I thought some of you might find this behind-the-scenes interesting. I'm checking puzzle #87 this morning. Sometimes checking is easy, I have a clear set of words that I map into the dungeon so I know it works. Lots of times they are set before I've drawn them. But sometimes it takes an hour or more to check there's a working solution.
With the puzzle below being at the back end of the book it needs to be tricky, so I added an extra scoring criteria for word length, you need: 2 x exactly 7-letters, and 3 x exactly 5 letters, along with the 3matching gemstones to get the target score of 29. All this done whilst following the word placement rules: at the end of each set of letters placed horizontally or vertically all letters placed in the dungeon must form words (scrabble style), and all words on exit must be unique.
Below the picture I describe my first, and failing, solution.
Not a solution
1. Play MEAT vertically from the entrance (first T in gemstone) 2. Play -NTER horizontally forming ENTER - (first 5 letter score, second gemstone) 3. Play -ONES vertically forming TONES - (second 5 letter score) 4. Play -E-TS horizontally forming TENTS - (third 5-letter) 5. Play E-D-MIC vertically forming ENDEMIC (7 letters), ME, ADO, ME and IS. 6. Exit with a RISOTTO (7 letters, third gemstone)
But, that's two of the word ME, so the 'all words at the end much be unique' rule is broken. Dungeon failed.
If anyone wants a go, here's the empty image (note that it's in draft)...
I have found a solution, so it'll make the book.
Enjoy melting your brain, email me if you'd like to see a working solution. Even better, email me your own solutions.
