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THREAD. Okay, I love this game so much, and it's one of my primary stay-sane tools during this stay-at-home mandate (we're on Week 3 in CA). But WHAT IS HAPPENING on this cover, Mastermind gamemakers???
Codemaker is a CHEATER!
Codebreaker is a FOOL!
Codemaker is a CHEATER!
Codebreaker is a FOOL!
First of all, the rules, to understand how bad this is. The Codemaker creates a secret code with Code Pegs and hides it behind the little secret flap. The Codebreaker takes turns guessing the code.
The Codemaker uses Key Pegs to communicate the Codebreaker's efforts each turn. A black Key Peg means a Code Peg is the right color in the right position. A white Key Peg means a Code Peg is the right color in the wrong position. Key Pegs are not placed in an particular position.
BUT ON THE COVER... we've got big cheating Codemaker Key Peg errors in Turns 2/3! It should be impossible for the Codebreaker to solve this. I have corrected these errors.
Now, that being said, Codebreaker is incompetent. Or she's eight years old, but this is the internet, so let's go with an incompetent eight year old. Without a black Key Peg in Turn 2, there is NO REASON for this repeated Red Code Peg.
She actually takes five (!) more turns to solve, when the work could be done in 1-3 turns maximum. I will demonstrate worst case scenarios.
First, let's test Blue. If Blue is part of the final puzzle, this means there is only one Black/Green/White (Turn 1) and one red/yellow (Turn 2). But in Turn 3, with no Blue, we see there are at least three of those colors. Thus, NO BLUE, even though Cover Girl KEEPS TRYING.
We now know from Turn 2 that there's either red-yellow or yellow-yellow in the Code. But yellows have been tested in three of the four positions with no black Key Pegs, making yellow-yellow impossible. Now we know: red-yellow! And, we know the only remaining spot for that yellow.
In Turn 3, we see that (w/ red-yellow locked in), we have one remaining choice between white and green. In Turn 1, with Blue out, and with either white or green out, we can lock in BLACK. Our colors are confirmed Red, Yellow, Black, and White/Green, and we haven't taken Turn 4.
CHOICE 1: We guess White. With Yellow placed, White only has one position left, which leaves Black with only one position, which leaves Red here.
CHOICE 1 CON'T: We'll get this response from Codemaker, confirming it's not White, but Green. There are two possible Code combinations remaining -- worst case, we choose this one, get it wrong, and solve on the sixth attempt as there's only one remaining solution.
CHOICE 2: We luckily select Green, instead of White. Black only has two options, but we place incorrectly. Then, we guess at Red/Green. With this response from the Codemaker, in Turn 5, we move Black to the other position, Green to its only remaining option, and solve.
Four turns achievable with lucky placement. Five turns absolutely doable. Six turns guaranteed even though it includes that unforgiveable repeated-red-placement error.
So what in HOLY HELL IS THIS, Mastermind? Why would you release this TORTURE COVER to a bunch of logical people?
So what in HOLY HELL IS THIS, Mastermind? Why would you release this TORTURE COVER to a bunch of logical people?
We play every night. And by play, I mean my husband (Codemaker) reads a book while I (Codebreaker) puzzle in silence, and stare at this cover while he's placing Key Pegs. I want to blame the crazy on quarantine, but...that might not be fair to quarantine.
It's time to release a new Mastermind cover. And while I'm here, release the Butthole version of Cats. And wear at mask in public.
