diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/client/PuzzleController.java b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/client/PuzzleController.java
index 93c079aa6..728920681 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/client/PuzzleController.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/client/PuzzleController.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: PuzzleController.java,v 1.9 2004/05/05 02:38:22 ray Exp $
+// $Id: PuzzleController.java,v 1.10 2004/06/22 14:08:58 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.puzzle.client;
 
@@ -851,19 +851,6 @@ public abstract class PuzzleController extends GameController
         }
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Called when the puzzle difficulty level is changed.
-     */
-    public void difficultyChanged (final int level)
-    {
-        // dispatch this to our delegates
-        applyToDelegates(PuzzleControllerDelegate.class, new DelegateOp() {
-            public void apply (PlaceControllerDelegate delegate) {
-                ((PuzzleControllerDelegate)delegate).difficultyChanged(level);
-            }
-        });
-    }
-
     /**
      * Called when a player is knocked out of the game to give the puzzle
      * a chance to perform any post-knockout actions that may be desired.
@@ -962,10 +949,7 @@ public abstract class PuzzleController extends GameController
     protected AttributeChangeListener _mlist = new AttributeChangeListener() {
         public void attributeChanged (AttributeChangedEvent event) {
             String name = event.getName();
-            if (name.equals(PuzzleObject.DIFFICULTY)) {
-                difficultyChanged(_puzobj.difficulty);
-
-            } else if (name.equals(PuzzleObject.SEED)) {
+            if (name.equals(PuzzleObject.SEED)) {
                 generateNewBoard();
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/client/PuzzleControllerDelegate.java b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/client/PuzzleControllerDelegate.java
index d1af09c81..b86b78652 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/client/PuzzleControllerDelegate.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/client/PuzzleControllerDelegate.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: PuzzleControllerDelegate.java,v 1.2 2004/02/25 14:48:44 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: PuzzleControllerDelegate.java,v 1.3 2004/06/22 14:08:58 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.puzzle.client;
 
@@ -146,13 +146,6 @@ public class PuzzleControllerDelegate extends GameControllerDelegate
     {
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Called when the puzzle difficulty level is changed.
-     */
-    public void difficultyChanged (int level)
-    {
-    }
-
     /** Our puzzle controller. */
     protected PuzzleController _ctrl;
 
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/client/PuzzleService.java b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/client/PuzzleService.java
index a388954d3..cc6e3e4f0 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/client/PuzzleService.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/client/PuzzleService.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: PuzzleService.java,v 1.1 2003/11/26 01:42:34 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: PuzzleService.java,v 1.2 2004/06/22 14:08:58 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.puzzle.client;
 
@@ -43,10 +43,4 @@ public interface PuzzleService extends InvocationService
      * Requests that this client depart whatever puzzle they occupy.
      */
     public void leavePuzzle (Client client);
-
-    /**
-     * Requests that the difficulty level of the puzzle this client is
-     * currently occupying be changed to the specified difficulty level.
-     */
-    public void changeDifficulty (Client client, int level);
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/PuzzleMarshaller.java b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/PuzzleMarshaller.java
index 08979e510..5b2d9cf51 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/PuzzleMarshaller.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/PuzzleMarshaller.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: PuzzleMarshaller.java,v 1.1 2003/11/26 01:42:34 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: PuzzleMarshaller.java,v 1.2 2004/06/22 14:08:58 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.puzzle.data;
 
@@ -90,15 +90,4 @@ public class PuzzleMarshaller extends InvocationMarshaller
         });
     }
 
-    /** The method id used to dispatch {@link #changeDifficulty} requests. */
-    public static final int CHANGE_DIFFICULTY = 4;
-
-    // documentation inherited from interface
-    public void changeDifficulty (Client arg1, int arg2)
-    {
-        sendRequest(arg1, CHANGE_DIFFICULTY, new Object[] {
-            new Integer(arg2)
-        });
-    }
-
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/PuzzleObject.dobj b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/PuzzleObject.dobj
index 33b558b36..7d8f6360f 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/PuzzleObject.dobj
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/PuzzleObject.dobj
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: PuzzleObject.dobj,v 1.1 2003/11/26 01:42:34 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: PuzzleObject.dobj,v 1.2 2004/06/22 14:08:58 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.puzzle.data;
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ public class PuzzleObject extends GameObject
     public PuzzleGameMarshaller puzzleGameService;
 
     /** The puzzle difficulty level. */
-    public int difficulty = DEFAULT_DIFFICULTY;
+    public int difficulty;
 
     /**  The status of each of the players in the game. The status value
      * is one of {@link #PLAYER_KNOCKED_OUT} or {@link
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/PuzzleObject.java b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/PuzzleObject.java
index 5bb68a036..a8d13e929 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/PuzzleObject.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/PuzzleObject.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: PuzzleObject.java,v 1.1 2003/11/26 01:42:34 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: PuzzleObject.java,v 1.2 2004/06/22 14:08:58 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.puzzle.data;
 
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public class PuzzleObject extends GameObject
     public PuzzleGameMarshaller puzzleGameService;
 
     /** The puzzle difficulty level. */
-    public int difficulty = DEFAULT_DIFFICULTY;
+    public int difficulty;
 
     /**  The status of each of the players in the game. The status value
      * is one of {@link #PLAYER_KNOCKED_OUT} or {@link
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleDispatcher.java b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleDispatcher.java
index 64d616003..74afa7e7e 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleDispatcher.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleDispatcher.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: PuzzleDispatcher.java,v 1.1 2003/11/26 01:42:34 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: PuzzleDispatcher.java,v 1.2 2004/06/22 14:08:58 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.puzzle.server;
 
@@ -62,13 +62,6 @@ public class PuzzleDispatcher extends InvocationDispatcher
             );
             return;
 
-        case PuzzleMarshaller.CHANGE_DIFFICULTY:
-            ((PuzzleProvider)provider).changeDifficulty(
-                source,
-                ((Integer)args[0]).intValue()
-            );
-            return;
-
         default:
             super.dispatchRequest(source, methodId, args);
         }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleManager.java
index 22bf39fbf..6b1fa4aaa 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleManager.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: PuzzleManager.java,v 1.8 2004/03/06 11:29:19 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: PuzzleManager.java,v 1.9 2004/06/22 14:08:58 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.puzzle.server;
 
@@ -248,6 +248,11 @@ public abstract class PuzzleManager extends GameManager
         // initialize the player status
         _puzobj.setPlayerStatus(new int[size]);
 
+        // compute the starting difficulty
+        _puzobj.setDifficulty(computeDifficulty());
+        Log.info("Computed difficulty [game=" + _puzobj.which() +
+                 ", difficulty=" + _puzobj.difficulty + "].");
+
         // initialize the player boards
         initBoards();
 
@@ -284,6 +289,20 @@ public abstract class PuzzleManager extends GameManager
         return 0L;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * When a puzzle game starts, the manager is given the opportunity to
+     * configure the puzzle difficulty based on information known about
+     * the player. Additionally, when the game resets due to the player
+     * clearing the board, etc. this will be called again, so the
+     * difficulty can be ramped up as the player progresses. In situations
+     * where ratings and experience are tracked, the difficulty can be
+     * seeded based on the players prior performance.
+     */
+    protected int computeDifficulty ()
+    {
+        return DEFAULT_DIFFICULTY;
+    }
+
     // documentation inherited
     protected void gameDidStart ()
     {
@@ -658,29 +677,6 @@ public abstract class PuzzleManager extends GameManager
      */
     protected abstract BoardSummary newBoardSummary (Board board);
 
-    // documentation inherited
-    public void attributeChanged (AttributeChangedEvent event)
-    {
-        super.attributeChanged(event);
-
-        if (event.getName().equals(PuzzleObject.DIFFICULTY)) {
-            difficultyChanged(_puzobj.difficulty);
-        }
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Called when the puzzle difficulty level is changed.
-     */
-    public void difficultyChanged (final int level)
-    {
-        // let our delegates do their business
-        applyToDelegates(new DelegateOp() {
-            public void apply (PlaceManagerDelegate delegate) {
-                ((PuzzleManagerDelegate)delegate).difficultyChanged(level);
-            }
-        });
-    }
-
     // documentation inherited from interface PuzzleGameProvider
     public void updateProgress (ClientObject caller, int roundId, int[] events)
     {
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleManagerDelegate.java b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleManagerDelegate.java
index c5eb2692e..6dfc648a7 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleManagerDelegate.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleManagerDelegate.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: PuzzleManagerDelegate.java,v 1.2 2003/11/26 03:17:16 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: PuzzleManagerDelegate.java,v 1.3 2004/06/22 14:08:58 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.puzzle.server;
 
@@ -20,12 +20,5 @@ public class PuzzleManagerDelegate extends GameManagerDelegate
         _puzmgr = puzmgr;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Called when the puzzle difficulty level is changed.
-     */
-    public void difficultyChanged (int level)
-    {
-    }
-
     protected PuzzleManager _puzmgr;
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleProvider.java b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleProvider.java
index ea135fdff..9e4008928 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleProvider.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/server/PuzzleProvider.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: PuzzleProvider.java,v 1.3 2004/03/06 11:29:19 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: PuzzleProvider.java,v 1.4 2004/06/22 14:08:58 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.puzzle.server;
 
@@ -115,35 +115,6 @@ public class PuzzleProvider
         ((PuzzlerObject)user).setPuzzleLoc(-1);
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Processes a request from a client to change the difficulty level of
-     * their current puzzle.
-     */
-    public void changeDifficulty (ClientObject caller, int level)
-    {
-        BodyObject user = (BodyObject)caller;
-        int puzzleOid = ((PuzzlerObject)user).getPuzzleLoc();
-
-        // make sure they're currently in a puzzle
-        if (puzzleOid == -1) {
-            Log.warning("Received change difficulty request from user that " +
-                        "isn't in a puzzle [user=" + user.who() + "].");
-            return;
-        }
-
-        // make sure the puzzle in question actually exists
-        PlaceManager pmgr = _plreg.getPlaceManager(puzzleOid);
-        if (pmgr == null) {
-            Log.info("Requested to change difficulty of a non-existent " +
-                     "puzzle [user=" + user.who() + "].");
-            return;
-        }
-
-        // change the puzzle difficulty level
-        PuzzleObject puzobj = (PuzzleObject)pmgr.getPlaceObject();
-        puzobj.setDifficulty(level);
-    }
-
     /**
      * Moves the specified body from whatever puzzle they currently occupy
      * to the puzzle identified by the supplied oid.