Community Suggestion: Recurring Events in Timelines


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Recurring Events in Timelines

New Feature Addition · Timelines · Created by Demongrey
open
timelines events recurring_events

What functionality is missing? What is unsatisfying with the current situation?

Currently, WorldAnvil does not support recurring events on timelines. If an event—such as the appearance of a comet every 84 years—needs to be shown multiple times, I must manually create a separate entry for each occurrence. This is time-consuming, inefficient, and clutters the timeline with repetitive data that could otherwise be automated.  

How would this feature improve the current system?

Allowing events to recur at specified intervals would streamline timeline management. Instead of creating dozens or hundreds of individual events, a user could enter a single event with recurrence parameters (e.g., every 84 years) and have all instances automatically displayed. This improves usability, clarity, and consistency across timelines—especially for long histories or cosmological patterns.  

What are other potential uses for this feature?

This functionality would be useful for a wide range of recurring events across different worldbuilding needs, including:
  • Natural cycles: comets, eclipses, migratory patterns, cicada emergences, solar cycles, El Niño / La Niña
  • Societal cycles: elections, coronations, census periods, annual festivals
  • Religious & cultural events: pilgrimages, feast days, sacred calendar observances, international competitions (eg the Olympic Games)
  • Recurring fictional elements: magical surges, rifts, omens, tournaments, resurrections
To accommodate this variety, I suggest options to define:
  • Start year
  • End year (or a number of recurrences)
  • Interval (in years, months, or possibly units tied to a world’s calendar)
This would greatly enhance the power, flexibility, and immersion of WorldAnvil’s timeline feature.
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Current score

55/300 Votes · +13404 points

Votes Cast

  • +300

    by Mekachu04
    on 2025-06-01 18:39

  • +300

    by HunterChristmas1247
    on 2025-06-01 02:33

  • +300

    by firstHorceman
    on 2025-05-31 06:48

  • +1

    by yarsk
    on 2025-05-30 20:51

  • +100

    by rootyful
    on 2025-05-30 08:34

  • +1

    by A Fluffy Skeleton
    on 2025-05-30 05:20

  • +300

    by Deathclaw Studios
    on 2025-05-30 02:50
    Hell yeah!!!

  • +300

    by Dreadwish
    on 2025-05-30 01:05
    Love this idea. Would be great to keep track of when things happen.

  • +300

    by Drawkill Dragon
    on 2025-05-29 21:09

  • +300

    by Trees4454
    on 2025-05-29 02:53

  • +100

    by A Adorable T-Rex
    on 2025-05-29 00:37

  • +1

    by Lord Mcberry
    on 2025-05-28 11:52

  • +100

    by Fearandramen
    on 2025-05-27 00:31

  • +100

    by barriesaxxy
    on 2025-05-26 23:42

  • +300

    by JetpackMonkey
    on 2025-05-25 19:32

  • -1

    by A Revolutionary Kobold
    on 2025-05-25 08:38
    I understand the potential, idea, and general intent. I also understand why it is not implemented yet. Should be implemented in some way.

  • +300

    by MKHETH II
    on 2025-05-23 21:58
    absolutely

  • +100

    by LunasMovies22
    on 2025-05-23 21:43

  • +300

    by Zoheretique
    on 2025-05-23 16:22

  • +100

    by Exarx
    on 2025-05-23 11:32

  • +300

    by DMFW
    on 2025-05-23 09:31
    This could be a good feature. Very much agree with what Kranjax says. I think implementation should concentrate on generating the initial set of events only, but after that, each one is on its own to allow for selective editing (and even deletion) of the individual events. I think it would be too complex to try to keep a series synchronised with a master frequency record and also unnecessary. So if you later wanted to change the frequency you'd have to manually delete the entries and recreate them, but that would keep the implementation relatively simple and "stand alone" from existing functionality and allow for the desirable feature of retaining full control over each event.

  • +300

    by MoonWolf
    on 2025-05-22 16:14

  • +300

    by oaster2000
    on 2025-05-22 13:17

  • +300

    by DaionGM
    on 2025-05-22 08:20

  • +300

    by bphilippe
    on 2025-05-22 06:03

  • +300

    by B00tLoad_
    on 2025-05-22 00:49

  • +1

    by Ranger Marcy
    on 2025-05-21 22:55

  • +300

    by MrBauta
    on 2025-05-21 22:06

  • +300

    by Lonnie makes mayhem
    on 2025-05-21 19:59

  • +300

    by Blue Fairy 74
    on 2025-05-21 15:46

  • +300

    by Grimbjorn
    on 2025-05-21 14:32

  • +300

    by solomonjack
    on 2025-05-21 14:31

  • +300

    by kaixabu
    on 2025-05-21 12:39

  • +300

    by A Revolutionary Kitten
    on 2025-05-21 10:21

  • +300

    by LisaGrimm
    on 2025-05-21 07:45

  • +300

    by Kranjax
    on 2025-05-21 07:09
    I do like this idea, but if possible, I think ensuring the ability to modify each automated entry after creation is impirtant.. in the event that something notable/important took place during a specific instance. Also... how would deleting such an event work? Lol   Great idea though!

  • +1

    by Asmo
    on 2025-05-21 04:48

  • +300

    by ss2020
    on 2025-05-21 04:17

  • +300

    by Worldwildbuilder
    on 2025-05-21 01:15
    Very useful potential feature!

  • +300

    by A Wild Ooze
    on 2025-05-21 01:03

  • +300

    by The Winter Salmon
    on 2025-05-20 21:55

  • +300

    by Make lore, not war
    on 2025-05-20 20:06

  • +300

    by Tynen_TM
    on 2025-05-20 19:48

  • +100

    by Jupiter Melichios
    on 2025-05-20 19:21

  • +300

    by StillnessandSilence
    on 2025-05-20 18:01
    This would be a great feature! Useful.

  • +300

    by LittleRaider
    on 2025-05-20 16:33

  • +300

    by Those2Nerds
    on 2025-05-20 16:21

  • +300

    by Ratha
    on 2025-05-20 16:03

  • +300

    by Mochimanoban
    on 2025-05-20 16:01

  • +300

    by World Smithy
    on 2025-05-20 15:58

  • +300

    by Thereasonwhy
    on 2025-05-20 15:50
    I like the idea! There are a lot of themes that worlds revolve around, or use. It's a very versatile tool to implement! Could be used for a great many things indeed!

  • +300

    by JoellaKay
    on 2025-05-20 15:41

  • +100

    by Buzzard
    on 2025-05-20 15:39
    I could definitely make good use of a feature like this.

  • +300

    by Myth-X
    on 2025-05-20 15:31
    Functionality like this could also make other similar entries automated. For ex, I use Timelines as a DevLog. Having a "Template" for automated entries would accelerate and uniform those entries.

  • +300

    by nnie
    on 2025-05-20 15:27

  • +300

    by Demongrey
    on 2025-05-20 15:24

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.045 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 04:08, Jun 2 2025