What Gaming Should Be

As an avid lifelong gamer, I try to describe what has worked well and poorly in games I've played, and in any given gaming scenario, to define how it could best be handled as a result.

Author: reillan

(This follows from the principles established in http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/reillan/022011/21518_The-Gloamwood-Shield-Wall-Puzzle)

So let's take an extreme example of the shield wall - a situation where we can't seem to wrap our brains around what to do next.  It might look like this:

We'll call columns A, B, and C (after many spreadsheet program designations) and rows 1, 2, and 3, starting from the top left corner in both lettering and numbering. 

In this example, we have a problem because the ram's head shields along the top row are all together, and two of these shields occupy rows or columns in-line with the larger shield (and we know that they won't when the puzzle is resolved).  So, how can we fix this?

First off, it's important not to panic or try to overthink the problem.  The first step is to break down this puzzle into a list of things we want to do.  Let's first resolve the immediate issue of getting some of the fundamental problems fixed:

1. We want to get the shields in B1 and C1 into a column together.
2. We want to get the main shield (in C2) out of the same column as the ram shield in C1.
3. We want the ram shields in each corner.  This will result in them being in a row and column each with one other ram shield.
4. We want the main shield out of columns and rows with the ram shields, on its own with just small shields around it.

Now that it's on a separate row, I can move it once to the left.  I will do this by hitting the buttons at the left ends of rows 1 and 2 once each:

Now, before I worry about getting the main shield out of the same row as the other shields, I'd much prefer to think about the remaining steps of solving - that is, to get the ram shields into the four corners. 

Here we'll split up into slow method and fast method.

Slow Method

To do this via the slow method, I can move column A up one space (by hitting the top of columns B and C):

Then move column B up one space (by hitting the top of columns A and C):

Then move row 1 once to the left (by hitting the button on the left of rows 2 and 3)

and move row 3 once to the left (by hitting the buttons on the left of rows 1 and 2).

Now to move the main shield down one spot, I just need to hit the buttons at the bottoms of columns A and C.  This will move that shield down while keeping the ram shields in place. 

Fast Method:

We started here:

and to get the shields in the corners, I need to wrap rows 1 and 3 around to the left, so I need to move row two once to the right.  Hitting to the right of row 2: