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TVC XVII — 2nd January - 4th January 201660 posts • Page 2 of 3 • 1 2 3
@ 2016-01-02 11:11 AM (#20475 - in reply to #20392) (#20475) Top

chaotic_iak




Posts: 241
1001002020
Country : Indonesia

chaotic_iak posted @ 2016-01-02 11:11 AM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Perfectly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Just right
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Most puzzles were worth the right amount
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? Just right


Puzzles were nice. At some points I needed to bifurcate, but that's probably due to time pressure, not finding a more logical way quickly enough. The only complaint is perhaps Alternative Tapa; the grid is too big, so scanning which letters have been covered is difficult (see: Hitori puzzles), and the existence of letters occurring only once made me to reconsider for a moment whether it's possible for a letter to not have any shaded cell at all. (It said "only one of them are passed by the wall", not "exactly one", so that thought crossed my mind. At the end I just assumed it's a linguistic mistake.)
@ 2016-01-02 4:56 PM (#20480 - in reply to #20392) (#20480) Top

Administrator



20001000500202020
Country : India

Administrator posted @ 2016-01-02 4:56 PM

Clarification on Alternative Tapa

If any letter is appearing exactly once in the grid, the corresponding cell must be part of the wall.

@ 2016-01-02 6:53 PM (#20484 - in reply to #20392) (#20484) Top

TiiT



Posts: 139
10020
Country : Estonia

TiiT posted @ 2016-01-02 6:53 PM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Fairly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Just right
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Many puzzles were worth too much or too little
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? Just right


Outside Tapa was much cheaper in my opinion - well nice points to me with small time. Tapa without borders were too cheap in my opinion - hard points from there for me. I really enjoyed the first one. really nice puzzle and with very good outer look. It was hard (also was expensive if I look it now) but was a good introduction to the contest.

I was thinking about Florian during solving the puzzles (especially the first one) and reminded some good times we had together. Not much time of that but still something. We had some conversations more in BIST2012 as there were not so many from outside of China and we hanged out quite a lot together. I feel great that I have had many chances to meet him and am very sad about what happened. He was a great person with an extremely good humour sense.

Also thanks to the creators of the puzzles. I really enjoyed it.
@ 2016-01-02 11:07 PM (#20487 - in reply to #20392) (#20487) Top

An LMI player



An LMI player posted @ 2016-01-02 11:07 PM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Fairly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Too many hard puzzles
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Way too many puzzles (too little time)
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Most puzzles were worth the right amount
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? Just right


@ 2016-01-03 2:03 AM (#20488 - in reply to #20392) (#20488) Top

Realshaggy



Posts: 69
202020
Country : Germany

Realshaggy posted @ 2016-01-03 2:03 AM

Nice puzzles. Imho it should be clarified, that there may not be 0-clues in Magic Tapa, since this would cause non-uniqueness in the lower left corner.
@ 2016-01-03 2:27 AM (#20489 - in reply to #20392) (#20489) Top

puzzlemad



Posts: 28
20
Country : United Kingdom

puzzlemad posted @ 2016-01-03 2:27 AM

Thank you very much for these. It would help if I noticed things like the size of the area for the Tapa with Borders. The Florian theme was lovely - as TiiT says, I was thinking of him too whilst solving - in particular of the 24hr competitions.
@ 2016-01-03 12:26 PM (#20493 - in reply to #20392) (#20493) Top

An LMI player



An LMI player posted @ 2016-01-03 12:26 PM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Fairly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Way too many puzzles (too little time)
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Most puzzles were worth too much or too little
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? I have a different complaint


The fact that each puzzle's key has the letters ABC makes it very easy to enter the answer into the wrong puzzle. I did this several times before correcting them (in the end they were all right). But having them be "ABC" "DEF"etc would be helpful.

Also it would be nice if the points were listed in the IB. Not in the first version, but in the final version.

Thanks!
@ 2016-01-03 6:41 PM (#20495 - in reply to #20392) (#20495) Top

Para



Posts: 315
100100100
Country : The Netherlands

Para posted @ 2016-01-03 6:41 PM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Fairly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Just right
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Most puzzles were worth the right amount
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? Just right


Wooo. Full 0.2 points of bonus. Got stuck on the last Tapa Magic because I can't count to 2 (kept colouring 3 around a cell). When I saw my mistake I somehow managed to solve it and enter it just within the time limit in the last minute.

Fun set. Will have to get back to the second Skyscraper to figure out a bit more of the logic.

@ 2016-01-03 10:01 PM (#20496 - in reply to #20392) (#20496) Top

Deyan



Posts: 7

Country : Bulgaria

Deyan posted @ 2016-01-03 10:01 PM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Perfectly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Just right
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? I have a different complaint


The last puzzle allows a double solution (although with the same answer)

It's good to avoid unnecessary graphics in booklets, which slow down printing
@ 2016-01-03 11:04 PM (#20497 - in reply to #20496) (#20497) Top

ghirsch



Posts: 102
100
Country : United States

ghirsch posted @ 2016-01-03 11:04 PM

Deyan - 2016-01-02 11:01 PM

The last puzzle allows a double solution (although with the same answer)

It's good to avoid unnecessary graphics in booklets, which slow down printing


You should check again, I'm confident that it has only one solution. Maybe your alternate solution has some rows with repeated digits.
@ 2016-01-03 11:18 PM (#20498 - in reply to #20488) (#20498) Top

yureklis



Posts: 183
10020202020
Country : Turkey

yureklis posted @ 2016-01-03 11:18 PM

Realshaggy - 2016-01-03 2:03 AM

Nice puzzles. Imho it should be clarified, that there may not be 0-clues in Magic Tapa, since this would cause non-uniqueness in the lower left corner.


Zero is not Classic Tapa clue. Tapa clues are from 1 to 8. If the zero is used in a varition we mention in the instruction. Moreover if the zero had been used in this variation, you would use the zero in clue cells with slash like 0/3, 0/1, 0/4. So it means there are tons of solutions. So you cannot use the zero in regular Tapa unless the instruction says 0-8 digits .
@ 2016-01-04 12:43 AM (#20499 - in reply to #20392) (#20499) Top

Kithyane



Posts: 49
2020
Country : France

Kithyane posted @ 2016-01-04 12:43 AM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Fairly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? A bit too many puzzles
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Most puzzles were worth the right amount
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? Just right


Just started playing here at LMI for a few weeks (also working the backlog since 2010 on my free time), and for now the puzzles are really excellent.
I haven't played a lot of tapa puzzles before, but it is a puzzle type I really like, and I look forward to do more !
@ 2016-01-04 12:57 AM (#20500 - in reply to #20498) (#20500) Top

chaotic_iak




Posts: 241
1001002020
Country : Indonesia

chaotic_iak posted @ 2016-01-04 12:57 AM

yureklis - 2016-01-04 2:18 AM

Realshaggy - 2016-01-03 2:03 AM

Nice puzzles. Imho it should be clarified, that there may not be 0-clues in Magic Tapa, since this would cause non-uniqueness in the lower left corner.


Zero is not Classic Tapa clue. Tapa clues are from 1 to 8. If the zero is used in a varition we mention in the instruction. Moreover if the zero had been used in this variation, you would use the zero in clue cells with slash like 0/3, 0/1, 0/4. So it means there are tons of solutions. So you cannot use the zero in regular Tapa unless the instruction says 0-8 digits .


A single zero is a Classic Tapa clue. (0/1, 0/2, etc isn't a Classic Tapa clue, but a single 0 is.) Otherwise, how would you explain the existence of Classic Tapa puzzles that involve a 0 (indicating all squares around it are empty)?

Edited by chaotic_iak 2016-01-04 12:57 AM
@ 2016-01-04 1:24 AM (#20501 - in reply to #20392) (#20501) Top

rob



Posts: 170
100202020
Country : Germany

rob posted @ 2016-01-04 1:24 AM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Perfectly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Just right
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Most puzzles were worth the right amount
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? Just right


Thanks, really good to have a new TVC series. The dedication is great way to keep Florian remembered.

I felt like I had a slow start, though the points per time don't really reflect that. One oversight on the harder skyscrapers meant I solved that one twice, but no trouble otherwise. I should revisit the star battle, the option I chose towards the end went through. The outside tapa also seemed a bit overvalued to me.

For less experienced solvers, it would be helpful to be a bit more explicit in the instructions about details like those 0s in the magic tapa, it's just very hard to tell if you haven't solved the example carefully. By the way, the base "tapa rule" at the start of the booklet makes no mention of a digit range 1-8.
@ 2016-01-04 2:20 AM (#20502 - in reply to #20392) (#20502) Top

puzzlemad



Posts: 28
20
Country : United Kingdom

puzzlemad posted @ 2016-01-04 2:20 AM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Perfectly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Just right
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Most puzzles were worth the right amount
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? Just right


I've now solved most of the puzzles - just the skyscrapers ones left. I was surprised how easy I found the Outside Tapa (for the points) - I should have tried that one in the test. Thanks again.
@ 2016-01-04 2:26 AM (#20503 - in reply to #20392) (#20503) Top

tamz29



Posts: 225
10010020
Country : Thailand

tamz29 posted @ 2016-01-04 2:26 AM

I made the effort to practise for this using Bram's puzzles. His puzzles were frighteningly difficult, but if it weren't for those,
I wouldn't have grasped so many Tapa concepts doing this test.
In general, I feel Tapa is heavily intuitive and to score well in these sprint tests, you're better off "guessing" your path.

All the puzzles are so neat. Make Room for Tapa was lovely because it had enough clear logical deductions to discourage guessing from early on.
Tapa Magic was cool, but sadly this type might be quickly worn out after, say, 10 puzzles.

I was on intense mode for the entire 80 minutes and I still have two big puzzles left.
How on earth are you guys so good at this!? ;
@ 2016-01-04 2:45 AM (#20504 - in reply to #20392) (#20504) Top

An LMI player



An LMI player posted @ 2016-01-04 2:45 AM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Perfectly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Just right
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Many puzzles were worth too much or too little
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? Just right


@ 2016-01-04 8:14 AM (#20506 - in reply to #20392) (#20506) Top

An LMI player



An LMI player posted @ 2016-01-04 8:14 AM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Perfectly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Just right
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Most puzzles were worth the right amount
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? Just right


@ 2016-01-04 10:24 AM (#20507 - in reply to #20503) (#20507) Top

Para



Posts: 315
100100100
Country : The Netherlands

Para posted @ 2016-01-04 10:24 AM

tamz29 - 2016-01-04 2:26 AM

I made the effort to practise for this using Bram's puzzles. His puzzles were frighteningly difficult, but if it weren't for those,
I wouldn't have grasped so many Tapa concepts doing this test.


My goal is always to put at least something in each practise puzzle that might be useful when doing the test puzzles. So that means that they might seem more difficult as there will be some deduction in there you might not be familiar with yet. But once you're aware of that logic, doing the next puzzle might seem easier as you no longer have to work out such deductions.
@ 2016-01-04 2:38 PM (#20508 - in reply to #20497) (#20508) Top

Deyan



Posts: 7

Country : Bulgaria

Deyan posted @ 2016-01-04 2:38 PM

ghirsch - 2016-01-03 7:04 PM

Deyan - 2016-01-02 11:01 PM

The last puzzle allows a double solution (although with the same answer)

It's good to avoid unnecessary graphics in booklets, which slow down printing


You should check again, I'm confident that it has only one solution. Maybe your alternate solution has some rows with repeated digits.


Bottom left clue might be 0 or 1.
@ 2016-01-04 2:56 PM (#20509 - in reply to #20392) (#20509) Top

Valezius



Posts: 66
202020
Country : Hungary

Valezius posted @ 2016-01-04 2:56 PM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Fairly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Just right
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Most puzzles were worth the right amount
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? Just right


@ 2016-01-04 3:12 PM (#20510 - in reply to #20392) (#20510) Top

dahunor



Posts: 3

Country : Romania

dahunor posted @ 2016-01-04 3:12 PM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? A bit skewed
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? A bit hard
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Fairly Nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Way too many puzzles (too little time)
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Most puzzles were worth the right amount
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? Just right


@ 2016-01-05 2:05 AM (#20515 - in reply to #20392) (#20515) Top

An LMI player



An LMI player posted @ 2016-01-05 2:05 AM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Fairly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Just right
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Most puzzles were worth the right amount
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? I have a different complaint


@ 2016-01-05 3:13 AM (#20516 - in reply to #20392) (#20516) Top

kiwijam



Posts: 187
10020202020
Country : New Zealand

kiwijam posted @ 2016-01-05 3:13 AM

 How balanced do you think the puzzle types of this test were? Fairly balanced
 What was your opinion of the distribution of easy/hard puzzles? Just right
 What did you think about the puzzle quality of the test? Very nice
 How did you feel about the length / time limit for this test? Just right
 Of the puzzles you solved/attempted, how well did the point values reflect the difficulty? Most puzzles were worth the right amount
 What was your opinion of the booklet formatting and printing? Just right


I know TVC has been running a long time already, but perhaps adding one (easy?) Classic Tapa at the start might be nice for novice solvers?
@ 2016-01-05 4:09 AM (#20517 - in reply to #20516) (#20517) Top

chaotic_iak




Posts: 241
1001002020
Country : Indonesia

chaotic_iak posted @ 2016-01-05 4:09 AM

kiwijam - 2016-01-05 6:13 AM

I know TVC has been running a long time already, but perhaps adding one (easy?) Classic Tapa at the start might be nice for novice solvers?


I would assume Classic Tapa is covered by CTC (that is ongoing concurrently), so novice solvers that want to try Classic Tapa first can do CTC for one day before starting.
TVC XVII — 2nd January - 4th January 201660 posts • Page 2 of 3 • 1 2 3
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