Test of the filled Backpack
The basic idea is to fit a number of pieces into a bigger one, like filling a backpack. Like a 3D version of Tangram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangram).
To design the puzzle
There are two possible variations to design the puzzle:
- the backpack has a fixed shape and you design a number of differently shaped pieces.
- the shapes of pieces are defined, you select a set of pieces and design a backpack shape.
To keep complexity manageable, I think we should restrict shapes to right-angles only.
Designing the pieces/backpack could be done somewhat similar to gemcutting. But shapes like L or U should be possible, so the current gemcutting interface is too restrictive.
To play the puzzle
The player would see the half-transparent shape of the backpack and can then move/rotate the pieces until all of them are inside the backpack shape and do not overlap each other. After Teppy's comments about being able to drag/drop manipulate shapes smoothly, the shifting/rotating should not be painful to do.
Notes
- Allowing holes in the backpack shape would increase complexity. Not sure if thats necessary, but I don't see a reason not to allow it.
- Allowing pieces to overlap until final placement would make solving a lot easier. Without that, the player has to care about the order in which to add pieces and there could be puzzles that require pieces to shift rotate several times to allow other pieces to pass before they are in their own final place.
Comments
- I thought of a very similar puzzle, except instead of a backpack there was a square "build site" on the ground that showed the target shape. SunnyOne