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I haven't read through the entire forum in a while, so I don't know if this question has been asked. If we stack the blocks, which leads to the next step, but also raise our "walls" so that the blocks become "self-supporting," is lifting the walls considered a "dead-end" path, because it doesn't lead to anything else?

haverstall wrote:I haven't read through the entire forum in a while, so I don't know if this question has been asked. If we stack the blocks, which leads to the next step, but also raise our "walls" so that the blocks become "self-supporting," is lifting the walls considered a "dead-end" path, because it doesn't lead to anything else?

Shouldn't be considered parallel tasks, because lifting the walls isn't on the task list. However, here's the potential problem: the stack must cause the next action, and the stack must not be supported by walls/strings. Therefore, if your stack triggers the next action while still supported by your walls, the task could be ruled incomplete.

It's such a judgement call, though. Most judges would probably accept the task even if you didn't raise the walls. (Make sure they're transparent, though.)

haverstall wrote:I haven't read through the entire forum in a while, so I don't know if this question has been asked. If we stack the blocks, which leads to the next step, but also raise our "walls" so that the blocks become "self-supporting," is lifting the walls considered a "dead-end" path, because it doesn't lead to anything else?

Hm. Well lifting the walls technically isn't a task in the rules, so I'd say you're fine. If it was in the rules, I'd consider it to be a dead-end. But it is my understanding that you can add some tasks of your own in between "official tasks"to get them all running. I wouldn't totally rely on my word for this, though. I may be wrong...

Primate wrote:Use a piece of nichrome to burn through monofilament--same concept as one of the required tasks last year. You really shouldn't need to, though; most judges will count it as long as, if you were to cut the string, the blocks would still be stacked.

So in your device are you saying you could suspend the blocks so they are hanging vertically but say half a centimeter apart and have them suspended by string from the one above so it looks like an accordian sort of.... I don't know how to describe it. And then have the top block be suspended to a frame and melt the top string allowing all to fall and "stack"?