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Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

hexapipes.vercel.app

151–160 of 164 posts

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#151
Puzzle 850 (10x10) appears to be unsolvable? After fixing the rest of the tiles, I was left with a scrambled area in the top-middle with 3 loose ends. Even if the affected tiles were all adjacent and shape-compatible (no on both counts), there's no way to pair up 3 ends that doesn't leave one out.

My frustration with wasting time (23 hours; I slept on it) on an unsolvable puzzle is somewhat mitigated by the fact the problem taught me this: if you count the free ends and come up with an odd number, you can know immediately that the puzzle isn't solvable, without rotating any tiles. An even number doesn't prove the puzzle is solvable, but an odd number definitely indicates a problem.

Edit: Nevermind; there was a 4th loose end I was overlooking. Finding it led to getting unstuck & the puzzle was solvable after all.

Unfortunately due to the way the site works, I don't seem to be able to get a new 10x10 puzzle by refreshing the page? So I'm stuck on the unsolvable one. I can imagine saving the progress is a feature, but you should also add a "pass" or "skip" button. Oh - I just realized I can "hack" it by manually changing the number in the URL to something else, e.g. /10/851.

Before I realized the puzzle was unsolvable I was also looking for a button to randomize/reset the initial tile positions. I was thinking maybe I wasn't seeing the solution due to my preconceived ideas from already-placed tiles. That wouldn't have helped here, but maybe on a solvable one being able to re-randomize would help a player get unstuck.

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#152

Puzzle 850 (10x10) appears to be unsolvable? After fixing the rest of the tiles, I was left with a scrambled area in the top-middle with 3 loose ends. Even if the affected tiles were all adjacent and shape-compatible (no on both counts), there's no way to pair up 3 ends that doesn't leave one out. My frustration with wasting time (23 hours; I slept on it) on an unsolvable puzzle is somewhat mitigated by the fact the…

Thanks for the feedback. I'm very sure all puzzles on the site are solvable. But a skip button makes total sense when one hits a deadend. I'll work it in when I have the time.

With a randomize button do you mean a complete reset to initial state? Or something like keep the locked tiles, reset the rest?

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It already does that on mobile. It allows marking edges as connecting or not, and locking tiles with a long press.

I found the edge marking on mobile to just be a random source of confusion. Kept doing it by accident.

Sorry about this. I sometimes place them accidentally too.

I have an idea of placing them with some kind of gesture - like touch and drag between tiles. That wouldn't interfere with tapping to rotate tiles. But on the other hand, I'm usually zoomed in on mobile and I use touch and drag to move around. Interfering with that would be bad too.

I'm open to ideas for better controls.

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you on a Mac? I thought I got rid of this but I haven't tested on those.

No, Windows 10.

I see, thanks for reporting.

This contextmenu issue is sure showing me the ugly side of frontend development :/

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#156

I solved a 40x40! 22:33:38.383

Congrats! This is some amazing dedication =).

Lol, it was probably more like 3 hours, there was a solid gap where I had to work and exercise and sleep and be social in between.

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#158

Puzzle 850 (10x10) appears to be unsolvable? After fixing the rest of the tiles, I was left with a scrambled area in the top-middle with 3 loose ends. Even if the affected tiles were all adjacent and shape-compatible (no on both counts), there's no way to pair up 3 ends that doesn't leave one out. My frustration with wasting time (23 hours; I slept on it) on an unsolvable puzzle is somewhat mitigated by the fact the…

Thanks for the feedback. I'm very sure all puzzles on the site are solvable. But a skip button makes total sense when one hits a deadend. I'll work it in when I have the time. With a randomize button do you mean a complete reset to initial state? Or something like keep the locked tiles, reset the rest?

+1, a reset button would be great, to go back to initial state entirely. Sometimes you know you've stuffed up the logic on the puzzle and seeing it fresh is the best option. I found myself searching for the button as well.

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh come tf on, you can quite easily just view source and hide the timer, GP even was nice enough to make his code nice and tidy with easy to recognize names. Just ctrl-f timer. It's not like you are having to rewrite his game. Your edge-case psychological issue should be worth GP rewriting his game, when you couldn't be bothered to change some CSS in two seconds.

It's not an edge case. Perfectly reasonable suggestion for the author.

It defines edge case.

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#160
post #78

Make a daily one where everyone has the same game for the day and you can share your scores and my entire friend group would play along with the other ones we do like Wordle and NYT Mini Crossword. Let me know if you add this!

Plumble?
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