Crypto Japanese Cave: Smörgåsbord (Example)
(Published on 4. December 2022, 03:08 by KNT)
The letters are split into two distinct ciphers; one that consists of letters only outside the grid (E, L, M, P, and X) and one that consists of letters only inside the grid (B and C). Within a cipher, each letter replaces a unique number between 1 and 6 inclusive. The letter that appears both inside and outside the grid (A) takes on a different value between 1 and 6 in each occurrence.
Clues outside the grid indicate the sums of connected groups of numbers in the respective row or column, in order, where empty cells serve as delimeters between groups. A question mark can be any number from 0 to 9, and for all clues, none may have a leading zero.
If a cell with a given clue contains a number, the given clue indicates the total amount of numbers seen in all four orthogonal directions, including itself, where empty cells block vision. However, the number placed in that cell must be exactly one greater or exactly one less than the given clue. If a given clue is empty, then it indicates the size of the orthogonally connected block of empty cells that cell belongs to. A block of empty cells may contain multiple given clues as long as the given clues are identical in value.
SudokuPad
Solution code: Row 4, Column 2, S for empty cells
Comments
on 27. September 2023, 20:00 by Christounet
This example puzzle (and the main puzzle I am still solving) made my brain explode as I kept overlooking some possibilties in the sums... But these are the kind of mistakes that make you smile when you realize that tiny thing you missed. Thanks again !
on 9. December 2022, 05:21 by cmb
Beautiful.
I'm looking forward to the long one.
on 8. December 2022, 13:24 by marcmees
Once the rules understood completely (thanks to polar) it solved smooth without being easy. thanks
on 8. December 2022, 12:08 by polar
@marcmees:
Wall segments are always the correct value, whether a regular digit, or as an A in this example. As long as A is assigned each digit exactly once. So for example, you could have A = 1,2,3 in the outside clues, A = 4 as a cave clue (value in grid would be 3 or 5, but the cave sees 4) and A = 5,6 as correct wall segments. For the wall segments, you may still have a digit 5/6 in the respective rows / columns as part of the sums, which is what I meant about walls not interacting with the other numbers. Hope that makes sense. As to your last question - yes that's right.
on 8. December 2022, 09:39 by polar
@marcmees: In the case of a cave cell, it will see the original number of cells (3), but the digit that is placed (2/4) contributes to the sum.
Also for clarity (since I messed this part up in testing), the value of any wall clues do not interact with the numbers/sums within the cave.
on 7. December 2022, 17:36 by ibag
Very nice little puzzle. I hope you don't want to really ruin it next week by posting the solution???
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After your comment (and comments beforehand from my tester) I've decided to include an example diagram for this and the next one. I agree, giving away the solution may ruin some of the fun for those that want to do this smaller one in the future.
Also, regarding your hidden comment about the rules, if, say B in R7C4 is a 5 replaced by 4, it would not be possible to repeat a 4 in the row or column.
