Mecejide
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What is the smallest blob of tar/gel that requires a switch token to be cleared (without any other assistance)?

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[Last edited by Mecejide at 02-02-2019 06:39 PM]

Chaco
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I'm not sure exactly what you mean by your question (since there's a few constraints left out).

I think as posed you would be talking about a 7-tile "diagonal figure 8" made of tar, which requires a tar/gel switch token to be switched to the basic "thin" cuttable gel shape in order to be cleared, with no other assistance in the room.



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[Last edited by Chaco at 02-02-2019 06:56 PM]

Dragon Fogel
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Actually, a 2-by-3 blob of gel that you have to change into tar would be smaller.

The question this made me think of (whether it was the intended question or not): What's the smallest tarstuff shape where, if it starts as either tar or gel, it has to be changed to the other type at least once to clear it out with only single cuts?

Off the top of my head I came up with this, which is ten tiles:

-TT-
TTTT
TTTT

Haven't gotten as far as proving a smaller blob wouldn't work.

Xindaris
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Of course, the troll answer is to interpret "a switch token" to include tar/mud or gel/mud ones and say "duh, a 2x2".

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Mecejide
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I meant a blob that’s unclearable as either tar or gel and requires you to cut some of it, use the token, and then clear the rest of it. Also, turning the blob into mud is not allowed and is punishable by death.

Xindaris
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In that case, I guess Dragon Fogel's got your answer. Probably.

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Mecejide
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Yeah, he does. Thanks!

Mecejide
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In that case, what’s the smallest blob that requires at least two uses of the switch token?

jokokoe
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Well, I'm not sure if it's the smallest blob but it makes the job :



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Someone Else
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Nope, I can do this:

..TT
.TTX
TTTT
TTTT

....
.TT.
TTTT
TXTT

....
.TT.
.TTT
..TT

Then using the token once is sufficient to clear it.

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[Last edited by Someone Else at 03-14-2019 09:17 PM]

Chaco
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This blob technically requires you to use two switches to clear it, but I don't think this is what you meant :p



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jokokoe
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True ! My question would be, if we exclude mud, is there any tar / gel pattern that require to step twice on a token to be cleared, supposing that there is no wall or anything around the tar / gel ?

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Insoluble
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File: token twice.png (22.1 KB)
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Here's an upper bound. Requires stepping on the token twice to clear (without any gimmicky stuff like mimics.)

It's probably possible to do better.


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Someone Else
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I thought we're looking for one that requires stepping on it twice from either initial state, or jokokoe's is better than yours (starting as gel). That's also solvable with one switch from a gel initial state.

Rabscuttle
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Here's one that I think needs 2 switches from a gel start, or 3 switches from tar.

I suspect if you could teleport about or had a bunch of clone potions you'd only need only one switch

Rabscuttle
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[Last edited by Rabscuttle at 03-15-2019 11:19 AM]

Someone Else
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Yep, that definitely requires 2 switches - The outer part requires gel first (duh) and the inner part requires tar first. I wonder if that's the only way to do it...