ok thanks :)

If that is the case, instead of "cross or touch", "cross or overlap" is probably a more common description as used in other loop types.

Obligatory practice puzzle for Neanderthal Tapa because this post doesn't have any.

"Fresh" Practice Puzzle from me as well, Tapa [Diagonal Neighbors].

"All puzzle points will be announced in Friday." Do we get to know it soon?

Probably 2-3 hours later

Puzzle Points 1. Tapa LOGIC 120 2a. Neanderthal 38 2b. Neanderthal 89 3. Tapa Islands 108 4. Make Room for Pentapa 69 5a. Pata 39 5b. Pata 117 6. Tapa Borderline 42 7a. Tapa Loop 45 7b. Tapa Loop 57 8a. Tapa [Diagonal Neighbors] 60 8b. Tapa [Diagonal Neighbors] 81 9. Tapa Hamle 99 10. No Squares Tapa 36

Announcements Password protected puzzle has 11 pages (including a cover page with points table) Time bonus will be computed after you click 'Claim Bonus' Penalty will be given irrespective of correctness of submission Contest Length : 75 minutes Total Points : 1000 Bonus : 3 points per minute saved (Computed upto seconds) Grace Period : 5 minutes Penalty : 5 points per minute used (Computed upto seconds)

For Tapa islands, may the islands touch each other diagonally?

Yes, islands can touch diagonally.

One minor note:

For TAPA LOGIC; the current puzzle will have different letter set

Temporary score page : http://logicmastersindia.com/TVC/XIII/score.asp (Feedback page is not enabled yet)

Stupid cell. Why'd I colour you? And why exactly there? Thanks for the puzzles Serkan. I had fun, except for a horrible false start on the first Pata.

ps. Palmer, dial it back a little.

One question on Tapa Islands
Instructions says that "each separate area MAY contain at most one clue cell". Does this mean that there may be some Island area without any clue cell?

Thanks for quickly clarifying this.

Wait, I thought islands could have no clue cell? When I solved it logically, I got at least one island that had no clue cell in it?

I'm sorry, I made a terrible mistake when replying to this. I was very sleepy and confused in the morning.

Your assumption is right, there may be islands without clues. Sorry again.

In that case does the example has multiple solutions e.g. if R1C2 is blackened and R1C6, R2C6 are made white (part of Island)?

Don't forget the single numbers are both Tapa clues and island clues. You've broken the 6 as a Tapa clue with that tweak.

Yes, I overlooked that one. Thanks for explaining it.

Argh, I actually solved the second Tapa loop in record time intuitively, but just couldn't make it to submit! Wonderful puzzles. Beautiful usage of the Diagonal Neighbors constraints. Pleasantly surprised by my ranking.

What did I do wrong... I am probably being really stupid right now...





Attachments
----------------
arghh.PNG (20KB - 0 downloads)

Around the middle left. The "+" of the +11 clue to the extreme left is where you can change things. Think vertical

TVC XIII is now over and score page is now public.
Password removed from puzzle booklet.

Hi. I am a beginner in puzzles, but I usually manage to take some points... This time I was very disappointed : 0 pts :(

Now I have solved most of the puzzles. But I have a problem with the Tapa Loops. "The loop cannot touch or cross itself." For me, this is not true. For example, in the first puzzle (7a) the loop touch itself 3 times : at the bottom (left) of the 6 et the 7 clues.

This point, and the fact that letters of the "TAPA LOGIC" were not ACGILOPT as announced, but E ? P ? M ? ("PALMER MEBANE" !) were enough to make me doubt, to disturb me, and finally ... 0 pts !
Of course, with some experience, it would have been different. But when you panic because you see the time go... The problem with a wrong rule is : when you finally observe it is not possible to solve the puzzle, you don't know what is the rule which is questionable...