Setup and Rule Diagrams

[Dave Killoran]

Setup and Rule Diagram Explanation

This is a Basic Linear game.

The setup to this game involves several relationships that are restricted, and thus you end up with only a few basic directions the game can go in. When we have that type of situation, that usually means we'll use Templates to attack the game, and that's the case here.

The first tipoff we have is the combination of the first rule, where R Z, and the last rule, where Z must perform in the morning. Thus, R and Z have only three possible arrangements:

• R Z
  R Z
  R Z
  9 10 11 2 3 4

Next, the WY block further limits the possibilities, mainly because in the top two scenarios WY must be placed somewhere in the 2-3-4 slots. With T also having to perform in the afternoon, that forces S into the remaining morning slot in those two options:

• S R Z ( WY , T )
  R S Z ( WY , T )
  R Z
  9 10 11 2 3 4

The bottom option then is the most open, with WY, S, and T available to fill the last four spaces, and the only open rule is that T can't be in 2:

• S R Z ( WY , T )
  R S Z ( WY , T )
  R Z ( WY , S , T )
  9 10 11 2 3 4

With those three main options, the game is fairly straightforward. Question #3 is probably the hardest one, but the bottom diagram shows that when S is in 2, there's no room for the WY block and T in the afternoon.

Additional note: you can instead use WY to build your templates. Either route gets you into the use of templates, and both paths are equally powerful.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!