Eurypterid
(Published on 3. November 2024, 00:29 by Kafkapharnaum)
Below the main offering, you will find two smaller bonus Fog of War puzzles (5x5 and 6x6) that can be used as either warmup or just for sampling, as well as some examples of what is allowed and what isn't in this ruleset
RULES
Normal sudoku rules apply: Place the digits 1 to 9 in each row, column, and 3x3 box
STILL LIFE
Shade some cells green ("live cells") such that the – up to – eight cells neighboring each green cell contain exactly 2 or 3 other green cells and the neighbors of each 'unshaded' – or grey – cell ("dead cells") do not contain exactly 3 green cells
– A CIRCLED cell's digit indicates the number of cells that are in the SAME state as its own in its neighborhood, INCLUDING its own cell
– A SQUARED cell's digit indicates the number of cells that are in a DIFFERENT state from its own in its neighborhood (therefore not including its own cell)
FOG OF WAR
– The grid is covered with fog. Correctly placed digits will clear the fog around that cell, possibly revealing more clues
Play the puzzle on Sudokupad
In Example 1, a 3x3 box with a Game of Life pattern is shown (green for Alive cells, grey for Dead cells). But the cells marked with a ! are unstable : they either are dead but with 3 alive neighbors, or alive but with less than 2 or more than 3 alive neighbors. Therefore this pattern is not a Still Life pattern, and can not appear in a Still Life Sudoku puzzle.
In Example 2, a 3x3 box is shown filled with digits and clues (circles and squares), the Game of Life pattern that is shown is stable, and all the clues are fulfilled. This could appear in a Still Life Sudoku puzzle.
Solution code: The digits in the LIVE cells of row 6 (left to right), followed by those of column 7 (top to bottom)
Comments
on 18. December 2024, 14:32 by The Book Wyrm
Great puzzle! Not too tricky but a lot of fun with some neat steps.
on 16. December 2024, 04:38 by BMEP
REALLY nice puzzle!! Thanks for that! :)
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Whoa, now that is a massive surprise, welcome back! :D Very happy both to see you here again and to hear that you enjoyed the puzzle -- thank you very much for the solve and kind words!
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Thank you! Finished uni, finally have more time to enjoy your puzzles.. thank you for that!!
on 3. November 2024, 22:30 by chrisj50
Another great Still Life puzzle - perhaps on the gentler side and a good introduction for those exploring your (ever-expanding) catalogue of these :)
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Thanks for claiming your solve on this one Chris! You've become a pro with this ruleset, it's no surprise you'd have found this one to be on the gentler side, as this was the aim! Glad you enjoyed :D
on 3. November 2024, 10:33 by Elliott810
Brilliant (but pretty hard 4*) puzzle! Thanks:)
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Thank you for the solve and comment, glad you enjoyed! It's a never-ending quest to make just the right approachable Still Life, as this is a ruleset with an inherently steep learning curve that pretty much makes the first encounter at least a 3/5. Maybe mixing it with other classic variants would do it, rather than have it as just a pure Minesweeper ruleset
