Tapa (Cipher) by Carl Worth
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode, a number entry mode for placing Tapa clues, and the composite Yajilin mode where left click marks cells, right click marks dots in cells or X’s on edges, left click+drag draws lines.)
Theme: Logical
Author/Opus: This is the 8th puzzle from guest contributor Carl Worth.
Rules: Standard Tapa rules, except that the digits have been encoded with a cipher into letters. Each letter represents a different positive integer, for the solver to determine.
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the shaded segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry from the next with a comma.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 4:00, Expert = 8:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other Tapa variations and this link for classic Tapa. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Tapa puzzles to get started on.
Interesting…three of the four labeled rows were among the first rows I completed. I think rows three and nine were the last.
These rows were selected to check all the different clue sizes were properly determined. In my opinion, it would be easy to have some of them finished before others.
15:03