Temporal stability: Difference between revisions

'''Temporal Stability''' is a game mechanic that measures how close the player is to the [[Rust World]]. It is represented through a blue gear icon above the player's hotbar, and the less blue area there is the more temporally unstable the player is. As it gradually dips, different effects start happening to the player, with monster spawns becoming more frequent. If it drains completely, the player enters the Rust World, causing visual distortions and continually damaging the player's health until they regain some temporal stability.

Early warning signs of temporally unstable areas are ominous music and the blue gear on the players taskbar turning counter clockwise. The faster the gear turns, the faster the players stability will drop. At low stability, other players and mobs will start to flicker and become transparent.

== Restoring temporal stability == <!--T:3-->

Temporal Stability can be restored through the use of a [[temporal gear]]. These are either acquired through killing [[drifter]]s or through [[trading]].

To restore temporal stability, equip a temporal gear in your off hand and a knife in your taskbar. While having the knife active, hold right mouse button. The player will perform a slashing motion with the knife, including a hurt sound. Keep the right mouse button clicked until the follow up animation of the gear pressed to your body appears, and a blue temporal particle effect appears on the screen. Otherwise, the player will get hurt but not use up the gear or receive the effect.  

Please keep in mind that using a temporal gear in this way will destroy the temporal gear, damage the player for 2 HP and only recover about 28% of your temporal stability.

Temporal storms are a weather pattern that by default occurs roughly every 10 days. During these storms, it is treated as though the player has low temporal stability, with creatures able to spawn anywhere around the player as long as there is a spawnable surface (i.e. slabs will prevent spawns).

Players will get an early warning about an oncoming temporal storm through the chatbox. This warning will be issued in two phases:

* "A light/medium/heavy temporal storm is approaching" - once this warning is issued, the temporal storm is 8h24min ingame time away - or 0.35% of a full day.

* "A light/medium/heavy temporal storm is imminent" - once this warning is issued, the temporal storm is 43min ingame time away - or 0.02% of a full day.

==== Drifter Trap ==== <!--T:11-->

This tactic is an extension of the above mentioned pillar solution.

Digging a moat around yourself that is at least 2 blocks deep and wide so you are left standing on a pillar allows you to trap [[drifter]]s for easy killing later on. Keep in mind that more vicious foes might have a higher reach, so you should consider how high above your trapped enemies you want to be. With the new drifter pathfinding, they might not fall into your trap readily however. To trick their senses, try lining the edge of your trap and your pillar with trapdoors. The drifters will interpret the trapdoors as a path they could take towards you, even when said doors are opened, leaving an unbridgeable hole.

For a detailed look such an advanced drifter trap, check out the video posted farther down.