your party.
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* '''Create Private Party''': Only friends and guild members will be permitted to join.
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* '''Play Solo''': No one will be permitted to join. Use this option if you wish to play alone.
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After starting your party, you can change the access permissions in the party menu.
  
Knights can also join certain parties via the social menu as described in the next section.
 
 
{{clearright}}
 
{{clearright}}
=== Join a Party ===
 
[[File:Party-Lobby_Menu.png|thumb|350px|right|Joining an existing party (left), and creating a party (right). Note that some options may not appear if you select certain options.]]If you select this, upon clicking the large start button, you will join a party that has space available.  If there is no party with available space in your selected tier, a popup prompt will ask you if you would like to start a new party instead.
 
  
If you find that you always want to start a new party when one is not available to join, you can uncheck the box in the Prompts tab of your [[options]].
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=== Joining ===
  
You can see what parties are available by using the [[Party Finder]] button.
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[[File:Party-Lobby_Menu.png|thumb|350px|right|Joining an existing party (left), and creating a party (right). Note that some options may not appear if you select certain other options.]]
  
If a friend or guildmate is in a party that allows friends or guild members and has available space, then you will be able to click on that knight's name in your social panel and select "Join" to be in the same party. If you do not have tier clearance for that tier, you will need an invitation to the party as the "Join" option will not be available.
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There are several ways to join parties that already exist:
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* One process is similar to that for starting a new party. You can join a party by going to an active gate in the [[Arcade]] or using the Arcade part of the Mission interface.
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* The [[Party Finder]] interface helps you inspect the parties that are available.
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* If a friend or guildmate is in a party that allows friends, guildmates, or everyone to join, then you can join by clicking on that knight in your Social interface.
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* If someone specifically invites you to join their party, then the party invitation will appear on the right side of your user interface.
  
Parties are automatically locked from having new knights join the party when the party is in a [[Treasure Vault]] or an end boss ([[Royal Jelly]], [[Snarbolax]], [[Roarmulus Twins]] or [[Lord Vanaduke]]) level.
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Some tiers of the Clockworks may be inaccessible to you, if you lack the clearance to access them. However, an invitation lets you bypass these access restrictions.
  
=== Start a Party ===
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A party cannot be joined in certain levels of the Clockworks: [[Treasure Vault]]s, [[Treasure Trove]]s, [[Boss]] levels, Shadow Lairs, and levels of danger missions after the first level. Additionally, someone who has started a party by going solo cannot be immediately joined, and a party cannot be joined when a party member that went solo returns.
Create a party according to your specifications. These include:
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* '''Create Public Party''': Choose this if you are not picky about who joins your party.
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=== Inviting ===
* '''Create Private Party''': Choose this if you want your party to be restricted to only friends and guild members.
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* '''Play Solo''': Choose this if you want to play alone.
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{{clearright}}
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== Equipment Locking ==
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The party leader can invite any knight to join the party. If the leader allows it, any party member can invite knights.
While you are in a party down in the [[Clockworks]], you will not be able to change your equipment unless you are in the Clockworks Party Lobby, Clockwork [[Terminal]], or using an [[Arsenal Station]]. A message will be seen at the top of the [[character]] window whenever your equipment is locked due to this.
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== Inviting and Booting Members ==
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As was mentioned above, these invitations bypass tier clearances, but they do not work in certain high-reward levels.
[[File:Party-Leader_Menu.png|thumb|right|The party menu while on an adventure.]]
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Depending on the party settings, members can invite other players to join the party. Party members cannot invite another person if the party is full or if the party leader locked the party. In that case, only the party leader can invite other players (up to a maximum of four members in a group).  Knights that do not have clearance for that tier will need an invitation to join.  Invitations cannot be sent while in a [[Treasure Vault]] or an end boss ([[Royal Jelly]] or [[Lord Vanaduke]]) level.
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Only the party leader can boot members from its group. If a group member is violating the [[Terms of Service]] or [[Community Standards]], file a [[complain]]t and boot the player.
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=== Leaving ===
{{clearright}}
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== Going Solo ==
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At any time, any knight in a party may choose to leave the party. There are two mechanisms.
At any time, while in the Clockworks, a knight may choose to separate from a party. Simply open the party menu and choose "Go Solo". Choosing to adventure alone will bring a knight to a new instance of the Gate in the same spot where "Go Solo" was selected and in the same state of completion (party buttons triggered will remain so). Remember that there are some draw-backs to going solo: any heat or crowns collected on that depth so far and items on still the ground will be erased.
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== Party Members Menu ==
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First, the knight can choose to return to Haven (or quit the Spiral Knights application entirely).
  
[[File:Party energy.png|thumb|right|Party members are shown below your knight's portrait and health.]]
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Second, the knight can choose to "Go Solo" in the party menu. The knight finds themself the leader of a party of one, starting from exactly where they went solo. That is, the gate, level, party buttons, etc. are all exactly as they were before the knight went solo. Any heat gained on the level thus far is lost. Treasure left on the floor is erased. Other knights are not allowed to join the new party immediately.
Each knight in the party will appear in the party menu list in the top left corner of the screen displaying a knight's health below their name and portrait. You can click on a party member's portrait to bring up the character menu. In addition to its usual functions, you can also use the character menu to grant defeated knights a [[Spark of Life]].
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{{clearright}}
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== Picking up Objects ==
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=== Removing ===
  
Spiral Knights is designed to be a cooperative game. For most objects found in the Clockworks, party members do not compete, but rather collaborate, in picking them up.  
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The party leader can remove party members for any reason. The effect is the same as if the removed member went solo.
  
When a knight picks up loot, it disappears from his or her display, but remains on the displays of the other knights until they pick it up. Each crown or token gained is applied immediately; even if a knight doesn't finish the level, they still keep the crown or token. Unlike crowns and tokens, heat is not immediately applied. Knights keeps the heat that they have gained only when reaching the lift at the end of the level. At that time, an animation appears showing the heat being applied to the knight's equipment.
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Additionally, if the party member has violated the [[Terms of Service]] or [[Community Standards]], then the leader or other members can file a [[complain]]t.
  
Each party member may carry one [[mineral]] at a time. Like heat, minerals are applied to the knight only when the level is completed.
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== Effect on Gameplay ==
== Single vs. Multi-Player Parties ==
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When there are multiple knights in a party, the monsters faced are somewhat more difficult. Each party member adds to every monster's health, whether it be [[Lord Vanaduke]] or a lowly [[Jelly]]. In a [[Graveyard]] there is always one [[Phantom]] per knight and in [[Candlestick Keep]] there is always one [[Grimalkin]] per knight.
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Spiral Knights is designed to be a cooperative game. The rules of parties are designed to encourage collaboration rather than competition.
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=== Combat ===
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When there are multiple knights in a party, the monsters faced are somewhat more difficult. Against a one-knight party, each monster has a set "baseline" health. Each additional party member increases the monster's health by about 1/3 of its baseline. So monsters have twice as much health against a party of four as against a party of one. In a [[Graveyard]] there is always one [[Phantom]] per knight, and in [[Candlestick Keep]] there is always one [[Grimalkin]] per knight.
  
 
Knights traveling together can benefit from teamwork:
 
Knights traveling together can benefit from teamwork:
* Knights can [[reviving|revive]] fallen comrades using their own [[Rarity#Spark of Life|Spark of Life]]
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* The damage from multiple knights usually outweighs the monsters' extra health.
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* Knights can [[reviving|revive]] fallen comrades using [[Rarity#Spark of Life|Sparks of Life]] (in the party menu).
 
* As long as at least one knight makes it through the level to the lift, the entire party makes it through the level. If the surviving knight goes down at the lift, then all party members go down. The fallen party members do not gain heat from the level, and will automatically use their Emergency Revive upon beginning the next depth.
 
* As long as at least one knight makes it through the level to the lift, the entire party makes it through the level. If the surviving knight goes down at the lift, then all party members go down. The fallen party members do not gain heat from the level, and will automatically use their Emergency Revive upon beginning the next depth.
* There are various tactical advantages. For example, a knight can free a comrade trapped in a block of [[freeze|ice]], and one knight can lure a monster while another knight attacks it from behind. By having multiple knights, the party can in aggregate have a more varied assortment of weapons. For example, the party can have swords dealing multiple kinds of damage, guns dealing multiple status effects, etc. Although monsters have more health in multi-player adventures, the damage from multiple knights easily outweighs that extra health.
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* By having multiple knights, the party can in aggregate have a more varied assortment of weapons. For example, the party can have swords dealing multiple kinds of damage, guns dealing multiple status effects, etc.
* More knights in a party means more [[mineral]]s picked up to feed your pet.
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* There are various other tactical advantages. For example, a knight can free a comrade trapped in a block of [[freeze|ice]], and one knight can lure a monster while another knight attacks it from behind.
  
Some players prefer to travel alone. Other than reduced monster health, there is no reason to play solo.
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Some knights prefer to travel alone, sometimes because party play can cause chaos:
{{clearright}}
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* Monsters can shift their focus from one target to another, making those monsters harder to predict and manage.
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* Shield bumps and weapon knockback can move and disrupt monsters. For example, a monster can aim its attack at one knight, get knocked back by a [[Nitronome]] blast, and then hit a different knight.
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* Many levels have switches to toggle traps or doors. In a party, careless knights often kill each other switching them while someone is trying to safely get past.
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* Some levels have puzzles that can make loot become inaccessible. In a party it is more likely someone isn't careful and the treasure is lost to all.
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===Treasure===
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When a monster is killed or a treasure box is opened, various kinds of [[pickup]]s, [[heat]], and treasure spill onto the floor. Each party member gets their own randomly generated copy of this loot and is responsible for picking it up for themself. It is worth noting that heat is applied to the knight's equipment only when the level is completed.
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Each party member may carry one [[mineral]] at a time. Like heat, minerals are permanently applied to the knight's inventory only when the level is completed. At that time, every party member gets a copy of every mineral carried by the party. Therefore, knights playing with other knights can earn minerals much more rapidly than knights who adventure alone.
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There are other economic advantages to party play. An energy door (to a [[danger room]] or extra treasure room) requires payment from only one knight in the party. Unlocking a [[Shadow Lair]] gate requires only one Shadow Key per party.
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
 
*[[Exploration]]
 
*[[Exploration]]
*[[Gate]]
 
*[[Complain]]
 
  
 
==Other links==
 
==Other links==

Latest revision as of 11:18, 10 March 2020

Party members as they appear in the party menu.

A party is a group of 1-4 knights adventuring in a gate or mission. The knights collaborate to kill monsters and solve puzzles. Almost all of their treasure is shared. While in the Clockworks, chat defaults to /party, allowing communication with everyone in the party, regardless of distance.

The party menu while on an adventure.

The party menu is the user interface for inspecting and managing party members. The party menu can be accessed in the top left corner of the screen, near the knight's portrait.


Forming a Party

Starting

The parts of an active gate platform include: The control panel and display monitor showing the gate symbol.

You can start a party by going to an active gate in the Arcade, standing in front of the control panel and using the "Attack" button. Alternatively, you can start a party in the Arcade part of the Mission interface.

You must choose which tier to start in. Some tiers may be grayed out, if the Spiral Warden does not deem you experienced enough to travel to that tier.

You must also choose one of these three options:

  • Create Public Party: Anyone in the game will be permitted to join your party.
  • Create Private Party: Only friends and guild members will be permitted to join.
  • Play Solo: No one will be permitted to join. Use this option if you wish to play alone.

After starting your party, you can change the access permissions in the party menu.


Joining

Joining an existing party (left), and creating a party (right). Note that some options may not appear if you select certain other options.

There are several ways to join parties that already exist:

  • One process is similar to that for starting a new party. You can join a party by going to an active gate in the Arcade or using the Arcade part of the Mission interface.
  • The Party Finder interface helps you inspect the parties that are available.
  • If a friend or guildmate is in a party that allows friends, guildmates, or everyone to join, then you can join by clicking on that knight in your Social interface.
  • If someone specifically invites you to join their party, then the party invitation will appear on the right side of your user interface.

Some tiers of the Clockworks may be inaccessible to you, if you lack the clearance to access them. However, an invitation lets you bypass these access restrictions.

A party cannot be joined in certain levels of the Clockworks: Treasure Vaults, Treasure Troves, Boss levels, Shadow Lairs, and levels of danger missions after the first level. Additionally, someone who has started a party by going solo cannot be immediately joined, and a party cannot be joined when a party member that went solo returns.

Inviting

The party leader can invite any knight to join the party. If the leader allows it, any party member can invite knights.

As was mentioned above, these invitations bypass tier clearances, but they do not work in certain high-reward levels.

Leaving

At any time, any knight in a party may choose to leave the party. There are two mechanisms.

First, the knight can choose to return to Haven (or quit the Spiral Knights application entirely).

Second, the knight can choose to "Go Solo" in the party menu. The knight finds themself the leader of a party of one, starting from exactly where they went solo. That is, the gate, level, party buttons, etc. are all exactly as they were before the knight went solo. Any heat gained on the level thus far is lost. Treasure left on the floor is erased. Other knights are not allowed to join the new party immediately.

Removing

The party leader can remove party members for any reason. The effect is the same as if the removed member went solo.

Additionally, if the party member has violated the Terms of Service or Community Standards, then the leader or other members can file a complaint.

Effect on Gameplay

Spiral Knights is designed to be a cooperative game. The rules of parties are designed to encourage collaboration rather than competition.

Combat

When there are multiple knights in a party, the monsters faced are somewhat more difficult. Against a one-knight party, each monster has a set "baseline" health. Each additional party member increases the monster's health by about 1/3 of its baseline. So monsters have twice as much health against a party of four as against a party of one. In a Graveyard there is always one Phantom per knight, and in Candlestick Keep there is always one Grimalkin per knight.

Knights traveling together can benefit from teamwork:

  • The damage from multiple knights usually outweighs the monsters' extra health.
  • Knights can revive fallen comrades using Sparks of Life (in the party menu).
  • As long as at least one knight makes it through the level to the lift, the entire party makes it through the level. If the surviving knight goes down at the lift, then all party members go down. The fallen party members do not gain heat from the level, and will automatically use their Emergency Revive upon beginning the next depth.
  • By having multiple knights, the party can in aggregate have a more varied assortment of weapons. For example, the party can have swords dealing multiple kinds of damage, guns dealing multiple status effects, etc.
  • There are various other tactical advantages. For example, a knight can free a comrade trapped in a block of ice, and one knight can lure a monster while another knight attacks it from behind.

Some knights prefer to travel alone, sometimes because party play can cause chaos:

  • Monsters can shift their focus from one target to another, making those monsters harder to predict and manage.
  • Shield bumps and weapon knockback can move and disrupt monsters. For example, a monster can aim its attack at one knight, get knocked back by a Nitronome blast, and then hit a different knight.
  • Many levels have switches to toggle traps or doors. In a party, careless knights often kill each other switching them while someone is trying to safely get past.
  • Some levels have puzzles that can make loot become inaccessible. In a party it is more likely someone isn't careful and the treasure is lost to all.

Treasure

When a monster is killed or a treasure box is opened, various kinds of pickups, heat, and treasure spill onto the floor. Each party member gets their own randomly generated copy of this loot and is responsible for picking it up for themself. It is worth noting that heat is applied to the knight's equipment only when the level is completed.

Each party member may carry one mineral at a time. Like heat, minerals are permanently applied to the knight's inventory only when the level is completed. At that time, every party member gets a copy of every mineral carried by the party. Therefore, knights playing with other knights can earn minerals much more rapidly than knights who adventure alone.

There are other economic advantages to party play. An energy door (to a danger room or extra treasure room) requires payment from only one knight in the party. Unlocking a Shadow Lair gate requires only one Shadow Key per party.

See Also

Other links

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