SOS Sonya: Plan B

042

042

042

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Milhotep

042

Clue 1 and Clue 2: Must be either 8 or 2. Can't be 6, because clue 2 has six--if it were correct, clue 2 says 6 is in the wrong place. So either -8- or --2, and the 4 must now come into play--either 48-, 84-, 4-2, or -42
Clue 3: There's that 6 again, and we already know it isn't right. So, must be 0 & 2. So, because they are in the wrong place, and we know the combo is --2, it must now be 042. Middle number can't be 8 because of Clue 1.
Clue 4: We didn't need this clue or the last one.

---

Congrats to Milhotep for:
A. Getting the correct answer: 042.
B. Explaining the logic behind achieving the correct answer.
C. Pointing out that clues 4 and 5 were unnecessary.

Now that got me to thinking. Why were clues 4 and 5 unnecessary? They were, in fact, unnecessary; I'm not disputing Milhotep's observation. But WHY were they unnecessary? Sometimes, you might reply, puzzles are purposely presented with unnecessary information to make the puzzle more difficult to solve. But in this case, the LAST TWO clues were unnecessary. So one could have solved the puzzle before even arriving at the unnecessary portion of the puzzle. Perhaps, I thought to myself, one of the clues were presented with mistaken information. So, with much time on my hands, I set about changing the clues so that all five clues were quite necessary to arrive at the correct answer of 042. And I think I have come up with a minimal change which requires all five clues: Change the number in the second clue from 614 to 314. Does anyone agree with me? Disagree? Could care less? Think I have too much time? Please let me know.

042

042

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BB_Odhran



The worldwide majority of players voted for the bird with obsidian feathers. Could this statue be the one Eamon is looking for?
Read our last chapter of this series and find out!

http://static.cdn.ubi.com/0034/archi...ary_header.png

Plan B

That could have been the end of the adventure. A silly misfortune and a misplaced statue, and everything would have been in vain. You, however, managed to figure out which was the right statue. A confident nod from Sonya banishes any remaining doubt in your mind; you hand Eamon the obsidian bird statue.

He ponders it, as your crew stares. While he studies the artifact, you can't help but feel the cold seep into your bones as you all freeze in anticipation. The occasional shiver from your explorer reminds you of passing time and harsh biting cold.

"This bird was caged," Eamon declares solemnly. "The man who took it knows not; it has to be set free."

Eamon looks at the statue resting in his palm and begins a crushing motion.

"I shall turn it to rubble, the thief will freeze, along with the mountain; I will go back to sleep."

"Wait," interrupted Sonya. "Is there a plan B? My crew is getting back from surveying and I wouldn't want them to freeze as well!"

"Well - If the bird is allowed to travel, its heart will warm up. Over time, the man will live."

"I can make that work!" Sonya said, with a smirk, looking knowingly at you.

You and your companions emerge out of the maze and onto the mountain path. You are carrying the statue and can't help but feel it's getting colder as you hope Eamon was right and making it travel on the Excelsior will save the man who stole the statue in the first place. The blizzard is back, making progression slow. Your scout announces she's found tracks in the snow:

"This area is patrolled by the Nords, we will have to be careful!".

You nod and proceed warily, using the poor visibility to your advantage and avoid the patrols. It seemed like an endless journey, but now you finally see Excelsior in sight. It looks like the crew is back, but the ship is on lockdown! Its main access has a lock in place and a piece of paper attached:

"Captain, we are on board, but there are Nords around. We didn't want to risk leaving the ship opened; we left you the code to the lock, but we had to make sure the Nords couldn't figure it out. We are sure you will figure it out."

"What a brainfreeze," Sonya says, tossing you the paper. "You seem to have a talent for riddles, right?"

https://ubistatic-a.akamaihd.net/003...e_en_forum.png

You still don't know who that man is. But should the trick with the Excelsior work, he will have to answer some questions. How long will it take until he can move again? Only time will tell...

---

The solution is 042.

042

042, nice to sharp our minds... thank you

042

042

042

042

042

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xypheron

Congrats to Milhotep for:
A. Getting the correct answer: 042.
B. Explaining the logic behind achieving the correct answer.
C. Pointing out that clues 4 and 5 were unnecessary.

Now that got me to thinking. Why were clues 4 and 5 unnecessary? They were, in fact, unnecessary; I'm not disputing Milhotep's observation. But WHY were they unnecessary? Sometimes, you might reply, puzzles are purposely presented with unnecessary information to make the puzzle more difficult to solve. But in this case, the LAST TWO clues were unnecessary. So one could have solved the puzzle before even arriving at the unnecessary portion of the puzzle. Perhaps, I thought to myself, one of the clues were presented with mistaken information. So, with much time on my hands, I set about changing the clues so that all five clues were quite necessary to arrive at the correct answer of 042. And I think I have come up with a minimal change which requires all five clues: Change the number in the second clue from 614 to 314. Does anyone agree with me? Disagree? Could care less? Think I have too much time? Please let me know.

---

The problem is that Milhotep's logic is faulty.

Quote:

---

Clue 1 and Clue 2: Must be either 8 or 2. Can't be 6, because clue 2 has six--if it were correct, clue 2 says 6 is in the wrong place. So either -8- or --2, and the 4 must now come into play--either 48-, 84-, 4-2, or -42
Clue 3: There's that 6 again, and we already know it isn't right. So, must be 0 & 2. So, because they are in the wrong place, and we know the combo is --2, it must now be 042. Middle number can't be 8 because of Clue 1.
Clue 4: We didn't need this clue or the last one.

---

and the 4 must now come into play--either 48-, 84-, 4-2, or -42.
Actually, not yet. First, 84- is incorrect, since if it was 8 that was correct in clue 1 then it can't be in position 1. Second, there is nothing that is ruling out 1 - yet. After the first 2 clues it could just as easily be 1-2 or 18- or -81. And any deductions after that are incorrect simply by relying on a previous error.

The logic is:
Clue 1 - 682.
Combined with Clue 2 rules out 6. Can't be both in the right place and wrong place at the same time.
Combined with Clue 4 rules out 8. That means --2 to start.
Clue 3 - 206.
We know 2 is in third position, and 6 is incorrect. So 0 must be correct and not second position or third position. Now it's 0-2
Clue 2 - 614.
The missing number can't be 6 because that's ruled out. It has to be 4 because between 1 and 4, 4 is the only number that can be both correct and in the wrong place
Clue 5 - Irrelevant.

042

021

oh no 042 is correct

042

042

042

042

042

062

012

042

042

042

260

042

What do I get?
Can I get some XP to get to level 65?
Else I can stay ex-settler :D

Finally, been trying to get here forever, answer is 042

042

042

042

042

042

042

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mister_Blister

The problem is that Milhotep's logic is faulty.
and the 4 must now come into play--either 48-, 84-, 4-2, or -42.
Actually, not yet. First, 84- is incorrect, since if it was 8 that was correct in clue 1 then it can't be in position 1. Second, there is nothing that is ruling out 1 - yet. After the first 2 clues it could just as easily be 1-2 or 18- or -81. And any deductions after that are incorrect simply by relying on a previous error.

The logic is:
Clue 1 - 682.
Combined with Clue 2 rules out 6. Can't be both in the right place and wrong place at the same time.
Combined with Clue 4 rules out 8. That means --2 to start.
Clue 3 - 206.
We know 2 is in third position, and 6 is incorrect. So 0 must be correct and not second position or third position. Now it's 0-2
Clue 2 - 614.
The missing number can't be 6 because that's ruled out. It has to be 4 because between 1 and 4, 4 is the only number that can be both correct and in the wrong place
Clue 5 - Irrelevant.

---

Thank you very much for replying, Mister_Blister.

You are correct that Milhotep's logic is faulty. I was wrong. He jumps to the conclusion that '4' must be one of the digits without sound logical deduction. However, I still submit that both clues 4 and 5 are unnecessary. This is my logic:

Clues 1 and 2.
A. '6' must not be one of the digits because it cannot be both in the right place and wrong place simultaneously.
B. One of the digits must be '8' or '2', but not both.
C. One of the digits must be '1' or '4', but not both.
D. The '8' or '2' is in the right place.
E. Neither '1' nor '4' is in the right place.
Clue 3.
F. Because of statement A, '2' and '0' are both correct.
G. '2' and '0' are both in the wrong place.
Conclusions using Clues 1, 2, and 3, exclusively.
H. Combining statements B, D, and F, the solution must be --2.
I. With statements F and H, the solution must be 0-2 or -02.
J. G and I give a solution that must be 0-2.
K. C and J produce a solution that must be either 012 or 042.
Final conclusion using statements E and K: 042.

If Mister_Blister, or anyone else, can prove a solution other than 042 using only the first three clues, I would certainly love to see it. Otherwise, I would like to resubmit the suggestion in my first message of this thread that perhaps the clues were displayed to us incorrectly. Also, I resubmit the idea in my first message that a more robust puzzle could have presented to us with the second clue changed to 314.

Thanks again to Mister_Blister for replying to my first message.

"052" or "092"

602