Without the clue answers, there can be alternate solves where grid letters swap. This mechanic separates Setka from other clued or letter-placement puzzles, because you need both the clue answer AND the Sudoku no-repeats rule in order to complete a grid. Words that are three letters or above can read backward, forward, or in an L-shape in the grid. So, for NeaR (let’s say it’s clue 2), there would be two neighboring cells in the grid with a number 2 in them, and you could place the letters as RN or NR. To place the letters, the clues are numbered, and the relevant cells in the grid are numbered to match. (In the case of duplicate letters, like ReRaN, any duplicates are dropped, so the key letters here would be RN.)Īnd since there are four letters, there would be an accompanying 4×4 grid for you to fill in, where no letter is repeated in any row or column, Sudoku-style. So you could have answers like NeaR, MoRoN, or MaiNFRaMe. The answer words, like the starting word, ignore the vowels. Every clue answer would feature one or more of those letters. The consonants of that word not only form the answers to the clues, but also provide the letters to place in the accompanying grid.įor example, if the starting word was INFORM, the key letters would be N, F, R, and M. In short, Setka puzzles start with a single word. I’m always on the lookout for new puzzles and variations to try out, so when the folks behind Setka contacted me, I was more than happy to try out their puzzle brand and explore their signature attempt to combine Sudoku and clued-puzzle elements. With Sudoku, there are variants like Extreme Sudoku (aka X-Sudoku or Diagonal Sudoku), Samurai Sudoku, and Word Sudoku. In the world of crosswords, some variant success stories include Double Trouble, cryptic crosswords, Brick by Brick, and diagramless. You have to strike a balance between established solving styles (those that are familiar and effective) and innovative twists, mechanics, and variations, all without making the puzzle too convoluted, too tedious, too easy, or too hard.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |