Quick answer
Custom Mode uses three presets. Radio and lamp hazards are enabled at every difficulty, but their schedule changes substantially:
⚙️ Preset cue: choose the difficulty from the team’s communication readiness, not just the desired timer pressure.
| Preset | Faults per system | First fault | Repeat interval | Auto-fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 2 | 45s | 60–90s | 15s |
| Medium | 5 | 30s | 25–40s | 20s |
| Hard | 10 | 20s | 15–25s | 25s |
Choosing a preset
Pick Easy when the team is still learning callouts and wants longer setup gaps. Medium is a useful coordination test because the first fault arrives earlier and repeats more often. Hard is an endurance test: assign one hazard monitor before the run begins and keep module solving calls short.
Preset decision path
| Team situation | Recommended start | What to practise first |
|---|---|---|
| First session or changing roles | Easy | Module names, positions, and one final caller |
| Comfortable with normal modules | Medium | Hazard handoffs while another player reads the manual |
| Consistent team seeking a challenge | Hard | Short callouts, hazard priority, and recovery after a missed input |
The preset is a coordination choice, not a permanent difficulty label. If the team is losing runs to unclear communication, step down for one session and practise the handoff rather than trying to compensate with faster inputs.
Hard-mode routine
- Confirm the preset aloud before the first module.
- Assign a radio/lamp monitor and a backup.
- Call the first-fault window so nobody mistakes silence for safety.
- Resolve one hazard, report the new state, then resume the normal module.
- Keep the team’s mistake budget visible; Hard’s longer auto-fix window makes unattended faults expensive.
Hazard handoff template
Use one sentence when a radio or lamp fault appears: “Hazard name, current state, operator, correction, clear.” The player who notices the fault calls it, the assigned monitor confirms the correction, and the original module caller resumes only after the word clear. This prevents two players from changing the same panel or silently abandoning a module halfway through.
Achievement connection
The Steam achievement list includes a Hard Custom Mode condition for “Fearless Monkeys”. Open the Achievements page to verify the live condition and unlock state; percentages change as more players unlock it.
Related practice
Use Endless Mode for wave pressure, Alarm for interruption response, and the roles guide for a clean handoff vocabulary.