Path Cat

TBD

Designer(s): jkittykitkat Match Type: MM (for 6 players)
Featured in: The Genius Puzzler

MM9: Path Cat

In Path Cat, players attempt to gain movements in order to form distinct numbers with the expression paths. The players to form the numbers the fastest receive points.


RULES

There is a 6x6 grid filled with numbers and expressions out of the list {1~9,}x2+{+,-,x,\/}x4+{root,exponent}.


In the pregame submissions, players can decide their cat's starting location.


This game takes place over six rounds, each of which has two phases: a gaining phase and a movement phase. For the rounds two~six, the movement phase overlaps with the next round's bidding phase, so there are seven rounds of gameplay in total.

In each gaining phase, you pick a number between 1 and 6. Each number corresponds to one of three gain ranges: 1-3, 4-5, and 6. If the gain range corresponds to the number of people who picked your number, then you can move that many spaces with your cat.


In each movement phase, you will move your cat the amount of spaces in you received in the gain phase. The path the cat takes, including the starting and ending square should form an expression. The expressions formed are able to have your included parenthesis. There will be target numbers given with various points. The scores you will receive points on are 0-9. If you are the first to complete a target number, you will receive n points, where n is the point value given. The next person to complete it will receive n-1 points, etc. If multiple people complete the target number at the same time, they will receive x/m points, where x is the number of points they would usually get (combined) and m is the number of people who tied the objective that round.


It will be publicly revealed whenever someone makes a correct expression and what number it was. You can spend a garnet to peak at someone else's board state. This information is given instantly.


The player with the highest sum wins the Main Match and receives two Tokens of Life. If multiple people have the same highest score, they all receive one ToL each. You receive garnets for every 10 points you have. In the unlikely event that everyone scores 0 points, the tiebreaker for ToL is whoever formed the largest number expression (with their movement path). Should there be no movement at all, no players win, and the EC is determined by vote. EC is whoever has the lowest score. The tiebreak is the same as the ToL tiebreak.


ADMINISTRATION

Timing

This game will have a single pregame phase, lasting 24 hours. Afterwards, we will have:

  • Round 0 board reveal + initial cat placement + Round 1 gaining
  • Round 2 gaining + Round 1 movement
  • Round 3 gaining + Round 2 movement

...

  • Round 6 gaining + Round 5 movement
  • Round 6 movement

Each of the above phases will last 24 hours each.


Submissions

For gaining phases, submit either 1-3, 4-5, or 6, and optionally how many Garnets you'd like to spend on the item to peek.

For movement phases, write down your movement of the cat. It must move that many spaces.

Failure to submit in gaining phases means you do not affect these results. Failure to submit in movement phase means that you do not move (and cannot gain any target scores).


Information

Publicly announced, at the start of each gaining phase:

  • The players that achieved a target.

Publicly announced, at the end of each gaining phase:

  • The movements gained for everyone.

Publicly announced, at the end of the game:

  • The final scores (and therefore winners/losers)

Known only to you:

  • Your cat placement.

Clarifications

Clarification:

If multiple people complete the target number at the same time, they will receive x/m points, where x is the number of points they would usually get and m is the number of people who tied the objective that round.

They is plural, thus the sum of the points they would get divided by m.


Clarification:

Since there were quite a bit of confusion regarding the gaining phase, here is one an example scenario:

Let's say there are players A,B,C,D,E,F. Each of these players would need to state a number between 1~6. There are three ranges the number stated could call under: 1-3, 4-5, and 6.

Let's say A, B, C, D goes 2, E goes 3, and F goes 6. Only Player E would be able to gain a movement and be able to move between 1-3 for the movement phase.


Clarification: cat movement is orthogonal, 1 space at a time


Clarification: Each person can earn points from a target once.


Clarification: You cannot form an expression if you do not gain anything.

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