Legend has it that when Earth was a molten, young planet, three powerful terraformers transformed it into a paradise. Their tools? Three golden hexagons, which they hid in dungeons teeming with traps and monsters before moving on to newer worlds. These hexagons had the power to reshape reality. If someone could gather all three, they could change the world as they wished.
Fast forward thousands of years, and the villainous wizard Gordon is trying to collect these hexagons to enslave humankind. Determined to stop him, you set out on a perilous journey through fire, ice, and sand. Yet, each time you make it to a dungeon, someone has beaten you to it. That someone is Dongle, a crafty merchant.
When you reach the third dungeon, you find a note from Dongle inviting you to his castle. You arrive with 99 gems in hand, the same amount as Gordon who shows up moments later. Dongle reveals that not only did he collect the three golden hexagons, but he used them to create five silver ones, which are just as powerful. His true passion? Auctions. So, you and Gordon must bid for the hexagons, gold and silver, to see who can claim their power.
You begin by bidding 24 gems on the first golden hexagon, winning it easily because Gordon bids zero, using his magic mirror to spy on your bids. This moment sheds light on your dilemma: spend big on gold hexagons or conserve your gems for the silver ones?
Gordon can always outbid you by one gem in the gold auctions thanks to his mirror. Here’s the key: you need Gordon to drain enough of his gems on the gold auctions so that you can dominate the silver ones.
Suppose you enter the silver auctions with a one-gem lead, say 9 to 8. By bidding strategically in sets of three gems, you can theoretically win three out of five silver hexagons, even if Gordon wins every tie. The trick is giving yourself just enough of an edge in the gem count.
In the gold auctions, if you force Gordon to match your bid in the second round, you can then go all-in on the third round. Say you bid 51 gems in the third round; Gordon must match you to block your three-gold-winning trio. This would leave you with a 51 to 48 gem advantage going into the silver auctions, ensuring your victory.
Alternatively, if Gordon outbids you in the second gold auction, he’d have to spend at least 25 gems. This makes it a 75 to 74 scenario. Neither of you could bid in the third round since it would grant a three-gold victory to the other. Then, using your remaining gems, you could win three out of five silver hexagons easily.
With either strategy, you come out on top by outsmarting Gordon. The silver hexagons are now yours. The world lies at your feet, ready to be reshaped. What will you do with such incredible power?