Difficulty Level and feedback *** SPOILER WARNING ***

[strep98]

As one who loves puzzles but can very rarely complete one with out hints and large kicks up the backside I must say it felt like the old days of DVP and runes, when someone givce you a little push and you fall flat on your face and find the answer (and then feel stupid).

Thank you both and I can't wait till the next one, but if they get any harder (for me that is) I may need a few more friends to give kick and a free tube of bruise cream with the next issue.

[Bunnylump]

Me too. Maybe you should supply both headache pills and arnica with the next issue?

[Scurra]

PS. Are you planning to publish the "solutions" to the puzzles in future editions (like DVP did - eventually)?

Yes, the plan is to publish the solutions in the following issue of the print magazine. Gill has seen all the answers in the draft version of issue two, so she can tell you if they make any sense

If you can "read" our tries at solutions, then I have posted a special one just for you Scurra. Ha!!

As I think I have said elsewhere, I decided not to keep a log of "guesses" because I didn't think there was enough disk space in the universe to handle that file

[pnward]

Have to say I love the format and love the varying challenges and I know how frustrating it must feel trying to get a balance. The truth is a balance is going to be pretty impossible (nothings impossible, yes it is, stop talking to yourself, ok), I know this is differnet but I run pub quizzes here in Spain and some weeks you feel great because the teams are so close in the final scores and other weeks you feel like a shit because 1 team gets the lowest score ever and another wins by miles, balance is always the hardest part.
I loved the puzzles and to me part of solving the puzzles is working with others through PMs saying what youve got, finding what theyve got and then realising somewhere in the middle you have the way forward.
My two peneth worth is keep up the good work.

[Bunnylump]

(nothings impossible, yes it is, stop talking to yourself, ok)

My two peneth worth is keep up the good work.

Absolutely!

[SparkOut]

I accept the point about searching for answers.

A bit late to come back on this just now, but to restate for the record, I love finding things out and looking things up. Puzzles that make you go and get extra information - even obscure stuff (as long as it's accessible) - are fine by me. If you can learn anything from puzzling then that can be as satisfying as doing the puzzle itself. I don't like being deliberately held up, but if I need to investigate, then that's great.
(I hadn't got a clue about the film posters and I needed a lot of hints, but with help it made it possible to find and confirm the poster images.)

[katsmom]

I'm answering very late.
I for one love having to research the answers. Some of the puzzles had a glimmer of recognition in the back part of my brain that stores useless knowledge. Sometimes it took a minor hint to kick start it again, other times it took a brick up side the head.
With the exception of the surealism crossword, I think they were all doable with a bit of time and patience.

I'd love to request a free week off work with every magazine for the extra internet searching time. Can you arrainge that with my boss?

A hints section would be nice, but I guess you would need to find a way to make it unobvious (that must be a word). And I agree with Bunnylump, No horrid cryptograms or ciphers to decode! I look forward to the next issue even though I haven't had the time to finish this one. But then Christmas is coming so I should be able to finish before issue number 2 comes out.....when is the next long holiday???

[tricia]

I too like the magazine - a hints section would be nice - But everone on the forum is extemely helpful.

I like investigating but get frustrated when I cnn't find the trail.

No doubt as the magazine progresses we shall all get used to your style of puzzle and that also should help in solving the puzzles.

Well done on issue 1 ,I am still plugging away,

[giraffe]

pnward said

I know this is differnet

Is that when an internet forum can't agree on the answer to a puzzle?

[Cenwulf]

Being a beginner in the puzzle setting scene, I can tell you that I have been gobsmacked at some of the puzzles people found "impossible" (which I had thought were easy) and how easy some of my "hard" puzzles have been.

I concur with this sentiment. Some of the puzzles I put up at the Other Place didn't seem hard to me as there was a simple trick to discover - but nobody seemed to get it (Clean Cup and Vidican Island, for example). Whereas others were considered a challenge but were solved fairly quickly (like Face the Musicals).

[Wulfruna]

Well, for anyone who is still watching the Forums for Issue 1, this is just to say that I have finally arrived and am getting the hang of things nicely!
Some of you may even be aware that I am Scurra's Mum (O Woe, Woe.... to think that in his infancy I may have set him on the downward track to the warped thinking that has resulted in all of this!)
Initially I had resisted a regular commitment to Puzzlebrains - but now that I have finally received the first issue, I am, of course, well and truly hooked! I like the mix of regular puzzles and the bigger, linked-up, Metapuzzle. I am now well on the way with it all and am trying to crack No 1 before proceeding further. It is perhaps just as well that I am an art enthusiast as well - this has given a head start.
Here's hoping to catch up very soon.....

[eirian]

Some of you may even be aware that I am Scurra's Mum (O Woe, Woe.... to think that in his infancy I may have set him on the downward track to the warped thinking that has resulted in all of this!)

It is perhaps just as well that I am an art enthusiast as well - this has given a head start.
Here's hoping to catch up very soon.....

Welcome to the one responsible. (just glad you gave the warped thinking to him, and only kept the weird thinking for me. Grateful for small mercies!)

[giraffe]

I'm finding issue 2 much harder than issue 1. (I think....perhaps the pain of issue 1 is dulled by the arrival of issue 2)

[Bunnylump]

I have to say that I have needed a lot of help with these. I am not convinced that I'll ever finish the last 3. What am I saying? I needed a lot of help with the last one too, and I've still come back for more!!

Wulfruna - since you are Scurra's Mum, could I please apologise for any offence caused every time I'm rude about him? I do forgive you for having put him on this Earth, even if his mission in life is to drive us all round the bend!!

[MBH]

No comments yet on the difficulty level for issue 2 (that's just the way life is in the start of a January), but I did want to say a big welcome to Wulfruna

It's a pleasure to 'meet' you on the forum. I already know you've got a lovely Daughter (that I met when we all got together one time)..... and you've got a Son as well

ONLY KIDDING I think he's a great character, and we've shared a lot of fun on thread, and occasionally by PM. My thinking process is thought to be a little 'odd', so it's good to know there are others with the same afflictions.

Take care, and I'll see you round the forum. MBH (stands for My Brain Hurts)

[giraffe]

I shall refrain from commenting on people who pass the puzzling gene on to their sons and daughters, it might come back to bite me yet.

[chazzie]

Good to see you Wulfruna - and looking forward to working through these puzzles with you - after all the support you gave me on the Runes

[Wulfruna]

Wulfruna - since you are Scurra's Mum, could I please apologise for any offence caused every time I'm rude about him? I do forgive you for having put him on this Earth, even if his mission in life is to drive us all round the bend!!

No offence.... I probably agree with any rude comments he gets enough from me already

[Bunnylump]

Thought I'd ressurect this thread. I'm hoping for an open discussion with people's views.

1. I was just wondering what everyone was thinking about the new "hints" system? Is everyone finding this helpful?

2. Re hints: are people finding the levels of hints appropriate?

3. Also, I'd like to bring up (takes a deep breath and runs for cover from missiles flung by Scurra) the question of pm hinting. Let's be honest here, we all do it a bit. Don't we?? Should we have a convention on what level of hint we are after in pm's? OR are you all being goodie two shoes and only speaking to Gill??

4. Another thought to fling into the ring, so to speak, what do people think about the possiblilty of having sort of "open forums" where people could share ideas on particularly difficult puzzles, say two or three weeks after publication? I know we sort of got this for Pisces, but just wondered what everyone thought. (Clearly this could be vetoed by "the management"!!). If people wanted to solve them by themselves,without the temptation of looking, maybe people who were interested in open solving could have a request for access to Scurra?? (Obviously, I could be talking complete carp here and this may either be impossible or may generate ridiculous amounts of work for Scurra, don't know). It's just that it's no fun IMHO when you are completely stuck and don't know what to do next.

ONE TWO THREE... LET THE BUN FIGHT COMMENCE!!

[katsmom]

Well, I've never been a goody two shoes.
I liked the two week hint, and am wondering where the three week one is? Not that the two week one helped much. Those were kind of like "well duh I knew that"

No, please not an open forum like....here's what to do for this puzzle. I like the criptic hints I've gotten from not obeying the rules. No one has ever said, this is exactly how to do a puzzle.

Now if Scurra could add some extra free time with the next issue, that would be freatly appreciated.