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Size of Grid Ideally the grid will contain between 28 and 32 solutions, roughly in line with the number of days in a calendar month. The number of solutions should in any case not exceed 40, unless justified by exceptional circumstances which should be explained. This might be due to the choice of a large grid, or a Seven Dials or other innovatively shaped or styled grid.
Grid Structure This should be appropriate for the theme and its thematic solutions.
- In general, 5x5x5 grids should have a high percentage of 5 letter words, although some variety of word length and a phrase or two are welcome.
- Similarly, 7x5x5 grids should have a high percentage of both 5 and 7 letter words.
- Seven Dials, Torus and Spherical grids are welcome, along similar lines to those already featured in recent calendars.
- Other workable innovative grid types are also welcome, as long as they are not too large or oddly shaped in such a way that they would not be a suitable fit for a monthly calendar page.
Blank grids for a number of grid designs can be downloaded from the RPM Trophy page.
Grid-filling Accommodations Thematic solutions will not always fit within a chosen grid without the use of certain accommodations made when filling the grid. Overuse of such accommodations should however be avoided, with 3D cross-checking being maintained as much as possible.
- Bars should be used sparingly and clearly indicated. Bars that reduce cross-checking from 3D to 2D are largely to be avoided and likely to be marked down – examples of these would be bars creating a 4:1 or 6:1 split in a row or column. In a Seven Dials or other innovative grid, a more liberal use of bars might well be needed, but attention should still be paid to retaining 3D cross-checking.
- Overlaps are allowed, but should largely be avoided when two separate clue answers that run together make for the appearance of non-words in the grid – although this can sometimes be preferable to the use of a bar that reduces cross-checking from 3D to 2D.
- Snakes are usually regarded favourably where they add value thematically and/or allow longer and more interesting solutions in the grid. They should not however be overused, and are rarely acceptable for short words.
- The use of extra black cells beyond usual symmetry is in general discouraged, but the splitting of one solution cell into two in order to accommodate a solution is acceptable.
- Some limited loss of grid symmetry might in some instances be acceptable, perhaps especially in the case of innovative grid designs, but in general grid symmetry is preferred.
Overall, accommodations are marked on whether they add or detract from the overall design and standard of the grid.
Percentage of grid given to theme words A good balance is better than too high a percentage of themed words. Designers should strike a balance to create a good puzzle which is neither too easy to solve nor too contrived to work well.
Percentage of obscure words Obscure words should be kept to a minimum. All obscure words must be fully explained in the Word Table.
Historical examples Look back at some examples which can be found in our puzzle archives.
Setters Please bear in mind that we ask setters to take on a word set which they have not chosen themselves.
And finally… Ask yourself: will this make for a good/great puzzle? Judges will give credit for noteworthy aspects e.g. new designs, new ideas with unexpected wit/humour. |
