Cave (Product) by Grant Fikes
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the linex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)
Theme: 2014 to 2015
Author/Opus: This is the 157th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.
Rules: Variation of Cave rules. Each clue represents the product of the # of row cells visible (including the cell itself) with the # of column cells visible (including the cell itself).
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the cave segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:30, Master = 2:15, Expert = 4:30
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other Cave variations and this link for other classic Caves. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Cave Puzzles to get started on.
8:43 I don’t know why, but it seems like every time I solve a Cave puzzle it takes me a while to get into the groove about how to think to make progress.
I’ve felt that too and have mentioned it before. I think it’s because it’s a region division puzzle disguised as a shading puzzle so you tend to approach the puzzle as a shading puzzle then need to switch gears and apply region division type logic to actually solve it.
– Neelix
2:25 and solving logically.
I’m starting to feel that to beat the GM time I have to guess straight away
6:51.Ah!I am waiting for the day when I start posting expert times rather than being within striking distance of the same…..
Nice puzzle.
01:46
Oh hey I’m back. A nice theme, also utilizing a trick that I haven’t seen before.