February Monthly Reward - The Fossil Hunt

You’re correct about the outside digits being 1&2 but not about the diamond placement or 8&9 being used initially.

Gherkin Soon

I'm also stuck on puzzle 8... I think I'm just not understanding how the 2 diamonds rule is explained... For row 3 and column 7 (sum of 42 between the 2 diamonds), I assumed that the two diamonds were placed between cells 1&2 and 8&9, and that the two digits on the outside were 1 and 2, which obviously doesn't work... Anyone can clarify that for me?

Annie-Pier Tremblay

Already did that... Put the crusts and everything, if you know what I mean, hahaha... Other that that, no dice...

João Paulo Arantes

whoops, I mixed up 8 and 9. That was for 9. For #8, start with the 42 columns/rows. They are the most constraining. They work well with the 41 columns as well.

Michael Zuber

What worked for me was to look at what numbers can go into the middle cell in box 1, hopefully that nudges in the right direction :)

Michael Zuber

Sadly I had to give up on puzzle 11 :-(

Jurgen Landrie

I know the time already finished but I still want to... I'm stuck on #8... Did some coloring and managed to get some border numbers, but now I have no idea what to do... Any hints?

João Paulo Arantes

They don't send confirmations but don't worry, you'll get the shoutout eventually. It just takes time, depending on the number of correct solutions they get & as far as I remember they started reading out names for this hunt couple of days later than usual, which adds even more onto the waiting time

I submitted on the 8th and haven't had a shoutout yet, or confirmation :/ It's my first puzzle hunt too and I'm getting quite worried...

Caitlin Bond

Hi there! This was my first puzzle hunt and I finished it a couple days ago. I emailed the final message and I was wondering if there was any confirmation that the submission was accepted? I haven't heard a shoutout in any recent video either (which I've assumed is just videos are prepped in advance). Thanks for any help/advice!

Alexander Carley

Don't give up bel ... we still have a few days. I'm also struggling on 11, together with you. Let's crack this :-)

Jurgen Landrie

I can't seem to figure out Puzzle 11 :,) so regrettably I won't finish this in time, but I'm so stoked I was able to figure out the other 10! Some of them really put me through it, but it's clear I'm learning some things. ;) Thank you for the great hunt! I look forward to the next one <3

bel

Is anyone else having trouble with the final link after completing the puzzles? I’m getting an error message: The link you clicked has been deleted or suspended

Gherkin Soon

As far as I understand they can be both, depending on the digit in cell 1 of that row / column. But I'm not 100% sure as I'm struggling with the rules as well as I just can't seem to find the solution.

Jurgen Landrie

Right there with you Steve...

Kevin Smith

....... and there goes the Plushy. 4 hours on Palynology and be buggered if I can figure out how box 9 and box 7 resolve. I am a light bulb - I have reached my ceiling :)

Steve Hope

*checks notes* his shading was wrong! Got it as soon as the shading was fixed!

It means leftmost refers to the rows and topmost refers to the columns, and either could be +1 or -1.

For both row and column clues, could be greater or less

Allan Bagg

I’m confused. The directions say “one greater or one less than the leftmost or topmost digit in the row or column, respectively”. Is the “respectively” only for leftmost->row and topmost->column, or is it for greater/less too? As in greater->leftmost->row and lower->topmost->column?

Mark Richardson

Many thanks for that clarity

Mark Rice

If the two adjacent cells are both shaded or both unshaded and the difference is equal to the top most digit for columns or left most for rows, they must have a diamond between them. If the one cell is shaded and the other unshaded, and their difference is equal to the top most digit minus or plus 1 for columns or left most digit minus or plus 1 for rows, they must have a diamond between them. If the difference is neither equal to the indicator digit or difference plus or minus one, there will be no diamond irrespective of the shading. i.e. You could have a shaded and unshaded cell adjacent to each other without a diamond.

Allan Bagg

I believe that validation does confirm both the overall solution and that your digits marked by letters are correct, yes.

Mark Rice

I'm hoping someone can clarify the Field Work shading rules for me. Does the negative constraint apply to both numbers and shading (ie. a pair of digits that can be marked by a diamond must be marked with a diamond AND orthogonally connected boxes that separate a shaded region from an unshaded region must, in fact, have a diamond)? I think what I'm really asking is, do two orthogonally connected cells without a diamond have to be the same shading/unshading? Ty!

Mark Rice

Question - when completing puzzles 1-4 you get a congratulations your solution is correct... Does that account for the specific digits marked by the letters? I ask because I am struggling with my logic on Puzzle #5. I keep braking the puzzle, and I'm concerned I don't have the right digits...

Tiffany Holzer

It's days. To my knowledge they do not send a confirmation email. Don't worry!

Emily Williams

I started with square 9 and cell 1 in row 8 and column 8

Jurgen Landrie

I'm still waiting for that insight :-)

Jurgen Landrie

Not to be too eager, haha, but how long after submitting the answer until they read your name out on the channel. I'm paranoid that my email was missed :/ This is my first puzzle hunt, do they usually send a confirmation email?

Caitlin Bond

I'm also having trouble with 7, any hint that could help me break into the puzzle? Appreciate the help!

I was stuck until I coloured the cells odd/even and paid close attention to the "greater than" rule (which helped eliminate possibilities). Hope that helps.

Steve Hope

Ive triple checked my shading but cant get a message to trigger! Bummed, but First hunt completed though!!

I'm past that and still stuck. Any tips? I'll get the right boxes all done then find out it was wrong.

Molly Baryo

I am also having trouble with puzzle 7. I can't seem to break in to the puzzle. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

A new world record - 265 minutes to solve puzzle 6!!! That's longer than some brainiac took to do the whole hunt.

Steve Hope

In case anyone else runs into this issue.When the epilogue grid opens just select Style as say GR (for Grey). Highlight the digits from the Field Work puzzle that make up the shaded areas that is the area that includes the center digit. As soon as you do that the message comes up. Dont touch the unshaded area. I was highlighting the unshaded area in a different colour but that is not to be done.

sampath kumar

Yep, got two digits immediately and now I’ve hit a brick wall. Gotta be something beautiful that I’m missing.

Bondles

Have you guys (Simon and Mark) thought about recording yourselves solving the monthly reward puzzles in case you run into another "The Ancient Wall"

Andy Whitaker

This is where I'm stuck as well. Did you figure it out? Any hint would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Kevin Smith

I completed the 11 puzzles and then onto to the URL which took me to the Fossil Hunt epilogue grid on the swaroop tool. I put in all the digits in the grid from the completed field work (puzzle 11) and then did the shaded and unshaded colouring. Nothing happens. If anyone can please let me know what needs to be done here to get the message.

sampath kumar

BIzarrely I woke up one morning and had a blinding insight on that puzzle.

Athel Stan

Thanks for an enjoyable hunt. I was expecting some light relief after the prevous two, but a couple of these had a real kick for me. In particular I struggled with Eukaryotes for some time before alighting on the correct strategy.

Athel Stan

Ignore me - there is no negative constraint!! Apologies all - I'll finish now and try the next one ...

Laurinda Brown

I have a problem with number 10 - in row 8 I have 583197462. I can't put a 9 next to the 4 because the difference is 5 and there would need to be a diamond. Unfortunately the puzzle then breaks. The 2, 6 at the beginning of row 6 doesn't work with the diamond either way. A friend did put a 9 in the 8th row 6th position and finished. I was close to finishing and have k - but I think there is a problem with this puzzle. What does anyone else think - have I don't something weird?

Laurinda Brown

I made it to Field Work last night and decided to take a look at the puzzle and the rules before I went to bed, but did not start it. I had dreams about that puzzle all night long and now I'm a little afraid to start it. It's very intimidating to me.

Scott Ab

I could use a little clue on puzzle 7. I have a pretty good idea where to start but the how is not really clear to me

Jurgen Landrie

Working fine for me ..

Jurgen Landrie

Are the links to the puzzles no longer working for anyone else?

Justin Dill

I absolutely loved this hunt! Most of it was just the right difficulty and some of the logic was very cool. Except puzzle 11. I can't even figure out how to break in because of the much weaker constraints.

spectria.limina

You and me both my friend :-)

Jurgen Landrie

Hi folks, we have updated the hunt document to include a tiny naming change in the rules to puzzle #8, and also this new version now has a changelog in the preliminary pages so people can keep track of the versions (project managers will be delighted!) Mark & Simon

Cracking The Cryptic

Coloring is a good start. R1 was interesting

Daniel Gaca

In a way, all diamonds are given. But if there are exactly 2 their position is hidden, you only know there are axactly two and the # in the margin to figure out their position

Daniel Gaca

Could I have some clarification on which rows/columns actually have the negative constraint on puzzle #8 'Homage to Natalia Rybczynski? Thanks.

Scott Ab

Looking for a little help starting #4 Mesa... I've tried coloring spaces with the same number, but it only gets me so far... Could someone give me a tiny hint on what I need to consider?

Tiffany Holzer

Such a fantastic set of puzzles. I just did the last one a second time. It has some amazing logic in it! Thanks Mark & Simon!

Kim Geiger

It means off by one in either direction, whether it is topmost or leftmost

Mastader

Hi, question about the rules on the final puzzle. I haven't been sure how to read this line: "one greater or one less than the leftmost or topmost digit in the row or column, respectively." Is that to be interpreted as [off by one in either direction] from either [leftmost digit in the row] or [topmost digit of the column]? Or is it meant to read as [one greater than the leftmost digit in the row] or [one less than the topmost digit in the column]? Basically, I'm not sure which way the word "respectively" is being used, and the way I've been working at the puzzle so far seems under-constrained so I'm becoming suspicious about my first reading of the clue.

Aaron Hume

Yes, same for me

Pablo Martín

Both links works for me, but the tinyurl link is already solved for me (I don't need to shade anything)

Tran Hieu

There is no intermediate solution, no.

Philipp Blume

The rebrand.ly/xxxx link is down, but the tinyurl.com/xxxxx works for me

Pablo Martín

I got the message that the solution is correct, but when I insert the column 3 in the rebrand link doesn’t find any page

Pablo Martín

My first hunt. I feel like such an imposter as I must be the only member who's not in MENSA (or working for NASA) LOL

Steve Hope

Unless I'm missing something, there wasn't an intermediate solution to submit? So unlike most of the usual hunts, you have to finish the entire thing to be eligible for the prize?

Jeff Frank

Thanks, Philipp, including for the revised file. We have substituted the file so there is now no erratum. Anyone still working off the file from the original email will have to transfer C, rather than "row 6, column 5". Mark

Cracking The Cryptic

ERRATUM: in puzzle #3, the cell labeled 'C' is in row 6, column 6. That cell contains the digit that must be transferred forward to puzzle #5. Please disregard the instruction that tells you to transfer row 6, column 5 into puzzle #5.

Philipp Blume

Super excited for this hunt. The little Hippo is just so adorable!

Marit_Watery

I’ve been waiting for this all day!! Let’s go!

Thaddeus Wenger