Hooligans Underground (Slingshot U-Bahn)
(Published on 29. May 2023, 21:21 by Piatato)
This puzzle was inspired by some of the many great U-Bahn puzzles on this site, in particular this one by Zzzyxas, but also puzzles by KNT, wooferzfg/Jakhob and others. I'd like to give a big thanks to those setters for teaching me so much over the last couple of months! Also thanks to Myxo and filuta, who have helped me test the puzzle.
Main Puzzle:
Rules:
Draw a loop network through the centers of some cells, which may branch or turn, but may not have any dead ends.
A digit outside the grid indicates how many times the corresponding line shape (i.e. a cross, branch, straight line, or turn) appears in the corresponding row or column, irrespective of the line shape's rotation.
Each cell of the main grid should be filled with either a digit from 0-9, or one of the line shapes (with any rotation), or left empty (but never both a digit and a line shape).
Each cell containing a slingshot arrow (arrow cell) must be filled with a digit N from 1-9 (not 0), and the cell that the arrow comes from (source cell) as well as the cell N steps away in the direction of the arrow (target cell, which may be either in the main grid or amongst the outside clues) with either a digit or a line shape. For each arrow, the source and target cell must contain either the same digit or the same line shape (with any rotation).
No digit may be placed within the main grid unless it's related to an arrow in some way. No digit may repeat in a row or column within the main grid.
For further clarifications, study the example, or feel free to ask me.
Example:
Links to the example:
Links to the main puzzle:
Solution code: For each column except the last, from left to right, the number of lines leading to the right from that column
Comments
on 6. September 2024, 03:37 by Samish
The way the clues interacted together was simply fascinating to me, and it's so well telegraphed it was pure fun solving it. Wonderful puzzle, thanks! :)
on 25. January 2024, 02:29 by Christounet
Awesome idea ! Enjoyed how things got built and the satisfying "oh, that's how this gets resolved" moments. Thanks :)
on 27. July 2023, 09:47 by ONeill
A creative ruleset, and a very enjoyable puzzle, thanks!
on 13. July 2023, 08:00 by Statistica
Ganz klasse. Vielen Dank!
on 23. June 2023, 09:10 by Aaronomys
Beautiful puzzle! I'm very new to u-bahn, but this puzzle taught me a lot of cool tricks in the genre. Thank you for this construction.
on 11. June 2023, 10:28 by wooferzfg
I really enjoyed that, especially the ending, thanks! :)
on 10. June 2023, 23:37 by lerroyy
Great puzzle!
on 9. June 2023, 17:53 by KNT
awesome, thanks!!!
on 2. June 2023, 06:57 by mnasti2
Absolutely loved this and I’m not a u-bahn solver! Many great moments.
on 30. May 2023, 21:25 by filuta
I really felt like I was hit by a piece of railway track shot from a huge slingshot while i was solving that puzzle, it was a great experience nevertheless.
on 30. May 2023, 00:56 by polar
Awesome puzzle thanks!
on 29. May 2023, 22:56 by Jesper
Lots of fun, enjoyed it, thanks!
on 29. May 2023, 22:24 by Piatato
@Myxo thank you!
Btw, I forgot to add a huge thanks to henrypijames, who helped me reformulate the ruleset.
on 29. May 2023, 21:24 by Myxo
Wonderful and very challenging puzzle from start to finish!
