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[Chil]

  What is more intersting as a puzzle solver?  A puzzle of numerous steps (say 30+), or a progression of shorter puzzles?  By that I mean some thing like solve the disentanglement puzzle, in order to be able to solve the mechanical puzzle, in order to be able to solve the slider, which leads to...

My feelings are that a puzzle that is layered like an onion would be more intriguing.  What say the more well versered aficionados’?

Jon

[Eric Fuller]

In most cases I would agree with your assessment..a layered puzzle being more attractive than one with a high number of moves.  Puzzle difficulty is a tricky thing...harder is not necessarily better, and sometimes simple is brilliant

[Peter Wiltshire]

Hello Jon, I agree with Eric, I have actually heard these types of discovery puzzles called "Treasure hunting Puzzle" or "Sequential Discovery Puzzles"  I like the idea that you give the solver a little bit of progress, and then stop them in there tracks and force them to think again before they can proceed.  This type of puzzle I find much more fun and rewarding once solved than a puzzle that takes a 100 moves to solve

[Brian.Pletcher]

Yes, I agree. Typically puzzles with that many moves have some sort of pattern that you fall into, so puzzles that break up your thought pattern tend to be more intriguing. I particularly like when a puzzle tricks you into thinking in a pattern and then switches around on you so that you need to discover a new approach to continue.

[Chil]

Thanks for the input all.  While sitting at work for the past three days I have been fiddling with an idea for a puzzle box.  Between making the various drawings, and staring at them, I have spent much time dwelling on this question.  In my mind, now that I have really thought about the question, I think the answer is elegance.  If it is.. you got a winner, if not.. hope it was at least challenging

Jon