Questions about puzzle 9 (contains spoilers)

time warp god power on an esteemed elder...over and over again for the build off challenge.

My Esteemed Elder is old and probably going to die before I figure this one out.
She is a Master Builder, Scientist and Devotee.

using the power before or after starting the build-off?

Making her young first, then using the time warp?

the Youth God Power yet. I'll try that when I get it. In the meantime, I will work on getting another Elder, just in case.

Does it have to be an Esteemed Elder or just a Master Builder?

a master builder construction level 3 and the time warp god power that is all I had. when I did it. I did try it with construction level 2 and failed.

You don't need an Esteemed Elder, although it's always a good idea to have a few of those around for other important aspects of the game.

level 3 construction and tried both Master Builder and an Esteemed Elder with Master Builder.
I tried using the power before the build-off and when that didn't work, tried using it after the build-off.
I just can't figure out what I am missing here.

Apparently, when you click the villager to use the ability on, you have to keep the villager selected, hovering with her/him in mid-air.
At least, this is what finally worked for me.
Before, I was simply clicking on the villager and then clicking the Time Warp icon.

In order to use any power, you must first grab the power to select it, then click it where you want to use it - in this case, your builder.

First wait until your designated Master Builder ( i developed my lover of running to be the Building Maven) when set right next to the Heathen Master is noticed by the believer. Pause the game. Then with two hands ready, click the clock god power, unpause and right after you click that power on your believer and quickly hit pause again. This makes the dust devil stop and you can grab her/him and set him on the Heathen's square to start the race, unpause and watch for some dueling builders!

I have tried every way described in this thread, with 7 different master builders. I have level 3 in every tech except medicine. I have used the god power before and after, I have paused, I have tried it every way possible. Is my game bugged??? No matter which order I follow, the MB starts work then vanishes only to be found somewhere else. When I take him or her back, they won't start work again.

building but then gets distracted and then runs away and fixes huts or goes crazy

You did use a certain god power on the villager, right?

Is distraction really an issue? I mean, I think I am noticing a slight progression of the framework, but, it could be in my imagination. Maybe this needs to be done multiple times-- however frustrating it is to have to wait on energy refill.

Answered my own question.

The heathen Master Builder has converted - how do I get the last necklace piece?

Same way as you got the others, have someone pick it up.

there will be no construction stuff where he normally sits; that disappears once he's converted. If it's still there and he's not you may have a glitch. You should also have his necklace piece.

It's not there - he converted through an island event, not the build off.

Don't give warp power to the builder during the project. Instead, give it to him before, then catch up with him and drop him in the build-off area to start.

use time warp on your master builder

time warp!

Just like the others I am having trouble with my master builder running off after starting the challenge and you can't put them back because now the challenge needs to be reset. I have tried 3 times with 3 different master builders. I am using the time warp on them before starting, grabbing them when they warp away, then putting them on the challenge where they start then run off.

I have ALL tech researched. This is my last necklace piece. All totems are down. Everything is built. 2 blue Heathens left, should convert sometime today. I am using master builders, my first try was with a Jack of All Trades, but he has since died. I am waiting for the purple builder to be in his area, then bringing my villager over and placing him/her nearby. Once I am ready, I use the power on the villager and grab him/her as soon as I can and place him/her on the challenge. My villager starts the challenge, but then leaves to do other things and I am right back at square one.
Does it seem like I am doing everything I should be doing? I honestly can't figure out where I am going wrong if this is an error on my part.

to be fast enough and not run off the villager has to actually disappear after you use the power on them

fast enough to disappear, they ran fast but I could always see them.

I saw what the time warp did to a villager so I thought I try out the build off challenged so use it on a master builder and he won and got the another peace of the nick-less and I got her on our side a beleaver

When I use the time wrap on a villager but before you do make sure who he or she is as they are hard to catch, then go to your villager details and you be able to locate him/her and then put him/her to the build off

The first time I tried the build-off puzzle I put the villager on the building supplies before using the time warp. When I used it on him while he was in the build-off he jetted off towards the huts to repair them. I grabbed him and took him back to continue but he just stood there and shook his head. When the time warp wore off and I had enough energy I took the builder back to try it again. Before placing the builder on the supplies to start I used the time warp on him then placed him on the supplies ad it worked like a charm. I guess thats what you have to do use the time warp on the builder then put him/her on the supplies.

I make my builder study medicine, then use time warp while he's in the hospital. He'll be busy in the hospital for quite some time, and you'll be able to catch him no problem. I also guess that you could do the map-button-floaty-thing, where you would pick up your builder and press the M key before setting him down.