Spoilers: A different approach to the shipwreck vault door.

[Hiccup Artist]

This post was inspired by this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZokQov_aH0
The author talks at length about how this puzzle is too hard because it can't be solved logically. I would like to prove that wrong. If this is widely known, then let me know. I have not found anyone else that has solved this puzzle like this.

I've seen guides about the sounds and I honestly can't hear a pattern. If you're like me then I have some good news! This puzzle can reasonably be solved without audio. In fact, I think it's easier. So easy that once you get rid of that distraction you can actually see how easy the puzzle actually is. Go take another look before you read further! You're smart and not solving this puzzle right away doesn't make you a doofus! You can do it, I believe in you!

The spoilers are for puzzle rules and the answer to the puzzle.

The rule that needs to be ignored is the dot sizes. The rules that count are 1) invisible, mirrored lines 2) all dots must be covered and 3) each line may only cover a single color but black dots my be shared between lines. "But if we try to brute force the dot order, wont that take forever?" Sure wont. I have only come up with 4 possible solutions: https://i.imgur.com/cf1NDCFh.jpg

There may be more possible solutions, so feel free to add to my list. That's it. The "hardest" puzzle in the game is just a red herring to let you know that you're overthinking it.

[Hairy Phil]

Originally posted by Mouthful of Peanut Butter:

it can't be solved logically. I would like to prove that wrong. [...] brute force the dot order

Brute-forcing, even if there are only four permutations, is not solving it logically.

[Hiccup Artist]

Originally posted by Hairy Phil:

Originally posted by Mouthful of Peanut Butter:

it can't be solved logically. I would like to prove that wrong. [...] brute force the dot order

Brute-forcing, even if there are only four permutations, is not solving it logically.

The part of my post that you pulled "brute forcing" from was theatrical.

Still, I disagree with you. Consider this: early in the game you are presented with this puzzle on the right.[oyster.ignimgs.com] There are three possibilities. Up until this point it is entirely logical to brute force the solution because not enough information is given to otherwise solve the puzzle. This method of solving puzzles is used often in the early parts of the game.

A reasonable point could be made that these early puzzles were meant to teach and later puzzles were meant to test. To that I would respond that learning how you learn is just as valid as learning the rules of the game. Simply put, once in the toolbox; always in the toolbox. This "test" puzzle, at least to many of us, provided inadequate information. It is entirely logical to draw from those early lessons that posed similar challenges.

[Contracrostics]

Very cool ideas! It's need to hear your approach. I did solve the puzzle using audio but it was a thing that I just left up on my monitor for a couple of weeks while I just milled about the house doing other things. It took a long while, and in the end I was in a sort of half-asleep twilight state when it happened. I agree that your approach is not brute forcing.