Hybrid Modes & Add-Ons
Line Trail Engine, Music Sync and Breaking Rings: the add-ons that combine modes into Rhythmic Escape and Rhythmic Drawer.
Modes vs Add-Ons
Under the mode picker in Basics there is an Add-ons list. An add-on layers an extra behaviour on top of a mode. Two combinations are real modes of their own, called hybrids: Rhythmic Escape and Rhythmic Drawer. They have no tile in the picker; you get them by combining.
The Three Add-Ons
Each add-on only appears in the modes where it does something.
| Add-on | What it adds | Shown in |
|---|---|---|
| Line Trail Engine | "Smooth paths & trails": a trail behind the ball. You style it in the Arts tab. | Every 2D mode that has a moving ball |
| Music Sync | In Rhythmic: "Bounce on the beat", the bounce-timing switch. In Escape and Drawer: "Visuals react to audio", which turns the mode into its rhythmic hybrid. | Rhythmic, Escape, Drawer and their hybrids |
| Breaking Rings | "Escape through rings": adds the Escape ring stack. Turning it on in Rhythmic gives Rhythmic Escape. | Rhythmic, Escape, Rhythmic Escape |
How the Hybrids Are Made
The add-on toggles switch the mode for you:
| You are in | You turn on | You get |
|---|---|---|
| Escape | Music Sync | Rhythmic Escape |
| Rhythmic | Breaking Rings | Rhythmic Escape |
| Drawer | Music Sync | Rhythmic Drawer |
| Rhythmic Escape | Music Sync off | Escape |
| Rhythmic Escape | Breaking Rings off | Rhythmic |
| Rhythmic Drawer | Music Sync off | Drawer |
Tip
- Picking Escape or Drawer while Music Sync is on also lands you in the hybrid.
Rhythmic Drawer
Rhythmic Drawer is Drawer mode with a beat-locked, song-playing ball. Every bounce plays the song and adds a point to the drawing, so the picture grows in time with the music.
Its panels are both halves: Rhythmic Mode Settings (including Break Lab) and Painter Simulation Studio. Everything in the Rhythmic Mode and Drawer Mode articles applies. In Basics it shows both halves' settings.
Tip
- Pair Ball Movement Mode: Direction Only with RADIAL symmetry: the even bounce angles make very regular, mandala-like figures.
Which Plan Unlocks a Hybrid
A hybrid uses the settings panels of both of its halves, so it needs the plan of both: Rhythmic Escape needs Escape (Lite) and Rhythmic (Lite); Rhythmic Drawer needs Drawer (Lite) and Rhythmic (Lite). The add-on toggles sit under the mode picker in Basics, which is open on Starter Studio.
Tips for Combining
Start with one mode plus one add-on. The cleanest hybrids pair a single mode with a single add-on; stacking everything at once gets visually noisy. Add the Line Trail Engine last, and keep it subtle if the mode already draws lines (Drawer).
More from BallEngine
Guides, plans and answers for making your videos.
