This package contains art, text, or software code produced using generative AI.
Most code was developed collaboratively with Claude AI (Sonnet 4.5) based on the developer's requirements, with human-led testing and refinement.
Shadowdark Encounter Timer is a module that adds an automated countdown timer to Shadow Dark Crawl Helper, automatically triggering random encounter checks when time expires. It creates continuous dungeon tension by tracking real-world time and integrating with Crawl Helper's encounter system.
Core Functionality:
The module provides a GM-only timer window accessible from the Token Controls toolbar. When the countdown reaches zero, it either advances the crawl round (while crawling) or directly triggers Crawl Helper's encounter check system. The timer persists in the background even when the window is closed, maintaining encounter pressure throughout your session.
Key Features:
- Configurable Duration: Set the countdown from 1-60 minutes through module settings, with a default of 10 minutes matching Shadowdark's standard encounter interval.
- Auto-Restart: Enable continuous timing that automatically restarts 2 seconds after each completion, creating ongoing encounter pressure without manual intervention.
- Combat Integration: Optionally pause the timer when combat begins and automatically resume when it ends, preventing encounter checks from interrupting active fights.
- Crawl Round Advancement: When enabled while crawling, the timer advances Crawl Helper's crawl round on completion, letting Crawl Helper handle encounter checks based on its configured frequency.
Technical Implementation:
The module integrates with Shadow Dark Crawl Helper's API to trigger encounter checks and advance crawl rounds. It uses Foundry's settings system for persistence and hooks into combat start/end events for automatic pause/resume functionality. A visual progress bar displays remaining time, and all controls are restricted to GM users only.