Man, I love puzzles. I love making them and I love solving them. Puzzles. Puzzles! Ahhh!!!
So anyway, it’s time to start the wonderful fad that is Monsterpocalypse Puzzles. Here’s the basic idea. You’ll have a board, you’ll have pieces, and you’ll have an objective(s). You accomplish the objectives using what you’re given, and then you dance in celebration while screaming “Puzzles!”
Think you’re up for solving one? Let’s start out with this little Monpoc quandry.
Setup: You are playing as Blue (Invaders). It is your turn. You may take ONE monster activation followed by ONE unit activation (pretend that your opponent is forced to take an inconsequential unit activation).
Goal: Kill Ultra Grindix.
The way these puzzles work is similar to the old Kaiju Conundrums from the strategy guides (RIP). No dice rolling actually occurs. Instead, you calculate a hit using the following method:
Action Die = 3
Boost Die = 4
Power Die = 5
Defense Point = 5
Your total points for the attack must match or exceed the total points of the defender. For instance, in the above puzzle, Grindix has a Defense of 6, and so a value of 6 * 5 = 30. If I want to hit Grindix, I need to spend enough dice to match or exceed 30. So, let’s say 3 A-Die and 6 B-Die. 3 * 3 = 9, and 6 * 4 = 24. That gives our 3A 6B attack a total value of 33. This exceeds the Defense value of 30, so it counts as a hit and the dice are spent. Use this method for anything, including powering up. You need to hit a 1 to power up, so the roll has a defense of 5. 2 A-Die (6) will always be successful. 1 A-Die (3) will never be successful.
Now, while puzzles are nice on their own, why not throw in some prizes? You will have 48 hours from the time of this posting to send in a correct solution. After the 48 hours have passed, we’ll randomly select one of the correct answers and award its author a prize. Also, everyone who correctly solves the puzzle in 48 hours will have their name forever etched in this post!
Send your solution to team@covenanttcg.com as either a step-by-step e-mail or a vassal saved game. A vassal file of the puzzle can be downloaded here.
Cheers and good luck!
MASTERS OF PUZZLE ONE
Kingbobb
JeFF Stumpo
Nate Winchester
Tendo
Carlos
Axl
Mark Garton
Ken Jenkins
Galactus
Maou_Mint
Matthew
Rich Baker
WINNER
Carlos – $15 Store Credit
Related posts:
Team Covenant is a community of gamers with a single mission: Gaming Reborn. 
Awesome idea, guys. Any chance we could get a modified VASSAL save, though? I can only join as red.
Wow, nevermind. I can still move the other pieces. Apologies – I thought that had been changed in the most recent version, but I was thinking of the observer mode. Ignore me.
And to continue my chatter – just sent in a solution
Quick question: Do we get to assume a successful power up roll? How many dice do we risk for that?
Nate, at the end of the first paragraph after the dice and defense values he says that 2 A-Dice will always hit for a powerup. So, I’d say yes. Meanwhile, I find myself wondering what JeFF has seen that I’m missing. I keep coming 1 A-Die short of a solution.
Thanks Philip, I somehow missed that.
In that case my solution is ready as well. Sending once I write it down.
Sheesh… I must just be thinking too hard about this. Either that or I’m counting my dice wrong…
@Phil – Or they are just really good at Monsterpocalypse.
I actually ended up with a dice to spare. (pun intended)
Ok, I just sent a 2nd email with my vassal save game as well.
This is fun. I’d enjoy doing this even if prizes weren’t at stake. =D
(I do think these help me a lot as a player)
That sure got my brain going! What a blast!
Hey Zach, so was this the actual closing to a game some of you played, or did you design it specifically as a challenge? It seems too perfect to be a real game, and yet…
@Nate and @Tendo – That’s the hope really, that we expand your thinking as far as Monsterpocalypse is concerned. Glad you guys enjoyed it!
Took me about twenty five minutes but finally got it. Great work Steven.
I finally found a way that worked, after having a couple people explain roughly what they did. It’s amazing how long I struggled with this considering the solution I finally ended up with.
Good thing there aren’t 5 minute turns!
Got it with three dice to spare, haHA!
Well done to all! No one has done it the cool way though. A few of you were close…
Achieved! Zero a-dice left but I admit I did it the most obvious way.
Whenever the responses die down (or when Puzzle #2 comes along) you’ll have to tell us what the “cool” way is Steven. It’d be nice to have a short replay of it to boot.
Me and Josh finished this in all of 2 minutes. Two minds DO work better than one, lol.
Took me a while to work out but I finally got an answer. I need more practice obviously…and maybe not to try these things between 2-3 am. Z_Z;;;zzzzz
Nice puzzle, not sure whether I did it the cool way but I liked it
Good way to learn new monsters and see what they can do as well. Morphers seem quite evil!
I did it with A-dice to spare although I could have gone all out and blown the lot to annihilate Grindix with a stupidly big hit
Looking forwards to the next one!
Found 2 solutions…looking for a third now.
Thanks a lot, guys. Feels good to be among such good company in that winner’s list.