| Author | Message | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1127 Registered: 9-2003 |
Upon popular request, this is a re-run of the very first lateral maze presented in the LTPF. Being a pro--um, the-term-that-is-forbidden-by-Kalira-to-be-named, it is relatively simple, especially compared to the lateral mazes that have since been posted. Hopefully this will be of some historical value! Title: Lateral Maze Difficulty: Moderate to Hard Type: See title Story: Our hero, Bob, finds himself trapped in a lateral maze. He was walking his way to work when he suddenly blacked out. When he woke up, he found himself in a totally different surrounding (the area description will be given in the next post to separate puzzle instructions from the actual puzzle itself) To Solve: While Bob's pretty intelligent, and can follow almost any direction if they're clear enough, he still needs your help to get out! Figure out the rules of the lateral maze, and help Bob escape! Rules: -- I will be role-playing the person of Bob. So when posting commands, address them as if you were addressing Bob. Fortunately, this version of Bob should be less obnoxious than when I first ran this puzzle, so our nerves should be in better shape. :-) -- Remember, you only sense what Bob can sense! Bob will report anything he senses using bold text -- Please keep the amount of commands to a reasonable number -- If you need to talk to me as the host, please post your question in italics. If there is a need for me to respond out of character, I will do so in bold italics. -- Most of all, have fun. :-) The learning curve can be steep, but this is meant to be a fun exercise, so just roll with it. :-) Good luck! | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1128 Registered: 9-2003 |
Ugh...that was rather...unpleasant. Anyone got the number of the lorry that hit me? Wait a minute...where the dickens am I? I certainly wasn't in this room before! In fact, I was outdoors, walking to my office! Just fantastic...I will most definitely be late for the job! Well, might as well take a closer look at my surroundings. The room is pretty bare, but it has a high ceiling that disappears up into the shadows above. The walls appear to be made out of solid brickwork, and they seem to form a perfect square, roughly fifteen feet in length each. In the middle of each wall is something beyond my experiences to date...a white glowing force field of some sort is my best guess. There seems to be something beyond them, but I can't determine what it is. Last but not least, there's a glowing...well, I guess I can call it an orb, for lack of better word. It seems to be floating in mid-air, and is glowing a bright orange colour. Even though this apparent break in the laws of physics should terrify me, strangely I am feeling rather calm. So what I should do now? | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 5324 Registered: 9-2010 |
Well, this is very odd...but hey, a new-old puzzle! I like it =) *ponders glowing doors and orb* Are you able to reach the orb? If so, don't touch it - yet - but can you sense if it's giving off anything besides light? Is it giving off heat? Can you tell what it's made of on closer examination? Does it appear to be solid? Liquid? Gas? Plasma? | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1130 Registered: 9-2003 |
Yes, I am able to touch the orb if I so choose, but I will follow your advice about not touching it yet. As far as I can tell, it is giving nothing off but light. Definitely no heat, since I just passed my hands over it and felt nothing. I also cannot determine the substance of the surface of the orb, though if forced, I would say it is solid. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16402 Registered: 4-2010 |
Head over towards the force fields. Would you be able to pass through them? Can you stretch your hand through them? How large is the orb? Can you hold it? | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1131 Registered: 9-2003 |
Touch those glowing force field...? Well, okay! Here goes nothing... Strange, it is like nothing is there. If not for the evidence before my eyes, I would have sworn that I was reaching through empty air. My hand passes through the field without any ill effects, so I daresay I can pass through them if I want. I have tested out the other three fields, and it is the same with all of them. So I suppose I can pass through any of them if I want, though I shall refrain from doing so for the time being. As for the orb itself, I estimate it to be about two and half feet in diameter, and floating about four feet off the floor. I shall attempt to hold it now... Touching it confirms my supposition that it has a solid surface, but trying to move it is like trying to move the Rock of Gibraltar! The orb also changed to a purple colour when I touched it...remarkable! What do you make of that? | ||
| Feenwelt (Feenwelt)
New member Username: Feenwelt Post Number: 174 Registered: 6-2003 |
Bob, would you please touche the orb again to see, if it changes it's colour again? And if yes, could you tell me, how often you must touch it to become orange again? By the way, don't worry: Some experts are already trying to get you out of this. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1133 Registered: 9-2003 |
Thanks for the word of encouragement, Feenwelt! I daresay I feel better already. :-) After experimenting with touching the orb, here are my conclusions: all it needs is one touch in order for it to change colour. The colours alternate between a bright orange and a bright purple. It was sufficiently amusing for me to change its colours several times, but I am now quite bored of it. I have decided to leave it purple for now, since that was its colour before I began the experiment. | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 95 Registered: 1-2012 |
Hmmm...try touching the force fields while the orb is orange, then when the orb is purple. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1134 Registered: 9-2003 |
None of the force fields feel and behave no differently when the orb is orange or purple. Note: I have left the orb as purple for now. | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 96 Registered: 1-2012 |
Hmmm...let's try everything possible for now in this room. Who knows...we may not be able to get back in... Okay, see if you can climb up on top of the orb. If you can, tell me what (if anything) changes while you're up there. This white text has absolutely nothing to do with what I am saying...please ignore it. I don't even know why I did this... | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1135 Registered: 9-2003 |
Climb on top of the orb? My sense of balance is not really that good, you know, but I will try it anyway... ...finally got myself balanced on the orb! That was much tougher than it sounds, I'll have you know! The orb kept changed to orange I touched it, but other than feeling quite silly at my situation, nothing else has changed. I still can't see the ceiling, despite being higher than before. | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 98 Registered: 1-2012 |
Still no ceiling, huh? If you are able to do so without losing your balance and falling, reach up. Perhaps the ceiling is invisible! Once you have done this (or not, depending on your skill level of balancing), climb down. Did anything happen (I doubt it, but...)? If so, describe it. If not, go through the north force field. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1136 Registered: 9-2003 |
Reaching upwards yields nothing but air. I shall attempt to do a mighty leap off the top of the orb and try to touch the ceiling...here I go! Wow...I'm quick surprised to have made the landing! But still no ceiling, I fear! You said you want me to go...north? Since I have no better ideas, I will do as you suggested. One small problem, though: I haven't the faintest idea which direction is north! And all this climbing and exploring has gotten me so turned around that I am not certain that I am even facing the original direction in which I arrived! | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 102 Registered: 1-2012 |
*facepalm* I can't believe I forgot to do this first! What are you wearing? Do you have pockets? If so, what is in the pockets? | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1137 Registered: 9-2003 |
I am wearing a turtleneck and jeans, and wearing a pair of runners. I am also wearing undergarments, though I daresay you have no interest in those! The only pockets on my person are on my jeans. In my pockets I have my house keys and my wallet...wait a second, what happened to them?! My house keys and wallet are gone! This infernal place has stolen them from me!! However, in their place is a compass, which I suppose solves the problem of where north is located. Do you you still wish for me to go north? | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 105 Registered: 1-2012 |
Yes, please go north. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1138 Registered: 9-2003 |
All right, here goes nothing... ...and I'm in another room! It's identical in appearance to the room I was in, except for the rather noticeable absence of a glowing orb floating in its middle. Now what? | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 106 Registered: 1-2012 |
Okay, try going back south. Toss a shoe or something to make sure that's possible...If not, test the other force fields (going clockwise) and enter the first available one. I'm assuming here it's not cheating when you refer back to Prism, see that some force fields shock Bob (well, at least in that maze), and suggest the shoe-tossing? | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1139 Registered: 9-2003 |
Toss one of my shoes? I'll have you know, young lady, that I'm rather attached to my runners! Why should I do that? ... Oh. OH. Shock me, you say? Why, dear me, that is rather unpleasant! Very well, I shall toss one of my shoes through the force field to the south. My shoe sails through it without getting zapped, so I assume it is safe for me to pass too. Entering the southern force field now... ...and I'm in another room! I see my shoe lying in the middle of the room, which I shall now pick up, if you please. But this is strange...I do not see any glowing orbs in this room either! It is not cheating at all to refer back to Prism, though I don't know how much help that would be. The maze here and the maze in Prism operated under totally different rules, so trying to employ strategies that worked in Prism may not be so productive here. | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 107 Registered: 1-2012 |
By the way, do we need any knowledge of, say, a TV show to finish this? Or just lateral thinking? Yes, Bob, you can pick up your shoe. (Say, have you ever met a guy named Trav...?) Okay, try going back north. If that doesn't work (and by work I mean get you somewhere that isn't just four white force fields), continue going north, stopping if you find anything interesting (like a glowing orb, perhaps?). | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16415 Registered: 4-2010 |
If you do continue to go north, count how many rooms you pass through before you stop. | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 112 Registered: 1-2012 |
Welcome to the maze Balin! I was starting to feel a little lonely...*seconds Balin's idea* | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1140 Registered: 9-2003 |
This is getting...rather frightening. I have been going north as you requested, but it seems like I'm running back into the same room over and over again. No orbs, nothing. I fear I am trapped here! I have decided to stop going north after ten tries and seeing no change. I think I'm panicking a bit now that the gravity of the situation has sunk in. Is there no hope for me? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16416 Registered: 4-2010 |
Try going south a few times, and see if anything changes. Can you go south all the way back to the room with the orb (11 times)? | ||
| Feenwelt (Feenwelt)
New member Username: Feenwelt Post Number: 176 Registered: 6-2003 |
Hey, Bob, there is surely reason for some hope. You are still there, we are still here. My request (after you went South): Could you pause a little for a few minutes and just try to breathe? Thank you. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1958 Registered: 6-2008 |
I doubt going south will help us, as going north from the orb room and immediately south again didn't get us back into the orb room. And we've given up on north too, so how about going west? | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1141 Registered: 9-2003 |
All right, all right...calming down now, and then heading south 11 times... ...and absolutely nothing has changed. Still the same old 4 force field configuration sans orb. Heading west now...and still no change to my situation! Mental note to self: Must. Stop. Hyperventilating!! However, I've only gone west once. Do you want me to keep going west? | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 709 Registered: 8-2011 |
I am no good at lateral puzzles, but this one may work by doing some sort of combination, such as once north, twice west, once south, and once east. However, I haven't any idea what sort of combination we ought to try. | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 710 Registered: 8-2011 |
*no good at lateral adventures | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 5328 Registered: 9-2010 |
*hugz Ciaobella* is very good at lateral PUZZLES! silly! =D I am going to bed now though...will think of questions tomorrow hopefully =) | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1962 Registered: 6-2008 |
Yes, keep going west a few times, and if you don't get back to the orb room, then try going east a few times. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1143 Registered: 9-2003 |
How many times is a "few times"? I think you need to give me a number to work with just in case, so that I don't go overboard! | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 715 Registered: 8-2011 |
Hm-five. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1964 Registered: 6-2008 |
OK, and of course, then assuming you don't get back to the orb this way, you should go east 11 times (or at the minimum, six), so that you have ruled out all four directions from the "initial" room. | ||
| Kalira (Kalira)
New member Username: Kalira Post Number: 840 Registered: 2-2009 |
Well, Bob, it seems more and more people are coming out of the woodwork to help you out. Have you by chance given a good look at the floor yet? Anything out of the ordinary stick out to you? If you still don't appear to have moved into a different room, try going north then east -- maybe going in more than one direction will help you out? Haen, may I perhaps suggest "Portly Old Codger" as a filtered way of saying that evil phrase? ;-) | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1145 Registered: 9-2003 |
All right...I'm heading west 5 times, as per Ciaobella's instructions...and there still seems to be no change in my situation! Still the same 4 force fields, but no glowing orb. Heading east now...and what's this? A room with a purple glowing orb!! Yay! Because of this unexpected but welcomed development, I am pausing here. Should I continue to head east? As for the floor, it seems to be made of concrete -- or at least, I think it's concrete. It certainly fits the dull grey colour I associate with concrete, though the surface seems smoother than I usually experience with concrete floors. I haven't noticed anything usual about the floors of any of the rooms I had the dubious pleasure of entering, but I will endeavour to keep my eyes open for anything unusual. "Portly Old Codger"...hmmm. I can see the merit in that, Kalira, but: a) Doesn't that sound a tad bit too benign and harmless for something so filled with evil? b) The-term-that-is-forbidden-by-Kalira-to-be-named has a much nicer and poetic ring to it, methinks. :P | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16446 Registered: 4-2010 |
So it seems that heading in all four cardinal directions finally brought us back to the glowing orb room...I think. Can you grab hold of the orb and take it through one of the force fields? Say North? | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1146 Registered: 9-2003 |
Like I said before, trying to move that orb is like trying to move the Rock of Gibraltar. Nonetheless, I'll try again... ...nope, no luck. The orb changed to an orange colour when I touched it, but it simply wouldn't budge. I've touched it again to change it to purple. | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 745 Registered: 8-2011 |
Make it orange. Go north. Go south. Go east. Go west. Now what? | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1147 Registered: 9-2003 |
Okay, touching the orb made it orange. Heading north... ...no orb! Heading south... ...no orb! Heading east... ...no orb! Heading west... I see an orange orb! Hmmm...do you think we're making progress? There is light at the end of the tunnel! | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 754 Registered: 8-2011 |
Touch the orb so that it is purple. Go north. Go south. Go east. Go west. Now? | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1965 Registered: 6-2008 |
Before you go, has the floor changed again (after heading west to bring you back to the orb? Also, too be clear, did you go north, south, east, west in that exact order, or did you go north, then south again, south, then north again, etc? I'm guessing it may not matter, as back when the orb ws purple it seemed that one step east from anywhere got you to the orb, while any number of steps in another direction didn't. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1148 Registered: 9-2003 |
Like I said, I haven't noticed anything special with the floor...it's still the same, dull, concrete grey colour it was ever since I first ended up in this infernal place. And yes, I followed Ciaobella's direction precisely, without any deviations. And I shall follow her new directions in the same manner. Touching the orb made it purple. Heading north... ...no orb! Heading south... ...no orb! Heading east... ...no orb! Heading west... I see a purple orb! I think we're definitely making progress! | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 132 Registered: 1-2012 |
Alright, try going east, then west, then south, then north while the orb is purple. If you come back to the orb room, try again with the orb orange. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16458 Registered: 4-2010 |
OK, I think we're now trying to see what combination of directions causes the orb to change color, if I'm following correctly... | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1967 Registered: 6-2008 |
Balin: We have not seen the orb change color except from touching it; if there is a way to do it by going through the force fields, we have no knowledge of this yet. On the other hand, it's interesting that there seems to be no correlation between the orb color and which direction one must go to get back to the orb. The first time, it was purple and we got there going east. The second time, it was orange, and we got there going west. BUT, the third time it was purple and west. The only commonality seems to be that it's the last direction we try that gets us there. I assume that's what Kyeannepepper wants to test by trying the four directions in a different order. However, if that works, that leaves us with a whole lot of nothing--as it means the color has no bearing on it at all. | ||
| Feenwelt (Feenwelt)
New member Username: Feenwelt Post Number: 180 Registered: 6-2003 |
And even, i fit looks like we would play with you, Bob, my rather serious request would be to go North 2 rooms, then west 2 rooms, sout twice, and east twice. This should make sure that the orb is in the same room, as long as we use all 4 directions. After that please have a close look at the compass. Does it look like an ordinary modern compass to you? | ||
| Feenwelt (Feenwelt)
New member Username: Feenwelt Post Number: 181 Registered: 6-2003 |
Oh, sorry, I forgot something. Please go after that twice North, twice east, twice south, and only one room west. Is there the orb? If not, is it in the adjacent room to the west? | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1149 Registered: 9-2003 |
Sorry, but I have to confess to a small blooper: when Bob left the orb room for the first time, it was PURPLE, not orange: I had intended to type out that between all the jostling and fumbling necessary for Bob to get into the position and jump off the orb, the orb was purple when all was said and done -- in real life I simply tossed a coin to determine what colour would show up. On reading back, it appears I forgot that entire line, so I apologize for any confusion this may have caused. Now, onto the puzzle! Going east, west, south, then north brings me back to the orb room. And yes, the orb is still purple. I'm going to touch the orb to change it to orange, and repeat the experiment... ...east, west, south, north, and yup, back to the orb room, and it is still orange. I have a feeling that we are onto something here! Now, for Feenwelt's directions: Going north twice.... ...and it appears I'm back in the room with the orb! It is still orange. Do you still want me to follow the rest of your directions? | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1968 Registered: 6-2008 |
Try following the rest of the instructions, checking after each move of two steps in the same direction to see if you're back at the orb. Of course, keep it orange the whole time. If you never see the orb again through this whole exercise, then try going north again to see if that gets you back. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1150 Registered: 9-2003 |
All right, following the rest of Feenwelt's directives: ...going east twice... ...and I come to the room with the orange orb again! I'm pausing here as I await further directions. | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 167 Registered: 1-2012 |
Alright, so we have established that going in all four cardinal directions gets Bob back to the room with the orb, whether the orb is orange or purple. We know that whether the orb is orange or purple, it doesn't matter how many times you go in each direction, as long as each direction is indeed taken. Okay Bob, try going North once, East once, West once, South once in that order while the orb is orange. Then, if nothing interesting happens, try again with the orb purple. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1151 Registered: 9-2003 |
All right, heading north once... ...nothing interesting here! Heading east once... ...and I seem to be back in the room with the orange orb! Should I repeat the steps with the orb being purple? | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 182 Registered: 1-2012 |
Wait, as in you headed north, then immediately east, and you were in the room with the orb? Or did you go through all four directions? *is confused* | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1152 Registered: 9-2003 |
Yes, that's correct. I went north once, and then east once, and then I'm back in the room with the orange orb. I admit that I'm puzzled as well! | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 186 Registered: 1-2012 |
Okay. Try going south, then east. If you aren't in the orb room, go north, then east and see if that gets you there. If you are in the orb room, go west, then east. If that doesn't get you back, try going north, then east once again. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1153 Registered: 9-2003 |
Okay, I'm following your directions. I'm also leaving the orb orange for now. Heading south... ...no orb here... ...Heading east... ...still no orb!... ...Heading north... ...still no orb!... ...Heading east... ...and still no orb! Uh-oh...now what? And I just realized that I never answered one of Feenwelt's questions to me! My sincerest apologies for that, old chap. But to answer it now: my compass looks normal whenever I've used it. I mean, I haven't been staring at it all the time (or I might walk into the walls!) but it seems to work just fine whenever I wanted to use it. | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 192 Registered: 1-2012 |
Bob, please try going west. If that doesn't work, then go once north, once east, once west, once south. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1154 Registered: 9-2003 |
Fine, I'm now going west... ...no orb!... ...Going north... ...Ah ha! There's my favourite orange orb floating there! What do you make of that? | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 194 Registered: 1-2012 |
And now I'm *really* confused. I'm glad this is a 'simple' lateral maze. So, it seems like whenever Bob goes in two perpendicular directions (like west and north), he gets back in the room, at least if the orb is orange. | ||
| Feenwelt (Feenwelt)
New member Username: Feenwelt Post Number: 183 Registered: 6-2003 |
Hello Bob, you are doing great! Could you please head north and then east, while the orb is orange? If there is no orb in that room, please stop and forget about the rest of my following requests. If there is one, please repeat north-then-east a few times to make sure that there is always the orange orb after that combination. If this should work for three times, please do the same with south-then-west. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1155 Registered: 9-2003 |
What a capital idea! I've gone north and then east ten times, and I can confirm that I return to the orange orb every time. Testing with south and west ten times also yields the same result. I think we are getting somewhere! | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16525 Registered: 4-2010 |
I'm glad you're getting somewhere; I'm fairly confused. Does going north-then-west produce the same results? South-then-east? | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1156 Registered: 9-2003 |
Right, trying north and then west now... ...heading north... ...no orb in room! Heading west... ...hmm...still no orb in room! Heading north... ...uh-oh, still no orb in room! Heading west... ...ah ha! An orange orb in the room! Should I try south-then-east now, or should I keep on going north-then-west? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16551 Registered: 4-2010 |
Try south-then-east. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1157 Registered: 9-2003 |
Going south, east, south, east seems to return me to the room with the orange orb. Now what? | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1973 Registered: 6-2008 |
Hmm... is there anything on your person that you have failed to explore? So far we only have the compass, which has been very helpful for direction but otherwise seems useless. I'm thinking there must be something fundamental we haven't tried. Knowing many ways to get back to where we started means we will never be stuck in a perpetual loop of lostness, but it doesn't mean we know how to get to anywhere else... | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1974 Registered: 6-2008 |
Just a thought... do we have anything that can be dropped as a "place marker" and left behind as Bob explores, so that he can verify that it is in fact the same orb he keeps returning to? Orb color seems not to work as a marker, because if there are multiple orbs, they all must have changed color in unison--otherwise we'd already know there is more than one. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1158 Registered: 9-2003 |
Hmmm...let me think. There's nothing else in myh pockets except for the compass, so no help there. But now you that mention it, we did throw one of my shoes through a force field as a test, right? Maybe I can leave one shoe behind as a "place marker"? And if necessary, I suppose I can use other articles of clothing as necessary for similar purposes. I really do not fancy running around in my birthday suit, though, so please don't take that idea too far! | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 232 Registered: 1-2012 |
Okay, Bob, leave the shoe behind, then get back to the room by going north then east. If you do see a shoe, use the south then west method to get back. Then try north then west to get back (assuming you see the shoe). Finally, try the south then east method to get back (again assuming you see the shoe). If you do NOT see the shoe at any orb room, stop there. Don't worry Bob, I will stop at shoes, possibly moving on to socks. (Now if this was ME in the maze, I would already have taken those off as I like walking in bare feet :-).) | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1159 Registered: 9-2003 |
I have decided to leave my right shoe behind in this room. I will now proceed to go north then east... ...and I'm back to the orange orb, and I see my shoe sitting where I had left it! That's looks promising. Now trying the south then west method... ...and once again, I come back to the orb and shoe. Now proceeding to the north then west path. I remember I had to do this twice to reach the orb room, so let's hope this still holds true... ...and yup, it still takes me going north and west twice to reach the orb room. However, I only see a nice glowing orange orb. There's no shoe here! I'm stopping now as per your directions. I really hope I haven't lost my shoe! | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1980 Registered: 6-2008 |
Try going south and then east, repeating this twice. If this gets you back to the shoe, then (without putting the shoe back on), go north then west 10 times, or however many times get you back to the shoe going THAT way. | ||
| Beachbum (Beachbum)
New member Username: Beachbum Post Number: 2 Registered: 2-2012 |
Hey people, you have no idea how hard it was registering for this site... I was briefly on a few years ago but have long forgot my password..I used to be "QuackScience. I had a similar idea to Biograd, only that we could have started with just the shoelaces as a marker. Ok Bob, let me ask you this. Do you think it's possible that something onyou (your shoe-laces perhaps), could be draped over the orb (once you get back to it)? This may help us decide whether there are multiple orbs, or whether there is a single orb that is moving from room to room. You said that you don't look at your compass all the time. What exactly do you mean by that? Do you look at it every time you pass through a force-field? | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1160 Registered: 9-2003 |
First off, about the compass thing: All I meant by that is that I don't walk around staring at the thing all the time -- my sense of co-ordination is terrible, so if I walk around staring at the compass all the time, I daresay I will be introduced up close the personal to the wall! So if (say) you wanted me to go north, I look at compass, determine which way is north, and then I put my compass away and go north. I don't look at it again until I need to determine a direction in which to move. Going south and then east twice gets me back to the glowing orange orb and my shoe! Yeah! Unfortunately, my shoes don't have laces on them -- they're one of those slip-on runners. That said, I'm able to carefully balance my shoe on top of the orb, and I suppose that would work just as well. Now proceeding north and west... ...two times gets me back to the orange orb without my shoe. Since walking on one shoe is so uncomfortable, I've decided to leave my left shoe balanced on top of this orb as a marker. Going north now... ...nothing in this room! Going west... ...and I've stumbled across yet another orange orb. But strange...no shoes! So I guess we're dealing with at least three orbs. Though the problem seems more complicated than initially though, I am actually feeling encouraged by the progress we've made! But what should be our next move? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16641 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is there any way to determine if the rooms are stationary the entire time? Perhaps they're rotating -- that might determine how we can reach these orbs without backtracking... | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1982 Registered: 6-2008 |
It seems the best to do is backtrack (i.e. south-east) four times, to get back to the "home orb" where you left your first shoe. You might want to take the "second" shoe (i.e., the one you put down in your last post) back with you so that you won't lose it. Then set the orb to purple, and go "forward" (i.e., north-west) four times again, still leaving the shoe back in that "home" room. This will verify that A) all 3 orbs do, in fact, change color in unison, and B), the topology of the maze doesn't change. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1983 Registered: 6-2008 |
Oh, and for the first time I actually agree with your encouragement! It seems there actually might be a way out of this loop of deja vu! | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1161 Registered: 9-2003 |
I have followed your directions, Biograd. "Backtracking" four times by going south and then east does bring me back to the orange orb with my right shoe still perched on top of it. As per your directions, I've also reclaimed my left shoe. Touching it now to change the orb to purple...there! ...now going "forward" north and then west four times.... ....Hmmm...this is strange. I run into the other two orbs as expected (i.e. during my third and fourth north-west sequence), but these later two orbs remain orange! Now what? | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 338 Registered: 1-2012 |
So, we are definitely dealing with three orbs? Touch the orb in the room we are in. Go south-east until you get to the shoe orb. Is it purple or orange? Go north-west three times. You should be in a room with an orb. Is that orb purple or orange? | ||
| Beachbum (Beachbum)
New member Username: Beachbum Post Number: 27 Registered: 2-2012 |
Ok, I'm lost here, and I'm turning to my fellow team of experts to help. Maybe there's an assumed knowledge among our bob-helpers that I'm not clued in on. From my understanding of the events so far, one or more of the following is true: 1) The rooms are moving and/or rotating 2) Travelling through the force-fields in a particular compass direction don't necessarily take you to the adjacent room. I mean, they are force-fields and not simply doors for a reason, right? 3) Yes, Bob's compass supposedly works, but do we know it really does? Would everybody be ok if we came to some sort of safe place where it would be ok to give him right-left suggestions or at the very least ask him if, when he goes through a force-field, his compass does indeed point in the same direction as it did in the room he left? 4) I know Bob thinks otherwise, and I assumes since he's intelligent, he wouldn't mislead us. But do we really know that there is more than one orb, and there is not for example, a single orb that is moving. Ok bob, we agree that things are looking up. Wait, who was the idiot who pressed the italics-to-bob intercom button? C'mon we wan't to give this guy some hope Bob, there was some faulty transmission from our side. I do have one request however: The next time you travel through one of the force fields, can you verify that your compass reads in the same direction immediately before, and immediately after? (that is, before you turn the compass or your body). I know how you you said that your compass is legit, but being that this maze is a bit non-consistent, let's just make sure that compass directions aren't suddenly changing as you pass through the force fields. One other question, Bob, can the orbs (if there are really more than one) fit through the force fields? | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 419 Registered: 1-2012 |
Here's what I think: 1) Well, either that or the orbs are moving. Or there's a lot of orbs. 2) I agree. North-then-south from a orb room doesn't get you back to the orb room. 3) I'm OK with that. 4) Well, we have discovered that Bob's shoe is only ever underneath one orb. Plus, now we have seen that only one orb is purple, then the later two are orange. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1987 Registered: 6-2008 |
To add to the clarification, at least one of the orbs has been verified twice as being securely held in place. We don't know about all of them, but there is no evidence that the orbs behave differently, i.e. all are purple or orange, they're hanging in enough the same way that we couldn't tell them apart without the shoe and/or them being different colors, etc. Since we all seem to be thinking out loud now, just a guess--maybe our objective is to change all orbs in the whole maze to the same color, and then the walls will disappear?? Of course, we don't know at this point if the maze is even finite. | ||
| Beachbum (Beachbum)
New member Username: Beachbum Post Number: 41 Registered: 2-2012 |
Let's not forget the very first experiment when Bob when North, through his shoe through the south-facing force field. When he went south, his shoe was in the room where he left it, but the orb wasn't So Bob, I guess as far as actual instructions, Kyeannpepper had the last set of directions, right? And again like I requested could you at some point do the compass thing like I suggested? | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1991 Registered: 6-2008 |
About that first experiment: That just shows that the shoe behaves like Bob does when in goes through the fields. It does NOT show that going north and then south amounts to going nowhere. If Bob had left the shoe on the floor, then gone north, and then south again, the shoe would likely not have been there. In fact, we could still try that now, though we'd have to trust that by following all four directions, we get back to the same orb, not to one of the others, like we do by going north/west or south/east. Otherwise we may have lost the shoe! Also, that really wouldn't tell us much useful--there's no indication that our "absolute" position, i.e. NOT relative to the orbs, is relevant. | ||
| Beachbum (Beachbum)
New member Username: Beachbum Post Number: 45 Registered: 2-2012 |
Oh of course, you're right Biograd. All it means is that the shoe and Bob went to the same room, but that doesn't mean it was the original room. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 2001 Registered: 6-2008 |
Is this puzzle still active? It's been two and a half weeks since Kyeannepepper posted the latest set of questions. | ||
| Beachbum (Beachbum)
New member Username: Beachbum Post Number: 71 Registered: 2-2012 |
I hope so, it's a very interesting one! | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1163 Registered: 9-2003 |
My apologies for my delay in response. Things have been hectic in my real life with my colleague leaving the job (and hence me having to pick up the slack) and final wedding planning details. And I'm afraid things won't really ease until I've tied the knot in July. I'll try my best to log in more regularly and give answers, but expect updates to be sparse... once again, my apologies! Now onto the puzzle... Judging by our experiments with the shoes plus colour changing, I think we've established the existence of at least three orbs. Going south then east as per Kyeannpepper's last instructions... Touching the orange orb makes it purple. ...going south then east once leads me to an orange orb -- no shoes. ...going south then east two more times leads me to a purple orb -- with my right shoe on it! I shall leave my shoe on the orb for now. Now going north-west three times...on my second north-west sequence, I ran into an orange orb. At the end of the north-west sequence, I see a purple orb. Now what? Ah yes...Beachbum's request that I investigate my compass in a more thorough manner. First, I've repeated Kyeannpepper's instructions several times to make sure I seem to get to the same set of orbs (purple orb without shoe to orange orb to purple orb with shoe and back again). This seems to hold true. Next, I've repeated Kyeannpepper's instructions one final time, but this time taking care to record the compass direction immediately before entering a force field and immediately after I exit from one. The results are...enlightening, to say the least! Going north and west yields the expected result. However, going south seems to make me face east on exiting the force field, and going east seems to make me face south on exiting the force field! What do you make of that? For your reference, I've returned to the purple orb without my shoe sitting on it. | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 673 Registered: 1-2012 |
HAENLOMAL! YOU'RE BACK! *hugs* I am extremely confused. That's what I make of that. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16991 Registered: 4-2010 |
As am I, but congrats on your upcoming nuptials! | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1164 Registered: 9-2003 |
Thanks Balin. :-) On a more general note to all puzzlers: do you want a general hint? | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 682 Registered: 1-2012 |
Well, I am not all puzzlers, but I vote yes. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17008 Registered: 4-2010 |
Sure. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 2034 Registered: 6-2008 |
Yay, this one is going again! A hint would be helpful. | ||
| Beachbum (Beachbum)
New member Username: Beachbum Post Number: 165 Registered: 2-2012 |
Yes, just a small hint. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 1165 Registered: 9-2003 |
Very well, here are two small hints: 1. There are more orbs out there. You'll need to figure out how changing the colour of one orb impacts the other orbs. The first time I ran this maze, the puzzle solvers actually didn't solve this bit of the puzzle because they stumbled upon the correct solution just through sheer luck. But given the way things have been going with this runthrough, you probably have to figure out the pattern this time around. 2. Read through my post on April 27th very carefully. Using the information there, you can start to map out the lateral maze. For the record, the first group of puzzlers figured this aspect of the maze out fairly quickly -- but it has taken you a bit longer this time around in part due to the directions and paths you have chosen to direct Bob. | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 802 Registered: 1-2012 |
Okay, summing up the things we have learned: 1. There is a finite number of rooms, otherwise we wouldn't be able to map out the maze. 2. Changing the color of one orb can, although (possibly) does not NEED to, change the color of other orb(s). 3. Going north into a force field causes us to face north exiting it. Going west into a force field causes us to face west exiting it, as expected. HOWEVER, if we go south into a force field, we face east exiting it, and going east into a force field makes us face south. 4. There are more than the three (we think) orbs we have discovered. 5. Seeing as there seems to be a lot of orbs, it seems fairly safe to assume that the rooms are NOT moving. 6. HANG ON! Going south-east once gets us into an orb room, but not the one we seem to have exited before. As going south makes us face east, and east makes us face south, we have really just gone through the same field (I think) twice, yet ended up with a different room! And repeating south-east gets us into yet ANOTHER orb room, this one clearly different because it has the shoe. Bob, please balance your other shoe upon the orb we are now in the same room in. Now go south-east. We should return to an orange orb. Is there a shoe or not on top of it? Probably my reasoning behind this is all wrong, but it's all I got. Oh, and Haenlomal, if you have gotten married, then I hope your wedding went well and you are having a wonderful time with your wife. If not, I wish for your wedding to go smoothly and for you to have a wonderful time with your bride-to-be! And either way, I hope you have many happy years together! Sorry for not congratulating you earlier, but I have celebrated quite a few weddings in the past couple months...in fact, I may have just gotten home from one when you posted that. | ||
| Beachbum (Beachbum)
New member Username: Beachbum Post Number: 230 Registered: 2-2012 |
6. " HANG ON! Going south-east once gets us into an orb room, but not the one we seem to have exited before. As going south makes us face east, and east makes us face south, we have really just gone through the same field (I think) twice, yet ended up with a different room! And repeating south-east gets us into yet ANOTHER orb room, this one clearly different because it has the shoe. " Ok possibly. I'm not sure if I agree or disagree, except that I don't see how we are going through the same force field twice. Ok, we know that at least in our present circumstances, when Bob leaves a room via the eastern force-field, he arrives at at new room from its northern force-field, and vice versa. much is fact, because Bob told us so. At least we know this is true for the present conditions. Of course we don't know yet if the the energy field anomalies might be different if some of the globes were different colors. What is your logic that Bob, following a south, then east track, will revisit the same room? | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 960 Registered: 1-2012 |
Yeah, I'm not sure where I was going with that. | ||
| Beachbum (Beachbum)
New member Username: Beachbum Post Number: 245 Registered: 2-2012 |
Me neither. But I love puzzles like this one! This could go on for months and I'd love it! Has anyone tried to draw a map yet, based on our new knowledge of the south/east phenomenon. I'm sure the trick is probably not too complex, it's just that we're thinking of too many possibilities. | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
Moderator Username: Peter365 Post Number: 138 Registered: 1-2011 |
Haenlomal I've put this puzzle into Limbo for now. You can reactivate it by answering the outstanding questions |
