Off with their heads! (Decapitated arrow sudoku)
(Published on 8. September 2021, 08:38 by Aspartagcus)
Quick, solve this sudoku to appease her!
RULES:
- Standard sudoku rules apply.
- Digits in grey/pink circles are odd.
- Digits along an arrow sum to the digit in the circle of that arrow.
Oops! Looks like all the heads... eh... circles have been chopped off from their arrows! You need to pair up the circles and arrows such that their values and symbols match.
Edit: Since the rules seem to be a bit hard to understand, here's an example picture of how a decapitated arrow can be filled in:
The colorfull version:
The colorless version:
Enjoy!
Links to solve it online:
Penpa+ (without colors and with answer check)
CTC app
f-puzzles
(Tip: color the cells with the same shapes in the same color, the shapes are hard to see with candidates in the cells.)
Solution code: Row 2 and 9 in succession.
Comments
on 11. September 2021, 20:52 by Vebby
Very enjoyable! Loved the break-in. Interesting arrow variant and nice design for the CTC Discord monthly prompt :)
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Thanks a lot! ^^
on 10. September 2021, 23:38 by MagnusJosefsson
Very nice puzzle! Original and creative with an appealing solution path. Well done Aspartagcus!
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Thanks! :)
on 10. September 2021, 17:44 by henrypijames
I would still suggest putting the symbol on the arrow tip. That eliminates any possibility of ambiguity.
And it doesn't hurt aesthetically, either - in fact, it makes the queen look prettier and/or crazier. ;)
on 9. September 2021, 19:48 by Aspartagcus
Added example picture
on 9. September 2021, 18:00 by DiMono
I think it should be clarified in the rules that the symbol at the root of the arrow is still part of the arrow sum (i.e. the arrow in R8C12 is a 2 cell arrow, not a 1 cell arrow with the root in R8C2). I spent 20 minutes unable to make any progress because the rules were not made clear.
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I've added an example picture. I didn't think the rules would be that hard to understand, but I guess they're always easier in your own head. Sorry about that.
on 8. September 2021, 19:52 by henrypijames
@SirWoezel: Oh, I see now. In that case, it was a very bad idea to place symbols at the root of the arrows - they should be placed at the tip instead (anywhere *but* the root, which isn't the normal root featuring the circle).
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Sorry that that was confusing for you. The reason that I put them there was that that's where the cut-offs are. I hope you'll enjoy the puzzle now that the rules are clear to you!
on 8. September 2021, 18:45 by SirWoezel
@henripijames I just know you are thinking in the same direction I was at first, but look at it like this… if you find out a head (circle) in R9C9 belongs to an arrow that goes from R9C1 to R9C2, then R9C1 and R9C2 sum to the digit in R9C9.
on 8. September 2021, 17:43 by henrypijames
The eyebrows are purely decorative?
Wait, how do those single cell arrows work? Don't they break the rules of sudoku immediately since they each put the same digit twice within the same box?
on 8. September 2021, 17:36 by Jesper
Thanks, Aspartagcus, I enjoyed that! Also thematically very impressive, as so often with your puzzles.
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Thanks, that means a lot! :D
on 8. September 2021, 12:51 by Knitabit
It looks great and is a lot of fun to solve! Thanks
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Thanks for trying it out! :)
on 8. September 2021, 11:54 by Garford
Well, I saw her face, and I just got stuck in fear... couldn't leave until I cleared the whole grid under her oversight.
In the end, everyone is pleased. Her hair looks fine, her anger is gone, this nicely set puzzle is solved. What a joy!
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Phew, thanks for helping out!
on 8. September 2021, 11:12 by SirWoezel
@Aspartagcus I'm afraid I just don't understand the rules.
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Okay, I'll see if I can make it more clear. Each circle belongs to one arrow, and the digit in the circle have to equal the sum of the digits on that arrow, just like normal arrow sudoku. Additionally, there are symbols that help narrow down which circle belongs to which arrow, each arrow has to match with a circle with the same symbol. The digits in circles with the same symbols may or may not have the same value.
Is that clearer?
Ah, yes. Especially that last sentence.I'll give it another go.
