Steroid Masyu

[grandpascorpion]

Steroid Masyu:

This is a variation of Nikoli's Masyu puzzle and the explanation below assumes familiarity with it.  Like normal Masyu, each puzzle has a unique solution in the form of a loop which does not intersect itself and satisfies all of its constraints (in the form of "pearls").

I wanted to create a version that makes uses of diagonals as

Comments

[cyrebjr]

Um... wow. And I thought my hexagonal was freaky.

Is it assumed that the path can never cross, even at the corners? And are *'s allowed to be consecutive with black-on-white-background crosses?

[grandpascorpion]

I updated the description. The path can't cross itself (and the my crude pearls aren't part of the solution path).

I'm not sure what you mean by the "consecutive" question.

I have to check out your hexagonal version.

[cyrebjr]

Okay, when I say "consecutive," I mean two cells are next to each other on the loop, and not only on the grid.

[ertchin]

Wow. Solved 1, very stuck on 2, almost solved 3 and then made a bad assumption. Very interesting.

In your sample, going from the star in the second row, the line goes right 2, down 2, right 1. Could it also go right 2, down 1, left 1, down 1, right 2?

[grandpascorpion]

Thanks ertchin. I'm not sure when you tried to solve these but they have only been stable (with unique solutions) since about 1AM this morning.

You're right about the sample. I added an extra clue to make the solution unique.

[ertchin]

Sadly, it was all within the last couple of hours. I looked at the solution for 3 and saw what I did wrong, and I'm saving 2 to try again after my brain has had a rest.

[dreamisle]

Loving this masyu variant! I hope you make more sometime soon...