Yes, it was for me, too. when all the extra stuff wasn't involved, it was easier for me to figure out.

I've been a Potentate of the Rose since 1978, I think. (1977 from my initial post in this thread, I was closer to the date then, so that must be right ... actually, thinking of the folks who inducted me, either early '77 or late '76 would be correct.)

You think it's bad trying to figure it out from the computer? Imagine being under the pressure of a half-dozen people who already know how it's done and are watching you work it out.

It's much better with the cruelty intact.

guess i'm a genius, because it's been about two hours (in between working) and i can't figure the damn thing out.

OK, it was easier in the morning.

The hints about the importance of the name gave it to me.

YES!

What does it say about me that my last few thoughts before I went to sleep last night were about "hmmm, petals around the rose, rose, petals, around..."

I couldn't wait to come in and try it and I was right!

It says that you need a computer at home. :rolleyes:

I have the computer, just not the 'net.

Well, it gave me something to look forward to! :)

No net at home? That's a lame excuse... you could take a thermos to work with you and fill it with net, to use at home. The school wouldn't miss a little bit each day.

For those still working on this: It more about perspective than intelligence (at least that is what I will continue to tell myself). I got it in about 2 minutes. I just kept repeating the name to myself over and over as I rolled the dice.

I think you're right, newguy.

dammit the link is broken, anyone got another?

I got it on the first try.

yay. took me about 5 minutes and 10 goes to get it.....

....and i only once said "where's the fucking rose" to myself!

I took some dice around with me to various people and had them answer the question as well. Out of 4 people, one took three tries. One took one try. Another took two, and the other took about five. First is a college graduate about to start a doctoral program, second works for EBGames and has no higher education, third ... I don't know his education, but he seemed kind of slow, and the fourth is in the second year of his doctoral program.

Maybe this says something about our educational system?

That they don't spend time teaching silly dice games? I don't think I'll be asking the kid who works in game retail to be doing any important scientific work, myself.

Certainly not, but both of the highly educated people I asked had trouble thinking creatively about the puzzle, whereas the people that haven't been hammered into shape by the educational system figured it out right away.

I'm going to take some dice with me to a little get-together I'm attending tonight and see if people can figure it out there.

you'll be the life and soul of the party!

Got it on the first try. I qualified for Mensa, went to three meetings and was bored out of my mind.
Though I got it, I kinda' feel like it was not really a "game", more of a trick question.

Agreed on the trick question bit. After asking 4 more people, the only person that didn't get it within two tries was a doctor, and she just didn't feel like solving a puzzle while cooking.

bump.

I got it in 6 tries. Actually, I think I got the idea in 3 tries but must have 'added' wrong so then I tried a couple more things before coming back.

Took me a while, but I got it. It also took reading the entire thread and taking some advice from previous posters

I played with it for a while a few days ago. The original link didn't work but I googled up one that did, and which also randomly added different colors to each die.
I ran through about 6 combinations, didn't get it, and left it to do other things. I kept turning it over though, and had figured out some things to try. One of them was very close but needed a little fine tuning. :) So ... what, two days... does that make me a genius or a moron?