Some explanation about Obstacles for everyone confused with their spawn rate.
So let's discuss about obstacles and their spawn rate. Although wikia says one per 8 hours, we all can notice that is not always the case.
Here's some explanation why spawn rate is random at times but i don't have hard coded facts to back up my points i am gonna state.
Now since i know the date i started my game, i can guarantee that i didn't get 1 obstacle per 8 hours. I didn't let builders sleep. ( someone said keeping builders busy increases spawn rate :p ) i removed obstacles from day 1 and had no more than 10-12 obstacles in my base at a given time(that too, i let them spawn because i wanted to remove them together ;P )
Today is 49th day, 146 obstacles removed. can someone please let us know the number of obstacles when we start the game? ( although i think it's 50. 40 plantations and 10 stones? ) let's just assume we get 40 @ start.
49x3 is 147 obstacles should have spawned by now according to 8 hours time frame.
Initial 40 + 147 = 187 - 146 = missing out 40 obstacles( one xmas tree :D).New obstacles and old obstacles have same spawn rate. did these calculations before the update too.
Now since we just got a solid proof that there is a factor that results into reduced spawn rate, the best logical explanation we can come up with is the size of our bases.
I can theoretically be 99 % sure that obstacles DO NOT spawn on red areas in our base. ( or the white lining in village edit mode)
If an obstacle is destined to spawn at a particular spot, and is blocked by your red area ( even 1 tile ), it won't spawn for next 8 hours.
However, Gem boxes with different coding than usual obstacles can spawn anywhere they can fit. Though i still feel that more covered area might reduce their chance to spawn.
Players with too many decorations and expanded bases have experienced extremely low spawn rate.
I for one, sold all of my decorations and glued buildings to outer walls. now that might help raiders get an easy shot on my base, i'd say it's worth it keeping in mind how rare gems are.
I am having a gala time with obstacle spawn rate with my current super compact setup and i have even checked by expanding my base.
Anyone with a better explanation, please come forth. it's no harm trying out new methods. I will quote them in my opening post if they are reasonable enough to give a shot at.
those who are experience extremely low spawn rates, please try this method for 2 or 3 days and make sure to give a feedback. that will help us all :)
Edited on 27th Feb :So it's been 25 days since I posted this. 50 Obstacles gained till now. that's 2 obstacles per day as opposed to 3 per day.
This is me losing 25 obstacles in 25 days as opposed to 40 lost in 49 days when i had TH 7.( plus i didn't tried to make base compact from the start. Even with much larger base as TH 9, compacting my base helped me reduce loss of obstacles.
Of course this is because of my growing base as i am a TH 9 now. This should help you guys get the better idea ;) It solidifies this theory.
Edit: It's 15th april and i can pretty much confirm it. I have been observing it for too long now.
Shrink your base as much as possible. expanded base will come at the cost of way lower spawn rate.
Please clear gravestones asap. Remove obstacles as soon as possible for a tiny bit of chance to increase obstacle spawn rate :)
Do not build a base totally one sided. try to centralize it.
