Merlon the Magician Apparently Fortified – Embrasures

Every once in a while, you run into some puzzle magic.  And puzzles invoking medieval times with swords, damsels in distress, and impenetrable castles are in vogue.  Particularly castles.  Castles with turrets.  Castles with turrets with embrasures.  And you can’t just create embrasures from nothing.  Or can you?  No!  Merlon magic is apparently needed to create embrasures.

Embrasures is a 3D apparent cube packing puzzle designed by Alexander Magyarics and made by Wood Wonders.  The box is made from Tigerwood and Avodire and the 3 pieces are made from Red Grandis.  The use of the 2 contrasting exotic woods for the box gives it a stunning look.  And the embrasures definitely lend it the appearance of a castle turret.

The objective of this level 10.9.4 challenge is simple.  Fortify the turret, i.e., pack the pieces within the box so that the all the openings are filled.  This includes the top with the 4 embrasures as well as the 2 other ports on the bottom.

I started by looking at possible ways to arrange the 3 pieces withing a 3x3x3 cubic space but quickly determined that there were too many to take that approach.

Depending on how you look at it, the top has 4 embrasures or 4 merlons.  Since this is an apparent cube puzzle, maybe it would be best to focus on the embrasures.  And don’t forget those 2 ports at the base.

Embracing an embrasure approach, I eventually found a promising candidate assembly.  Doing a little experimentation, I was able to see how the first piece could be removed from the box.  However, I was having a little difficulty finding how a second piece could be removed.  The last 2 pieces seemed to be in each other’s way, prohibiting either from exiting.

It was then that I discovered a tricky little rotation that would allow me remove a second piece and summarily, the last piece.  I successfully tested it and trumpeted my triumphal victory.  

As I started writing this blog I reread the puzzle description on the Wood Wonders website whereupon I noted that it explicitly states NO ROTATIONS.  Cheater, cheater, cheater!!!  I was seized with flashbacks of grade school and being reprimanded for not paying attention to directions.  Now I have a wife to keep me in line and I knew she was going to make me work on this puzzle until I solved it correctly.  I’m so lucky!

Of course, the fork in the road was at that problematic section in the middle of removing the second piece.  In my defense, the rotation path was about the same length at the non-rotation path.  However, the non-rotation path is a bit more elegant.  Had I been following directions, I would have never found the alternate path with the rotation.  It’s not obvious and will not occur inadvertently.  I’m just glad I got to solve it twice.  As with all of Alexanders designs, I really enjoyed this one.  If you’re lucky, you may find it in stock at Wood Wonders.

I was so amazed at the appearance and quality of Embrasures that it got me thinking of something with a bigger scope.  Maybe the next big castle puzzle project could include a packing puzzle within each turret.  That would be awesome!