Sudokulike [DFoW]
(Published on 6. March 2025, 11:58 by Nurator)
Lately I worked on a new revision of my Sudokulike puzzle but with the added twist of dynamic fog. So you end up with a puzzle that you solve multiple times but the line types change as you go :)
Rules:Welcome to the dungeon! Can you find your way through the different rooms of the dungeon and reach all checkpoints with an evolving class?
Normal Sudoku Rules apply. Digits in cages (rooms) do not repeat and sum to the total if given.
Adventure Path: Draw a path starting at the first check point (the green square with a 1) to every visible checkpoint in ascending order. The path only travels orthogonally and must visit each cage (room). The path can never travel outside of rooms nor checkpoints and can only enter and exit any cage (room) exactly once.
Dynamic Fog: Each time you determine the exact path and the digit in the highest visible checkpoint cell, put it in to reveal a new checkpoint and new cages.
Dynamic Classes: Each time you reveal new cells, delete the path and all entered digits that are not on checkpoints. Then change your class, which determines the line type all cells on the path have to obey.
List of classes (you start with Palindrome):
1->2 : Palindrome: Digits on a palindrome path read the same forwards and backwards.
1->2->3: German Whisper: Two cells connected by a German Whisper path must have a difference of at least 5.
1->2->3->4: Region Sum: Box borders divided the path into segments of equal sums.
1->2->3->4->5: Dutch Whisper: Two cells connected by a Dutch Whisper path must have a difference of at least 4.
You have completed the dungeon when all 5 checkpoints are revealed and the complete grid is filled.
Solution code: The digits on the check points in ascending order
Comments
on 30. March 2025, 12:07 by TheNineElements
Solve Time: 58:16
I rated this 4/5 difficulty.
Really nice puzzle! I've enjoyed the recent dFoW innovation of having the solver "backtrack"/erase progress after placing some digits, as it allows for multiple (simultaneous) varied solve paths & rulsets within the same puzzle.
I think this puzzle was on the easier end of 4* overall. The logic itself felt around 3-4* difficulty, but due to the longer solve path and a few tricky steps in the last two phases, I tilted my rating to 4*.
This puzzle was very well-constructed and the ruleset was creative & fun. The line logic was very nice in each phase, and I think the final phase (dutch whispers) was probably my favorite; figuring out how polarity worked on the line was brilliant!
It's very interesting just how "novel" each of the stages were. Despite the cages remaining the same in each step, the different lines made each phase feel totally different. It was almost like every phase was a totally new puzzle (which seems to be the intent of this ruleset).
The puzzle was definitely tough at times, but overall it was reasonably approachable for a 4* puzzle, and the earlier phases (plus the dFoW) did a great job of "priming me" for the later ones (which I found a bit harder). Thanks for sharing!
P.S.
I will add that I found the solution code description a bit ambiguous. It currently says: "The digits on the check points in ascending order."
I initially interpreted this as sorting the checkpoint digits by value rather than entering them in the intended solve order.
E.g., if the checkpoints resulted in these values:
Checkpoint 1: 7
Checkpoint 2: 3
Checkpoint 3: 7
Checkpoint 4: 6
Checkpoint 5: 9
I thought the code should be "36779" (sorted digits), but the intended answer was "73769" (based on the intended order of checkpoint resolution).
Also, since both checkpoints 1 AND 2 are visible simultaneously, the phrasing probably should mention that the labels on the checkpoint cells indicate the order. I just think the language around "ascending" order is a bit tricky when the checkpoints have two associated values (their digit value and their labeled/ordered value).
It might be worth rephrasing/specifying, of course at your discretion. Maybe something like:
"Enter the checkpoint digits in the order they are intended to be resolved during the solve, as indicated by their labels."
on 29. March 2025, 20:45 by ostio456
Wow. What a fantastic puzzle. I attempted this over a few days, having to restart certain paths (dutch whispers you still have an enemy in me), however after a lot of perseverance and logic deducing I finally got to the end, and what a great sense of achievement it gave me. Thank you for taking the time to produce such a great puzzle, it never ceases to amaze me how you guys come up with such incredible puzzles.
on 17. March 2025, 20:52 by swtyree
Such a brilliantly fun puzzle!
on 17. March 2025, 10:15 by novato
Unfortunately I don't have a lot of time for puzzles at the moment so I only get to pick a handful to try - and I am so, so glad I chose this one.
on 14. March 2025, 16:22 by Visumation
Stunning puzzle. Amazing use of the DFoW. Thanks
on 7. March 2025, 18:27 by samuelsamjo
that is the nicest puzzle i have solved!
on 7. March 2025, 16:08 by havebookwilltravel
Absolutely amazing! It took me a while as I'm still developing my abilities to a 3 star level, but as a D&D and sudoku nerd, this is so fun!
on 7. March 2025, 02:10 by Oddlyeven
Awesome concept and an amazing construction!
on 6. March 2025, 18:32 by Snookerfan
Sublime puzzle! A great adventure, five puzzles in one, what else can you ask for? Thank you
on 6. March 2025, 17:40 by zonny
This was awesome!! Challenging, but perfectly reasonable at every step. Thank-you for giving me a really pleasant evening!
on 6. March 2025, 15:57 by seh_bas
I love this usage of the DFoW, THX for the puzzle!
