Do Rodents Dream Of Sudoku Sleep?

[@martysears]

Happy Finkz Friday! Thank you so much Simon, for continuing to follow the Rat Run saga :) There’s a bit of an interesting story behind this one. In stark contrast to last week’s puzzle which I was still setting just a few days before I published it, this renban one I made many many months ago… even before I had released episode 1, before anyone else had met Finkz yet. This and another puzzle (coming soon) were two of the first Rat Runs I set. A sort of ‘proof of concept’ for myself that I had come up with something that could be very fun. At that point I was still just planning to do about 5 - 10 episodes (this later grew and grew!) I didn’t put it in season 1 because A) I wanted to hold back some easier ones with more familiar constraints for season 2 for the sake of variety, and B) thematically it fit much better into season 2, once teleports have been well established (I wanted to have quite a few teleport puzzles first, before taking it to the extreme and cramming all 9 into the grid like a crazy person.) This point in proceedings felt like the perfect place for it, and even though it’s one of the much easier ones, I really enjoy the flow of this one, so have been excited for people to see it. I think the logic is quite different from any of the other episodes so far, and my favourite part is the bit of nonsense in in box 5 / 6 where you need to take a digit higher than 5 to physically connect the path, but a 7 isn’t available, which forces diagonal rinky-dinkage. This episode is also quite a good example of how often, the last part of a maze doesn't have many walls and is quite 'open', because by that point most of the digits are filled in, and so the path can become constrained by sudoku rather than walls. As usual it was very satisfying to see Simon follow the intended solve path pretty much 100% :) Have a great weekend everyone, and catch you soon Ps: this was the pre-experiment lab note for anyone interested: Experiment 16 (magenta) - 20th November 1974 "I had a feeling Elliot wouldn't be satisfied until all nine teleports were integrated into a single maze. Continued teleport training is apparently essential for Phase 3, though he remains frustratingly tight-lipped about the full details of those plans. I'm now convinced that this has become about more than just…"

[@TFMurphy]

I was gratified and felt a little vindicated when the title of one of the upcoming puzzles turned up in the preview lists: given the subject matter, I was certain it would appear sooner or later so long as the series continued long enough. It is the privelege and joy of a setter to be able to choose the most fitting and perfect double meaning to title each puzzle. So suffice to say, I'm highly looking forward to that one in particular. (I really enjoy modifier cell variants -- especially given some particularly memorable ones by heliopolix where you can be wrangling 3+ different sets of modifiers at once.) ... (possibly spoilerish musings on future week) ... ... While I expect the theme of the puzzle to be a particular modifier puzzle, I do wonder if there may instead (or also?) be a theme of multiple paths that eventually collapse to indicate only one that is *correct* (but with the others still having an effect on the sudoku logic). It wasn't something I had considered before, but given previous weeks' comments wondering when we might see a straight line to the cupcake... well, this might be one way to resolve it. Well, we'll see what you've got for us in due time, in any case.

[@Timlagor]

You now have two challenges -the one where you find out at the last minute that Finkz did in fact go straight for the cupcake (I was quietly hoping it would be number 13) - the one where Finkz goes almost to the cupcake and then wanders off around the grid before coming back

[@martysears]

@@TFMurphy Haha loving these anticipatory musings! I love that you thought of next week's title too and were semi expecting / hoping for it to turn up. Glad I could deliver on that. I thought of that title a long time ago and always knew I would do that kind of puzzle at some point. And you're right, I really enjoy coming up with the titles. Was particularly happy with 'Limited Addition' after spending days struggling to think of a good name for episode 11. Sometimes when it eventually comes you know 'that's the one!'

[@martysears]

@@Timlagor :D I think there have already been a few where Finkz has got very near the cupcake but then had to go off on a detour. Episode 7 she gets very close right at the beginning

[@EricMill]

In my imagination, this series is building towards a dramatic escape sequence! :) one can hope.

[@Ferrastar]

Marty, I applaud your ability to break the bit in Simon’s brain responsible for scanning, they always give me a chuckle

[@Etterbeer]

30:46 - "The color of C is 5". I like how this is a normal sentence on this channel.

[@andybatts-vo2gx]

This may be my favorite puzzle I've ever worked off of this channel. 24:54, and just a smooth, clever, "whoosh"-y solve the whole way through. Gorgeous.

[@StefanieWai]

Thank you Simon and @martysears for these wonderful, themed weekly treats! As I'm in Asia at the moment, Finkz's adventures land in time for a lazy Saturday morning - the only day in the week I get a lie-in. I see the video notification, I line up the shared screens on my phone, press pause, make my coffee, switch on 'do not disturb', arrange my armchair cushions, and off we go :) Makes my day so thank you again ❤

[@lancelot848]

Looks like Marty is giving us a heads-up that some future version of the puzzle will have a "naughty" teleport that doesn't copy the digit correctly

[@Guerin78]

I'm actually expecting an outright wrogn puzzle, tbh. And I approve if he does go that route.

[@Tokikosworld]

@@Guerin78 CTC Wrogn pack!? Give it to me right now, Doc!

[@skid68]

Thank you once again to Simon and Marty, Simon's delight in solving the puzzle makes me smile with I do need :)

[@vaguevague]

As much as it pains me to not do these puzzles as soon as they’re posted, I’ve developed a lovely Saturday morning routine of getting breakfast from a local cafe and then siting down with Simon, Finkz, and a warm drink.

[@michaelpdawson]

Every time I successfully complete one of these puzzles I expect to be given a cupcake.

[@LifelineSoF]

The cupcake is a lie!

[@cypher686]

That just makes no sense. Who’s buying this came?

[@MadHauk]

This is the first RatRun puzzle I have solved without help from the video :D I will still watch, for they are always a lot of fun.

[@chocolateboy300]

I finished in 42:53 minutes. The story of this series is getting real exciting. I think I can sense what is coming and that sounds awesome. I thought for sure that this would be the first troll puzzle that allowed Finkz to run immediately to the cupcake, but it wasn't meant to be...yet. I really enjoyed how forced this one seemed. Once one teleport was ruled out, the puzzle flowed in a satisfying order. I think my favorite part was resolving the shape of the pathway from G to H by using the pathway above to limit a digit that already appeared on the line by appearing in r8c3. These puzzles have been the highlight of my week every week. Thanks for constructing these, Marty! Great Puzzle!

[@martysears]

and thank you for all your lovely and detailed comments, I love to read this sort of thing... especially hearing what people's favourite parts of a puzzle were

[@jonhansen9622]

Wow, this one took me just over 43 minutes! So much fun to solve! Thanks Marty Sears for the wonderful puzzle :D

[@michaels4340]

it's a rare treat for me to beat the video length -- and what's more, the solve time! i must have really scanned the grid well today, or kept very close track of the teleport digits... thanks for the puzzle, Marty!!

[@SirHeinrich]

Love the letters in the teleports! Makes it so much easier to match the colors

[@Timlagor]

Would help a lot if the letters were black

[@sjm6280]

What must have gone through Finkz's mind when she saw confetti emerging from that 3 in the corner? She surely got distracted and turned left to investigate that 3 instead of turning right and going straight towards the cupcake P.S. If Finkz hasn't lost her religion, I'm sure she believes her destiny is in the hands of a superior being... may call Him "Marty"

[@HunterJE]

18:38 Can get a bit more clever with the 5s on the E-F line-since F-H is also five cells, it uses the 5 in box 9 so you can limit the E-F 5 pencil mark to the righthand three cells of box 6

[@studgerbil9081]

yep, there are five-cell segments in boxes 3,6, and 9 at the end which help sort things out a bit.

[@PyrsPyrs]

Great puzzle, great solve. Choosing the letter A for a digit while A is also assigned to a different digit on a teleporter is a move of pure genius to keep us on our toes.

[@praematura]

Oy. I figured out the path pretty quickly, but then got stuck on box 3 with nothing seeming to work. Started watching Simon's solve, then realized 1234 had TWO orientations, and after that the rest of the puzzle flowed smoothly, letting me finish in 24:04 (conflict checker off). Many thanks to Marty for yet another amazing puzzle!

[@fredgoes9608]

Took me 36:55 of happy solving. Really a lot of fun, these puzzles and the theme that goes with it! Thanks, Marty!!

[@Qurqirish_Dragon]

I got stuck for a long time, and had to view the video for a hint that really shouldn't have needed: the restrictions on box 3 at around 21 minutes in the video. I had already deduced everything Simon did before there (so at worst he verified I didn't mess up), and then fairly quickly completed the puzzle with that hint. As always, Finkz day is the highlight of the week!

[@A_CC_K]

Best puzzle series! The brilliance of the setting by Marty Sears, and the genius solving by Simon makes these videos pure enjoyment.

[@grahamania]

While I do totally love these puzzles, I feel like my solve of it needs to live up to the quality of the puzzle somehow. No pressure, no pressure, must get Finkz to the cupcake!!!!!! Kind Comment.

[@grahamania]

00:54:44 for me. I have not failed Finkz this week :)

[@sherifkkvtm]

​@@grahamaniai beat you 😂 00:53:16

[@wordclover]

@@grahamania I didn't beat you - 54:45

[@grahamania]

But we got Frinkz to the cupcake, so all it right with the world for another week :)

[@cypher686]

Why do you need to say kind comment?

[@franzelmagetower]

I do love me some Finkz. Kudos (again) to Marty Sears! Just a joy to solve.

[@Coyotek4]

25:02 ... Fridays were made for this series! Another wonderful installment!

[@Oznej]

What a brilliant puzzle, such a joy to solve! The logic flows beautifully, and it's surprisingly simple - absolutely stellar setting.

[@ChappersDave]

Simon's solves would be somewhat speedier should he remember simple sudoku

[@brianj959]

Yes, much yelling at the screen today lol. Bless.

[@stangerrits6712]

What else is new :)

[@AO968]

Somehow, doing simple sudoku while solving a sudoku irks him, and his brain forces him to take the long way around.

[@Over-Leveled]

I feel like Simon is an absolute masterclass in determining complex logical deductions, but he trips up on simple sudoku. Meanwhile Mark is a masterclass in speed sudoku solving, so I think they balance each other out well.

[@jonsaboe2019]

Seems to prefer "maths" proofs over sudoku.

[@srwapo]

32:57, I was surprised how quickly Finkz was was forced to go through MOST of the portals, but not one of them. Definitely like how the distance between the portals forced your path quite a bit.

[@stevieinselby]

🍰🐀 Yay for Friday Finkzday! This one flowed really nicely, finished in 25 minutes 👍🏻 As so often, Simon makes things difficult for himself by spending a long time thinking about theory instead of numbers, when the relevant question to ask is how the segments in box 3 are made up - so much then falls into place.

[@Pete7396]

19:31 No, lets not call those two digits A, lets instead look at the teleporters in the same rows, columns and boxes and note that every single letter appears except for I.

[@Konve]

But does for E. So frustrating 😂

[@mikeash47]

My favorite thing about these puzzles is how I always look it over and think, how in the world do I even get started on this, and resign myself to just watching the video. Then I notice, well, the path has to go here, and like so… then stuck again. Wait, the path also has to do this…. And before I realize what’s happening I’m halfway done.

[@ericpraline1302]

Thanks, that was delightful and surprisingly smooth flowing. No head scratching required.

[@WebOfStuff]

Found your channel a few days ago. This was my first own solve and it was fun. I missed a few obvious things and made a few wrong deductions and had to backtrack. It worked out in the end, though. Thanks a lot for the content :)

[@Kinada]

About 35 minutes. Refreshingly easier than some of the previous ones, at least for me. Great puzzle.

[@gappy3234]

Interesting to have one where nearly all the route can be mapped before a single number is added. I cocked up royally at one point, and had to backtrack a fair bit, but on the second attempt it was plain sailing. Another brilliant puzzle, and I really liked cracking what was happening in box 3 to get things moving along.

[@markp7262]

29:35 finish. Another fun maze, excellent logic path! Amazing!

[@brspies]

My first Finkz solve! Beautiful puzzle, always felt like there was progress to be made once I remembered all the rules haha.

[@y_prime]

solved in 14:28 - a bit surprising that most of the path is filled in before any digits are possible (at least in my experience), but it works nicely

[@henk-ottolimburg7947]

Really loved this puzzle. Almost forgot the teleportal-exclusiveness-rule.

[@ChicanoryIsMyName]

Another lovely entry in the series. What a pleasure to solve. I'm in love with a lovely lady rat.

[@noxumbra173]

At the 31-minute mark, Simon misses the black dot in box 4 which place the 4. But does pencil that a 4 can go in that row.

[@andymoss]

Classic Simon!

[@artursruseckis4242]

Simon misses quite a lot this time. Normally I am having fun watching him doing crazy logic to find a digit which is a write-in because of some trivial deduction Simon missed. But this time it was bit annoying, too many such cases. Simon could be more diligent cleaning up the cells after writing in digits. There were multiple cases when simply clearing impossible pencilmarks Simon could get to obvious deductions, yet he kept lots of impossible pencilmarks throughout entire time. Especially annoying are comments like "and now it can't be 7, which helps us a lot". Yes, Simon, it can't be 7 for 5 minutes or even longer because you already have 7 in the first row of this column which you've never noticed. Probably I am simply in a bad mood today...

[@virtuous-sloth]

When there are multiple paths between two known locations, I will either mark all paths then later eliminate choices, or I till use a different colour path which indicates "not exact". I'd get lost otherwise.

[@MaierFlorian]

Another round of Finkz-Friday, I'm ready 🥰

[@brachypelmasmith]

Finally a Finkz puzzle I can solve after several above my level

[@TurquoizeGoldscraper]

45:40 for me - I got stuck about halfway through, took a break and gave it another try. I kept the timer because I remembered a lot of the logic and hoped that I wouldn't make what ever mistake I made the first time. Apparently I wasn't imaginative enough with the segment connecting I and D.

[@LithmusEarth]

30:38 Once you marked 18-19 minutes in the 5s in column 9, I was like, oh look for five-segments, well the Blue to Pink is 5 segments and has a 5 on it, so the bottom two digits in the red to pink can't have 5s. That's been true for a while, so this red digit could have become a 6 that way, but, Simon always finds another way to do a puzzle.

[@gmalivuk]

19:47 Ah yes, colors would be too confusing so instead let's have a second set of the letters A through I that are unrelated to the A through I on the tekeporters. That will be much easier to keep straight!

[@RichSmith77]

To be fair, it is easier. Colours would fill the entire cell, just like a teleporter. Letters can be put in the corner, different to the teleporters. (Speaking as someone who also labelled those first two cells A 🙂).

[@SolinoOruki]

Un-Marty-Sears-esque is my new favorite adjective 😂

[@charlier.k4934]

Incredible how you did this puzzle so fast! Took me 3 times as long.. how do you waste almost zero time!

[@piarittersporn]

I celebrate Finckz. Another brilliant adventure and very approachable.

[@77kaczka77]

After Simon and Mark, Finkz is my third star of CtC.

[@mstmar]

i forgot about the part of the rules that said "teleports that don't match always have different digits", and turns out you didn't need the rule. so if anyone wants a slightly harder challenge, try it without that rule

[@strawberrymilk3695]

39:11! this one was so fun and more approachable compared to other finkz puzzles haha. now it's time to watch simon's solve :)

[@daanperelachaise]

Best series ever indeed. 15:20 for me. I guess it saves a lot of time not explaining everything while solving :). Besides that, I love the new fog sudoku pack and especially ThePedallingPianist's puzzles. I don't think I've played one of their puzzles before, but love 'm!

[@martysears]

ThePedallingPianist's puzzles are amaaazing. And he's a lovely chap too

[@xerodeus2337]

I just realized another really cool variant sudoku using software would actually change clues on the puzzle as you solved it.

[@JiiHoo00]

I don't want to give anything away, but check out the puzzle Foggy on the Details by Karl the Fog! Simon solved it in the video titled: Are You Sure You Know The Rules Of Sudoku?

[@xerodeus2337]

@ I think I saw that one where it was more the clues were misleading but I mean like.. a renban line turns into a thermo or region sum.

[@JiiHoo00]

@@xerodeus2337 I wouldn't call Foggy on the Details puzzle having clues that were misleading. The rules as stated at the start are changed in the middle of the solve, and you need to make deductions based on the different versions. But I think I might have understood what your original idea was. Do you mean that the clues totally change? Like when placing a digit it would cause the software to actually remove some line and maybe place another? Definitely an interesting idea.

[@xerodeus2337]

@ yeah exactly!

[@otterotterottercid]

Only in a Simon video I go from "yeah obviously" to "wait, what?" within seconds 😂

[@Danimrich]

A very enjoyable solve path! I didn't get stuck and solved it in 47:46.

[@tommmyyyy11]

Its so funny how whenever these maces are included, because of the layout, Simon forgets basic Sudoku exists :D

[@scarletmanuka6170]

I mean, he forgets that on other puzzles too, that's just Simon (and although we tease him about it, I miss plenty of it myself)

[@tms1624]

I started out with colours, which was messy and slow. A shading confusion likely caused an error. I restarted and found it to be much simpler with a few letters only and a minimal use of colour. That way I finished under 30min.

[@michakoppes7416]

23:51 Finkz rarely disappoints

[@emdiar6588]

BRILLIANT!! (As always)

[@Jodawo]

We Americans do like the British accent. We definitely love the characters in James Bond and Harry Potter movies. Tom Holland playing Spider-Man is also a wonderful and quite endearing in person. We just have a slight problem with how you all say aluminum and mistaken ⚽ for 🏈.

[@gi0nbecell]

To be clear: it is *you* who misuse the term _football_ for a sport that involves people _picking up_ a _non circular_ ball and running around with it. This strange activity you call a _sport_ more so resembles a coward’s rugby variant with all this protective gear, and the general shape of the ball (and the fact that there are basically 30-second segments of actual _game_ in between several minutes of breaks - a football match, if not going to overtime at a tournament, lasts for 90 minutes plus a 15 minute break [and possibly some minutes to account for pauses during the match], not 4-5 hours for 60 minutes of actual match time). Also, football (the real one) was literally _invented_ in England *and* is the objectively superior sport. Your silly variant is, in fact, so unimportant globally that not only do (with insignificant exceptions) only Americans even _watch_ it, and even the Australians found it uninteresting enough to create their own version (despite two competing rugby leagues, btw).

[@barmetler]

36min! Very fun puzzle. Maybe easier than some of the others, or maybe I'm getting better at this XD

[@ronemod249]

In every video Simon at some point says i cant see it or dont see what to do next and every time it is just sudoku.

[@gi0nbecell]

Well, it _is_ atrocious of all those constructors to make Simon do Sudoku in their Sudoku puzzles, after all…

[@КонстантинИванов-я9к3ю]

This one tooks me about 3 hours to figuring out it's not about filling the grid with teleport letters. After finding actual breakthrough, it becomes much easier.

[@leefisher6366]

In response to the question of the title: no, but at least one of them Finkz she does.

[@katiekawaii]

From start to finish, so much fun to solve. As always. 😄 Five stars.

[@Magickal_Gamer]

60 minutes on the dot. So much fun!

[@awilliams1701]

a 5 lenght segment with a 2 on it needs a 4. Since 4 is already in a 2/4 pair in column 8 the teleporter "D"? I think? (it's the light purple one) is 4.

[@cypher686]

When the instructions are a chapter from lord of the rings, the puzzle is really not worth it

[@martysears]

Fair enough, although most of the rules are the same as previous puzzles in the series, it's really just the test constraint that changes each time

[@pouletbelette]

It can be discouraging, I understand. But if there is one setter and/or one series for which you know it will be worth it, it is this one. I hope you watched Simon's solve or ended up solving the puzzle yourself and that you'll agree with me.

[@waffu311]

i can guarantee you this series specifically is usually fun to work out, and a lot of the rules repeat from puzzle to puzzle. once you try one, the rest come pretty easy! i understand if it's overwhelming and not worth it, though

[@Atticus837]

Simon, just so you know, you're missing out on some very small snippets of story before each puzzle that are on logic masters Germany. It's not a huge deal, but you may be interested to get the little bit of extra journal entry context/worldbuilding!

[@МихаилСвятловский]

32:49 for me, time just flied from split segments in box 3, next visiting weird digits in box 6 and finally solving 12 dead pattern with the bottom part of path. So, where's my cupcake? 😊

[@martysears]

🧁🧁🧁

[@xerodeus2337]

I solved this but I fear I made it MUCH harder than I should have! I was having a lot of fun trying to use the portals for sudoku, and found a number of them.. got super stuck... and then realized there were some faster things I should have seen :D oh well, I had fun solving it that way lol

[@honered1]

New drinking game…take a shot when you here “That’s Classic Marty” 😂❤

[@Kairamek]

It's been a long while since I was able to finish a rat run on my own.

[@ayakoa2096]

Puh this was hard to watch, amazing puzzle but Simon was unusually today

[@Nerdnumberone]

I wonder if these story blurbs will culminate in a puzzle about Finks escaping the maze entirely. Edit: Is there some hidden message in the teleporters that malfunction across all of the puzzles? Having a lengthy meta-puzzle seems like something a brilliant puzzle-setter might do.

[@iris.holmes]

My partner just told me to 'stop squeaking "RatRuuuuuun".' I don't believe he got the irony or why I laughed. x)

[@Gonzalo_Garcia_]

14:35 for me. Fantastic puzzle!!

[@CharlieGrant88]

I would have loved it if it had been teleporter 'A' that over-heated, as this was the only one that Finkz did not use 🙂

[@felipevasconcelos6736]

It looks like when a teleported is sandwiched between two others it overheats.

[@cozyvrc]

I’ve been watching this series and I really want to watch this video but I haven’t caught up on the series yet

[@cozyvrc]

Finally caught up, I did kinda skip episode 14 though

[@Mannol26]

Only just in, no time to do it myself, but I just realized when he pencil marked his "A" on I.. it is actually I.. cause the other A's see Teleporter A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H between each other..

[@Procrasteonaut]

Came here to note this, I wonder if it would have helped (beyond removing the awkward double lettering)

[@michaelmatter1222]

So we sailed up to the sun, 'til we found the C of Green... 🎶

[@thorbjrnhellehaven5766]

❤Finkz❤

[@LednacekZ]

23:56 for me. made a mistake understanding the teleporter rules, cost me a bit of time.

[@debrabowen4276]

We’re looking at the full panoply of teleporters. That’s how I roll on a Friday night!

[@martysears]

I learnt the word panoply from Simon. great word

[@JustLookingHere]

01:26:54. These rat puzzles are really fun.

[@mudscuffer]

29:20 for me. Another great rat run!

[@unrealed]

I'm surprised you went with using the letters instead of colors since all 9 letters already HAD colors associated!

[@Mister_Bates]

When is the "Rat Run" pack coming to the Cracking the Cryptic app ??? 🙂

[@Dragonbladepro]

that was a wonderful puzzle

[@57thorns]

12:49 You cold also follow the path from the cupcake and notice that this is not a possible first move.

[@cartoonkitteh]

29:34 for me. It was very enjoyable and definitely approachable! Do give it a go ❤

[@jaydenparrott3055]

Why can't Finkz go from the H to G portal directly? They're different portals so wouldn't they be different segments and they could each just be a one box segment? I am genuinely curious!

[@ichselbst4798]

Whenever I am that much faster than them (24´´) I am asking if I took any cuts by mistake. Was true once but not here.

[@yashmehta9299]

A relaxed 34:07 lovely little puzzle

[@awilliams1701]

again on the teleporter that is green (not aqua) I can't even tell what letter that is. High digits to a low digit. Where is 4? It's already in the box. So 4 must go on R5C6.

[@energythief]

I'm confused why Simon can't tell the colours apart. I wonder if his monitor settings are off?

[@martysears]

he has colour blindness

[@gi0nbecell]

I have one question about an early deduction: When Simon wrote in the As and Es in box 1, why could E not appear in r3c2 (ie directly beneath Finkz)? That even still work after some more progress if 6 went in r6c3 instead of c1 and then in r7/9c1 instead of column 2. As far as I can see that wouldn’t break at this point or do I miss some relevant point?

[@martysears]

it's because he had just deduced that A definitely goes in r3c2, and A is definitely distinct from E

[@penningmeestercgkdelft9159]

Beam me up, Finkzie!

[@danielchadwick-hh3cn]

Got as far as "if Awas I"