Overview

The time box allows hedgehogs to travel through time and space. They will travel into the future and are gone from the map for a while, after which they will appear again somewhere on the map when …

• … it is the only hog left on its clan
• … Sudden Death begins
• … a random amount of time has past if none of the conditions above apply (see below)

When the hog returns to the map, it appears at a random location.

Properties

• Ends turn: Yes
• Retreat time: N/A
• Crate type: Utility

How to use

Activate it using the fire button.

Note: This utility does not work for kings in King Mode, when you're the last hog in your clan or you're in Sudden Death.

When will it return?

The TimeBox has a mind of its own and it's tricky to predict when it will return, but there are some rules.

What is for sure is that when all the other hogs of your clan have perished or when Sudden Death begins, the TimeBox will return immediately.

However, the TimeBox may also return after a random "timeout" if neither of these events have happened. This is called a "timeout return". A timeout return cannot be prediced, but here are some rules:

• Rule 1: A timeout return only happens during the turn of the same clan of the TimeBox.
• Rule 2: The timeout time depends on the turn time and number of teams.
• Rule 3: Only the time while your clan is active counts towards the timeout time.

What this means: The longer your clan is playing, the more likely it is for a timeout return to occur. If your clan takes long turns, the TimeBox is bound to return eventually. However, if your clan finishes turns quickly, the TimeBox may return much later in the game.

The timeout time is random, but it has a lower and upper bound, which depends on the turn time from the Game scheme and number of teams the match has started with. The minimum and maximum possible timeout times are calculated like this:

• Minimum timeout time = Turn time
• Maximum timeout time = Turn time + (Turn time · Number of teams)

For example, with a turn time of 45 seconds and 3 teams, the TimeBox may return anytime between 45 seconds and 180 seconds of your clan being active. Remember, the time during which other clans are active does not count.

Where will it return?

This location is random. It could be anywhere where the hedgehog could safely stand on. It will never place you at a location that would instantly hurt or kill you, like on a mine.

Warning: There's a chance the TimeBox returns you close to water, even at the beginning of Sudden Death. (see also: bug 826)

Hints

• This utility can be used to get a hog out of a sticky spot (where it is not much of use) or to squirrel away a hog for when Sudden Death arrives.
• Although a TimeBox doesn't return you to immediate danger (like a mine), there's still a risk because you might still end up at an inconvenient location
• Use the timeout time mechanic to your advantage. You may want to strategically finish your turns quickly or slowly to force the TimeBox to return late or early

Trivia

• The Time Box will have the color of the team that uses it
• If 100% of the landmass has been destroyed, the TimeBox can't return and the hog is considered lost

History

• Release 0.9.16: Time Box was added