Detuned Broadcast #12: TomTom
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Nothing Important
Rules: Standard TomTom rules, using digits from 1-6.
Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:15, Master = 8:00, Expert = 16:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other classic TomTom. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest TomTom to get started on.
So this one, like many TomToms, totally killed me. I also tend to have far too much trouble with Kakuro, which uses a lot of the same logic. It’s weird, too, because math was always one of my strong points way back in school. Any suggestions on improving on these types, outside of the same way you get to Carnegie Hall?
This puzzles uses both plenty of arithmetic, as well as regional constraints, and we won’t get very far unless you are comfortable with both. You’ll also need to be fairly comfortable working with sets of numbers for the cages, rather than making any definite placements for a while. As a flavour, I’ll describe the first few steps:
SVEFG ABGR NYY GUR CEVZR AHZORE PNTRF ZHFG OR NQQVGVBA, NAQ GUR MREBRF NER FHOGENPGVBA. JR PBAFVQRE GUR GUVEQ EBJ: GUR FRIRA ZHFG OR {BAR GJB SBHE}. ABJ, GUR FVK PNA’G TB VA GUR RVTUG-PNTR, FB VF CYNPRQ VA GUR HCCRE-EVTUG MREB-PNTR. GUVF ZRNAF GUNG PNTR FHZF GB GJRYIR.
JR ABJ PBAFVQRE PBYHZAF SVIR NAQ FVK, JUVPU ZHFG FHZ GB SBEGL-GJB. JR PNA VQRAGVSL GUERR PRYYF JUVPU ZHFG GURERSBER FHZ GB FVK. GUR CBFFVOVYVGVRF NER RVGURE {BAR GJB GUERR} BE {BAR SBHE BAR}. GUR YNGGRE VF EHYRQ BHG OL PBAFVQREVAT GUR AVAR-PNTR VA EBJ SBHE.
JR ABJ PBAFVQRE GUR HCCRE-EVTUG MREB PNTR NTNVA. GUR CBFFVOVYVGVRF NER RVGURE {BAR SVIR FVK} BE {GUERR GUERR FVK}. GUR YNGGRE CHGF GUERR’F VA PBYHZA SVIR NAQ FVK, PBAGENQVPGVAT GUR YBTVP SEBZ GUR CERIVBHF CNENTENCU, FB JR EHYR VG BHG.