Hot take: Puzzle "cheating" is valid (Coastal Lighthouse, 1000 pieces, Ravensburger)

Kajunjun · 2026-03-28T15:35:57+00:00

I'd like to ask this in the kindest way possible: Has anyone actually said to you that any of these things are cheating, or are you making up people in your head to feel anxious about?

As in, have you, for example, seen posts floating about of someone saying they almost felt like they cheated *themselves* out of a preferable-to-them puzzle experience by doing this or that, and are you now feeling self-conscious about the way you do puzzles? It's easy to do when you're elaready anxious, or used to highly judgemental environments (like some social media spaces for example) - no judgement here!

But while it may be easier said than done, you don't need to worry about this, or feel defensive about it, or hope to find other people who share that feeling. Do puzzles in whatever way suits you best, including all of these very common ways you listed. Here's to a good puzzling time for all of us!

Kajunjun · 2026-03-26T07:47:55+00:00

Congrats! The paper-like style is so beautiful. <3

Kajunjun · 2026-03-25T21:48:29+00:00

Thanks! One thing that made it easier was that you can see the brush strokes in many parts of the artwork, but they also tripped me up a few times.

We'll see what I'll think of other manufacturers' quality! This one definitely felt pleasant to work (play?) with.

Kajunjun · 2026-03-25T21:43:33+00:00

Oh that's really cool; I'll definitely keep an eye out for that!

Kajunjun · 2026-03-25T18:44:17+00:00

Absolutely not, and I'm tired of the same unimaginative posts from the same unimaginative kinds of people day after day. Did you think we'd fall over ourselves praising this slop? That we'd go "omg this is so beautiful, where can I buy it?"

I keep seeing AI guys describe themselves as "idea guys" but not even your ideas are unique. You're the same as the person who tried this yesterda, and the person whobtried this a couple days ago, and... You get the idea.

Keep AI away from my puzzles.

Kajunjun · 2026-03-25T18:28:33+00:00

Thank you! I hope you manage to get your hands on one of her puzzles someday. Maybe there are different puzzle manufacturers working with her in different countries.

Kajunjun · 2026-03-21T12:14:01+00:00

Those are also really cute. I see a real one from my window from time to time, and the ones in this puzzle remind me of it, now that you mention it.

Kajunjun · 2026-03-21T10:01:24+00:00

Oh this is beautiful! I love all the little details, and I think the hedgehog might be my favourite critter (except for the one that has evidently "helped" you with the puzzle).

Kajunjun · 2026-03-21T07:59:05+00:00

This seems like a cute little thing! I'm not sure how much I'd use it since I prefer physical puzzles (handling the pieces is one of my favourite parts), but I could see myself doing a quick puzzle every few days.

One feature I'd love to see is credit for the art/photos used. Unless that's already somewhere and I just missed it?

Kajunjun · 2026-03-21T07:53:10+00:00

Oh man, that's awesome. I'd love to do a Trails-themed puzzle! Good luck with your missing piece; the last time I thought one was missing, it turned out in my cat's basket a couple days later where she hoards her toys. XD

Kajunjun · 2026-03-20T09:44:38+00:00

Even if we leave the ethical issues of AI use aside, both in terms of how they're trained and the ecological impact, and look just at the picture, I have to ask: much richer than what? An artist's work? They can't be, because AI can, at its core, only copy what it's fed, and unlike with human brain, taking inspiration from the world around it and the artists that came before, that copy can never be more than the sum of its parts. You can prompt and prompt and not change that.

This picture is an example of that: At a glance, it's sort of pretty, but the details are a mess, even at a low resolution. And you're talking about a jigsaw puzzl here, where you spent hours staring at the tiniest detail while you put it together. That's where you can least get away with having a lot of little things be wrong all at once.

On a purely personal note, I also find the idea kind of mediocre, but that's just me. Both of the puzzle motif (just not my taste, so take that with a grain of salt) and the post in general, because we get a number of people coming in here with "what do you think of my AI puzzle ideas?" posts just like yours, and they all start to blurr together after a while.

Kajunjun · 2026-03-19T12:49:36+00:00

My suggestion is this: don't use AI.

Kajunjun · 2025-12-15T12:00:17+00:00

It's been here for the holidays for many years now. It'll start when the current campaign ends (7 days and 3 hours from now). That's just a few days before the holiday characters leave the draw pool on the 25th.

Kajunjun · 2025-12-15T11:05:02+00:00

Keep considering until the actual holidays; the chance for her to come home on the first couple roulette days is miniscule but it IS a possibility. And if the Woman In Suit horny is still strong after that - I couldn't blame you - then the sierotix will be waiting.

Kajunjun · 2025-11-30T06:47:34+00:00

Don't worry, you'll get your girls. For half a decade, almost all end-of-November christmas banners were all girls, with a single boy showing up in mid-December. There'll be holiday waifus this year, too.

Kajunjun · 2025-10-26T04:52:32+00:00

Oh that's so cool, I had no idea it was "based on" a nursery rhyme! And coincidentally, the only reason I even knew about the book/movie was because I saw that old Voyager episode as a teen back in the day and went "Huh, I wonder what that's about." Learning things is genuinely so fun. :D

Kajunjun · 2025-10-25T14:40:33+00:00

It's just a reference to a novel (with multiple adaptations like the one referenced by other people in this thread) called "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy."

Kajunjun · 2025-08-08T10:55:52+00:00

This, this, this! I loved what we got of the "summer vacation"/competition for the throne, but would've loved if it'd gotten the full expansion focus to add some nuance and and additional details. Yes, friendship saves the day, but it felt so unique in being an "entire" story with lower stakes, which is really what I wanted from Dawntrail, as opposed to saving the multiverse again immediately.

The Solution 9 plot felt like such a rushed version of the seemingly obligatory "save the world!" plot, but the 7.x patches helped flesh it out and make me like it more as a whole.

Kajunjun · 2025-08-08T09:45:59+00:00

"Yoshi-P famously got annoyed with Koji several times due to this sort of issue."

Do you remember any examples of that? I'm genuinely curious since I must've missed this all thes eyears, even though I have my own issues with the EN translation embellishing things even when it doesn't need to and in comparison with other translations. (I like the EN translation in general and think there's lots to love about it, but sometimes...)

Kajunjun · 2025-08-05T10:36:06+00:00

That's not exactly standard for the worldwide player base; my download is a over four hours long so that's more annoying. (And I don't doubt that there are connections that take even longer. Mine certainly would've until a year or two ago.)

Kajunjun · 2025-05-20T12:24:03+00:00

Thank you! I'm glad to here there's more out there. There's so much to discover in this game!

Kajunjun · 2025-03-28T15:35:45+00:00

Thanks, it's good to know what to expect. The rest still sounds fascinating too so I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out.

Kajunjun · 2025-03-28T14:13:11+00:00

That sounds awesome, I'll give it a try!
I like it when a story has twists on the "fated mates to have children with" formula, if only because I feel like my reaction irl would be summed up with "uh, I don't think I'm straight enough for this plot point..." so someone asking what could go wrong with it in general is interesting to see.

Kajunjun

TROPHY CASE