Motivational Poster (2/4): Vox Populi, Vox Dei by Thomas Snyder
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
(Thanks to FoxFireX for sharing an observation on this Latin phrase as being perfectly suited for a sudoku. While implemented differently here, FoxFireX will get a prize at the next leaderboard update for forecasting the future.)
Do not see how this is a valid XV Sudoku given the .V.V. in row two. More generally, I am somewhat confused by the content being posted these past few weeks (some sort of double secret multi-layered puzzle hunt). OTOH, this is listed as a Motivational Poster not a Puzzle (even though it is tagged with Sudoku) so maybe it was foolish to attempt to solve it. I assume that current subscribers are in on the joke (my subscription lapsed since there doesn’t appear to be an auto-renewal feature) and/or received more background prior to the start of this adventure and/or maybe this wasn’t supposed to be visible to non-subscribers…
Regards,
Loren (your long-time subscriber that accidentally fell off the wagon in 2024)
Hi Loren, great having you back to try some unusual puzzles. The .v.v. might be a problem in a standard XV Sudoku but is that a problem here? There is a single unique answer if you can think of the right frame to get started.
No prior subscription needed, and no inside joke, just an extra gift for this holiday season.
To give some more layered hints (as at rot13.com):
1. Lbh nera’g tvira nal ahzoref va guvf chmmyr, whfg yrggref. Jung qbrf vg zrna gb nqq/fhogenpg 5 be 10 sebz gurfr yrggref.
2. Pna lbh svther bhg gur yrggre frg (lbh fgneg jvgu 7 bs gur 9) sebz fbzr bs gur ybatre punvaf bs KI glcr pyhrf orgjrra yrggref?
3. Nybat qbvat guvf, lbh’yy vqragvsl bar yrggre jvgu ab cbgragvny KI cnegaref naq whfg yvxr 5 va n erthyne KI gung yrggre pna or dhvgr hfrshy va fbyivat.
4. Gur svany fgrc vf gb svaq na rvtug yrggre jbeq/cuenfr, jvgu 4 sebz gur gbc va beqre naq 4 sebz gur obggbz va beqre nf pyhrq ol gur rkgreany neebjf.
Thank you for confirming that this is indeed a fair standalone puzzle. I should also note that I somehow missed Motivational Poster (1/4). Sorry I doubted it in such a cranky manner.
As always, thank you for the wonderful logic puzzles that you provide. They are the best in the world!
Loren