Scoring

Some investigations will produce many possible solutions. Scoring solutions makes it easier to quickly sort out which solutions are worth looking at more closely.

This is an approximate rubrik, so the highest score is not necessarily the best puzzle.

Scores for Puzzles

Most of these can be computed before we even begin searching for solutions.

• Number of solutions:
  • -1 * (solutions)
• Total Number of pieces: ideal is around 12.
  • -1 * (distance from ideal)
• Board is simple
  • -1 * (sides on board)
• Small distinct number of pieces in puzzle.
  • -5 * (number of pieces)
• Annoying rules: eg, you must assess buried pieces to know if a solution is valid.
  • -1 * (number of rules)

Scores for Puzzle Solutions

• Fault Lines: places where a grid-aligned straight line/plane splits no pieces.
  • -1 * (number of fault lines)
• Sliceability: every grid-aligned straight line/plane splits some number of pieces. the best cut minimizes this number. how many pieces does the best cut split? Bigger number is better. If there are any fault lines this value is zero.
  • 5 * (slice number)
• Use every piece orientation:
  • -1 * (piece/orientations not used)
• Use every orientation/rotation combo:
  • -1 * (piece/orientation/rotation combo not used)