Extension Cord 101: Renban
(Published on 26. January 2026, 08:31 by FireTruckFuel)
This puzzle is planned to be the first in a five puzzle series for an original clue type of my own design. The clue itself is a black line I am calling the Extension Cord. See the rules below to start learning about what this line can do. This is my first ever puzzle series and first original clue so helpful comments are welcome.
The digits 1-4 appear once in every row column and irregular region.
Digits along the pink Renban line form a consecutive non-repeating set in any order.
The black Extension Cord line connects all other lines it touches so that segments of the same type are joined together by adjacent ends along its stretch. (r2c2 "touches" r3c3) The length and path of an Extension Cord does not need to be assumed. It continues underneath other lines and does not branch unless specified. It may begin and/or end outside the grid to clarify its path or length.
Ready for the next puzzle? Extension Cord 102: Zipper
Solution code: Row 3
Comments
on 29. January 2026, 10:42 by wuc
Nice idea, now that I understood it, I'm looking forward to solve more of them. Great fun thx.
on 27. January 2026, 09:48 by superkinkel
Given that the rules are ambiguous and one is tempted to assume the connected constraints should nevertheless be valid constraints in their own right, this certainly is not a 1 star puzzle. Anything where the solver needs to reverse engineer rules or clarifications on rules is above 1 star in my book.
I must say another introduction to this constraint would have been better.
on 26. January 2026, 14:22 by Exigus
Really cool idea. Might need some further clarification, my first thought was that the renbans still would have to work individually on their own. Great potential for extreme shenanigans in the future with this though.
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Breaking that first thought was the reason I didn't scrap this puzzle. Use of the word "the" in place of the world "a" in the renban rule was intentional. The puzzle breaks if a solver attempts to treat the renban as two separate lines.
on 26. January 2026, 14:16 by XhcnoirX
I like the concept, but I agree with Titan29, it would have been nicer if the extension cord would have connected 2 renban lines that could not be connected already otherwise. Looking forward to future entries in this series with this constraint however!
on 26. January 2026, 09:32 by Titan29
It took me a while to understand the relevance of the extension cord, it was mainly confusing because in this particular puzzle, simply extending the renban would have had the same effect. I think I see the vision for future puzzles after it clicked, but as an intro to the concept it feels strange.
