16 Pieces Solution
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How it works
The 16 Tetris-shaped pieces fit together to form an 8x8 grid. Matching the paths of the encrypted phrases printed on the pieces helps to decide which piece fits where.
You will now find 19 phrases in the grid as follows, in alphabetical order:
- DPYT DO DER DGIS DTIW DHGIE DEDIS
- EOODS BHEWEDS ZS RECONDS SIMES ZSS ZS BOWS LIGHTS
- GOOSEERS FEATHERERS ORERS THEERS OPPOSITEERS OFERS UPERS
- JRIPED JIMAL JAT JRAYS JUL JELLING JQUID
- JWEES JELLOS JLUIS JADS JROS JECTAS JS JEES
- KSIHTINE KSIINE KEHTINE KLANIFINE KLAOGINE KNIINE KSSEHCINE KROINE KGNITADINE
- LASM IN FIRSM OUM DAMA SMRUCMURE MYPE
- MROTOMK VELCIHEVK WHTIWK FRUOFK WSLEEHWK
- NEON NRPESON NOSHRT NOF NA NAQURTET
- NOILSTAL WOSN ERTI RO ESNO NOITADECOR
- NUROT SUECEIP FUO DULO GUNIHTOLC
- OTIIS OFIUIT OII ODIIED OTI OMIKE OA OPIUNE
- OWWLB YPPET HAATT NDDSE HEET FLLN EAASONS
- RMUSMR RDIAPDR RRORR RDEGRAHCDR RROFRR RECIVRESER
- TLLU MRSHN GASSH OP EGLISHF HRNI PECEQ
- UOYE DNIFE SAEPE NIE ENOE FOE ESEHTE
- VIARMIMORED VIWAMIR VIVEMIHICLE VITHMIAT VIDRMIIVES VIONMI VITWMIO VITRMIACKS
- WSAT TSE SSOTTISH CSLL A YSUNG MSN
- YHESSE FRRE KEMMALE KIGGURE GOOOSTING LARRMENTS
Decipher each of the phrases in the assembled grid. Each word of a particular phrase has been mangled in a consistent manner. Each decoded phrase is a crossword-style clue:
DPYT DO DER DGIS DTIW DHGIE DEDIS
Reverse each word; then replace the first letter with D
TYPE OF RED SIGN WITH EIGHT SIDES
EOODS BHEWEDS ZS RECONDS SIMES ZSS ZS BOWS LIGHTS
Shift the first letter in the word back one place in the alphabet; add S to the end
FOOD CHEWED A SECOND TIME AS A COW MIGHT
GOOSEERS FEATHERERS ORERS THEERS OPPOSITEERS OFERS UPERS
Add ERS to the end of each word
GOOSE FEATHERS OR THE OPPOSITE OF UP
JRIPED JIMAL JAT JRAYS JUL JELLING JQUID
Replace the first two letters with J
STRIPED ANIMAL THAT SPRAYS FOUL SMELLING LIQUID
JWEES JELLOS JLUIS JADS JROS JECTAS JS JEES
Replace first letter with J; replace last letter with S
SWEET YELLOW FLUID MADE FROM NECTAR BY BEES
KSIHTINE KSIINE KEHTINE KLANIFINE KLAOGINE KNIINE KSSEHCINE KROINE KGNITADINE
K + word in reverse + INE
THIS IS THE FINAL GOAL IN CHESS OR DATING
LASM IN FIRSM OUM DAMA SMRUCMURE MYPE
Replace all Ts with Ms
LAST IN FIRST OUT DATA STRUCTURE TYPE
MROTOMK VELCIHEVK WHTIWK FRUOFK WSLEEHWK
Take first letter of word, the entire word in reverse, and then K
MOTOR VEHICLE WITH FOUR WHEELS
NEON NRPESON NOSHRT NOF NA NAQURTET
Move 3rd letter of word to the front; add N to the front of word
ONE PERSON SHORT OF A QUARTET
NOILSTAL WOSN ERTI RO ESNO NOITADECOR
Split word in half; reverse second half, followed by first half
STALLION SNOW TIRE OR NOSE DECORATION
NUROT SUECEIP FUO DULO GUNIHTOLC
Reverse word; insert U into the second position
TORN PIECES OF OLD CLOTHING
OTIIS OFIUIT OII ODIIED OTI OMIKE OA OPIUNE
Replace 2nd letter of word with I; add O to the front
THIS FRUIT IS DRIED TO MAKE A PRUNE
OWWLB YPPET HAATT NDDSE HEET FLLN EAASONS
Move first letter to the end; double the second letter
BOWL TYPE THAT ENDS THE NFL SEASON
RMUSMR RDIAPDR RRORR RDEGRAHCDR RROFRR RECIVRESER
Reverse the word; add first letter to the end; wrap word with Rs
SUM PAID OR CHARGED FOR SERVICE
TLLU MRSHN GASSH OP EGLISHF HRNI PECEQ
Delete 2nd letter; Add the letter after the first (alphabetically) to the end
TALL MARSH GRASS OR ENGLISH HORN PIECE
UOYE DNIFE SAEPE NIE ENOE FOE ESEHTE
Reverse the word; add E to the end
YOU FIND PEASE IN ONE OF THESE
VIARMIMORED VIWAMIR VIVEMIHICLE VITHMIAT VIDRMIIVES VIONMI VITWMIO VITRMIACKS
Add VI to front; insert MI after the 4th letter
ARMORED WAR VEHICLE THAT DRIVES ON TWO TRACKS
WSAT TSE SSOTTISH CSLL A YSUNG MSN>
Replace 2nd letter with S
WHAT THE SCOTTISH CALL A YOUNG MAN
YHESSE FRRE KEMMALE KIGGURE GOOOSTING LARRMENTS
Shift first letter forward 5 places in alphabet; double letter after the first vowel
THESE ARE FEMALE FIGURE BOOSTING GARMENTS
Answer each decoded phrase to get a single word. Mangle each word using the same transformation as its phrase originally used. This results in a final answer word or phrase. Each of the final words is a street slang for a type of drug.
DPYT DO DER DGIS DTIW DHGIE DEDIS
Reverse each word; then replace the first letter with D
TYPE OF RED SIGN WITH EIGHT SIDES
STOP -> DOTS
EOODS BHEWEDS ZS RECONDS SIMES ZSS ZS BOWS LIGHTS
Shift the first letter in the word back one place in the alphabet; add S to the end
FOOD CHEWED A SECOND TIME AS A COW MIGHT
CUD -> BUDS
GOOSEERS FEATHERERS ORERS THEERS OPPOSITEERS OFERS UPERS
Add ERS to the end of each word
GOOSE FEATHERS OR THE OPPOSITE OF UP
DOWN -> DOWNERS
JRIPED JIMAL JAT JRAYS JUL JELLING JQUID
Replace the first two letters with J
STRIPED ANIMAL THAT SPRAYS FOUL SMELLING LIQUID
SKUNK -> JUNK
JWEES JELLOS JLUIS JADS JROS JECTAS JS JEES
Replace first letter with J; replace last letter with S
SWEET YELLOW FLUID MADE FROM NECTAR BY BEES
HONEY -> JONES
KSIHTINE KSIINE KEHTINE KLANIFINE KLAOGINE KNIINE KSSEHCINE KROINE KGNITADINE
K + word in reverse + INE
THIS IS THE FINAL GOAL IN CHESS OR DATING
MATE -> KETAMINE
LASM IN FIRSM OUM DAMA SMRUCMURE MYPE
Replace all Ts with Ms
LAST IN FIRST OUT DATA STRUCTURE TYPE
STACK -> SMACK
MROTOMK VELCIHEVK WHTIWK FRUOFK WSLEEHWK
Take first letter of word, the entire word in reverse, and then K
MOTOR VEHICLE WITH FOUR WHEELS
CAR -> CRACK
NEON NRPESON NOSHRT NOF NA NAQURTET
Move 3rd letter of word to the front; add N to the front of word
ONE PERSON SHORT OF A QUARTET
TRIO -> NITRO
NOILSTAL WOSN ERTI RO ESNO NOITADECOR
Split word in half; reverse second half, followed by first half
STALLION SNOW TIRE OR NOSE DECORATION
STUD -> DUST
NUROT SUECEIP FUO DULO GUNIHTOLC
Reverse word; insert U into the second position
TORN PIECES OF OLD CLOTHING
RAGS -> SUGAR
OTIIS OFIUIT OII ODIIED OTI OMIKE OA OPIUNE
Replace 2nd letter of word with I; add O to the front
THIS FRUIT IS DRIED TO MAKE A PRUNE
PLUM -> OPIUM
OWWLB YPPET HAATT NDDSE HEET FLLN EAASONS
Move first letter to the end; double the second letter
BOWL TYPE THAT ENDS THE NFL SEASON
SUPER -> UPPERS
RMUSMR RDIAPDR RRORR RDEGRAHCDR RROFRR RECIVRESER
Reverse the word; add first letter to the end; wrap word with Rs
SUM PAID OR CHARGED FOR SERVICE
FEE -> REEFER
TLLU MRSHN GASSH OP EGLISHF HRNI PECEQ
Delete 2nd letter; Add the letter after the first (alphabetically) to the end
TALL MARSH GRASS OR ENGLISH HORN PIECE
REED -> REDS
UOYE DNIFE SAEPE NIE ENOE FOE ESEHTE
Reverse the word; add E to the end
YOU FIND PEASE IN ONE OF THESE
POD -> DOPE
VIARMIMORED VIWAMIR VIVEMIHICLE VITHMIAT VIDRMIIVES VIONMI VITWMIO VITRMIACKS
Add VI to front; insert MI after the 4th letter
ARMORED WAR VEHICLE THAT DRIVES ON TWO TRACKS
TANK -> VITAMIN K
WSAT TSE SSOTTISH CSLL A YSUNG MSN>
Replace 2nd letter with S
WHAT THE SCOTTISH CALL A YOUNG MAN
LAD -> LSD
YHESSE FRRE KEMMALE KIGGURE GOOOSTING LARRMENTS
Shift first letter forward 5 places in alphabet; double letter after the first vowel
THESE ARE FEMALE FIGURE BOOSTING GARMENTS
BRAS -> GRASS
Enter the drug terms into the grid, following the paths used by their phrases, one letter per cell. When multiple phrases cross the same cell, the answers share the letter in that cell.
Read along one of the diagonals in the completed grid to discover the final answer.
Solution
DRUG MULE
Design notes
This clue was inspired by a couple of puzzles published by Foggy Brume, who releases a new edition of Panda Magazine every couple of months. We solved his versions to build lists of cheeses and fish, and had a blast doing so. I knew I wanted to build a puzzle using this formula, and just needed to find the right theme for the set of items to encode. When I stumbled on the extensive list of drug terms on Wikipedia, I knew I had my set.
At first, I was worried about selecting terms that would transform into other clue-able words. This turned out to be not a problem at all. Depending on how evil I wanted to be, any word can be transformed into pretty much anything else. With such a large pool to cull from, it just became a matter of picking what would fit into the grid and selecting transformations that were actually decipherable.
Over the course of generating the phrases, I got familiar enough with the encodings that I could often just read them straight out without thinking about the transformation process too much. For a bit, this had me worried that the puzzle was too trivial.
The first iteration of this clue was just a sanity check that the encoded phrases were solvable. It also had no spaces between words (much like Foggy's versions). That's fine if that's the only step, and you have plenty of time to puzzle over them. Decoding just the raw list on its own took well over two hours for a team of strong solvers, so I quickly discovered I had to drastically scale back the difficulty.
GC notes
During the RC, a couple of our test teams commented on the nice tie-in between this puzzle and the location. Since we had dropped this puzzle at the site largely at random, almost purely based on timing, those of us sitting around in GC at the time had no idea what the teams were talking about. When one of them finally pointed out the Jimi Hendrix / drug connection, our response was along the lines of, "oh yeah... we totally planned that."