Chaos Construction: Thermo Knots
(Published on 18. January 2025, 12:31 by Myxo)
A sequel to my Arrow Knots Chaos Construction. For reasons you will probably find out while solving, I was unsure whether to publish this one or not - the solve path is rather weird, but maybe slightly humorous. In the end, I was encouraged to do so by my friends. Enjoy!
Rules:
Chaos Construction: Divide the grid into orthogonally connected 9-cell regions such that each cell is part of exactly one region. Fill the grid with digits 1-9 such that no digit repeats in any row, column or region.
Thermo Knots: From each big circle, draw straight horizontal or vertical thermometers in all possible directions, such that each thermo occupies at least two cells (including the circle). Digits along a thermo must increase, starting from the circle.
Additionally, all cells along thermos must be part of the same region as their circle. If a thermo doesn't reach the edge of the grid, the cell directly after the tip must be in a different region and must contain a smaller digit than the tip.
White dots: Cells separated by a small white circle must be in different regions and contain consecutive digits.
Solution code: row 5 from left to right, - for region borders
Comments
on 9. February 2025, 17:41 by konklone
Pretty brutal! Definitely 5 stars for me just due to how narrow and tricky to spot a few places are. But also great - I'm glad the presence of a CtC video motivated me to persevere so I could watch it spoiler-free. :)
on 27. January 2025, 05:39 by MaizeGator
I have nothing else to add that hasn't already been said. Wonderfully weird!
(Myxo, please never question whether you should share anything you create with the world. We want to see)
---
Myxo: Thanks! But I often make puzzles and discard them. Often times, those don't make it into testing. If I would publish everything I make, there would be a lot of bad or mediocre puzzles in my catalogue.
on 22. January 2025, 01:38 by greyhathero
This is one of those that I should have been faster at, but it took me forever to make some deductions. After that it went beautifully everything flowing from one to the next. Great work!
on 21. January 2025, 09:46 by Visumation
Very cool.
on 19. January 2025, 22:12 by cam
Incredible puzzle! I loved it!
on 19. January 2025, 22:07 by polcat
Wonderful puzzle. Thank you!
on 19. January 2025, 11:05 by Snookerfan
Sublime puzzle! Indeed weird and funny, but also very clever and enjoyable. Thank you
on 19. January 2025, 02:49 by askaksaksask
Great puzzle. I found this on par with your recent CC arrow variant--on the highest rung of puzzle beauty and great design--though I believe this puzzle is more difficult on the whole, ie a bit more resistance throughout the solve. That said, what a joy to crack some of the roadblocks. I won't spoil which region was my favorite ;) thank you for a wonderful puzzle!!
on 19. January 2025, 01:59 by ONeill
Fun ruleset and solve!
on 19. January 2025, 00:43 by Piatato
Funny puzzle, thanks!
on 19. January 2025, 00:26 by dennischen
Really nice idea!
on 18. January 2025, 20:24 by Franjo
Some really interesting and fresh logic to find on the solving path! Thank you very much for creating and sharing this gem.
on 18. January 2025, 18:45 by henrypijames
A really good exercise in Goodliffing. :D
on 18. January 2025, 18:06 by marcmees
very nice. thanks
on 18. January 2025, 17:25 by kamkam
I found this puzzle extremely brutal. Maybe there were some logical constraints I did not notice - but that was a really good challenge !
on 18. January 2025, 15:21 by Andrewsarchus
This ruleset leads to some very interesting and satisfying interactions. Great puzzle!
on 18. January 2025, 15:06 by Playmaker6174
That was plenty of fun, thanks! I enjoyed how the logic kept cascading throughout the solve x)
on 18. January 2025, 14:17 by arbitrary
Awesome. Thanks!
on 18. January 2025, 13:07 by Niverio
Who needs to solve a puzzle in the setter's intended way anyway ;) Lovely discovery.
on 18. January 2025, 13:01 by dumediat
The implications of this rule set were really interesting, thank you!
