Pata by Serkan Yürekli
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode 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: Clue Symmetry and Logic
Author/Opus: This is the 124th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.
Rules: Variation of Tapa rules. The clue numbers now refer to the groups of unshaded segments around that cell. Cells with numbers count as unshaded cells for adjacent clues. All other rules for the shaded Tapa are the same as usual.
Or see here:
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 = 2:00, Master = 3:15, Expert = 6:30
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.
I’ve always liked how Pata variations have such different patterns than Tapa. Not sure if that observation helped or hurt my solving, which wasn’t particularly fast.
I can confirm that it’s not solvable as a Tapa.
I like Pata, but I after a break from them, I always relearn that the clue cells themselves are “white” the hard way. Enjoyed how connectivity drove the solve once you got going.
6:32.Nice