zotmeister | Substantial

My sincerest apologies; suffice it to say that the last month provided me with enough material to make several Torment posts, should I ever bother to share them. I have some puzzles already prepared, am working on another, and also have a number of story ideas roaming around in my mind; I'm hoping to start posting here again in force, "catching up" as it were. Puzzle 30 is rapidly approaching, and as previously threatened I intend to make a BIG puzzle to occupy that spot - BIG on challenge and BIG on size. However, I really have no preference as to which puzzle design I employ, and so I am once again soliciting comments suggesting which I should use. I did Polyominous last time, but any other type I've presented so far is fair game. Here's a quick cheat-sheet of those: Islands in the Stream Quadrum Quandary The One Ring Smullyanic Dynasty Magnetic Field Echolocation Seeking Syren To Each Their Own Block Party Archipelago Room Reason Cross Sums Polyamory Island Oasis This is an informal poll; vote for as many or as few as you like, and feel free to weight your votes as you wish. I will not necessarily bind myself to the results, but I will take them under advisement. I will likely make my choice and start work on the puzzle next Monday. - ZM

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My personal preference would definitely be The One Ring. Islands in the Stream, Cross Sums and Smullyanic Dynasty would also be excellent.

I'd like to see one of the less common puzzles; it would be nice to see another Magnetic Field, though that puzzle seems limited in scope; I'd also enjoy The One Ring, Smullyanic Dynasty, or Seeking Syren.

Block Party or Polyamory

Since it is the puzzle with the most global action; bigger puzzles should not feel like several smaller glued together. Echolocation also works, but is not my cup of tea, really.

I need to get off my backside and start doing these puzzles again. The last one I did was puzzle #18, and I'm not even sure if I've shown you my answer yet. I don't have any particular suggestions for puzzle #30, but I would suggest putting the puzzle tag on this entry. That way, you would get replies from people who may have linked directly to your puzzle tag.

I thought of tagging this post, but then I decided against it - it's not a puzzle itself. Instead, I'll mention it and link to it in my Puzzle 28 entry, which should hopefully be coming out later today. - ZM

You still haven't done a sudoku puzzle. I would be most interseted to see your version- like a Double Maxi. That you be ridicules.

Um... my avatar disagrees with you. I've actually done two - that's what Quadrum Quandary is; Puzzles 2 and 11 are what you seek (my avatar is the former), and incidentally, I'm planning Puzzle 28 to be an original (if independently developed by others before me) variant.

Note to self: consider tagging puzzles by design. - ZM

Hi Adam. My preference list: Strongly in favor of the one ring, polyominous, and magnetic fields (in that order).

If possible, I'd rather it not be Cross sums or a dusodo variant.

Any of the others would be fun as well.

I have only sporadic internet access for a week or so. Looking forward to the puzzle.

Jim

It's been a long time since there's been a Magnetic Field. That would be my top choice.
My other preferences (listed alphabetically to avoid the appearance that they are otherwise ranked):
Archipelago
Block Party
Island Oasis
Islands in the Stream
Polyamory
Room Reason
To Each Their Own

Islands in the Stream -- I love the huge Nurikabe puzzles Nikoli publishes. These puzzles always feel quite organic to solve, and I would love to see a huge one on your blog.
Quadrum Quandary -- I would like to see a variant with multiple grids attached to each other, like Samurai Sudoku, but handmade and not computer-generated. :)
The One Ring -- This one also seems promising.
Smullyanic Dynasty -- Perhaps.
Magnetic Field -- Nah.
Echolocation -- I'd go for one of these. The 25x25 ones by Nikoli are amusing.
Seeking Syren -- I bet you could do a good job with one of these. Plus, I'd get to use my colored pencils again. :)
To Each Their Own -- Sounds plausible.
Block Party -- Again, plausible.
Archipelago -- I haven't done one of these in a long time. I wouldn't mind one of these, even if it's a normal-sized one and not a BIG one.
Room Reason -- MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. I would like a huge one of these, although I have enough 31x45 Heyawakes in my Nikoli books that I won't be too bitter if you choose a different puzzle. :)
Cross Sums -- Another good puzzle.
Polyamory -- Maybe.
Island Oasis -- Maybe.

Other puzzles you haven't posted yet and I'd like to see: Hitori/Twincognito, Ripple Effect, Light Up/Process of Illumination.

QQ: I have a few crappy [wiggles fingers] "standard" ones I built that I was largely unhappy with; I was thinking of building a Quincunx Quadrum Quandary out of them eventually, so you may get your wish.
Archipelago: That bloody design is growing on me. I should be toying with it more soon.
Hitori: Sure, as soon as I figure out how to build a good one. At last attempt, I was having difficulty getting my bloody 5×5 sample puzzle the way I wanted it, much less anything larger.
Ripple Effect: You know something, you have a point. The one I made for the Wikipedia article was a lot of fun to build, and I really like the way it came out. That should get more attention from me. - ZM

Why don't you post some tutorial-type thing that shows how to make Ripple Effect puzzles? I'd like to be able to make them. :)

'Islands in the Stream' and 'Room Reason' seem the most fun to do in extra-large format.

An idea for a The One Ring came to me; I've decided to go with that. It seems to have done well in the voting also. Not to mention that I can't let GLmathgrant have all the fun with my own design. :) - ZM

I'd like to see one grid that can be solved as a quantum quandry AND an archipelago, or possibly a One Ring with hexagons instead of squares.

I've toyed with trying to make a "double trouble" puzzle; that particular combination is an interesting one. Hexgonal-geometry puzzles are are another concept I've been debating attempting, so you may get both these wishes. - ZM

My apologies, but while you're here, I have to ask: do the residents of your town ever get Lefty Frizzell stuck in their heads? I checked your bio and now I can't seem to get em out. - ZM

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My choice would be...

Seeking Syren!

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