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Three Part Puzzle Where A needs B, B needs C, and, C needs A?

5 replies [Last post]
Fri, 12/14/2012 - 01:44
Siege Tower
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I'm currently working on a game where players are trying to complete a three part thing. I am running into a roadblock however where I can't figure out to incorporate the third element. I need something that A can be solved by B but not by C. The same goes for B which can be solved by C but not A. Finally, C can be solved by A but not B. To hopefully make this clearer:

A+B = TRUE
B+C = TRUE
C+A = TRUE

A+C = FALSE
B+A = FALSE
C+B = FALSE

I'm not sure how to make this work in a way that makes sense to the player. One element needs to be solved exclusively by the other but it can't work if done backwards.

This is most likely going to be represented by cards. Any ideas for how to make this work mechanically or thematically?

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Fri, 12/14/2012 - 10:56
#1
stevebarkeruk
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Could you give us more

Could you give us more context than just talking about "things" and "elements"? I am struggling to comprehend the problem.

That said, here's a thought based on my best guess of what you mean (I may be wrong):

Each card (A, B and C) is divided into two parts: problem and solution.

If card A starts in play, it is discarded (solved) when card B is played. Card B now stays in play and its "problem" half becomes active. Card B remains in play until card C is played. If more copies of card A or B are played in the meantime, they have no effect on the active problem which remains the first card B that was played.

Is that anything close to what you mean?

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Fri, 12/14/2012 - 13:53
#2
ender7
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You're looking for a

You're looking for a sequential pattern that is not transitive? Sounds like assembling a cycle. Eg the water cycle:

A = evaporation
B = condensation (cloud formation)
C = precipitation.

Water evaporates and condenses - A+B
But it cannot condense first and then evaporate
B+A = False

etc.

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Fri, 12/14/2012 - 14:06
#3
JustActCasual
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RPS

So you're looking for a way to theme Rock-Paper-Scissors?

Fire-Plant-Water could work if you like Pokemon style: or you could make it more broad in that the completed three parts form an elemental balance.

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Sat, 12/15/2012 - 05:03
#4
Lockeout
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Joined: 12/13/2012
Any cyclical system would work

It's hard to address theme without knowing what you're going for, but almost anything production related would work:

People (a) plant farms (b)
Farms (b) produce food (c)
Food (c) feeds the people (a)

That should be intuitive to most players, and can be made with many different types of production cycles, even natural systems like the water cycle "ender7" mentioned above.

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Sun, 12/16/2012 - 21:12
#5
munio
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Joined: 11/12/2012
pieces of a puzzle

how about the cards are shaped like puzzles pieces, that only fit in one direction, say A has an triangle front and and a a backside that suggests only a round shape will fit inside it (as portrayed on C) that should make things absolutley clear

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