Arrow Thermo 20XX
(Published on 28. December 2024, 23:49 by ViKingPrime)
PUZZLE:
RULES:
Normal SUDOKU rules apply.
Values along an ARROW sum to the value in its attached circle.
Values along a THERMOMETER must increase from the bulb end.
Each thermometer is MULTIPLICATIVE, the value each of its cells being equal to the contained digit times N, where N is its position along the thermometer.
INTRODUCTION:
It's the distant future... Aad van de Wetering, the great Dutch puzzle-master, continues to set sudokus due to his hitherto unknown status as an immortal being. His work provides solace to the remaining denizens of the world, who are relentlessly hounded by roving bands of terminator robots.
Humanity has long since lost track of where exactly his puzzle entries sit numerically in the series order but it's easily in the thousands.
No one knows exactly when Aad became so experimental in his work but almost everyone agrees, this sequel isn't nearly as good as the first one. Alas, it is all they have to wile away the hours while they wait for the timeline to be sorted out.
Have fun!
Solution code: The values of cells along Row 5, left to right.
Comments
on 20. January 2025, 15:29 by jakestilesowen
Very unique ideas here. I really like it!
on 12. January 2025, 01:24 by ThePedallingPianist
Really clever setting and I adore the introduction provided on the LMD page! You really are a blessing to the community!
on 1. January 2025, 00:45 by ViKingPrime
Updated graphics (per below).
on 31. December 2024, 20:10 by dzamie
Oh that was so cool. Easily my favorite of the week so far!
on 30. December 2024, 18:39 by Paquet Voleur
Cool variation on the thermos. Loved it.
on 29. December 2024, 23:56 by Ikke Moon
How come I’ve a correct solution but LM doesn’t accept the row 5 code?
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@Ikke Moon - You're looking to place the values of cells R5C1/3/5/7/9 and not the digits. Type them out as per a normal solution code, left to right without spaces, replacing the digits with their values <3 -- VKP
on 29. December 2024, 20:53 by josemadre
This is fun! Always like to see a new variation
on 29. December 2024, 17:58 by ecavalli
Very nice idea congrats!
I found a little bit confusing the solution code that requires the *values* of row 5 (not just the raw numbers).
on 29. December 2024, 14:58 by TheRiddler
Very cool :-)
on 29. December 2024, 13:08 by damo_89
What a fascinating spin on arrow thermo.
on 29. December 2024, 12:57 by Ol-Jay
This was amazing!
on 29. December 2024, 10:38 by VitP
@VikingPrime
(I have no idea how to do a proper "reply" in this forum)
Well, dear sir, you have a REPUTATION here (of the highest order, to be clear). Therefore, while it is UNLIKELY that you would set a puzzle as I initially saw it, it is IMPOSSIBLE for you to leave in a deadly pattern. That is how I was able to find the "missing" arrow.
Thank you for your fast response. The current graphics work well. And when the evaluations roll in, you will see that they are all favourable.
on 29. December 2024, 09:27 by VitP
(The following comment is now OBSOLETE.)
The critical col 5 arrow is almost invisible in ANY case, and is IN FACT invisible, depending on the angle in which you see the monitor.
This converts the puzzle to difficulty 4, with a final deadly pattern on 345.
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@VitP - I've tried various iterations on the graphics and none of them seemed to satisfy everyone. I hope you won't let it detract you from the logic and that it at least didn't completely ruin your experience.
Yes, dear future solver, there is an arrow in Column 5! and I will aim to update the ruleset in the puzzle to reflect. I appreciate the feedback <3 -- VKP
