Defeated by puzzle - campaign over: Here is the offending puzzle!

[Tuzenbach]

I don't know why anyone is voting at all. Without knowing the actual answer, no one can verify that the puzzle is legitimate and, of course, if we have the answer we know it is not impossible. Furthermore, if we get the answer and find out the puzzle wasn't properly presented, then we know the current answer to the poll is that it had been impossible. The jury is still out on the 15 x 15 puzzle, but the poll is currently, by default, impossible to answer.

..........which is why I haven't voted yet.


I've two solutions, but can't confirm either. The first is this (no, I haven't mastered Excel, so you'll have to bear with me):

There are three sections with blanks, yes? These sections comprise the following number of squares:

2

8

25


If we look at the sentence "Fill in the proper symbols into the blanks", we can break those words down into groups which fit those 3 sections:

2=in

8=Fill into

25=the proper symbols the blanks


At a guess, I'm thinking that as long as the correct groups are there, it should not matter which square holds which letter. Thus, "in" could be put either "n" first, then "i", or vice versa.



Here's the second solution:

25=consonants

10=vowels

Again, put all of the consonants in the section with 25 squares. As long as they're grouped the way the original 3 symbols are grouped (i.e., at least touching each other's side, but not the corners), there shouldn't be a problem.

Then, do the same with the vowels. The only really tricky bit here is which vowels get put in the section of 2 squares to form a group? We have eee, iii, ooo, & a. It'd be better if there was a group of two vowels, but oh well.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I don't know why anyone is voting at all.

Voting in online polls validates my existence.

 

[JustaPlayer]

The answer is 42

 

[Roman]

Wow, I truly like Algolei's solution. It could be correct - I will have to ask the DM about it to be able to tell you. If it is correct it might matter how the symbols are filled into the blanks. People here have provided some interesting suggestions, but it could be as simple as filling them in order (left to right or to to bottom).

Yes, the DM is a native English speaker, but I am not so I did not even notice there was a grammatical error in the instructions.

As to why we as players did not do more to protest the ignominous end of a year-long enjoyable campaign, well I certainly did mention that I was dissapointed that the campaign ended this way and the DM said that he shares the dissapointment. I guess he expected us to be able to solve the puzzle without too much difficulty - we have successfully solved lots of puzzles before. Apart from that, though, what is there to 'protest'? It is a pity the campaign ended this way, that much is true, but it is the DM running the campaign and we tend to believe that ultimately the DM can take his/her game anywhere he/she wants - I guess we are just a very docile group and get along too well together to make a fuss about any game. I would therefore appreciate if the remarks overtly hostile to our former DM were turned down. Thanks!

So... it is better to look at this as an opportunity to start afresh rather than being too hung up on the late camapign as good as it was. Currently, one of the players in the former game is running a new campaign which all of the old players have joined including the DM of the last game. The start looks promising and I enjoy playing my new character - a mad feral druid, who already caused several interesting 'situations'.

It is just that the puzzle keeps on bugging me - I simply need a solution! I am sure you get that feeling sometimes. That's part of the logic of posting the puzzle here so that you people can try to tackle it.

 

[darkelfo]

I think this puzzle has two solutions.

The first is...

I solved the puzzle. The answer: Your DM is an ass.

Read my next post for the second.

 

[darkelfo]

Here is the second solution:

It's interesting, because my answer came out to be "never again game with anyone who hinges an entire campaign on such an "unfun" puzzle."

 

[Torm]

It is just that the puzzle keeps on bugging me - I simply need a solution! I am sure you get that feeling sometimes. That's part of the logic of posting the puzzle here so that you people can try to tackle it.

So you can make us crazy, too, you mean.

Your campaign is over. Get him to give you the solution. Some of us don't even believe there is one. And now you're gonna have to have it at some point, to tell us, er thar's gonna be a lynchin'.

(Just kidding. But still.... )

 

[darkelfo]

I would invite you to have you GM post on these boards, but I think it would get so heated that the thread would be instantly closed. I can't hink of an appropriate way tp hold this GM out to the public ridicule he deserves and still abide by the forum rules. I guess the best way is to refer readers to two original posts. This "GMs" actions speak for themselves.

 

[Roman]

So you can make us crazy, too, you mean.

Well, I would not want to deny you the opportunity would I?

Your campaign is over. Get him to give you the solution. Some of us don't even believe there is one. And now you're gonna have to have it at some point, to tell us, er thar's gonna be a lynchin'.

(Just kidding. But still.... )

I did ask for the solution after the campaign ended, but the DM was not forthcoming. He did, however, acquiesce to give me the puzzle to post on the net, so I am sure he will tell me if a solution from any of you is correct.

 

[RSKennan]

I don't know why anyone is voting at all. Without knowing the actual answer, no one can verify that the puzzle is legitimate and, of course, if we have the answer we know it is not impossible. Furthermore, if we get the answer and find out the puzzle wasn't properly presented, then we know the current answer to the poll is that it had been impossible. The jury is still out on the 15 x 15 puzzle, but the poll is currently, by default, impossible to answer.

You and D+1 have blinded me with science. I voted impossible, because my hunch is that the GM didn't have a solution and the whole thing was a snipe hunt to buy time ... but I'm probably wrong. I'm probably unfairly projecting the tactics of a certain bad GM I know onto this guy.