List of Puzzle Elements: Difference between revisions

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* Accessibility - <code>[[Accessibility Friendly]]</code> & <code>[[Content Warning]]</code> tags
* Accessibility - <code>[[Accessibility Friendly]]</code> & <code>[[Content Warning]]</code> tags
* Media type - Elements that deviate from a "pen-and-paper" medium, or printable / static web page:
* Media type - Elements that deviate from a "pen-and-paper" medium, or printable / static web page:
** <code>[[Audio]]</code> - Audio file or collection of such files
** <code>[[Audio (Puzzle Presentation)|Audio]]</code> - Audio file or collection of such files
** <code>[[Video]]</code> - Video clip or collection of such clips
** <code>[[Video]]</code> - Video clip or collection of such clips
** <code>[[Physical Puzzle]]</code> - Physical object that requires manipulation or examination
** <code>[[Physical Puzzle]]</code> - Physical object that requires manipulation or examination
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** Others - <code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Spreadsheet]]</code>?
** Others - <code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Spreadsheet]]</code>?
* Presentation - Top level, and most immediately apparent appearance of the puzzle
* Presentation - Top level, and most immediately apparent appearance of the puzzle
** <code>[[Image Heavy]]</code>
** <code>[[Image-Heavy Presentation|Image Heavy]]</code> - Puzzle consisting largely of images
** <code>[[Text Heavy]]</code> - Choose Your Own Adventure, Walkthrough, Checklist, Script, Diary
**<code>[[Text Heavy]]</code> - Choose Your Own Adventure, Walkthrough, Checklist, Script, Diary
** <code>[[Minimalist]]</code> - Puzzles where extremely little information is apparent
**<code>[[Minimalist]]</code> - Puzzles where extremely little information is apparent
** <code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Clue Centric]]</code> - Image clues, Numbered clues, Unnumbered clues
**<code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Clue Centric]]</code> - Image clues, Numbered clues, Unnumbered clues
** <code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Grid Centric]]</code> - May include <code>[[Circular Grid]]</code>, <code>[[Spiral Grid]]</code>, <code>[[Hexagonal Grid]]</code>
**<code>[[Grid]]</code> - May include <code>[[Circular Grid]]</code>, <code>[[Spiral Grid]]</code>, <code>[[Hexagonal Grid]]</code>
* Instructions - Nature of instruction provided with the puzzle
*Instructions - Nature of instruction provided with the puzzle
** <code>[[Explicit Instructions]]</code> - Instructions are provided explicitly as part of the puzzle
**<code>[[Explicit Instructions]]</code> - Instructions are provided explicitly as part of the puzzle
** <code>[[Example Instructions]]</code> - Examples are provided as part of the puzzle, but deduction of rules is intended to be a part of the puzzle
**<code>[[Example Instructions]]</code> - Examples are provided as part of the puzzle, but deduction of rules is intended to be a part of the puzzle
** <code>[[Flavortext]]</code> - Flavortext is provided, which ''may'' provide some cryptic allusions to the nature of the puzzle
**<code>[[Flavortext]]</code> - Flavortext is provided, which ''may'' provide some cryptic allusions to the nature of the puzzle
** <code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Asked And Answered]]</code> - Special category of puzzle where a narrative element is posed within the puzzle and answer provides a resolution to that question
**<code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Asked And Answered]]</code> - Special category of puzzle where a narrative element is posed within the puzzle and answer provides a resolution to that question
* Completion - Submission mechanism that deviates from a regular answer checker
*Completion - Submission mechanism that deviates from a regular answer checker
** <code>[[Sub-answer Checking]]</code> - Mechanism for submitting answers to sub-puzzles for intermediate confirmation
**<code>[[Sub-answer Checking]]</code> - Mechanism for submitting answers to sub-puzzles for intermediate confirmation
** <code>[[Task Completion]]</code> - Completion of puzzle is contingent on finalizing a particular task
**<code>[[Task Completion]]</code> - Completion of puzzle is contingent on finalizing a particular task


= Content Elements =
= Content Elements=
'''Content Elements''' refers to techniques that are encountered during the solving of a puzzle. Due to their size, these have been separated into three Subgroups:
'''Content Elements''' refers to techniques that are encountered during the solving of a puzzle. Due to their size, these have been separated into three Subgroups:


=== Puzzle Type ===
===Puzzle Type===
'''Puzzle Type''' is the main categorization of a puzzle and the categorization that is most likely to help solvers find other similar puzzles
'''Puzzle Type''' is the main categorization of a puzzle and the categorization that is most likely to help solvers find other similar puzzles


* '''<code>[[Word Puzzle|Word Puzzles]]</code>'''
*'''<code>[[Word Puzzle|Word Puzzles]]</code>'''
** <code>[[Acrostic]]</code>
**<code>[[Acrostic]]</code>
** <code>[[Crossword]]</code> - See [[W:Crossword#Major_variants|Crossword variants]] for major variants including: <code>[[Cryptic Crossword]]</code>, <code>[[Diagramless Crossword]]</code>, <code>[[Fill-in Crossword]]</code>, but also would include <code>[[Marching Bands]]</code>, <code>[[Rows Garden]]</code> and <code>[[Some Assembly Required]]</code> as common puzzle hunt occurrences.
**<code>[[Crossword]]</code> - See [[W:Crossword#Major_variants|Crossword variants]] for major variants including: <code>[[Cryptic Crossword]]</code>, <code>[[Diagramless Crossword]]</code>, <code>[[Fill-In]]</code>, but also would include <code>[[Marching Bands (Crossword Type)|Marching Bands]]</code>, <code>[[Rows Garden (Crossword Type)|Rows Garden]]</code> and <code>[[Some Assembly Required (Crossword Type)|Some Assembly Required]]</code> as common puzzle hunt occurrences.
** <code>[[Word Ladder]]</code>
**<code>[[Word Ladder]]</code>
** '''Rearrangement''' - All word play variants that involve unscrambling letters or words. Would include <code>[[Dropquote]]</code>, <code>[[Trigram Hell]]</code>, <code>[[Interwoven Strings]]</code>
**'''Rearrangement''' - All word play variants that involve unscrambling letters or words. Would include <code>[[Dropquote]]</code>, <code>[[Trigram Hell]]</code>, <code>[[Interwoven Strings]]</code>
** <code>[[Word Search]]</code> - Includes regular word searches as well as Boggle-Style Wordsearch (subsection on main page)
**<code>[[Word Search]]</code> - Includes regular word searches as well as Boggle-Style Wordsearch (subsection on main page)
** <code>[[Cryptogram]]</code> - Substitution ciphers, specifically, with subpage <code>[[Cryptolist]]</code>.
**<code>[[Cryptogram]]</code> - Substitution ciphers, specifically, with subpage <code>[[Cryptolist]]</code>.
**<code>[[Flats]]</code>
**<code>[[Flats]]</code>
**<code>[[Printer's Devilry]]</code>
**<code>[[Printer's Devilry]]</code>
**<code>[[Rebus]]</code>
**<code>[[Rebus]]</code>


* '''<code>[[Logic Puzzle|Logic Puzzles]]</code>'''
*'''<code>[[Logic Puzzle|Logic Puzzles]]</code>'''
** <code>[[Grid Constraint]]</code> - This puzzle type has a HUGE collection of subtypes (see [http://www.cross-plus-a.com/puzzles.htm Cross+A], [http://marshall.freeshell.org/nikoli_rules.html James Marshall's], or [https://www.janko.at/Raetsel/index.htm Angela and Otto Janko's] puzzle summaries) and care ought to be taken to curate a manageable list from this set. Common sub-categorisations may be <code>[[Battleships]]</code>, <code>[[Crossnumber]]</code>, <code>[[Corral]]</code>, <code>[[Fillomino]]</code>, <code>[[Hashi wo Kakero]]</code>, <code>[[Heyawake]]</code>, <code>[[Hitori]]</code>, <code>[[Kakuro]]</code>, <code>[[Light Up]]</code>, <code>[[LITS]]</code>, <code>[[Masyu]]</code>, <code>[[Nonogram]]</code>, <code>[[Nurikabe]]</code>, <code>[[Numberlink]]</code>, <code>[[Shikaku]]</code>, <code>[[Slitherlink]]</code>, <code>[[Sudoku]]</code>, <code>[[Yajilin]]</code>
**<code>[[Grid logic|Grid Constraint]]</code> - This puzzle type has a HUGE collection of subtypes (see [http://www.cross-plus-a.com/puzzles.htm Cross+A], [http://marshall.freeshell.org/nikoli_rules.html James Marshall's], or [https://www.janko.at/Raetsel/index.htm Angela and Otto Janko's] puzzle summaries) and care ought to be taken to curate a manageable list from this set. Common sub-categorisations may be <code>[[Akari]]</code>, <code>[[Battleship (logic puzzle)|Battleship]]</code>, <code>[[Crossnumber]]</code>, <code>[[Corral]]</code>, <code>[[Fillomino]]</code>, <code>[[Hashi wo Kakero]]</code>, <code>[[Heyawake]]</code>, <code>[[Hitori]]</code>, <code>[[Kakuro]]</code>, <code>[[LITS]]</code>, <code>[[Masyu]]</code>, <code>[[Nonogram]]</code>, <code>[[Nurikabe]]</code>, <code>[[Numberlink]]</code>, <code>[[Shikaku]]</code>, <code>[[Slitherlink]]</code>, <code>[[Sudoku]]</code>, <code>[[Yajilin]]</code>
** <code>[[Deduction]]</code> - Regular logic deduction like the [[W:Zebra Puzzle|Zebra Puzzle]], but also may include game state reconstructions, murder mystery deductions and games like Mafia and Werewolf, induction problems, etc
**<code>[[Deduction]]</code> - Regular logic deduction like the <code>[[Zebra Puzzle]]</code>, but also may include game state reconstructions, murder mystery deductions and games like Mafia and Werewolf, induction problems, etc
** <code>[[Optimization]]</code> - Puzzles where a situation is presented with multiple possible solutions, but the best or shortest solution need to be identified.
**<code>[[Optimization]]</code> - Puzzles where a situation is presented with multiple possible solutions, but the best or shortest solution need to be identified.
* '''<code>[[Spatial Puzzle|Spatial Puzzles]]</code>'''
*'''<code>[[Spatial Puzzle|Spatial Puzzles]]</code>'''
** <code>[[Maze]]</code>
**<code>[[Maze]]</code>
** <code>[[Jigsaw]]</code> - All puzzles with reconstruction elements (i.e. jigsaws, tangrams, etc). May include subcategories for <code>[[Tiling]]</code>, <code>[[3D Jigsaw]]</code>, <code>[[Burr]]</code>, etc)
**<code>[[Jigsaw Puzzle]]</code> - All puzzles with reconstruction elements (i.e. jigsaws, tangrams, etc). May include subcategories for <code>[[Tiling]]</code>, <code>[[3D Jigsaw]]</code>, <code>[[Burr]]</code>, etc)
** <code>[[Sliding Puzzle]]</code> - Games like Sam Loyd's sliding puzzle, Rush Hour, the Century puzzle, etc
**<code>[[Sliding Puzzle]]</code> - Games like Sam Loyd's sliding puzzle, Rush Hour, the Century puzzle, etc
* '''<code>Other Puzzles</code>'''
*'''<code>Other Puzzles</code>'''
** <code>[[Metapuzzle]]</code> - Special puzzle type that relies on other puzzle answers. May include <code>[[Shell Meta]]</code> and <code>[[Pure meta]]</code> as subcategories
**<code>[[Metapuzzle]]</code> - Special puzzle type that relies on other puzzle answers. May include <code>[[Shell Meta]]</code> and <code>[[Pure meta]]</code> as subcategories
** <code>[[Instructional Puzzle|Instructional]]</code> - Includes <code>[[Conundrum]]</code> as incredible convoluted instructional puzzles
**<code>[[Instructional Puzzle|Instructional]]</code> - Includes <code>[[Conundrum]]</code> as incredible convoluted instructional puzzles
** <code>[[Rebus]]</code> - ''(Note: are Rebus puzzles Word Puzzles? Or unique enough in structure to justify being separated?)''
**<code>[[Rebus]]</code> - ''(Note: are Rebus puzzles Word Puzzles? Or unique enough in structure to justify being separated?)''
**<code>[[Trivia]]</code> - Half characterized by presentation (Questions with specific answers) and half by content (Questions about various subjects)
**<code>[[Trivia]]</code> - Half characterized by presentation (Questions with specific answers) and half by content (Questions about various subjects)


=== Solve Path Elements ===
===Solve Path Elements===
'''Solve Path Elements''' attempt to categorise the process and intermediate stages through which the puzzle's solve path proceeds. These have been separated into two types:
'''Solve Path Elements''' attempt to categorise the process and intermediate stages through which the puzzle's solve path proceeds. These have been separated into two types:


'''"Atomic" Solve Path Elements''' - individual elements whose scope is that of an individual step
'''"Atomic" Solve Path Elements''' - individual elements whose scope is that of an individual step
* <code>[[Identification]]</code> - Identification of provided elements as an initial step. Can include <code>[[Image Identification]]</code>, <code>[[Audio Identification]]</code> and <code>[[Video Identification]]</code> (though this may be redundant given the Media and Presentation elements)
*<code>[[Identification]]</code> - Identification of provided elements as an initial step. Can include <code>[[Image Identification]]</code>, <code>[[Audio Identification]]</code> and <code>[[Video Identification]]</code> (though this may be redundant given the Media and Presentation elements)
* <code>[[Pairing]]</code> - Sets of clues that specifically pair up. Alternate ways of categorising this could be [[Connecting Sides]]</code> (left and right hand sets of clues that explicitly pair), <code>[[Before And After]]</code> (words form sets based on specific transformations), <code>[[Partitioned Clues]]</code> (partitions into distinct sets, no necessarily pairs) or <code>[[Chains]]</code> (answers form a connected chain).
*<code>[[Pairing]]</code> - Sets of clues that specifically pair up. Alternate ways of categorising this could be [[Connecting Sides]]</code> (left and right hand sets of clues that explicitly pair), <code>[[Before And After]]</code> (words form sets based on specific transformations), <code>[[Partitioned Clues]]</code> (partitions into distinct sets, no necessarily pairs) or <code>[[Chains]]</code> (answers form a connected chain).
* <code>[[Transformations]]</code> - Puzzle elements undergo some form of transformation. Again, there is a large number of potential transformations that may occur (see [https://enigma.puzzlers.org/guide/flat NPL's List of flat]) and it may be prudent not to categorise further, but some common subcategories may include <code>[[Beheadment]]</code>, <code>[[Transdeletion]]</code>, <code>[[Transaddition]]</code>, <code>[[Anagram]]</code>, <code>[[Padlock]]</code> (or <code>[[Sandwiched Term]]</code>), <code>[[Reversal]]</code>, <code>[[Caesar Shift]]</code>, <code>[[Consonancy]]</code>, <code>[[Transplants]]</code>, etc)
*<code>[[Transformations]]</code> - Puzzle elements undergo some form of transformation. Again, there is a large number of potential transformations that may occur (see [https://enigma.puzzlers.org/guide/flat NPL's List of flat]) and it may be prudent not to categorise further, but some common subcategories may include <code>[[Beheadment]]</code>, <code>[[Transdeletion]]</code>, <code>[[Transaddition]]</code>, <code>[[Anagram]]</code>, <code>[[Padlock]]</code> (or <code>[[Sandwiched Term]]</code>), <code>[[Reversal]]</code>, <code>[[Caesar Shift]]</code>, <code>[[Consonancy]]</code>, <code>[[Transplants]]</code>, etc)
* <code>[[Reordering]]</code> - Some element is embedded into the puzzle elements that allows for a reordering prior to extraction (i.e. Alphabetical particularly with 26 unique letters, chronological, consecutively numerical, physical locations, etc)
*<code>[[Reordering]]</code> - Some element is embedded into the puzzle elements that allows for a reordering prior to extraction (i.e. Alphabetical particularly with 26 unique letters, chronological, consecutively numerical, physical locations, etc)


'''"Holistic" Solve Path Elements''' - Higher-level elements whose scope is more about overall nature of the solve path itself (''Better name? "Sequence"?'')
'''"Holistic" Solve Path Elements''' - Higher-level elements whose scope is more about overall nature of the solve path itself (''Better name? "Sequence"?'')
* <code>[[The Waterfall Effect]]</code> - Solve path involves one sub puzzle provides information required to solve the next,...
*<code>[[The Waterfall Effect]]</code> - Solve path involves one sub puzzle provides information required to solve the next,...
* <code>[[Red Herring]]</code> - Solve path includes deliberate (either clued as such, or unclued) red herrings
*<code>[[Red Herring]]</code> - Solve path includes deliberate (either clued as such, or unclued) red herrings
* <code>[[Recursion]]</code> - Solve path involves multiple repetitions of itself until a final answer is obtainable
*<code>[[Recursion]]</code> - Solve path involves multiple repetitions of itself until a final answer is obtainable
* <code>[[Retrograde]]</code> - Solve path involves reversal of a particular process, with the answer being related to its original state
*<code>[[Retrograde]]</code> - Solve path involves reversal of a particular process, with the answer being related to its original state
* <code span style="background-color:Bisque">[[Missing Information]]</code> - Puzzle for which (part of) the solve path is not feasible without first combining some additional piece of information
*<code style="background-color:Bisque" span>[[Missing Information]]</code> - Puzzle for which (part of) the solve path is not feasible without first combining some additional piece of information


=== Extraction Elements ===
===Extraction Elements===
'''Extraction Elements''' refers to the techniques that are common to hunt puzzles which allow the "extraction" of a final answer from a puzzles that are not necessarily designed to result in a word or phrase
'''Extraction Elements''' refers to the techniques that are common to hunt puzzles which allow the "extraction" of a final answer from a puzzles that are not necessarily designed to result in a word or phrase


* <code>[[Decryption|Decryption Extraction]]</code>
*<code>[[Decryption|Decryption Extraction]]</code>
** <code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Alphabet Mapping]]</code> - ''Unsure of the difference to "Alphanumeric" below <-- (We've had at least one case of A-Z or A-Whatever being based on a non-26-member list, instead mapping to, say, a 4x6 grid of colours like in [https://puzzles.mit.edu/2020/puzzle/scottish_display/ The Scottish Display]. Might be worth it to make some new name for this whole-cloth.)''
**<code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Alphabet Mapping]]</code> - ''Unsure of the difference to "Alphanumeric" below <-- (We've had at least one case of A-Z or A-Whatever being based on a non-26-member list, instead mapping to, say, a 4x6 grid of colours like in [https://puzzles.mit.edu/2020/puzzle/scottish_display/ The Scottish Display]. Might be worth it to make some new name for this whole-cloth.)''
** <code>[[Alphanumeric]]</code> - A1Z26 or similar mappings, including other lists with at most 26 elements with canonical ordering
**<code>[[Alphanumeric Substitution Cipher|Alphanumeric]]</code> - A1Z26 or similar mappings, including other lists with at most 26 elements with canonical ordering
** <code>[[Binary]]</code> - 5-bit alphanumerical code, or 7 to 8-bit ASCII code
**<code>[[Binary]]</code> - 5-bit alphanumerical code, or 7 to 8-bit ASCII code
** <code>[[Braille]]</code> - see [[W:Braille]]
**<code>[[Braille]]</code> - see [[W:Braille]]
** <code>[[Dancing Man]]</code> - see [[W:The Adventure of the Dancing Men]] or [https://www.dcode.fr/dancing-men-cipher here]
**<code>[[Dancing Men]]</code> - see [[W:The Adventure of the Dancing Men]] or [https://www.dcode.fr/dancing-men-cipher here]
** <code>[[Morse Code]]</code> - see [[W:Morse code]]
**<code>[[Morse Code]]</code> - see [[W:Morse code]]
** <code>[[Pigpen]]</code> - see [[W:Pigpen cipher]]
**<code>[[Pigpen]]</code> - see [[W:Pigpen cipher]]
** <code>[[Semaphore]]</code> - see [[W:Flag semaphore]]
**<code>[[Flag Semaphore]]</code> - see [[W:Flag semaphore]]
** <code>[[Sign Language]]</code> - see [[W:Sign language]]
**<code>[[American Sign Language]]</code> - see [[W:Sign language]]
* <code>[[Visual Extraction]]</code>
*<code>[[Visual Extraction]]</code>
** <code>[[Bitmap]]</code> - Pixel art letterform or pictorial representations
**<code>[[Bitmap]]</code> - Pixel art letterform or pictorial representations
** <code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Coloring / Shading Spaces]]</code> - May have a fair degree of overlap with <code>[[Bitmap]]</code>
**<code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Coloring / Shading Spaces]]</code> - May have a fair degree of overlap with <code>[[Bitmap]]</code>
** <code>[[Connect-The-Dots]]</code> - see [[W:Connect the dots]]
**<code>[[Connect-The-Dots]]</code> - see [[W:Connect the dots]]
** <code>[[Obscuring]]</code> - Silhouettes, shadows, perspective shifts
**<code>[[Obscuring]]</code> - Silhouettes, shadows, perspective shifts
** <code>[[Overlaying]]</code> - Transparencies, OR & XOR additions
**<code>[[Overlaying]]</code> - Transparencies, OR & XOR additions
* <code>[[Letter and String Extraction]]</code>
*<code>[[Letter and String Extraction]]</code>
** <code>[[Special Letters]]</code> - Use of double letters, or strings of matching length with exactly 1 letter in common, or letters appearing in special substring patterns
**<code>[[Special Letters]]</code> - Use of double letters, or strings of matching length with exactly 1 letter in common, or letters appearing in special substring patterns
** <code>[[Marked Elements]]</code> - Colored or enumerated letters, Marked or overstuffed grid spaces, Marked entries, etc
**<code>[[Marked Elements]]</code> - Colored or enumerated letters, Marked or overstuffed grid spaces, Marked entries, etc
** <code>[[Indexing]]</code> - Nth letters are extracted from component answers, where the value of N is either supplied, or somehow derived
**<code>[[Indexing]]</code> - Nth letters are extracted from component answers, where the value of N is either supplied, or somehow derived
** <code>[[Positional Extraction]]</code> - Appearance of answer within an ordered arrangement of answers. May include <code>[[Initialization]]</code>, <code>[[Terminalization]]</code>, <code>[[Centralization]]</code>, <code>[[Diagonalization]]</code>
**<code>[[Positional Extraction]]</code> - Appearance of answer within an ordered arrangement of answers. May include <code>[[Initialization]]</code>, <code>[[Terminalization]]</code>, <code>[[Centralization]]</code>, <code>[[Diagonalization]]</code>
* <code>[[Unclued Information]]</code> - Answer is related to an item that is identifiable missing from the puzzle's otherwise completed set
*<code>[[Unclued Information (extraction)|Unclued Information]]</code> - Answer is related to an item that is identifiable missing from the puzzle's otherwise completed set
* <code>[[Instructional Extraction]]</code> - Instructions are provided (either explicitly, or via an intermediate answer phrase) that directs the extraction of the final answer. This may includes <code>[[Extraction by Reward]]</code> where the answer is provided as a "reward" upon the completion of a task and <code>[["Other Way" Message]]</code>, and instructional extraction that indicates an incorrect solve path.
*<code>[[Instructional Extraction]]</code> - Instructions are provided (either explicitly, or via an intermediate answer phrase) that directs the extraction of the final answer. This may includes <code>[[Extraction by Reward]]</code> where the answer is provided as a "reward" upon the completion of a task and <code>[["Other Way" Message]]</code>, and instructional extraction that indicates an incorrect solve path.


= Flavor Elements =
=Flavor Elements=
'''Flavor Elements''' elements refer to either the ''topic'' (the subject matter of a puzzle) or the ''theme'' (the presentation of a puzzle) but either way provides identification of elements that may attract solvers with special interests, knowledge, or areas of expertise.
'''Flavor Elements''' elements refer to either the ''topic'' (the subject matter of a puzzle) or the ''theme'' (the presentation of a puzzle) but either way provides identification of elements that may attract solvers with special interests, knowledge, or areas of expertise.


''This listing is a deliberately selective list, extracted from the much more exhaustive listing in the original Google Doc link [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D-ATvSsgG8f0d5Swj-3z4kngQ-P8efwssbR13H4J6hk/edit here]. The intention is for a more "bottom-up" approach that can be expanded up to the desired level of detail.''
''This listing is a deliberately selective list, extracted from the much more exhaustive listing in the original Google Doc link [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D-ATvSsgG8f0d5Swj-3z4kngQ-P8efwssbR13H4J6hk/edit here]. The intention is for a more "bottom-up" approach that can be expanded up to the desired level of detail.''


* '''<code>[[Arts]]</code>''' - ''Could be combined to make "Arts & Literature"''
* '''<code>[[Arts]]</code>''' - ''Could be combined to make "Arts & Literature"''
** <code>[[Dance]]</code> - All styles
**<code>[[Dance]]</code> - All styles
** <code>[[Theater]]</code> - Live theater (Musicals, Shakespeare). For screen theater, see <code>[[Movies]]</code> under <code>[[Media]]</code>
**<code>[[Theater]]</code> - Live theater (Musicals, Shakespeare). For screen theater, see <code>[[Movies]]</code> under <code>[[Media]]</code>
** <code>[[Visual Art & Design]]</code> - Color & Color theory including palettes. <code>[[Heraldry]]</code> could be separate, but RGB manipulation is found under Content\Intermediate steps
**<code>[[Visual Art & Design]]</code> - Color & Color theory including palettes. <code>[[Heraldry]]</code> could be separate, but RGB manipulation is found under Content\Intermediate steps
* '''<code>[[Culture]]</code>''' - Cultural trends not easily classified in other topical areas (hairstyles, fashions, etc) can go here
*'''<code>[[Culture]]</code>''' - Cultural trends not easily classified in other topical areas (hairstyles, fashions, etc) can go here
** <code>[[Puzzle Culture]]</code> - Puzzles that reference previous, or other hunts
**<code>[[Puzzle Culture]]</code> - Puzzles that reference previous, or other hunts
** <code>[[MIT Culture]]</code> - All things MIT specific (Course catalog, floor plans, etc)
**<code>[[MIT Culture]]</code> - All things MIT specific (Course catalog, floor plans, etc)
* '''<code>[[Food & Drink]]</code>''' - Cooking, Recipes, Mixology, etc
*'''<code>[[Food & Drink]]</code>''' - Cooking, Recipes, Mixology, etc
* '''<code>[[Geography]]</code>'''
*'''<code>[[Geography]]</code>'''
** <code>[[Human Geography]]</code> - Locations, Countries / Cities, etc. <code>[[Currency]]</code> is a likely sub category of this
**<code>[[Human Geography]]</code> - Locations, Countries / Cities, etc. <code>[[Currency]]</code> is a likely sub category of this
** <code>[[Physical Geography]]</code> - Mountains, Climate, Weather, etc
**<code>[[Physical Geography]]</code> - Mountains, Climate, Weather, etc
** <code>[[Cartography]]</code> - Map specific concepts (real or fictional)
**<code>[[Cartography]]</code> - Map specific concepts (real or fictional)
* '''<code>[[Media]]</code>'''
* '''<code>[[Media]]</code>'''
** <code>[[Movies]]</code> - Sub categorisations are possible here but are yet to be finalised (genres like <code>[[Sci-Fi]]</code>, studios like <code>[[Disney/Marvel]]</code>, and other things like <code>[[Academy Awards]]</code>, etc)
**<code>[[Movies]]</code> - Sub categorisations are possible here but are yet to be finalised (genres like <code>[[Sci-Fi]]</code>, studios like <code>[[Disney/Marvel]]</code>, and other things like <code>[[Academy Awards]]</code>, etc)
** <code>[[TV Shows]]</code> - Sub categorisations are possible here but are yet to be finalised (genres like <code>[[Reality & Game Shows]]</code> & <code>[[Anime]]</code>, specific shows like <code>[[The Simpsons]]</code>, etc)
**<code>[[TV Shows]]</code> - Sub categorisations are possible here but are yet to be finalised (genres like <code>[[Reality & Game Shows]]</code> & <code>[[Anime]]</code>, specific shows like <code>[[The Simpsons]]</code>, etc)
** <code>[[Music]]</code> - Sub categorisations are possible here but are yet to be finalised (genres like <code>[[Pop]]</code>, <code>[[K-Pop]]</code> or <code>[[Classical]]</code>, elements like <code>[[Sheet Music]]</code> or <code>[[Lyrics]]</code>, etc). However music ''extraction'' elements like <code>[[Solfege]]</code> and <code>[[Music Identification]]</code> are categorised under Content Elements
**<code>[[Music]]</code> - Sub categorisations are possible here but are yet to be finalised (genres like <code>[[Pop]]</code>, <code>[[K-Pop]]</code> or <code>[[Classical]]</code>, elements like <code>[[Sheet Music]]</code> or <code>[[Lyrics]]</code>, etc). However music ''extraction'' elements like <code>[[Solfege]]</code> and <code>[[Music Identification]]</code> are categorised under Content Elements
** <code>[[Internet]]</code> - Webcomics, Youtube series, etc. <code>[[Memes]]</code> may be another useful sub-categorisation with overlap to Culture category above
**<code>[[Internet]]</code> - Webcomics, Youtube series, etc. <code>[[Memes]]</code> may be another useful sub-categorisation with overlap to Culture category above
* '''<code>[[History]]</code>'''
*'''<code>[[History]]</code>'''
** <code>[[Mythology]]</code> - Fictional deities and belief systems. Some overlap with <code>[[Astrology]]</code>
**<code>[[Mythology]]</code> - Fictional deities and belief systems. Some overlap with <code>[[Astrology]]</code>
** <code>[[Ancient History]]</code> - Babylonian, Egyptian, Chinese, Roman, Dark Ages, etc. For Heiroglyphs or Cuneiform, see <code>[[Linguistics]]</code>
**<code>[[Ancient History]]</code> - Babylonian, Egyptian, Chinese, Roman, Dark Ages, etc. For Heiroglyphs or Cuneiform, see <code>[[Linguistics]]</code>
** <code>[[Modern History]]</code> - World explorers, Military figures, Battles, War
**<code>[[Modern History]]</code> - World explorers, Military figures, Battles, War
** <code>[[Political History]]</code> - Presidents and political figures
**<code>[[Political History]]</code> - Presidents and political figures
* '''<code>[[Linguistics]]</code>'''
*'''<code>[[Linguistics]]</code>'''
** <code>[[Language]]</code> - Sub categorisations by language is possible (i.e. <code>[[French]]</code>, <code>[[Japanese]]</code>) as is <code>[[Slang]]</code> (Australian / British colloquialisms, Cockney), etc
**<code>[[Language]]</code> - Sub categorisations by language is possible (i.e. <code>[[French]]</code>, <code>[[Japanese]]</code>) as is <code>[[Slang]]</code> (Australian / British colloquialisms, Cockney), etc
** <code>[[Fictional language]]</code> - Klingon, Quenya, Conlangs like puflantu, etc
**<code>[[Fictional language]]</code> - Klingon, Quenya, Conlangs like puflantu, etc
** <code>[[Typography]]</code> - Fonts, etc
**<code>[[Typography]]</code> - Fonts, etc
** Word constructs such as homophones, palindromes, pangrams, rhymes, false friends are categorised under Content elements
**Word constructs such as homophones, palindromes, pangrams, rhymes, false friends are categorised under Content elements
* '''<code>[[Literature]]</code>''' - ''Could be combined to make "Arts & Literature"''
*'''<code>[[Literature]]</code>''' - ''Could be combined to make "Arts & Literature"''
** Sub categorisations are possible here but are yet to be finalised (genres like <code>[[Poetry]]</code>, authors, or series like <code>[[Harry Potter]]</code>)
**Sub categorisations are possible here but are yet to be finalised (genres like <code>[[Poetry]]</code>, authors, or series like <code>[[Harry Potter]]</code>)
** <code>[[Literature Awards]]</code>
**<code>[[Literature Awards]]</code>
* '''<code>[[Religion]]</code>'''
*'''<code>[[Religion]]</code>'''
** <code>[[Astrology]]</code> is a potential sub categorisation here, potentially split into <code>[[Western Zodiac]]</code> and [[Eastern Zodiac]]
**<code>[[Astrology]]</code> is a potential sub categorisation here, potentially split into <code>[[Western Zodiac]]</code> and [[Eastern Zodiac]]
* '''<code>[[Science & Technology]]</code>'''
*'''<code>[[Science & Technology]]</code>'''
** <code>[[Astronomy]]</code> - Constellations, celestial bodies
**<code>[[Astronomy]]</code> - Constellations, celestial bodies
** <code>[[Chemistry]]</code> - Periodic table of elements, molecules, etc
**<code>[[Chemistry]]</code> - Periodic table of elements, molecules, etc
** <code>[[Biology]]</code> - Medical, Botany, Zoology
**<code>[[Biology]]</code> - Medical, Botany, Zoology
** <code>[[Mathematics]]</code> - Recreational mathematics, Large numbers
**<code>[[Mathematics]]</code> - Recreational mathematics, Large numbers
** <code>[[Physics]]</code> - Electronics,
**<code>[[Physics]]</code> - Electronics,
** <code>[[Technology]]</code> - Coding exercises, algorithms, hacking
**<code>[[Technology]]</code> - Coding exercises, algorithms, hacking
** <code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Geology]]</code> - Shares a lot with <code>[[Physical Geography]]</code> and may not need it's own categorisation
**<code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Geology]]</code> - Shares a lot with <code>[[Physical Geography]]</code> and may not need it's own categorisation
* '''<code>[[Sports & Recreation]]</code>'''
*'''<code>[[Sports & Recreation]]</code>'''
** Specific sports and hobbies are possible here but are yet to be finalised (<code>[[Football]]</code>, <code>[[Baseball]]</code>, <code>[[Olympic Games]]</code>, etc)
**Specific sports and hobbies are possible here but are yet to be finalised (<code>[[Football]]</code>, <code>[[Baseball]]</code>, <code>[[Olympic Games]]</code>, etc)
** <code>[[Board Games]]</code> - Specific board games are possible here but are yet to be finalised (<code>[[Chess]]</code>, <code>[[Monopoly]]</code>, etc)
**<code>[[Board Games]]</code> - Specific board games are possible here but are yet to be finalised (<code>[[Chess]]</code>, <code>[[Monopoly]]</code>, etc)
** <code>[[Card Games]]</code> - Specific card games are possible here but are yet to be finalised (<code>[[Poker]]</code>, <code>[[Bridge]]</code>, <code>[[Magic: The Gathering]]</code>, etc)
**<code>[[Card Games]]</code> - Specific card games are possible here but are yet to be finalised (<code>[[Poker]]</code>, <code>[[Bridge]]</code>, <code>[[Magic: The Gathering]]</code>, etc)
** <code>[[Video games]]</code> - Specific video games are possible here but are yet to be finalised (<code>[[Minecraft]]</code>, <code>[[Retro Gaming]]</code>, etc
**<code>[[Video games]]</code> - Specific video games are possible here but are yet to be finalised (<code>[[Minecraft]]</code>, <code>[[Retro Gaming]]</code>, etc
⚫
**<code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Needlecraft]]</code> - Knitting, crocheting, stitching, etc
**
** <code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Needlecraft]]</code> - Knitting, crocheting, stitching, etc
**<code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Papercraft]]</code> - Origami, etc

⚫
** <code style="background-color:Bisque">[[Papercraft]]</code> - Origami, etc
[[Category:Lists]]

Latest revision as of 16:41, 23 September 2023

A puzzle element is an essential building block or characteristic of a puzzle. This list is intended to be an early first draft of an ongoing community project to catalogue and organize puzzle elements into a hierarchical and useful taxonomy, and should eventually catalog every page that is a member of Category:Puzzle Elements.

Contributors are strongly encouraged to make edits to this page and to start discussion topics in the accompanying Talk page. The following is a list of suggested editing conventions:

  • <code>[[Name]]</code> for each proposed Puzzle Elements (these can link to blank pages while this taxonomy is evolving)
  • italics for new additions
  • strikethough for deletions
  • Supported, Neutral, and Opposed suggestions - Used as discussion prompts for things like name suggestions or Talk section discussions).


Presentation Elements[edit | edit source]

Presentation Elements refers to the surface form of a puzzle (how it is presented to the solver). These elements should all be characteristics that a lay-person or non-puzzler can identify and describe, without hunt experience or puzzling knowledge. Because they are surface level characteristics, structure elements should never require any spoiler warnings.

  • Accessibility - Accessibility Friendly & Content Warning tags
  • Media type - Elements that deviate from a "pen-and-paper" medium, or printable / static web page:
    • Audio - Audio file or collection of such files
    • Video - Video clip or collection of such clips
    • Physical Puzzle - Physical object that requires manipulation or examination
    • Interaction - Interaction event that requires physical and live presence. Could be subdivided further into Event, Runaround, Scavenger Hunt, etc
    • Interactive - Game applet, interactive fiction, mods or levels for external video games, ClueKeeper app, augmented reality, etc. Could be subdivided further particularly for Interactive Fiction
    • Tie-In Puzzle - Puzzle appears somewhere in the real world, likely deliberately synchronised so as to be released concurrent with the puzzle (i.e. published newspaper crossword, live podcast, art installation, etc)
    • Code - Executable code that requires compilation or interpretation [Better name?]
    • File Archives - Downloadable archives (.ZIP, etc) [Better name?]
    • Others - Spreadsheet?
  • Presentation - Top level, and most immediately apparent appearance of the puzzle
  • Instructions - Nature of instruction provided with the puzzle
    • Explicit Instructions - Instructions are provided explicitly as part of the puzzle
    • Example Instructions - Examples are provided as part of the puzzle, but deduction of rules is intended to be a part of the puzzle
    • Flavortext - Flavortext is provided, which may provide some cryptic allusions to the nature of the puzzle
    • Asked And Answered - Special category of puzzle where a narrative element is posed within the puzzle and answer provides a resolution to that question
  • Completion - Submission mechanism that deviates from a regular answer checker
    • Sub-answer Checking - Mechanism for submitting answers to sub-puzzles for intermediate confirmation
    • Task Completion - Completion of puzzle is contingent on finalizing a particular task

Content Elements[edit | edit source]

Content Elements refers to techniques that are encountered during the solving of a puzzle. Due to their size, these have been separated into three Subgroups:

Puzzle Type[edit | edit source]

Puzzle Type is the main categorization of a puzzle and the categorization that is most likely to help solvers find other similar puzzles

Solve Path Elements[edit | edit source]

Solve Path Elements attempt to categorise the process and intermediate stages through which the puzzle's solve path proceeds. These have been separated into two types:

"Atomic" Solve Path Elements - individual elements whose scope is that of an individual step

"Holistic" Solve Path Elements - Higher-level elements whose scope is more about overall nature of the solve path itself (Better name? "Sequence"?)

  • The Waterfall Effect - Solve path involves one sub puzzle provides information required to solve the next,...
  • Red Herring - Solve path includes deliberate (either clued as such, or unclued) red herrings
  • Recursion - Solve path involves multiple repetitions of itself until a final answer is obtainable
  • Retrograde - Solve path involves reversal of a particular process, with the answer being related to its original state
  • Missing Information - Puzzle for which (part of) the solve path is not feasible without first combining some additional piece of information

Extraction Elements[edit | edit source]

Extraction Elements refers to the techniques that are common to hunt puzzles which allow the "extraction" of a final answer from a puzzles that are not necessarily designed to result in a word or phrase

Flavor Elements[edit | edit source]

Flavor Elements elements refer to either the topic (the subject matter of a puzzle) or the theme (the presentation of a puzzle) but either way provides identification of elements that may attract solvers with special interests, knowledge, or areas of expertise.

This listing is a deliberately selective list, extracted from the much more exhaustive listing in the original Google Doc link here. The intention is for a more "bottom-up" approach that can be expanded up to the desired level of detail.

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