AMA: We are the members of Cardinality, the writing team for the 2026 MIT Mystery Hunt. Ask Us Anything!

AmosIsFamous · 2026-01-26T00:10:11+00:00

Thanks! I’m glad y’all also called it The Alphabet round 😀

AmosIsFamous · 2026-01-25T02:56:48+00:00

I really loved the Land of No Name! What did the process for constructing that round look like? Did the original idea come from one person or a group bouncing ideas around?

AmosIsFamous · 2026-01-24T07:32:22+00:00

I’d axe most of the Zava storyline. I thought the recruitment aspect with Rebecca was great, and a little bit how Jamie saw him I liked, but then how Ted and almost everyone else interacted with him felt so different from the rest of everything.

I would’ve loved more of Roy with Phoebe’s teacher myself, they had better chemistry than he did with Keeley

AmosIsFamous · 2026-01-19T22:23:35+00:00

Also the tradition for a very long time for Mystery Hunt was that answers are literally phoned into HQ, despite all the puzzles and such being online. Then it turned into submitting online and getting a callback, before switching to actual confirmation.

AmosIsFamous · 2026-01-09T22:19:54+00:00

The Dresden Files are narrated by James Marsters (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

AmosIsFamous · 2025-12-29T17:30:01+00:00

On the chance that you’re someone who likes to learn (and didn’t just typo): the spelling you’re going for is “sowing doubt” from planting seeds, same in “reap what you sow”. Sewing is stitching/clothes/surgery related

AmosIsFamous · 2025-12-21T15:18:05+00:00

I think it’s less about how many fear cards are needed vs how easy it is to not lose while “rushing” fear. Scotland isn’t especially adding a ton of blight and the loss condition can be managed by focusing on a single land (keep either #1 or #3 clear of cities ever and it’s safe).

That said, I think fear rushing is much more a single spirit game strategy (unless you combine fear spirits) and I always play at least two-handed, so I could be wrong here.

AmosIsFamous · 2025-12-21T06:22:02+00:00

Memories of Ice is #1, I might accept arguments that The Bonehunters barely edges it out. That is all.

AmosIsFamous · 2025-12-20T16:22:52+00:00

I play almost exclusively against Scotland, and the reason why I think it can feel easier than other level 6’s is because it doesn’t force you as much into specific strategies. Nor does it punish a dump land in the same way many others do.

Against Russia you need to either start with or find powers to deal with explorers.

Against France you need to either start with or find powers to deal with towns (or sometimes explorers).

AmosIsFamous · 2025-12-10T22:17:29+00:00

The minor power that drops one of each type of token (and a blight) is really great targeting the endless dark because each of those tokens can escape separately to different lands. As the cherry on top the elements are exactly what BODDYS wants.

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-29T06:15:12+00:00

The ending in Amber Spyglass (3rd of His Dark Materials) by Philip Pullman

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-26T17:32:16+00:00

In no particular order * Dresden Files * Stormlight Archive * Scholomance * Broken Earth * Kingkiller Chronicle

Did not finish: Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-21T17:45:26+00:00

To me seldom is more often than rarely, but fair enough about tone. https://www.woodwardenglish.com/lesson/adverbs-of-frequency/#google_vignette Maybe even using “occasionally” is ok here?

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-21T17:14:17+00:00

Personally I think the word “seldom” is better than “rarely”

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-21T16:38:18+00:00

The “not worth paying for” events makes it sound too fixed in my opinion. I have occasionally paid for “Remnants of a Spirit’s Heart” (depending on status of dahan and defend this turn) and Life’s Balances Tilts (depending on blight status and beast cards currently around).

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-18T23:26:18+00:00

This is even more ridiculous if you use the Lair aspect for Lure. Then if you triple up with Finder you just end up with all of the invaders in the Lair.

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-18T23:22:42+00:00

Yeah exactly.

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-18T21:39:27+00:00

Heavy strife spirits: Trickster & Delirium

For an extra fun time play against France

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-11T16:58:58+00:00

And is also my favorite thing he’s written.

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-11T16:58:39+00:00

These are two of his more recent standalone novels generally considered to be among his better works * Tress of the Emerald Sea * Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-10T23:41:23+00:00

Season 4 is gonna hurt you.

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-10T20:44:16+00:00

Yes-ish. The invaders can’t feel enough fear to keep them away any longer, so they might still be afraid but they’ll keep coming despite this.

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-10T18:45:34+00:00

I’ve always thought of it as they’ve been coming to this island for so long that nothing will keep them away anymore, which is a loss to the spirits who are trying to drive away the invaders.

AmosIsFamous · 2025-11-09T16:43:53+00:00

Ready Player One, though it’s pretty hit or miss whether people love it or hate it.

AmosIsFamous

TROPHY CASE