Harry Potter Logic Puzzle/Trivia Game (No knowledge of Harry Potter is needed)

[mcomisky]

I want to start a quiz that can be completed as a logic puzzle or as a trivia game. I think Harry Potter will be a good topic because it is popular. For the logic puzzle, each character can be dead or alive. If they are alive, then they can also be injured.

So, if somebody was very good at logic, but didn't know anything about Harry Potter, then they would be able to complete the puzzle. and if somebody knew a lot about Harry Potter, but was terrible at logic, then they would be able to complete it to.

I was thinking that to expand on the Harry Potter, each column would be a different house (labeled at the top like here). I think Hogwarts professors could be the fifth column.

Here is a tentative list of characters I want to use:

Gryffindor - Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Katie Bell, Lee Jordan

Hufflepuff - Cedric Diggory, Hannah Abbott, Ernie MacMillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Zacharias Smith, Susan Bones

Ravenclaw - Luna Lovegood, Cho Chang, Roger Davies, Michael Corner, Marietta Edgecombe, Terry Boot 

Slytherin - Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Pansy Parkinson, Blaize Zabini, Millicent Bulstrode

Teachers - Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Pomona Sprout, Severus Snape, Rubeus Hagrid

Here is an example of an answer (in the data input)

Correct, Harry Potter is Injured!<br>There is only 1 dead witch from Huffpuff<br>Name Neville's pet in the Neville Longbottom box/Injured

I would love input/help in both the trivia and logic parts of the quiz, but especially in the logic section! Thanks!

-mcomisky

[BanjoZebra]

Yes, but you can't use <br> in answer cells.

[mcomisky]

That might be a problem. It is possible to work around it? I tried putting in a few spaces, but it was reverted to one as soon as I clicked out of the box. If nothing else works, the sentences could be numbered.

[teddy109711]

Which ever status you plan on being the most reappearing, you could use "All alliterative answers are alive/ dead/ injured." 

I also think that coming up with the logic part of the quiz will be easier if we knew what each character is going to be (their status).

I know that wasn't a lot, but I hope I helped you at least a little bit.

[vikZ]

Hey,

I don't mind helping out with the logic. I was actually thinking of writing a "How-To" guide to making a logic puzzle. Would anyone be interested in this?

But anyway basically the procedure I do is:

1. Set up the grid format in the data section (like the template I already have set up).
2. Make a grid in your notebook on where you want who is alive/injured and whatnot. Basically you're creating the answers first.

So an example for a 3x3 grid using I as injured, D as dead, and A for alive, you can have something like

AAD
IDA
ADI

3. Transfer your answers over to the data page (you don't even have to do step 2 but it's just really nice to have a visual and it's easier to change if you don't like your answer set-up).

4. Your first hint HAS TO BE on the top left corner (when guessing in order, the go on reveal option only works on the first space).

5. Literally make your logic as you go along.

- So make your first hint "All corner spots are alive", and then make the required changes in your quiz. Test it. Then think what those new clues could be.
Since you're making logic "as you go", it's pretty much impossible to make a quiz that requires guessing.

Keep going until you're done.

You can tinker around with your answers as you are working, but make sure your changes don't make any of your clues contradictory!


You may find yourself with the puzzle being done before every clue is revealed. You have two options:
1) Those extra boxes can contain non-clues (some people do this, I'm not a fan for one reason).
2) Use those extra boxes to make redundant clues. It doesn't really help for someone working logically. However it might help people who resort to guessing.

Ask me anything if you want me to go into anything specific. I think if people are interested in a "how-to" guide, I'd probably make a video. Some things are just easier to communicate orally than written.

[mcomisky]

Okay. I just made these up. They don't have any reasoning, but I don't really think it matters.

Dead:

1. Colin Creevey (changed from Lee Jordan)
2. Zacharias Smith
3. Ernie MacMillan
4. Terry Boot
5. Michael Corner
6. Marietta Edgecombe
7. Gregory Goyle
8. Blaize Zabini
9. Millicent Bulstrode
10. Albus Dumbledore
11. Filius Flitwick
12. Rubeus Hagrid

Injured

1. Neville Longbottom
2. Harry Potter
3. Katie Bell
4. Cedric Diggory
5. Susan Bones
6. Roger Davies
7. Vincent Crabbe
8. Pansy Parkinson

Alive

1. Hermione Granger
2. Ron Weasley
3. Hannah Abbott
4. Justin Finch-Fletchley
5. Luna Lovegood
6. Cho Chang
7. Draco Malfoy
8. Albus Dumbledore
9. Minerva McGonagall
10. Severus Snape

[needapausebutton]

@mcomisky:

   This looks like a great project.  I'm the last person to get involved in a grid-logic quiz, but I think you are in great hands with vizZ, and also MovieGuru if he chimes in.

@vikZ:

• I love the idea of a "how to"... would that not work using Flickr?  However you go about it, many will appreciate it.
• Can you (and, do you want to) set up a complete Template for this type of logic quiz?
• (And, I know this is asking a lot, but also complete your first Template with Data, so it can also serve as a thorough sample?)

Thanks to both of you!

[MovieGuru]

Just something to watch out for... it may not seem like it, but formatting is HUGE. You can have the best quiz idea ever, with clever questions and brilliant answers, but if the formatting doesn't look nice, people won't rate it very high and the admins definitely won't publish it.

This may be impossible, but it's best if the answer boxes aren't changing sizes a lot when a correct answer is given, and it also helps to keep the 'hint' width the same for each box, ie. not having:

Peeves |  Answer box

Neville Longbottom | Answer box

So just always be thinking about how you are going to format the quiz as continue to develop the idea

[mcomisky]

I am going to start the quiz, to try to work out the formatting issues. If anybody wants to play around with it, feel free!

[mcomisky]

Sorry vikZ, I just saw your post now! That really helps a lot!

and I also realized that I have Dumbledore twice. The dead Dumbledore will be Pomona Sprout.

While I was trying a few things out, I noticed that it would not accept wrong answers after the first clue (Hermione) was correct. Did I input the data wrong? The link to the "quiz" is here. Also, the answers are (and look) really wordy. If I reduce the quiz to four columns, it looks a little better. Do you think it would be a good idea to get rid of the "teachers" column?

and Teddy, I'm not sure if the alliteration will work because there are so many characters in the Harry Potter series that are alliterative. It might make it too easy if that was one of the hints.

Thanks a lot to everybody for the help!

[teddy109711]

Yeah I realize that it would make it obvious, but what if you have "No characters that are alliterative are dead/alive/injured so it helps narrow down the possibilities for quiz takers and does not give it away. If there are alliterative characters of every status then feel free to ditch that clue.

[mcomisky]

That would work! I could switch Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode, which would leave it with no alliterative injured characters

[needapausebutton]

Yeah, I got nothin' to add about the quiz, just an FYI to mcomisky (and everyone) --  that links will not work unless the link-follower already has the BunchofCurators account open.

Oh, I forgot to mention this -- also, it IS possible for more than one person to be logged in to that account at the same time; so it can theoretically be  worked on simultaneously.

[vikZ]

@napb I left it in "grid" format because that style can be used for more than just logic puzzles (my trivia field games and MrChewpoo's diabolical minefield maze for example).
I'll convert it to a logic style template though. The thing is it will still contain incomplete data but enough for people to form a puzzle around it.

I'll set up a "how to" sometime within the next 2 weeks (I'm pretty busy with midterms and assignments right now). I think it'll be best to do it in video because I can explain things better. I do need to learn how to make a video in "screen capturing" style. Nothing a little googling can't help me out with.


@mcomisky and everyone else involved: I'll look at the data in a short bit and see what's wrong. I already looked at the test quiz though and I suggest start with making the grid first. Creating the logic of the puzzle comes last.

In terms of grids, you have to choose between what style you want. If you look at these two quizzes (Minefield Puzzle and Carmen San Diego Puzzle), they are similar but they have key important differences. The minefield puzzle is organized so that there is no space between boxes on top and below each other. This allows you to have more room, and personally it looks slightly better (but that's subjective). However you can't use headers in this format. The Carmen Sandiego Puzzle has answers organized by hint, so you have the availability of headers, which is how MG put the continents at the top. So if you want to have headers like each column has its own house, then you will want to use this format. Other side effect is that there is white space between boxes in the same column.

You want to choose this first because data entry for the 2 are slightly different; Minefield format requires all the names to be in the hint column, and the extra column is empty; while the Carmen Sandiego format requires all the names to be in the extra format, and use of space equivalents in the hint column (plus headers if you want it).

Also I haven't formatted the Carmen Sandiego way, but I believe the boxes work right to left (as in the 2nd answer corresponds to the 1st row 2nd column, 3rd is 1st row 3rd column, etc.) while the Minefield format boxes work up down (the 2nd answer corresponds to the 2nd row 1st column, 3rd is 3rd row 1st column, etc.)

Anyway yeah I'll take a look at the data entry in a sec.

[vikZ]

Ok I fixed up the data a little. Just a few things to say.

1) The data looks really messy. Mostly cause the logic is done first before the grid.
2) The order is done wrong. You didn't really realize it first because you stuck all the hints under Gryffindor. I fixed that up. It can't be done like that because wrong answers associate with the HINT. So every square needs to have a unique hint. Anyway after fixing, you'll see that the boxes go left to right instead of up down, so the headers don't go where they should.

If you want to work on the grid, go ahead. If you want me, I might have time tomorrow.
I want it to be a learning experience for you too so I don't want to do too much.

Anyway I'm off to bed!

[mcomisky]

Thanks a lot vikZ! I have one question: Is it possible to sort answers by hint? Otherwise, I don't know how it is possible for each house to have its own column. I will try playing around with it today and anybody else can too.

[teddy109711]

I think it is because of this quiz here
http://sporcle.com/games/MovieGuru/election-puzzle
I'm not sure how, you might have to ask movieguru.

[needapausebutton]

Great collaborating at work here!

Thanks, vikZ for helping with this on top of your busy schedule...

That said, let's all try to also remember that there should never be any sense of "urgency" or having to "rush" these quizzes out!  Let's take our time, learn things, and work at a comfortable pace.

At any point, someone should feel free to say: "Hang on, I need a few days to get something in place, and I'll post here when I'm ready to pick things up again" -- that sort of thing.

@vikZ:  Therefore, I'm not concerned at all about the templates at the moment, they can wait, so you can put helping others with their quizzes first.

[vikZ]

I just don't like having people wait for me :)

No problem MC. Ok so this is what's going on. Take a look at MovieGuru's quiz (Carmen Sandiego, or the one teddy linked, it's all the same). Now highlight the entire quiz. Take a look at what's above each box. That's how it's done. Every box has its own hint because they all contain a different amount of spaces in the header (space equivalent actually, since a normal space gets auto-deleted). This is necessary because wrong answers stop working for a hint once at least one answer is gotten for that hint. So if you group it by hint and ACTUALLY group it by hint, once someone gets a box in a column, none of the wrong answers in the column will work.
So yeah the group by hint is actually a style choice, you actually won't be grouping them.

[mcomisky]

Thanks vikZ! I completely forgot about space equivalents. I have actually used them before, but it just slipped my mind.

[mcomisky]

I have tried adding the logic part to the quiz... and I'm pretty bad at it. If anybody wants to add that part, feel free! and also, you can help with the trivia part too! Thanks everybody!

[vikZ]

This just came out....
http://www.sporcle.com/games/THEJMAN/a-harry-potter-logic-puzzle

[mcomisky]

I have decided that the quiz that we have been working on is too similar to the one recently contributed. I think we should stop working on this for now, but maybe pick it up in the future. However, I would like to contribute a quiz like this, but with a different theme. I want it to be obscure, so nobody uses it, but not too obscure, so people will play it. Do you have any ideas? So far I have come up with The Hunger Games, Narnia, Disney, and Roald Dahl. I was also thinking of Star Wars, but I don't know much about that. I would like to be knowledgeable in the subject that we choose because I want to come up with some of the trivia questions.

[teddy109711]

My suggestions is Star Wars, I think I'm pretty good with it if you ever need any help. And if it's worthy I can give it a CP to jump start it. If you feel that you aren't familiar with it don't decide because of me, go with whatever you can work with.

[skuban]

I'm jumping in here a little late, but I've been reading and keeping up. I think Disney would be a better theme for the next one.

[mcomisky]

Any other ideas? I will be a little busy for the next week and a half, so that can give us more time to brainstorm!

[MovieGuru]

How are 2 hints going to fit in each answer box?

[skuban]

Perhaps instead of two hints in an answer box, every answer box has one hint: Either a logic hint, or a trivia hint.

[teddy109711]

You are probably looking for something a little less general than this idea ( and a little less cheesy) but what about a giant group of friends at a restaurant all ordered their food, but the waiter messed up who has each plate (it would most likely be easiest with only 3 or 4 options). The player is the server with the food and one wrong dish and "you're fired!".

This is cheesy and you said you wanted to the player to be able to use logic and trivia, so maybe with some of the clues you use culinary knowledge? If you don't think this us quite what you're looking for I might bring it up on new quiz ideas.
Teddy109768

[mcomisky]

@MovieGuru, I'm not really sure. I was planning to try to see how it works when all of the data was input.

@Teddy, That's not really what I am looking for, but it sounds like a good idea. You should start a new thread for it!

[mcomisky]

My favorite new idea so far is Disney. Does anybody else have any good ideas?

[mcomisky]

I've decided to go with Disney because nobody else has any other ideas. I will start a new thread