Constructing: Grid: Example: OLLI

Try #1 | Try #2

Try #1

  • A custom approach may provide the best results.
  • However, it can be a more difficult skill to learn -- practice, trial-and-error, ...
  • It's sometimes easier to get started by finding and modifying existing grid patterns from a library.
  • 6 theme entries may be overly ambitious; a 15 x 15 puzzle typically aims for 3-4 theme entries
  • Staying too attached to favorite entries can lead to tradeoffs,
    constraining the number of grid designs and fill words.
  • However, since we don't plan to publish, let's keep 'em all, and see what happens!
  • During theme selection, one set included 4 * 9 letter words
    -- instead of 2 * 9 letter, 2 * 10 letter: REBELLION(S), ARAMDILLO(S)
  • This subsection discusses why that option was rejected.
  • grids-4-9Cruciverb: Grid Search:
    2 * 15-letter, 4 * 9-letter theme entries
  • 5 possible grids with all 6 theme entries
    [on right]; open in browser tab to enlarge
  • Each grid shows (at upper left)
    a word & block count, e.g., 78 / 34
  • In all, 2 of the 9-letter entries are Down.
  • Down entries are unusual, but they can be allowed;
    perhaps ok since there are still 4 Across theme entries?
    or if there were clever "Down" related clues: e.g.,
    "putting down" a REBELLION or an ARMADILLO?
  • However, for this set of theme entries, the Across entries don't cross
    with the correct letters in the Down entries.
  • Some grids with two 15-letter entries crossed in center would be amazing, but...
  • CROSSPOLLINATOR misses (by 1 letter) 8th letter crossing with HAMLETSOLILOQUY!
  • grids-2-10-2-9With some manual modifications
    to a template, a better grid library,
    or a completely custom layout,
    this theme set might've worked.

Try #2

  • Cruciverb: Grid Search: 2 * 15-letter,
    2 * 10-letter, 2 * 9-letter entries
  • 12 grids with all 6 entries [on right]
  • "Stacking" of theme entries, e.g., 15-letter entry and 9-letter entry
    in adjacent rows, often lead to dead ends.
  • #04 (on right) shows stacking, with all 6 Across entries
    (pink squares are unfillable words; swapping 9-letter entries didn't help)
  • stackingAlthough the Down crossings often don't work,
    the 9-letter Downs partially work in two grids:
  • #12: OILLEASES x HAMLETSOLILOQUY [yes];
    HOIPOLLOI x CROSSPOLLINATOR [no]
  • #10 (2 crossings!): OILLEASES x HAMLETSOLILOQUY + ARMADILLOS [yes];
    HOIPOLLOI x REBELLIONS + CROSSPOLLINATOR [no]
  • qfillthemes#08: grid (shown at right) includes all 6 Across entries, no stacking;
  • however, it's 72 / 40 -- 2 black squares more than the preferred max;
    and 2 theme entries do not abut left or right edge -- (as discussed under Grid)
  • "Quick Fill" default result shown on far right
    -- a complete fill is possible, though with some unusual/obscure words.
  • 32 blocks34 blocksOr, manually add blocks, e.g., row of 3 near left top (& right bottom) for total of 32?
  • 6 fewer 3-letter words --better;
    2 more 10-letter (non-theme) entries -- harder to fill
  • Experiment with placement (swap 9-letter or 10-letter entries),
  • or fewer blocks (30 blocks) -- Quick Fill fails.
  • Doublecheck puzzle metrics and add 'meta' information.
  • gsume.g., in CrossFire: Summary tab:
  • General: # Words ≤ 78 ?; # Blocks ≤ 38 ?;
  • Word counts: # of 3 letter entries ≤ 20 ?; 1-2-letter entries: 0 ?
  • Puzzle info: enter Title (theme related), Author, Copyright,
    Note (to solver; optional) -- useful for later export/print
  • Hopefully, in Fill (next section), we'll find better word choices.