MTG Puzzles
General forum
Posted on May 7, 2013, 12:19 p.m. by vila_a23
So for my web design class, I have to create a WebQuest as my final project. I have decided to create one based around Magic. What i am trying to do is create a bunch of in-game puzzles that start off simple, but increase in difficulty, that can be soloved via searching through the rules. The puzzles should help teach the user basic rules of the game as well as showcase the complexities of the game. I am coming to you asking fot help on puzzles. I am having difficulty creating more of the challenging puzzles because i either make them unsolvable for a newish player, or i make the correct play choice to obvious. Any puzzles you guys could recommend would be great!
(so far the puzzles i have created include declaring the correct attacker against a deathtouch blocker, declaring the correct blockers against a trample creature, and casting an Unsummon on the correct creature an opponent controls.
GreatSword says... #3
Explaining the stack I think is pretty important. You could have the player kill a Grizzly Bears with Lightning Bolt , but only after the opponent casts his Giant Growth . Or vice versa and have him save it. You could have him counter a Counterspell , or Unsummon an enemy creature with a big bloodrush on it.
May 7, 2013 12:45 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #4
I'd think about the things that give regular players fits when it comes to intermediate to difficult questions...stuff involving priority is always good ie. Can I kill your Liliana of the Veil with a Lightning Bolt when she ETB? or "When is it correct to sit on a counterspell vs play a permanent?"
You could always have them resolve a Twincast ed Epic Experiment with Hive Mind on the battlefield if you want...depending on how the puzzles work.
May 7, 2013 1:15 p.m.
SwiftDeath says... #5
If you really want to add difficulty to the puzzles you could refer to Timestamp rules and possibly the order of SBA to barely win. like Greatsword said Stack manipulation is a must in know how for any level of players so that is a good easy/med puzzle. A med difficulty puzzle could do with handling triggers on the stack along with spells and APNAP rules.
one thing I did in a game is my opponent stole my Sun Titan with Unhallowed Pact and I control Saffi Eriksdotter so during my opponents turn I destroy sun titan but in response to sun titan dying I sac saffi to return it to the battlefield under my control. because of APNAP his trigger from the pact goes on the stack first and mine second so mine resolved first giving me sun titan back when his trigger can not resolve from no longer having a legal target.
May 7, 2013 1:20 p.m.
theemptyquiver says... #6
Is this basically like the challenges from DotP on Xboxlive?
some of those can be ridiculously obscure in their solution.
May 7, 2013 2 p.m.
Don't forget some of the simpler but easily overlooked solutions...
Perhaps a scenario where you have to survive an attack, and to do so, you have to declare your blocker(s), and then Devour Flesh yourself, sac'ing one of your blockers for the life. - Many people don't think of hitting themselves with a spell that seems intended to harm the opponent.
May 7, 2013 2:45 p.m.
KrazyCaley says... #8
A good intermediate level of puzzle is this kind of thing:
Use of buffing mechanics in conjunction with Fling , etc. to keep the player analyzing the board constantly.
Use of cards like Phage the Untouchable to train careful reading of cards; give the opponent a Stomping Ground and have some obscure and otherwise-useless Mountainwalk-giving card to use with Phage/
To teach the oft-misunderstood rule of "once a creature is blocked, it remains blocked for the rest of the combat no matter what," have a puzzle where a player must block with a creature and then sacrifice it before damage is dealt in order to stay alive.
Hit me up on my wall if you want more; I could come up with more if you like.
May 7, 2013 2:52 p.m.
Thanks for all the quick feedback! I will for sure use most if not all of your suggested puzzles and situations. I will also do my best to create puzzles that work to explain the stack at all given levels of difficulty. Anything you guys have on that would be great!!
May 7, 2013 3:57 p.m.
Another good thing to teach would be how to best split the piles from cards like Fact or Fiction and Sphinx of Uthuun .
A fun puzzle could be something where your opponent has lethal damage on board and you have just cast Forbidden Alchemy and 2 of the cards are not useful, one of them will obviously let you live another turn, but the last will actually allow you to win the game that turn but is not easily apparent how to do so. Then have them pick which card they should keep.
pookypuppy6 says... #2
Those easy problem solvers sound good for the new players. An easy/medium puzzle could be using the right combination of kill spells to knock out a Hexproof creature (solution: kill their second creature and then Devour Flesh the remaining hexproof one) or something like that.
As for harder puzzles, those could include using cards that reuse an existing card among many in your or your opponent's graveyard; a Spelltwine puzzle might be fun, and you have to use the right combo of spells ordered in the right way to solve a particular problem. The number of available targets for a reanimation spell or Spelltwine can either be small (for newer players) or large (harder challenges)
You could take inspiration from the Duels of the Planeswalkers puzzles, especially some of the difficult ones. Those are exceptionally tough and may give you some ideas.
May 7, 2013 12:40 p.m.