Mercurial Maxima
(Published on 13. June 2022, 17:59 by AFrayedKnot)
Rules
Normal irregular sudoku rules apply. Fill every row, column, and each of the 9 orthogonally connected regions (to be discovered) in the grid with each of the digits 1-9.
Each of the given bulbs must be the lowest digit of an N-cell standard sudoku thermometer*, where N is the clue attached to the bulb. The thermometer's cells must all belong to the same region, and no two thermometers may belong to the same region.
For each region in the solution grid, it must be impossible to draw a different valid thermo of equal or greater length than the clued thermo.
* Standard Sudoku Thermometer: a non-branching line starting at a bulb and connecting a sequence of orthogonally or diagonally adjacent cells.
On a thermo, the digits strictly increase with their on-line distance to the bulb. Thermos may cross themselves.
6x6 Example Links
Penpa
F-puzzles
Cracking the Cryptic
Full Version
Penpa (recommended for answer check )
F-puzzles
Cracking the Cryptic
Solution code: Row 3 then Column 3
Comments
on 12. November 2024, 01:03 by Astr0creep
One of the strangest puzzles i have solved (in the best possible way!). The unique logic involved had me doubting and double checking every step, as i just couldnt believe it was solving with so little information in the grid! Astounding!
on 18. June 2024, 06:09 by wisty
Beautiful beautiful puzzle! Incredibly entertaining, fascinating, clean, and unique from start to finish. So glad to finally see it rated!
on 9. July 2022, 16:45 by Vebby
Great puzzle! Thanks AFrayedKnot! :)
on 18. June 2022, 07:09 by polar
Very fun puzzle - thanks!
on 14. June 2022, 21:28 by AFrayedKnot
As per comments, explicitly stated that thermos must be region-confined and only one thermo may exist per region.
Thanks MagnusJosefsson & Elliptical!
on 14. June 2022, 16:23 by MagnusJosefsson
Great puzzle! Very different and original logic that takes quite a while to get to used to. In my opinion, the rules should be clarified so that it is stated explicitly that there must be one thermometer entirely contained within each region.
on 13. June 2022, 21:20 by Elliptical
Rule clarification request: Are each of the thermo required to be fully contained within a single region? And if so, are the thermos required to be placed each on its own separate region?
on 13. June 2022, 19:01 by Agent
Great puzzle! The break-in is mind-blowing and it is then followed by many beautiful deductions.
on 13. June 2022, 19:00 by AFrayedKnot
Difficulty to 4/5 as per prior reviews
