Solitaire of Life

[AforAmpere]

Huh. It looked pretty good. How about 49?

Code: Select all

x = 13, y = 14, rule = LifeHistory
10.2A$5.2A3.A$5.C2.C.C$6.CA.C$7.C$5.C2.2ACA$5.CA.A3.C$6.C.A2.2A$6.C.
2A$3.AC.C.C$4.A.A2.C$.A2C2.C3.C$A2.C.A5.A$2A2.A5.CA!

The top can be reduced, so 48:

Code: Select all

x = 13, y = 13, rule = LifeHistory
5.2A2.2A$5.C2.C.C$6.CA.C$7.C$5.C2.2ACA$5.CA.A3.C$6.C.A2.2A$6.C.2A$3.A
C.C.C$4.A.A2.C$.A2C2.C3.C$A2.C.A5.A$2A2.A5.CA!

An alternative 48:

Code: Select all

x = 13, y = 13, rule = LifeHistory
5.2A2.2A$5.C2.C.C$6.CA.C$7.C$5.C2.2ACA$5.CA.A3.C$6.C.A2.2A$6.C.2A$2A.
AC.C.C$A3.A.A2.C$.A2C2.C3.C$3.C.A5.A$4.A5.CA!

[Gamedziner]

The previous problem has one 31-cell solution within a 16-by-16 bounding box (probably less). I found this out using WinLifeSearch.

[dvgrn]

The previous problem has one 31-cell solution within a 16-by-16 bounding box (probably less). I found this out using WinLifeSearch.

31 cells? Yikes. It's good to have a target, but so far I can only get to 34:

Code: Select all

x = 10, y = 12, rule = LifeHistory
2A$C2.CA$2.2C.A$5.C$2.AC.A.C$2.A.C.A.C$6.A2.A$AC3AC2.AC$C2.C$8.2C$7.C
.A$8.A!

[Gamedziner]

The previous problem has one 31-cell solution within a 16-by-16 bounding box (probably less). I found this out using WinLifeSearch.

31 cells? Yikes.

What makes it worse is that there are no other 31-cell solutions.

[Gamedziner]

The top can be reduced, so 48:

Code: Select all

x = 13, y = 13, rule = LifeHistory
5.2A2.2A$5.C2.C.C$6.CA.C$7.C$5.C2.2ACA$5.CA.A3.C$6.C.A2.2A$6.C.2A$3.A
C.C.C$4.A.A2.C$.A2C2.C3.C$A2.C.A5.A$2A2.A5.CA!

Easy reduction to 47:

Code: Select all

x = 13, y = 13, rule = LifeHistory
5.2A2.A$5.C2.C.C$6.CA.C$7.C$5.C2.2ACA$5.CA.A3.C$6.C.A2.2A$6.C.2A$3.A
C.C.C$4.A.A2.C$.A2C2.C3.C$A2.C.A5.A$2A2.A5.CA!

[BlinkerSpawn]

The previous problem has one 31-cell solution within a 16-by-16 bounding box (probably less). I found this out using WinLifeSearch.

31 cells? Yikes.

What makes it worse is that there are no other 31-cell solutions.

...which I wasn't actually expecting to find, given I couldn't get lower than 36 at first:

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 11, rule = LifeHistory
2A$C2.C$2.2C$3.A.C$3.C.2AC$4.C3.C$5.A2.A$AC.A.C3.CA$CA.CA5.A$7.A2C$7.
C!

Thanks for the inspiration, dvgrn.
I'll hold off on submitting since people appear to still be working on the bump.
For reference, I also have a 47-cell solution to that one, although Gamedeziner's looks much more conducive to reduction in the top right:

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 15, rule = LifeHistory
7.2A$6.A2.A$3.AC2.C.C$3.A.CA.C$6.C.A.A$4.CA3.C.A$4.C5.AC$5.C$3.A.C$.
2AC.CAC$A7.C$.2C.AC.A.C$2.C.A3.A.A$2.A.A4.C$3.A!

EDIT: Yup, there it is:

Code: Select all

x = 13, y = 13, rule = LifeHistory
5.2A2.A$5.C2.C.C$6.CA.C$7.C.A.A$5.C4.C.A$5.CA4.AC$6.C$6.C.2A$3.AC.C.C
$4.A.A2.C$.A2C2.C3.C$A2.C.A5.A$2A2.A5.CA!

[dvgrn]

The previous problem has one 31-cell solution within a 16-by-16 bounding box (probably less). I found this out using WinLifeSearch.

31 cells? Yikes.

What makes it worse is that there are no other 31-cell solutions.

A minor hint might be (select next line to see it).
Think Aircraft Carriers.

[Hdjensofjfnen]

Here's a much easier one. Don't use scripts, please! I already found the smallest solution (at least, to my knowledge).

Code: Select all

x = 6, y = 3, rule = LifeHistory
5.C$4C.C$5.C!

[AforAmpere]

I doubt there is any smaller solution than 16:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
A2.A.CA$4C.C$5.C$2A3.2A$2A!

[dvgrn]

I doubt there is any smaller solution than 16:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
A2.A.CA$4C.C$5.C$2A3.2A$2A!

There actually is, though. I'm hoping someone finds a 15-cell solution, because I couldn't come up with one. Didn't use a search program, though, as requested.

[gmc_nxtman]

14 cells:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
A2.A.CA$4C.C$5.C$2.3A$2.A!

[Gamedziner]

14 cells:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
A2.A.CA$4C.C$5.C$2.3A$2.A!

I won't ever say what exactly I get when using WLS for this, unless it is requested. Since Hdjensofjfnen requested that no one should use scripts, I will not reveal the patterns I found even upon others' request.
With that caveat in mind, I can confirm that this is an optimal solution. There is one more optimal solution (excluding flipping along the x-axis).

[praosylen]

14 cells:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
A2.A.CA$4C.C$5.C$2.3A$2.A!

I won't ever say what exactly I get when using WLS for this, unless it is requested. Since Hdjensofjfnen requested that no one should use scripts, I will not reveal the patterns I found even upon others' request.
With that caveat in mind, I can confirm that this is an optimal solution. There is one more optimal solution (excluding flipping along the x-axis).

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
A2.A.CA$4C.C$5.C$2.A.A$2.2A!

[BlinkerSpawn]

14 cells:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
A2.A.CA$4C.C$5.C$2.3A$2.A!

I won't ever say what exactly I get when using WLS for this, unless it is requested. Since Hdjensofjfnen requested that no one should use scripts, I will not reveal the patterns I found even upon others' request.
With that caveat in mind, I can confirm that this is an optimal solution. There is one more optimal solution (excluding flipping along the x-axis).

[Sniped by A for Awesome, whoops]
Yet Another Randomly-Generated Puzzle:

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 12, rule = LifeHistory
7.C.3C$10.C$3.C.2C$2.C5.C$.C5.2C2.C$6.C$10.C2$C9.C$10.C$2.C$C.C!

[AforAmpere]

Yet Another Randomly-Generated Puzzle:

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 12, rule = LifeHistory
7.C.3C$10.C$3.C.2C$2.C5.C$.C5.2C2.C$6.C$10.C2$C9.C$10.C$2.C$C.C!

My best so far is 49:

Code: Select all

x = 16, y = 16, rule = LifeHistory
9.2A$9.2A2$7.ACA3C$3.2A.A4.C.A$2.A.C.2CA5.A$.A.C5.C5.A$2.C5.2C2.C2A$
7.C4.A$8.3AC2$.C8.AC$A.A7.AC$A2.C$.C.C$2.A!

[AforAmpere]

A new puzzle:

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 13, rule = LifeHistory
3.C.C2$C3.C3.C$2.C3.C3$.C2.C2.C3$2.C3.C$C3.C3.C2$3.C.C!

[gmc_nxtman]

53 cells:

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 15, rule = LifeHistory
5.A$2A2.C.C$A2.A2.A$.C.A.C3.CA$2.AC.A.C2.A$5.A.2A$2.2A.A$2.CA.C.AC$5.
A.2A$2.2A.A$A2.C.A.CA$AC3.C.A.C$4.A2.A2.A$4.C.C2.2A$5.A!

EDIT: 51:

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 15, rule = LifeHistory
5.A$3.ACACA$2.A5.A$.C.A.CA2.C$.A.CA.ACA$2A$2.A.2A.2A$2.CA.C.AC3$3.CA.
AC.2A$.C2.AC.A.CA$.2A$3.ACAC$3.A2.A!

EDIT: 50:

Code: Select all

x = 10, y = 15, rule = LifeHistory
2.A2.A$2.ACAC$2A$C2.AC.A.C$2.CA.ACA.A$9.A$.A.2A.A.A$.CA.C.AC3$2.CA.AC
.2A$C2.AC.A.CA$2A$2.ACAC$2.A2.A!

[BlinkerSpawn]

46?

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 15, rule = LifeHistory
4.A$2.ACACA$.A5.A$C2.AC.A.C$.AC.A.CA2$.2A.A.2A$.C.AC.AC3$.AC.A.CA$C2.
AC.A.C$.A5.A$2.ACACA$4.A!

[Gamedziner]

46?

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 15, rule = LifeHistory
4.A$2.ACACA$.A5.A$C2.AC.A.C$.AC.A.CA2$.2A.A.2A$.C.AC.AC3$.AC.A.CA$C2.
AC.A.C$.A5.A$2.ACACA$4.A!

Not an optimal solution.

[Gamedziner]

Since it has been a full week, I'll give a hint: an optimal solution exists with 43 cells.

[Hdjensofjfnen]

14 cells:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
A2.A.CA$4C.C$5.C$2.3A$2.A!

Correct, that was my solution.

[77topaz]

Here's a new puzzle, if anyone wants one:

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 10, rule = LifeHistory
2C3.C$4.C.C$3.C.C$3.C.C.C$2.C3.C$2.C5.C$3.C6.C$.C3.C5.C$6.C4.C$5.C!

[gmc_nxtman]

43 cells:

Code: Select all

x = 13, y = 10, rule = LifeHistory
.2C3.C$2.A2.C.C$2.A.C.C$.2A.C.C.C$3.C.A.C.A$3.C.A.A.C$.2A.C.A.A.AC$2.
C3.C3.A.C$A.A2.A.C2.A.C$2A4.C4.A!

EDIT: 40:

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 13, rule = LifeHistory
2A$2C3.C$4.C.C$3.C.C$3.C.C.C$.AC.A.C.A$A.C.A3.C$A2.C.A2.2AC$.C.A.C5.C
$2.A2.AC3.AC$5.C$7.A$6.2A!

[Sarp]

Alternative 40

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 12, rule = LifeHistory
2C3.C$.A2.C.C$.A.C.C$2A.C.C.C$2.C.A.C.A$2.C.A3.C$3.C.A2.2AC$.C.A.C5.C
$.2A2.AC3.AC$5.C$7.A$6.2A!

[BlinkerSpawn]

38:

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 11, rule = LifeHistory
2A$2C3.C$4.C.C$3.C.C$3.C.C.C$.AC3.C.A$A.C.2A2.C$A2.C2.3A.C$.CA2.C3.A.
C$6.C2.A.C$5.CA3.A!