Solve path elements

Solve path elements are a type of content element that deal primarily with the steps taken to solve a puzzle between first inspection and extraction. They are the things that a solver must do to the puzzle content or challenges within the puzzle that must be overcome in order to reach the end.

Core Characteristics

Solve path elements are difficult to pinpoint, description-wise. The best way to characterize them is by looking at when in a puzzle they're encountered. A typical solve path element will appear somewhere between reading the title and flavortext of a puzzle and extracting information (but not during either of these actions).

These elements are also not limited to actions to be taken as part of a traditional 'solve path'. They also include obstacles and challenges encountered as a puzzle is solved, meaning that while identification is an element due to being a task involved in a solve path, red herrings are also a solve path element, as they're something encountered during certain solves.

Differentiation from presentation/extraction elements

Going by location as a primary indicator, things like hints being in the flavortext, a puzzle containing a downloadable spreadsheet, or a puzzle being interactive are not solve path elements, and instead are found under presentation elements. Similarly, anything being used to extract a piece of information, whether it's the answer itself, a clue phrase, or a further instruction will be considered an extraction element.

The divide between extraction elements and solve path elements gets blurred sometimes, and as a result some extraction elements may be used as part of the solve path, such as if an Odd-One-Out puzzle uses an entirely separate extraction mechanism, leaving the odd-one-out system as the bulk of the puzzle. While rare, it is possible for solve path elements to be used as extraction elements as well, such as if a series of transformations result in single letters that can be chained into a final answer.

History of Use

TO DO

Subtypes

There are only two major types of solve path element, and they're differentiated by the amount of work that would go into explaining how they work. Alternatively, it's concrete definitions and use (Atomic) vs. fluid definitions and use (Holistic).

Atomic solve path elements

Atomic solve path elements have clear applications. Identification is easy to describe: a solver is given something and they must identify what it is. Reordering requires reordering, transformation is when something is transformed. At base level, atomic solve path elements are what they are, with room for sub-elements and some extra elaboration on the premise.

As a whole, to be 'atomic', an element must be easily understandable from its name, have a clear method of approach, and shouldn't be too difficult for new solvers to grasp for the first time.

Holistic solve path elements

Holistic solve path elements require more description than atomic ones, and tend to be more fluid in how they're applied. Recursion can appear in a puzzle in many different ways, depending on what makes the most sense for that particular instance, but the most simple explanation is that solvers will need to do something that they've already done in the puzzle again on a result that they got from doing it the first time.

For an element to be 'holistic', they should have multiple uses and presentations, with the exact application of it within a puzzle being widely variable.