Return of Dr Sloth [Split 5]

[Eternal Serena]

Oddly enough the order makes a difference for me...
I tried doing the last symbols, and the last symbol is what I need for my first. So I tried reversing it but I get a totally different result for the first symbol.

My first 3 mod took me maybe 5 minutes, but this one is over half an hour. I desperately want to make myself proud and eventually get through these, but the number of possible combinations is rediculace.

[bgryph]

I know what I'm doing, now I just have to see if I can explain it. I'm on the 3 mods. First off I call the symbols what they look like to me, mushroom, x, c, etc... I look at the last symbol of my key and the last symbol of my target. Example: Mushroom and 8. Then I look at the charmander chart and see all the things that will turn a mushroom into an 8. Like CC8. I look at my list, find the first line that ends in C. Put it in mod 1 space. Then I find the second ending in C line and put it in 2. Then I try all the ending in 8 lines in space 3. If that doesn't work, I change mod 2 to the third line ending in C and run through all the ending is 8s again. And on and on. If I get through all that then I switch mod 1 to the second ending in C line and keep up the process. If I get through it all with no results, I look for the next combo that changes a mushroom into an 8 and repeat it again. Lots of mindless plugging so I don't have to think (intelligent brute force). And I don't have to whip out paper which is always a plus in my book.

That's pretty much what I was doing last night. Once you've got the first two mods in places, you can also work out what the second symbol in the third mod would need to be (or the last symbol or the 5th symbol or whatever) given the first two mods. If you do that you usually need to try only 1 or 2 symbol sets for the third mod.

Still takes freaking forever, which is why I didn't finish them last night... which may have worked out either very well or very badly for me, depending on whether TNT freezes people retroactively for using the calculator.

Am I remembering correctly that some or all of the 3-mod problems have 30 possible codes? There are 27,000 possible combinations of those 30 codes. If you tried a combination a second, it would take 7.5 straight hours to hit all 27,000. Now, chances are you'd hit pay dirt before then... but yeah, intelligent brute force like you're describing here is really necessary to reduce the number of combinations you have to try to a vaguely reasonable number.

[Machiito]

I dunno what it was about this Pet Page, but it was explained in terms I could understand and now I'm actually working on finishing this section!

I'm almost done, I'm so happy! XD

http://www.neopets.com/~Bilieus

[ChaosShadow]

I haven't had opportunity to really try on the three-tier problems (although I've cleared out all my 1 and 2-mod ones), but I do have a bit of information:

Checking on the plot on my alt account (without, of course, doing anything), I can safely say that anybody wanting to get involved in the plot has to clear it step by step; my alt only had access to the first door, so yes, you do have to do through every step if you're just joining the fun.

Concerning the difficulty of this plot... I admit that I'm a bit shocked at the sudden increase in difficulty (especially after the extremely lackluster Island Plot; I didn't require any assistance for that except when there was a bug concerning the building of the ship), but this is more or less what I really expected from a Neopets plot. I don't know where to find all of the old information, but if you can track down the answer keys to the Coltzan's Crown plot, or Neopets v2 plot, or... another plot that I've sadly forgotten the name of (Volcano plot was kinda wonky)... you'll notice that those plots involved a lot of dredging up information, checking source codes, knowing a bit of coding (if I remember properly) and making some truly fantastic deductive leaps of logic.

Never mind the pure horror that was the Lost Desert pyramid mapping scheme. I wanted rather badly to be able to enjoy that plot, but I simply did not have the time to map out my pyramid (exams and such, I think, were congregating during the plot), leaving me completely out in the rain. Although I am still a Sand Mite! (1000 points! I'm pathetic! *cries*) I was hoping for another plot with frustrations of that caliber; relaxing though The Lost Isle was, it was just too easy. (Admittedly, Altador isn't exactly simple, but I wouldn't say it's on the same level).

I'm going to tear my hair out tomorrow and tomorrow night, probably (for I am well past my bedtime and have lecture tomorrow morning), but I'm glad to finally have something that really presents a challenge. Ideally, this will also present very, very good prizes; Lost Desert had excellent prizes for needing to invest a lot of work, so having to invest a lot in this will doubtless be worthwhile. Especially with the aid of charts; it might all be random, but at least there's a pattern to it (however little sense that made). So good job for giving us something that will really test our mettle (but mostly our patience).

Although I must admit that I do really wish I could get involved in one of those crazy meandering plots where you've got to put in source codes and run to different pet pages and shops and do all those wacky things until you beat your head against a wall in insurmountable frustration. I also miss a decent war, but what are you gonna do?

(Should be noted that I also missed out on the Tale of Woe, which I think I would have enjoyed; especially since it had a combat aspect, and I would really love to be able to fight swarms again. Maybe we'll get lucky and after all of the puzzles are done we'll get to fight?)

[Cilian]

Does anybody have any tips for the 3 modifiers 6-10 (with the 0)? Without a key I'm kind of flying blind and any advice would be much appreciated.

[Purple_monkfish]

Well blimey, way to be inconsistant tnt.
I admit, I used the calculator to solve most of the 3mod puzzles because 1: I didn't have 4 hours to spend trying every single combo and 2: I tried the other methods and failed. If people are needing a calculator for this puzzle surely that shows the puzzle is actually too hard and tedious. It's almost as bad as that damned potions puzzle in the tow. That took HOURS.

I wonder how they'll be able to work out people are cheating? even using the math or charts speeds things up. Hmmm. Fingers crossed aye?

Etern> yeah I noticed that in some of the puzzles as well, it's wierd. I still have one 3 mod to do but I really can't be bothered heh.

[3lla]

well i found those modifier puzzles things quite easy.......and i didnt even use a calculator
:S

[mercurius]

How many 3-mod puzzles do people have? I have 10.

[Katdragon]

Ok, I'm really confused
I'm up to my 2-mods (I checked the others and there were only 2- and 3-mods left)
Now I've got the equation worked out and everything, and the petpet page with the chart (http://www.neopets.com/~_Blue___Berry_) seems to have the right thing going for it BUT
I can't seem to get it to work because all the mods don't have the symbol I need.

For example (I've tried to use letters to represent the symbols as closely as I can. If you're confused I can describe a bit more):
Key: V
Result: C
using that page gives me
Mod1: C
Mod2: Z

However none of my mods answers have the Z symbol in them so I can't do any of the mods.

HELP!
(Just to let you know I'm going to bed now so will read responses in the morning)
Feel free to PM me.

How many 3-mod puzzles do people have? I have 10.

I haven't got there yet - but I have 5 1-mods if that helps

Kat

[Lee]

I wonder how they'll be able to work out people are cheating? even using the math or charts speeds things up. Hmmm. Fingers crossed aye?

I think the people frozen are those who have either posted the link and such to it on the boards, or admitted to it on the boards.

[eilu]

I'm doing a brute force attack on the 2 mod puzzles. takes a lot of time but you can just zone out after a few mouse clicks.

[Sylence]

god I have n idea how to figure out the first email at all let alone all 20 *binks* someone give me a hammer

Last edited by Sylence on Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Pickles]

I am so lost on this I cant click numbers once I get to the inbox or click on anything in there and I have everything updated and added, help?

Are you clicking on the number or the code next to the number? Try clicking on the code - it should take you to the decryption page.

[Sylence]

I got the never ending emails page and I click on the first email.. and its just.. being dyslexic sucks I have no idea what I am doing

[Pickles]

I got the never ending emails page and I click on the first email.. and its just.. being dyslexic sucks I have no idea what I am doing

Are you seeing a page that has as list of codes on the right and a section that says modifier towards the left?