Lösungscode: Digits in Row 3, left to right
am 27. Februar 2025, 10:34 Uhr von henrypijames
The break-in is at least ¾ of the solve LOL.
am 27. Februar 2025, 08:53 Uhr von Andrewsarchus
Added Example
am 27. Februar 2025, 08:25 Uhr von henrypijames
Am I understanding correctly that the vampire game starts with Round 0, i. e. before any vampire has acted, the outside clues are calculated using the original values of the inside digits.
Or, alternatively, does the game start with Round 1, i. e. all the outside clues are empty (value 0), and only after vampire #1 has acted, the first round of clue calculation is performed.
Your first statement is correct. The initial value of the clues are computed before the first vampire acts.
(see the example I added above)
--Andrewsarchus
am 27. Februar 2025, 04:34 Uhr von henrypijames
Yeah, I think it'd be good for the rules to state explicitly that:
Outside clues represent final values after every vampire has taken their turn, whereas inside cells retain the original digits before any vampire has acted.
I also suggest first explaining the overall process (vampires taking turns), and then how an individual vampire changes the grid. In the current order, when I read "(lower original digit)", I have no idea what it's talking about.
"Vampires always select the highest valued eligible victim" suggest there's always one single candidate victim with a higher value than all the others. Is this hidden negative constraint real? If not, how does a vampire choose between two candidate victims with equal value?
I'll provided some examples and clarifications later tonight. For now, the case of equal valued prey candidates, the solver would have to deduce which prey was chosen.
--Andrewsarchus
am 26. Februar 2025, 17:43 Uhr von Nordy
Without a doubt one of the coolest, funniest, and best puzzles I have EVER solved! This puzzle has an absolutely brilliant transition from “uhh this is impossible” to “wow this is incredibly elegant and awesome!” Once you understand the rules, the puzzle is remarkably smooth and indeed only 4 stars for difficulty, but I’ve rated it as 5 stars because internalizing the rules is no small feat! Thanks yet again for this diabolically wonderful gift
am 26. Februar 2025, 17:22 Uhr von gfoot
I'm not sure I understand "The grid seen by the solver represents the final state" - does this mean that I should enter 0 into cells that have been drained by nearby vampires, rather than entering their values from before they were drained?
No, as is typical of puzzles with modifiers, digits are different than values. Draining a cell inside the grid changes the value, not the digit.
Outside clues show values.
Inside the grid, however, the solver enters the digits which are not necessarily the same as the cell's current value.
Let me know if that helps. :-)
--Andrewsarchus
Thanks - I have solved it now, my confusion was the statement that the *grid* the solved sees is the final state, but I figured you really just meant the outside clues shown are the final states, and it solved nicely that way.
I don't think I actually used the top centre "24" clue, by the way!
am 26. Februar 2025, 11:32 Uhr von Chilly
Great idea, and lots of fun to solve. Not as tricky as it first appears once you internalise the rules, but like filuta said, a calculator might help most people at some point along the way.
am 26. Februar 2025, 10:38 Uhr von filuta
this whole idea and setup is just so cool and funny, at one or two points I really did resort to using a calculator though.