Catalyst Discussion Thread

[B468S02357]

Such a thing already exists in p36 form:

Code: Select all

x = 13, y = 21, rule = B3/S23
2bo2bo$2b4o$2o4b2o$o2b2o3bo$b3ob3o$5bo$b3obo$o2bob2o$2o2$11b2o$5b2o4b
2o$6b2o$5bo2$2o6b2o$3o5bo$2obo5b3o$2bobo6bo$bo2bo$2b2o!

I didn't say it was about that.

[Anivec]

Another variant:

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 12, rule = B3/S23
6b2o$7bo2b2o$7bobobo$4b2obo2bo$2o2bo2bo$2o3b2o2$5bo$4b3o$3b2o2bo$7b2o
$6b2o!

One more Catforce turned up:

Code: Select all

x = 13, y = 13, rule = B3/S23
b2o8b2o$bo9bo$2bo6bobo$b2o6b2o$2bob2o$2bobobo$b2o3bo3b2o$o2b3o4b3o$ob
o6bo2bo$bobo5bob2o$2bo7b2o2$12bo!

[synperiplanar]

i've seen this catalyst a whole lot and it can be utilized pretty often and pretty easily. i'm willing to call it a "snake block", like the entity from Super Mario games.

Code: Select all

x = 60, y = 12, rule = B3/S23
54bo$51bo2b3o$51b3o3bo$54b3o$2o10b2o12b2o11b2o8b4obo$2o10b2o12b2o11b2o
8bo2b2o2$4b2obo8b2obo10b2obo9b2obo9b2obo$4bob2o8bob2o10bob2o5bo3bob2o
5bo3bob2o$11b3o11b3o10b3o9bobo$10bo2bo10bo2bo9bo2bo9bo2bo$25b2o11bo12b
2o!

EDIT:
questionably drifty block attachment from Anivec's search results

Code: Select all

x = 14, y = 17, rule = B3/S23
3bo$3b3o$6bo2b2o$b3obobo2bo$o2bobob2o4bo$2o3bo3b5o$5b4o$9b3o$5b4o2bo$
b2o2bo3b2o$b2o3b3o$8bo$8bobo$9b2o$b3o$o2bo$b2o!

[MathAndCode]

Another variant:

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 12, rule = B3/S23
6b2o$7bo2b2o$7bobobo$4b2obo2bo$2o2bo2bo$2o3b2o2$5bo$4b3o$3b2o2bo$7b2o
$6b2o!

Here is a comparison with other replacement catalysts for when a block fails in the same way or similar ways (including a higher-clearance variant (using a long hook with tail instead of a block) of the catalyst that you provided):

Code: Select all

x = 162, y = 96, rule = B3/S23
7b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o$7b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o
19b2o19b2o2$8bo19bo20bo20bo21bo19bo21bo19bo$7bobo17b3o20b2o17b3o19bob
o2bo14b3o19bobo2bo14b3o$6bo19b2o2bo15bobo19b2o20bo4b2o10bo2b2o20bo4b2o
10bo2b2o$6bo23b2o15b2o39bobobo6bo7b2o23bobo14b2o$29b2o35bobo19bo10bo12b
2o40b2o$99bo14b2o34bo5b2o$67bo29bo18bo$97bo$98bo5$2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b
2o19b2o19b2o19b2o$obo18bobo18bobo18bobo18bobo18bobo18bobo18bobo$2bo20b
o20bo20bo20bo20bo20bo20bo$2b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o$4bo
20bo20bo20bo20bo20bo20bo20bo$2b3o2b2o14b3o2b2o14b3o2b2o14b3o2b2o14b3o
2b2o14b3o2b2o14b3o2b2o14b3o2b2o$bo5b2o13bo5b2o13bo5b2o13bo5b2o13bo5b2o
13bo5b2o13bo5b2o13bo5b2o$b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o$8bo19b
o20bo20bo21bo19bo21bo19bo$7bobo17b3o20b2o17b3o19bobo2bo14b3o19bobo2bo
14b3o$6bo19b2o2bo15bobo19b2o20bo4b2o10bo2b2o20bo4b2o10bo2b2o$6bo23b2o
15b2o39bobobo6bo7b2o23bobo14b2o$29b2o35bobo19bo10bo12b2o40b2o$99bo14b
2o34bo5b2o$67bo29bo18bo$97bo$98bo7$3b2o8b2o9b2o8b2o9b2o8b2o9b2o8b2o9b
2o8b2o9b2o8b2o9b2o8b2o9b2o8b2o$4bo8bo11bo8bo11bo8bo11bo8bo11bo8bo11bo
8bo11bo8bo11bo8bo$4bob2o3bobo11bob2o3bobo11bob2o3bobo11bob2o3bobo11bo
b2o3bobo11bob2o3bobo11bob2o3bobo11bob2o3bobo$5bo2bo2b2o13bo2bo2b2o13b
o2bo2b2o13bo2bo2b2o13bo2bo2b2o13bo2bo2b2o13bo2bo2b2o13bo2bo2b2o$7b2o19b
2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o2$8bo19bo20bo20bo21bo19bo21bo19bo$7bo
bo17b3o20b2o17b3o19bobo2bo14b3o19bobo2bo14b3o$6bo19b2o2bo15bobo19b2o20b
o4b2o10bo2b2o20bo4b2o10bo2b2o$6bo23b2o15b2o39bobobo6bo7b2o23bobo14b2o
$29b2o35bobo19bo10bo12b2o40b2o$99bo14b2o34bo5b2o$67bo29bo18bo$97bo$98b
o6$8b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o$9bo2b2o16bo2b2o16bo2b2o16b
o2b2o16bo2b2o16bo2b2o16bo2b2o16bo2b2o$9bobobo16bobobo16bobobo16bobobo
16bobobo16bobobo16bobobo16bobobo$6b2obo2bo14b2obo2bo14b2obo2bo14b2obo
2bo14b2obo2bo14b2obo2bo14b2obo2bo14b2obo2bo$2b2o2bo2bo13b2o2bo2bo13b2o
2bo2bo13b2o2bo2bo13b2o2bo2bo13b2o2bo2bo13b2o2bo2bo13b2o2bo2bo$2b2o3b2o
14b2o3b2o14b2o3b2o14b2o3b2o14b2o3b2o14b2o3b2o14b2o3b2o14b2o3b2o2$8bo19b
o20bo20bo21bo19bo21bo19bo$7bobo17b3o20b2o17b3o19bobo2bo14b3o19bobo2bo
14b3o$6bo19b2o2bo15bobo19b2o20bo4b2o10bo2b2o20bo4b2o10bo2b2o$6bo23b2o
15b2o39bobobo6bo7b2o23bobo14b2o$29b2o35bobo19bo10bo12b2o40b2o$99bo14b
2o34bo5b2o$67bo29bo18bo$97bo$98bo5$bo20bo20bo20bo20bo20bo20bo20bo$b3o
4b2o12b3o4b2o12b3o4b2o12b3o4b2o12b3o4b2o12b3o4b2o12b3o4b2o12b3o4b2o$4b
o4bo2b2o11bo4bo2b2o11bo4bo2b2o11bo4bo2b2o11bo4bo2b2o11bo4bo2b2o11bo4b
o2b2o11bo4bo2b2o$3bo5bobobo10bo5bobobo10bo5bobobo10bo5bobobo10bo5bobo
bo10bo5bobobo10bo5bobobo10bo5bobobo$2bo3b2obo2bo10bo3b2obo2bo10bo3b2o
bo2bo10bo3b2obo2bo10bo3b2obo2bo10bo3b2obo2bo10bo3b2obo2bo10bo3b2obo2b
o$2b2o2bo2bo13b2o2bo2bo13b2o2bo2bo13b2o2bo2bo13b2o2bo2bo13b2o2bo2bo13b
2o2bo2bo13b2o2bo2bo$7b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o19b2o2$8bo19bo20b
o20bo21bo19bo21bo19bo$7bobo17b3o20b2o17b3o19bobo2bo14b3o19bobo2bo14b3o
$6bo19b2o2bo15bobo19b2o20bo4b2o10bo2b2o20bo4b2o10bo2b2o$6bo23b2o15b2o
39bobobo6bo7b2o23bobo14b2o$29b2o35bobo19bo10bo12b2o40b2o$99bo14b2o34b
o5b2o$67bo29bo18bo$97bo$98bo!

Your catalyst (especially the version with a long hook with tail instead of a block) is more versatile than other replacement catalysts for when a block is turned into a ladle spark in that way, so good job!

[speedydelete]

Very weird catalyst:

Code: Select all

x = 14, y = 11, rule = B3/S23
13bo$11b2o$3bob2o4b3o$b3ob2o5bo$o$b3ob2o2b2o$3bobo4bo$6b4o2$6b2o$6b2o
!

Edit: known

[eRroR_6o6]

I'm not sure when this will ever be useful, but very few things are truly useless.

Code: Select all

x = 14, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
bo$2o$9b2ob2o$2b2o6bob2o$bo2bo5bo$bob2o2b2obo$3bo2bo2bo$7b2o!

[8than888]

Can you find a replacement catalyst for the hook with tail here?

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
o5bo$bo3bo$2b3o2$4bobo$4b2obo$7bo$7b2o!

I don't see a suitable replacement in Tutorials/Catalyses.
If there isn't a stable catalyst that works here, there might be a good solution by using a regenerative loop or grin, because those work in a lot of periods.
Example almost-catalysis with a welded regenerative loop:

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 10, rule = B3/S23
o5bo$bo3bo$2b3o2$4bobo$4b2ob2o$7b5o$4b2o3b3o$3bo2b2o$3b2o!

A successful catalysis for this could be useful for theoretical high-clearance sparkers:

Code: Select all

x = 14, y = 15, rule = B3/S23
o$3o$3bo$2b2o3$4b3o$3bo3bo$2bo5bo$2bo5bo$2bo5bob2o$3bo3bo3bo$4b3o3bo$
11b3o$13bo!

It might also help complete some partials.

[eRroR_6o6]

Can you find a replacement catalyst for the hook with tail here?

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
o5bo$bo3bo$2b3o2$4bobo$4b2obo$7bo$7b2o!

I don't see a suitable replacement in Tutorials/Catalyses.
If there isn't a stable catalyst that works here, there might be a good solution by using a regenerative loop or grin, because those work in a lot of periods.
Example almost-catalysis with a welded regenerative loop:

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 10, rule = B3/S23
o5bo$bo3bo$2b3o2$4bobo$4b2ob2o$7b5o$4b2o3b3o$3bo2b2o$3b2o!

A successful catalysis for this could be useful for theoretical high-clearance sparkers:

Code: Select all

x = 14, y = 15, rule = B3/S23
o$3o$3bo$2b2o3$4b3o$3bo3bo$2bo5bo$2bo5bo$2bo5bob2o$3bo3bo3bo$4b3o3bo$
11b3o$13bo!

It might also help complete some partials.

There is a p2 replacement that does the same thing, namely an eater + clock.

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 10, rule = B3/S23
6b2o$6bo$o3bobo$bo2b2o$2bo$2bo$2bo2bo$bo4b2o$o3b2o$6bo!

Some other corner dot sparkers can do the same. Here are examples for p4-8, and p13:

Code: Select all

x = 98, y = 20, rule = B3/S23
bo5bo15bo5bo10bo5bo8bo5bo10bo5bo5bo4bo5bo$2bo3bo17bo3bo12bo3bo10bo3bo
12bo3bo6b3o3bo3bo$3b3o19b3o14b3o12b3o14b3o10bo3b3o$86b2o$2o4b2o14b2o4b
2o9b2o4b2o7b2o4b2o9b2o4b2o8b3o4b2o$3o3bo14b4o3bo9b4o3bo7b4o3bo10b3o3bo
10b3o3bo$2obo3b3o10bo2bobo3b3o5bo2bobo3b3o3b2obobo3b3ob2o2bo2bobo3b3o
7b3o4b3o$2bobo4bo3b2o4bobo2b2o5bo4bobo2b2o5bo2b2o3b2o5bob2o2b2o2b2o5bo
16bo$bo2bo7bo2bo3bobo13bobo14bo16b2o$2b2o8b3obobo15b2o14bo$15b3o16b3o
14b3o$10b4obobo17bobo11b2o2b2o28bo11bo$10bo2bo5bo16b2o14b2o2b2o24bobo
9bobo$15bob2o34b3o26bobo2b5o2bobo$14b2obo38bo24b2obobobobobobob2o$14bo
2bo36bo27bo2b2obobob2o2bo$15b2o32b2o3b2o26bo4b2ob2o4bo$49bobob2o28b3o
7b3o$50b4o31bob2ob2obo$51b2o33bobobobo!

And of course, who could forget the sparking eater, which works for any period 14 and above, as long as a gun exists with that period:

Code: Select all

x = 26, y = 30, rule = B3/S23
5$10bo5bo$11bo3bo$12b3o2$9b2o4b2o$7b5o3bo$7bo2bobo3b3o$4bo3bo2b2o5bo$
4b4o2$4b2o$4b2o!

[8than888]

Can you find a replacement catalyst for the hook with tail here?

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
o5bo$bo3bo$2b3o2$4bobo$4b2obo$7bo$7b2o!

A successful catalysis for this could be useful for theoretical high-clearance sparkers:

Code: Select all

x = 14, y = 15, rule = B3/S23
o$3o$3bo$2b2o3$4b3o$3bo3bo$2bo5bo$2bo5bo$2bo5bob2o$3bo3bo3bo$4b3o3bo$
11b3o$13bo!

It might also help complete some partials.

There is a p2 replacement.

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 10, rule = B3/S23
6b2o$6bo$o3bobo$bo2b2o$2bo$2bo$2bo2bo$bo4b2o$o3b2o$6bo!

Some other corner dot sparkers can do the same.

Code: Select all

x = 98, y = 20, rule = B3/S23
bo5bo15bo5bo10bo5bo8bo5bo10bo5bo5bo4bo5bo$2bo3bo17bo3bo12bo3bo10bo3bo
12bo3bo6b3o3bo3bo$3b3o19b3o14b3o12b3o14b3o10bo3b3o$86b2o$2o4b2o14b2o4b
2o9b2o4b2o7b2o4b2o9b2o4b2o8b3o4b2o$3o3bo14b4o3bo9b4o3bo7b4o3bo10b3o3bo
10b3o3bo$2obo3b3o10bo2bobo3b3o5bo2bobo3b3o3b2obobo3b3ob2o2bo2bobo3b3o
7b3o4b3o$2bobo4bo3b2o4bobo2b2o5bo4bobo2b2o5bo2b2o3b2o5bob2o2b2o2b2o5bo
16bo$bo2bo7bo2bo3bobo13bobo14bo16b2o$2b2o8b3obobo15b2o14bo$15b3o16b3o
14b3o$10b4obobo17bobo11b2o2b2o28bo11bo$10bo2bo5bo16b2o14b2o2b2o24bobo
9bobo$15bob2o34b3o26bobo2b5o2bobo$14b2obo38bo24b2obobobobobobob2o$14bo
2bo36bo27bo2b2obobob2o2bo$15b2o32b2o3b2o26bo4b2ob2o4bo$49bobob2o28b3o
7b3o$50b4o31bob2ob2obo$51b2o33bobobobo!

And of course, who could forget the sparking eater, as long as a gun exists with that period:

Code: Select all

x = 26, y = 30, rule = B3/S23
5$10bo5bo$11bo3bo$12b3o2$9b2o4b2o$7b5o3bo$7bo2bobo3b3o$4bo3bo2b2o5bo$
4b4o2$4b2o$4b2o!

The reason I was looking for a replacement for the hook with tail specifically is that I'm trying to make high-clearance sparkers at less common periods. I also want it to be stable because I might need it if I want to construct a period-19 oscillator, where there are almost no ways to use an oscillator of that period. The Eater + corner-dot solution has considerably less clearance, so unfortunately it doesn't really solve the problem I'm interested in. I was hoping the hook-with-tail reaction could be stabilized compactly while retaining its clearance.

[I6_I6]

Can you find a replacement catalyst for the hook with tail here?

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
o5bo$bo3bo$2b3o2$4bobo$4b2obo$7bo$7b2o!

[...]

There's a catalyst in goban that is a nice solution:

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 12, rule = B3/S23
bo5bo$2bo3bo$3b3o2$6bo$2b2obobo$3bob2o$bo2bo$b2obo$3bo$obo$2o!

It isn't completely identical, but the phi-to-TL reaction above still looks useful.

It was the solution to a partial with the same hook with tail interaction:

[...]
p19 wick (without stabilization):

Code: Select all

x = 154, y = 87, rule = B3/S23
7b2o$7bobo$10bo2b2o$8b2obo2bo$7bobob2o$8bo$18b2o$2b2o14bo$bo2bo4b3o4bo
bo6b2o$bobo4bo3bo3b2o4bo2bobo$2ob2o2bo5bo6b3o5bo2b2o$7bo5bo5bo6b2obo2b
o$7bo5bo5b2o4bobob2o$8bo3bo13bo$9b3o24b2o$36bo$16b3o8b3o4bobo6b2o$15bo
3bo6bo3bo3b2o4bo2bobo$7b2o5bo5bo4bo5bo6b3o5bo2b2o$8bo5bo5bo4bo5bo5bo6b
2obo2bo$5b3o6bo5bo4bo5bo5b2o4bobob2o$5bo4b2o3bo3bo6bo3bo13bo$9bobo4b3o
8b3o24b2o$9bo44bo$8b2o24b3o8b3o4bobo6b2o$19bo13bo3bo6bo3bo3b2o4bo2bobo
$15b2obobo4b2o5bo5bo4bo5bo6b3o5bo2b2o$13bo2bob2o6bo5bo5bo4bo5bo5bo6b2o
bo2bo$13b2o2bo5b3o6bo5bo4bo5bo5b2o4bobob2o$18bobo2bo4b2o3bo3bo6bo3bo
13bo$19b2o6bobo4b3o8b3o24b2o$27bo44bo$26b2o24b3o8b3o4bobo6b2o$37bo13bo
3bo6bo3bo3b2o4bo2bobo$33b2obobo4b2o5bo5bo4bo5bo6b3o5bo2b2o$31bo2bob2o
6bo5bo5bo4bo5bo5bo6b2obo2bo$31b2o2bo5b3o6bo5bo4bo5bo5b2o4bobob2o$36bob
o2bo4b2o3bo3bo6bo3bo13bo$37b2o6bobo4b3o8b3o24b2o$45bo44bo$44b2o24b3o8b
3o4bobo6b2o$55bo13bo3bo6bo3bo3b2o4bo2bobo$51b2obobo4b2o5bo5bo4bo5bo6b
3o5bo2b2o$49bo2bob2o6bo5bo5bo4bo5bo5bo6b2obo2bo$49b2o2bo5b3o6bo5bo4bo
5bo5b2o4bobob2o$54bobo2bo4b2o3bo3bo6bo3bo13bo$55b2o6bobo4b3o8b3o24b2o$
63bo44bo$62b2o24b3o8b3o4bobo6b2o$73bo13bo3bo6bo3bo3b2o4bo2bobo$69b2obo
bo4b2o5bo5bo4bo5bo6b3o5bo2b2o$67bo2bob2o6bo5bo5bo4bo5bo5bo6b2obo2bo$
67b2o2bo5b3o6bo5bo4bo5bo5b2o4bobob2o$72bobo2bo4b2o3bo3bo6bo3bo13bo$73b
2o6bobo4b3o8b3o24b2o$81bo44bo$80b2o24b3o8b3o4bobo6b2o$91bo13bo3bo6bo3b
o3b2o4bo2bobo$87b2obobo4b2o5bo5bo4bo5bo6b3o5bo2b2o$85bo2bob2o6bo5bo5bo
4bo5bo5bo6b2obo2bo$85b2o2bo5b3o6bo5bo4bo5bo5b2o4bobob2o$90bobo2bo4b2o
3bo3bo6bo3bo13bo$91b2o6bobo4b3o8b3o24b2o$99bo44bo$98b2o24b3o8b3o4bobo$
109bo13bo3bo6bo3bo3b2o4bo$105b2obobo4b2o5bo5bo4bo5bo6b3o$103bo2bob2o6b
o5bo5bo4bo5bo5bo$103b2o2bo5b3o6bo5bo4bo5bo5b2o$108bobo2bo4b2o3bo3bo6bo
3bo$109b2o6bobo4b3o8b3o$117bo$116b2o24b3o$127bo13bo3bo$123b2obobo4b2o
5bo5bo$121bo2bob2o6bo5bo5bo$121b2o2bo5b3o6bo5bo2b2ob2o$126bobo2bo4b2o
3bo3bo4bobo$127b2o6bobo4b3o4bo2bo$135bo14b2o$134b2o$145bo$141b2obobo$
139bo2bob2o$139b2o2bo$144bobo$145b2o!

[...]

[8than888]

Is there a way to turn this specific block catalysis into a dot spark with a repeat time less than 20?

Code: Select all

x = 5, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
bobo$o2bo$o3bo$bobo$2bo2$2b2o$2b2o!

I've tried a few replacements, but they don't look like they can connect to something that produces a dot spark.