How to play Diplomats

  1. Draw a branching path covering every space of a board divided into orthogonally contiguous regions such that each cell is in one region.
  2. This path goes through the centers of cells, and may go diagonally.
  3. The path may never form a loop or cross itself, but may branch on the unshaded pearls sitting in cell centers ("ports").
  4. A pair of 2 orthogonally or diagonally adjacent cells may be connected with a line segment, and the path is made entirely of these short line segments chained into lines.
  5. A line segment may only cross between regions when one or both of the connection cells is a port.
  6. A port must join exactly 3 line segments.
  7. A port must have at least one connection that leaves the region it is in.
  8. A shaded pearl ("embassy") also sits on the center of a cell. An embassy may only be crossed through with 2 straight line segments forming a 90° angle.
  9. Numbers (consuls) are placed in some cells as clues; a consul indicates that it would take that many steps--only traversing along the line segments of the path, starting at its own cell--to get to a same-region port.
  10. This consul traversal may be able to go in multiple directions, the shortest port-reaching traversal must match the consul.
UnshadedShaded

Breaks rule 1: Draw a branching path covering every space of a board divided into orthogonally contiguous regions such that each cell is in one region.

Breaks rule 3: The path may never form a loop or cross itself, but may branch on the unshaded pearls sitting in cell centers ("ports").

Breaks rule 3: The path may never form a loop or cross itself, but may branch on the unshaded pearls sitting in cell centers ("ports").

Breaks rule 3: The path may never form a loop or cross itself, but may branch on the unshaded pearls sitting in cell centers ("ports").

Breaks rule 5: A line segment may only cross between regions when one or both of the connection cells is a port.

Breaks rule 6: A port must join exactly 3 line segments.

Breaks rule 7: A port must have at least one connection that leaves the region it is in.

Breaks rule 8: A shaded pearl ("embassy") also sits on the center of a cell. An embassy may only be crossed through with 2 straight line segments forming a 90° angle.

Breaks rule 9: Numbers (consuls) are placed in some cells as clues; a consul indicates that it would take that many steps--only traversing along the line segments of the path, starting at its own cell--to get to a same-region port.

Solved! :D