#1 A Field ...

These are called Lateral thinkers ................ no cheating please and ....... if you've heard it before don't take part. I CAN TELL!

DO NOT post your SOLUTION HERE. Only your questions. Use Email, or the Contact form, to suggest answers. Otherwise this will not work, and it will spoil it for others.

The scenario;

'A Field ............ and in the field are some pieces of coal, a comb and a carrot. The field is muddy. However, there are no footprints.'

That's it! Explain what's going on.

How this works You can ask questions. the questions must be asked in such a way that I can give a 'Yes' or a 'No' answer.
The only exception is that if I think you are on the wrong track completely, I'll say "Irrelevant", or similar.

Let's give this a go. :-) Remember! If you've heard the answer before don't take part.

Posted By GreyFuss on Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 3:20AM

Does this have something to do with an adventure game?

Hi Greyfuss.
No.

Posted By hatshepsutt on Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 3:12PM

Is the field in an RPG game ?

Hmm! No.
Following the first two questions, I have to explain, I think. I've made this part of the forum the 'General Trivia. Puzzles, etc.' forum. That's meant to mean that the trivia and puzzles in this forum are not likely to be video game-related. Just general puzzly-type things for all. Sorry if I've caused any confusion. Any game-related puzzles ought to be in the other puzzle forum on this page. NOW THEN ................................. Next question please!
The secret with these siuation puzzles (as they're sometimes called), is to ask anything that occurs to you, even if you think it's a daft question. Sometimes daft questions pay dividends. Remember, I can only say YES, NO, or NOT RELEVANT.

Posted By GreyFuss on Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 11:46PM

Is this Field on Earth?

Yes.

Posted By hatshepsutt on Sun Nov 15, 2009 at 3:20AM

Is the field in the present ?

Yes. As in this field could exist now. Let's assume it does, and that this situation exists now.

Posted By GreyFuss on Sun Nov 15, 2009 at 4:35AM

Is the letter "C" relevent to the solution?

No.
I'll give you a bit of help as it's probably the first time you've done one of these.
As soon as you get the hang of them, you'll be a pro!
Finding out the answer yourself is always fantastically satisfying and can sometimes lead to that "Ah-Ha!" moment. Sometimes, rarely, it will lead to a "Grrr!" moment. :-)
You must try to ask about whatever you recognise as key elements in the initial statement. Examine it, and ask about what I've told you.
Not all of these situation puzzles are like this one (some are not likely 'real' situations), but this one is most definitely a real-life situation that has occurred in more than one place and will do so in the future.
It's not, per se, an extraordinary situation.
Never become daunted. When you think you're stuck ask even the most ludicrous sounding question. You never know ....
Kids are quite good at these, and they're good for kids' as mind stretchers, if you like. Kids tend to hold back less when asking seemingly daft questions.
Try not to become convinced of what you think the solution is. The whole nature of these is that it's not the obvious. Think 'laterally'.
Greyfuss, your question about 'C' was well conceived and, although you were on the wrong track, you were right to wonder whether the letter 'C' was relevant as the objects begin with 'C'. Try NOT to think so deeply though.
With some of these puzzles it's conceivably possible to get the right answer immediately without any questions being asked. With others, I will not have given you the full picture and you'll need to find out more.
This one is of the former type.
In a way, if you can do these (which anyone can really), you'll p[robably be good at Text Adventures in that exploring the situation is the key in those as well.
Keep going. You're both doing better than you think.
KEEP REVIEWING the facts, what you've established and what you need to establish. :-)

Posted By hatshepsutt on Sun Nov 15, 2009 at 6:37PM

Is the field oblong in shape ?

He-he! I can see what you're thinking. No.
The field's shape is not relevant.

Posted By GreyFuss on Sun Nov 15, 2009 at 9:34PM

LOL
No wonder I haven't a clue...kids are good at these puzzle.....Uncle

Posted By hatshepsutt on Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 12:45PM

Was the field frozen before it was muddy ?

YES.

Posted By hatshepsutt on Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 4:05PM

Was there snow in the frozen field?

YES. :-)

Posted By hatshepsutt on Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 4:24AM

Was there a snowman in the frozen field ?

** YES **.
You've solved it Hatshepsutt. Care to explain the initial statement?
Well done indeeeeed! Grrr! :-)

Posted By hatshepsutt on Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 9:40PM

When the field was frozen and covered with snow a snowman was built using pieces of coal, a comb and carrot. Then all the footprints in the snow and the snowman melted away leaving pieces of coal, a comb and carrot in a muddy field with no footprints.

Brilliant!
It's the lack of footprints that usually stumps people. I even get asked about 'very small' plane crashes! :-)

Posted By hatshepsutt on Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 11:13PM

Thanks Gelert, it was a good thinking puzzle.

Posted By greyfuss on Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 4:08AM

Way to go Lady Pharaoh. Good job. I must admit that I am not familiar with using a comb on a snowman, not that it would have helped me solve the puzzle. What is it used for?

Posted By hatshepsutt on Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 4:18PM

Thanks GreyFuss. I think if there weren't enough pieces of coal the comb could have been used for a mouth and teeth. I think in this scenario though we can say the snowman had pieces of coal for the mouth and whoever built the snowman lost their comb while building the snowman.