[Feature request] Hard mode

[dominikbell]

I would be a fun challenge to have a hard mode additionally to the normal mode now. It may include

• not highlighting incorrect maths
• not highlighting duplicates
• no possible number entries allowed
• no hints

[meikpiep]

Relates to #144.

Thank you for your thoughts!

I will think throught this, keeping #144 in mind and the need to enable an intuitive way to present these settings.

@mccartney FYI, would be happy to hear your opinion.

[mccartney]

I think it's an interesting idea. And we end up having natural three levels:

• easy (hints allowed)
• normal (hints allowed, but with penalty)
• hard (no hints allowed)

This could be built into the start new game flow, especially for the new users. This way people do not feel lost at first encounter, and at the same time they see some challenge ahead.

[meikpiep]

@mccartney

...

This could be built into the start new game flow, especially for the new users. This way people do not feel lost at first encounter, and at the same time they see some challenge ahead.

The three difficulty modes make great sense. I don't really get want you mean by 'start new game flow' - I guess that would be an option while starting a new game with a reasonable default value? Could you explain how to treat the new users, how to show them the possibilities? Sorry, seems like my head is stuck dealing with is kind of stuck...

[Tobertet]

Would it make sense to have a "Hardcore" mode where as soon as you enter a wrong value the game terminates? Maybe it is easier to implement and more challenging than the proposed Hard mode.

[nitinsooni]

@meikpiep Hey, because your app's layout is very similar to sudoku, any plan's on adding sudoku game in gauguin or make another app? I don't know much, but maybe it would be easier because only the functionality is different but all layout of app will be same.
I use libresudoku but its's input layout functionality is not good as yours (buttons are small and it don't use gestures). Thought i created a issue on their's repo today, maintainer's not very active on opened issues.

[meikpiep]

@nitinsooni thanks for your thoughts!

I will have to think about this, to hopefully answer it next week. I am unsure if a Sudoku mode fits into Gauguin or not, but let me think about this.

If any other user likes to share its opinion, feel free.

[meikpiep]

@nitinsooni I created a New issue for your request to separate it from this issue regarding to the hard mode.

[codebywinston]

Hi! Love this project. I wanted to discuss the possible naming of this "Hard mode".

I'm not sure if this should be called "Hard mode" unless the naming scheme of the current game difficulties changes to not include "Hard". Right now, the difficulties are the following:

• Very easy
• Easy
• Medium
• Hard
• Very hard

I could see it being confusing if the word "Hard" is used multiple times with different meanings, one as a difficulty (as shown above) and one as this new feature.

@mccartney proposed three levels:

* easy (hints allowed)
* normal (hints allowed, but with penalty)
* hard (no hints allowed)

It could be less ambiguous with the current difficulties if there were just two levels instead, named something like:

• Freeplay (hints allowed)
• Strict or Master (no hints allowed)

Alternatively, there could be a checkbox on the new game screen with a label like "No hints".

[DancingGeek]

Currently, the new game screen is focused on how the board is to be set up, rather than the gameplay. You can increase the difficulty of the board, but not affect how you interact with the game. Changing interaction is instead handled under Game Assistance in settings. This seems to me like a reasonable separation of paradigms to balance customisation with crowding of the new game screen. The default options offer a supportive puzzle solving environment, but the settings make it possible to turn off support features for a more challenging play style.

Given the first two of the originally stated requirements are already available in settings under Game Assistance, perhaps this request could be handled by having three more settings in that section to 'Hide the hint button (?)', 'Disable solutions menu' and 'Disable entering possible numbers'. All left unticked by default. [Edited, because I forgot about the menu for options like Reveal cell & Show mistakes, which would probably also want taking out.]

While this doesn't provide a clear and separate 'mode', it does offer a customisable game style to suit different players. (I play with some assistance on and some off, for example.) If players are not aware of the options under Game Assistance, perhaps these could be linked to or mentioned. This could perhaps be done either within the 'Difficulty' section of the new game screen or in the tooltip that already exists in that section.

Interestingly, none of these changes are necessary. All these features (hint button, solutions menu, using possible numbers) are optional, players can play the game as it already exists and just opt not to use them. This is in contrast to those features than can currently be disabled in the Game Assistance menu, which automatically affect the game while playing. However, disabling these features might make a success feel more earned.

Considering the impact of the requests

1. Removing the hint button seems similar in nature to hiding incorrect maths or duplicates. The hint button helps by letting you check your work as you go. If the button were removed, I would expect the interface to otherwise remain the same.

2. Removing the solutions menu seems similar to removing the hint button. It simply takes away a functionality that is optional without affecting gameplay otherwise. Whether removed or disabled, I would want the other icons to stay in the same place for muscle memory, so I think disabling and greying out the icon might be a better option.

3. Removing use of pencil marks seems more complicated to me. If pencil marks were gone, I would want the short press to act like a long press does at the moment, so that I didn't have to use long press for every entry. Perhaps others disagree on this?

[meikpiep]

@DancingGeek Thanks for your detailed thoughts, this is very helpful to get to a consistent state of a "hard mode".