The "Gray Cells" in LifeHistory Rule

[dvgrn]

As of LifeViewer Build 163, all the patterns with LifeHistory state-6 gray cells in this and other forum threads should suddenly start behaving properly -- except for a few with a rule of "lifehistory" instead of "LifeHistory". Try it out (it may require a browser refresh or two.)

I suspect the capitalization issue will be fixed in the next few weeks, but in the meantime Just Don't Do That.

-- And mostly try to keep gray-cell patterns on this thread, okay? State 6 cells belong to the Dark Side, and can cause great confusion and consternation in real Life.

[TheoSwartz]

This tiny P2 fits in a 2x3 box (it's probably already known.

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x = 3, y = 2, rule = LifeHistory
F2A$FBA!

That p2 only needs 1 grey cell to work. At 4 cells maximum, it should be the smallest possible oscillator using grey cells. For future reference I'm going to call this 'Tickler' because whenever I see them it looks like they're tickling the grey surfaces they're attached to.

Code: Select all

# "Tickler"
x = 3, y = 2, rule = LifeHistory
F2A$.BA!

I'm now going to dump a ton of little patterns into this thread.

Here's some other small p2s I found that no one else has written in the thread yet (though these have undoubtedly been seen):

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# "Half-Beacon"
x = 3, y = 3, rule = LifeHistory
.2C$.BC$F!

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# "Fliptry" - Flips a triomino (pre-block)
x = 4, y = 4, rule = LifeHistory
3.F$.CA$.BC$F!

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# "Flipzy" - Flips a Z Tetromino
x = 2, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
.F$AB$2C$BA$F

You can attach 2 Ticklers to each other, same with the Flipzy, to make more p2s:

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# "Cuddler"
x = 5, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
FBC$.AC$3.2C$3.AB$4.F!

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# "Flipzy Link"
x = 6, y = 6, rule = LifeHistory
2.2ABF$.FB2A$AB$2A$BA$F!

After finding the above 2 I realized you can connect an indefinite number of Tickler and Flipzy. They can make a p2 agar if you so desire, as well as a neat new, oscillating way to write letters and numbers (though it's kind of obnoxious).

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# Extensions of Tickler and Flipzy
x = 71, y = 25, rule = LifeHistory
4.F18.F$4.BA16.AB$4.2C16.2C$.FBC2.CA14.BA$2.AC2.CBF10.ACB.FAC$4.2C2.B
A8.FBCAF.BC$4.AB2.2C7.AB3.AB$5.FBC2.CA5.2C3.2C$4.F.AC2.CBF4.BA3.BA$2C
2.BA2.2C8.FACBF$AB2.2C2.AB9.BCA27.F7.F$.FBC2.CA.F21.F16.BA6.BA$2.AC2.
CBF22.BA9.2AB3.2A6.2A$4.2C2.BA21.2A8.FB2AF2.AB6.AB8.2AB$4.AB2.2C21.AB
7.AB7.F7.F7.FB2AF$5.FBC2.CA19.F8.2A6.AB6.AB6.AB3.AB$6.AC2.CBF18.AB7.B
A6.2A6.2A6.2A3.2A$8.2C2.BA17.2A8.F2ABF2.BA6.BA6.BA3.BA$8.AB2.2C17.BA
7.F.B2A4.F7.F7.F3.F$9.F2.AB18.F2AB4.AB6.BA6.BA6.BA3.BA$13.FBC15.F.B2A
F3.2A6.2A6.2A6.2A3.2A$14.AC15.AB3.AB2.BA6.AB6.AB6.AB3.AB$31.2A3.2A3.F
2ABF3.FB2AF3.FB2AF3.FB2AF$31.BA3.BA4.B2A5.2AB5.2AB5.2AB$31.F4.F!

Here's an extension of Saka's p2 <-- which I refer to as "Chaingang". It also had 1 too many greys before.

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# "Chaingang 2"
x = 3, y = 10, rule = LifeHistory
2.F$CA$2C$.B$FBC$.AC$.A$2C$CB$2.F!

Here is another small (inside 5x5 box) p2 oscillator:

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# "Flipwhy" - Flips a Y shape
x = 5, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
2.F$.BA$FACBF$2.BA$2.F!

And another (p2):

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# "LT"
x = 5, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
2.FA$.A2BC$BC.BA$.AC$F!

Here is a p2 maximally containing a traffic light:

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# "Caution Light"
x = 7, y = 7, rule = LifeHistory
3.F$3.B$2.CAC$FBA.ABF$2.CAC$3.B$3.F!

A new type of billiard table (p2) which I called "Polisher":

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# "Polisher" - inspired by Scrubber
x = 11, y = 11, rule = LifeHistory
6.C$6.3C$9.C$4.3C2.C$3.C3.C.2C$3.CAFBC$2C.C3.C$.C2.3C$.C$2.3C$4.C!

It can be extended in both dimensions.

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# Extensions of Polisher
x = 35, y = 36, rule = LifeHistory
4.2C.C15.2C$4.C.2C15.2C2$5.3C13.6C$4.C3.C11.C.B.A2.C$.C2.CB.AC2.C8.C.
F2.FBC$C.C.C.F.C.C.C4.2C.CA5.C.2C$.C2.CA.BC2.C5.2C.C5.AC.2C$4.C3.C11.
CBF2.F.C$5.3C12.C2.A.B.C$21.6C$5.2C.C$5.C.2C14.2C$23.2C5$4.2C.C15.2C
2.2C$4.C.2C15.2C2.2C2$5.3C13.10C$4.C3.C11.C.A.B.A.B2.C$4.CB.AC11.C.F
2.F3.FAC$.2C.C.F.C.2C5.2C.CB9.C.2C$.2C.CA.BC.2C5.2C.C9.BC.2C$4.C3.C
11.CA7.F.C$.2C.CB.AC.2C8.C.F7.AC$.2C.C.F.C.2C5.2C.CB9.C.2C$4.CA.BC8.
2C.C9.BC.2C$4.C3.C11.CAF3.F2.F.C$5.3C12.C2.B.A.B.A.C$21.10C$5.2C.C$5.
C.2C14.2C2.2C$23.2C2.2C!

Here's a p2 that uses extrementhusiast's idea of using clocks, to flip a T-Tetromino:

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# "Flipty"
x = 9, y = 11, rule = LifeHistory
.BA3.AB$A.CB.BC.A$BC.A.A.CB$.AB.F.BA$4.B$3.3C$4.A$.BA.F.AB$AC.B.B.CA$
B.CA.AC.B$.AB3.BA!

This p2 lets the Polisher grow on one side:

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# "Polish-T"
x = 11, y = 13, rule = LifeHistory
2.BA3.AB$.A.CB.BC.A$.BC.A.A.CB$2.AB.F.BA$5.B$4.3C$2C.C.A.C$.C.C.F.C$C
2.C.B.C.2C$2C2.3C2.C$9.C$6.3C$6.C!

And this is the only way I could stabilize a Polisher growing on two sides (p2):

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# "Polish-2T"
x = 15, y = 15, rule = LifeHistory
5.2C.2C$5.C3.C$6.3C$.AB4.B4.AB$B.CA3.B3.BC.A$AC.B2.3C2.A.CB$.BA2.C3.C
2.BA$3.FBCAFBCAF$.BA2.C3.C2.BA$AC.B2.3C2.A.CB$B.CA3.B3.BC.A$.AB4.B4.A
B$6.3C$5.C3.C$5.2C.2C!

I went back after using spark coils in the above pattern, to modify Flipty. It could be extended in the middle with more spark coil components I think, but I haven't done it yet. p2:

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# "Coil-T"
x = 9, y = 11, rule = LifeHistory
.BA3.AB$A.CB.BC.A$BC.A.A.CB$.AB.F.BA$4.B$3.3C$4.A$4.A$3.3C$2.C3.C$2.
2C.2C!

Finally, here's another traffic light oscillator, p17:

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x = 7, y = 9, rule = LifeHistory
3.F$.F.2B$2.3B$.5B$3BA3B$.B3AB$F.4BF$3.B$3.F!

[TheoSwartz]

Is anyone maintaining a pattern collection for this rule?

Here's all the oscillators that don't involve "tracks" so far (as far as I know):

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x = 320, y = 212, rule = LifeHistory
12.2A.A6.FAC5.2C7.F5.F6.A6.FAC10.F17.F6.F.B.F6.F6.FA7.2C8.F7.B2AF10.F
9.F9.F8.BA8.B10.B8.BA3.AB6.AB3.BA11.C12.2C.C15.2C12.AB3.BA11.2C.2C$
12.A.2A7.BC5.AC5.CB5.BA4.FBCB6.BC10.BA15.BA7.ACA5.CA6.A2BC5.C2.C5.BAB
6.F2AB10.AB9.A7.CB8.AC.B5.FACAF6.FACAF5.A.CB.BC.A4.B.CA.AC.B10.3C10.C
.2C15.2C11.B.CA.AC.B10.C3.C$16.2A11.F7.AC5.2C5.ABAF7.2C8.2C14.FACBF5.
BA.C4.2C5.BC.BA5.AC.C4.AC.AC4.BA13.2C8.CBC6.2C8.B.CA5.A.B.A6.A.B.A5.B
C.A.A.CB4.AC.B.B.CA13.C41.AC.B.B.CA11.3C$16.A19.F7.AB5.F10.BA5.FBC2.C
A14.BA8.2C5.B6.AC6.F.BC6.B2AC4.2A13.BA6.FAB.BAF5.A6.F2.AB5.BCBFBCB4.B
CBFBCB5.AB.F.BA6.BA.F.AB9.3C2.C10.3C13.6C10.BA.F.AB7.BA4.A4.BA$17.A
26.F18.F6.AC2.CBF13.F15.FBC4.F9.F9.FB5.AB10.ACB.FAC6.CBC6.FAC4.F.A9.A
.B.A6.A.B.A9.B12.A11.C3.C.2C8.C3.C11.C.B.A2.C12.A9.A.CB3.A3.AC.B$16.
2A54.2C2.BA29.AC31.F10.FBCAF.BC7.A8.BC5.B2C8.FACAF6.FACAF8.3C10.3C10.
CBFAC8.C2.CB.AC2.C8.C.F2.FBC11.3C8.BC.A2.3C2.B.CA$12.2A.A56.AB2.2C72.
AB3.AB9.F8.B5.C3.C9.B8.A.B.A9.A12.B8.2C.C3.C7.C.C.C.F.C.C.C4.2C.CA5.C
.2C4.2C.C.B.C8.AB2.C3.C2.AB$12.A.2A57.FBC2.CA70.2C3.2C17.2C5.2C.2C17.
BCBFBCB8.A9.AB.F.BA6.C2.3C9.C2.CA.BC2.C5.2C.C5.AC.2C5.C.C.F.C10.FACBF
ACBF$10.2A60.F.AC2.CBF69.BA3.BA17.CA28.A.B.A8.3C7.BC.A.A.CB5.C17.C3.C
11.CBF2.F.C7.C2.C.A.C.2C5.AB2.C3.C2.AB$10.A57.2C2.BA2.2C73.FACBF20.F
27.FACAF7.C3.C6.A.CB.BC.A6.3C15.3C12.C2.A.B.C7.2C2.3C2.C5.BC.A2.3C2.B
.CA$11.A56.AB2.2C2.AB74.BCA49.A.B.A7.2C.2C7.BA3.AB9.C31.6C17.C5.A.CB
3.A3.AC.B$10.2A57.FBC2.CA.F125.BCBFBCB50.2C.C32.3C7.BA4.A4.BA$12.2A.A
54.AC2.CBF127.A.B.A51.C.2C14.2C16.C14.3C$12.A.2A56.2C2.BA126.FACAF69.
2C30.C3.C$72.AB2.2C126.A.B.A101.2C.2C$73.FBC2.CA123.BCBFBCB$74.AC2.CB
F123.A.B.A$76.2C2.BA122.FACAF$12.A.2A8.2C50.AB2.2C124.B$12.2A.A6.FB2A
B50.F2.AB$16.2A5.A.A55.FBC$17.A4.B2ABF55.AC$16.A6.2C$16.2A$12.A.2A$
12.2A.A$16.2A$17.A$16.A$16.2A$12.A.2A$12.2A.A5$12.2A.A10.F7.B.F$12.A.
2A8.AB.F5.C2A$10.2A11.B2AB5.BA.AB$10.A12.B3A6.BACAF$11.A10.F.2B6.F.2B
$10.2A11.F11.F$12.2A.A$12.A.2A$10.2A4.2A$10.A5.A$11.A5.A$10.2A4.2A$
12.2A.A$12.A.2A5$12.2A.A6.FBA2BF4.F2.F$12.A.2A7.2B2A5.4B$10.2A4.2A6.B
A6.AB2A$10.A5.A6.ABAB6.BA$11.A5.A5.ABAB5.ABAB$10.2A4.2A6.AB6.ABAB$12.
2A.A17.AB$12.A.2A$10.2A4.2A$10.A5.A$11.A5.A$10.2A4.2A$12.2A.A$12.A.2A
5$12.2A.A9.2B$6.2A4.A.2A8.B3A$6.A3.2A4.2A5.2B.2A$7.A2.A5.A5.FAC2B$6.
2A3.A5.A6.BA$6.A3.2A4.2A6.F$7.A2.A5.A$6.2A3.A5.A$6.A3.2A4.2A$7.A2.A5.
A$6.2A3.A5.A$6.A3.2A4.2A$7.A4.2A.A$6.2A4.A.2A5$12.2A.A11.F$6.2A4.A.2A
9.3B$6.A9.2A5.FABAB.F$7.A8.A5.FBABA3B$6.2A9.A4.2B3A3B$6.A9.2A4.3B3A2B
$7.A4.2A.A6.7B$6.2A4.A.2A8.B2ABF$6.A3.2A12.3B$7.A2.A14.F$6.2A3.A$6.A
3.2A$7.A4.2A.A$6.2A4.A.2A5$12.A.2A$8.2A2.2A.A$9.A6.2A7.F$8.A8.A5.F.BA
$8.2A6.A7.3A$9.A6.2A5.3B2A$8.A5.2A6.7B$8.2A5.A7.2BA2B$9.A4.A7.F.BA2BF
$8.A5.2A9.A$8.2A2.2A11.F$9.A3.A$8.A3.A$8.2A2.2A5$6.2A18.F$6.A5.2A.A8.
ABA$7.A4.A.2A6.FA2BA$6.2A2.2A4.2A5.5B$6.A3.A5.A6.2A3BF$7.A3.A5.A5.2B
2A2B$6.2A2.2A4.2A4.F2B3AB$6.A5.2A.A8.5BF$7.A4.A.2A9.3B$6.2A8.2A6.F$6.
A9.A$7.A9.A$6.2A8.2A6$2.A.2A6.2A.A9.F10.2BF10.F10.F$2.2A.A6.A.2A8.4B
6.5B8.3B9.A2B$6.2A2.2A4.2A5.6B5.4BAB4.F.5B7.ABA3BF$7.A2.A5.A6.6B5.5BA
5.BA5B4.FBABA3B$6.A4.A5.A5.B3A2B5.BA3BA5.2BA3B6.3BA3B$6.2A2.2A4.2A4.F
BABA2BF4.2B3A5.FBAB2AF7.2BA3B$2.A.2A6.2A.A7.B3A2B7.2BF7.4B8.F5BF$2.2A
.A6.A.2A8.4B17.F.3A9.2ABAB$2A8.2A4.2A7.F22.B11.B2A$.A8.A5.A46.F$A10.A
5.A$2A8.2A4.2A$2.A.2A6.2A.A$2.2A.A6.A.2A5$4.A.2A4.A.2A11.F$4.2A.A4.2A
.A7.F3.2B$8.2A6.2A6.2B3ABABF$9.A7.A6.BAB3A3B$8.A7.A6.B2ABAB3A2B$8.2A
6.2A4.F.A3BABA3B$4.A.2A4.A.2A9.BAB2A4BF$4.2A.A4.2A.A8.F2.6B$8.2A6.2A
9.F.4B$9.A7.A12.B$8.A7.A12.F$8.2A6.2A$4.A.2A4.A.2A$4.2A.A4.2A.A5$2.2A
.A36.B$2.A.2A4.2A4.2A22.5B$2A8.A5.A18.3B2.5B$A10.A5.A11.F3B2.BA10B$.A
8.2A4.2A6.F.BA5BAB4A10B$2A10.2A.A8.2BA3BA7B2A9B$2.2A.A6.A.2A6.13B2A2B
2A8B$2.A.2A10.2A4.2BA3BA2BA7BA9B$6.2A8.A5.BA3BA4B2A3B2A10B$6.A10.A4.
2BABA6B2.14B$7.A8.2A4.3BA5B6.11B$6.2A8.A5.8B11.2B$2.2A.A11.A4.8B$2.A.
2A10.2A5.6B$24.4B$24.2B3$2.A.2A6.2A.A9.B.F$2.2A.A6.A.2A8.4B$2A8.2A4.
2A4.F3BA2B$.A8.A5.A6.3BA3BF$A10.A5.A5.4BA2B$2A8.2A4.2A6.2BA2BABF$2.A.
2A6.2A.A7.F.2BABA$2.2A.A6.A.2A8.F.2BA$2A4.2A2.2A4.2A10.F$.A5.A2.A5.A$
A5.A4.A5.A$2A4.2A2.2A4.2A$2.A.2A6.2A.A$2.2A.A6.A.2A!

Just found a bizarre new p54 that's mostly unbounded - only 2 grey cells.

Code: Select all

x = 27, y = 16, rule = LifeHistory
20.B$18.5B$13.3B2.5B$7.F3B2.12B$2.F.3BA19B$2.4BABA18B$5BA3BA17B$6BABA
18B$7BA19B$11B2.14B$9B6.11B$8B11.2B$8B$.4B2A$2.4B$2.2B!

[Kiran]

Just found a bizarre new p54 that's mostly unbounded - only 2 grey cells.

This just made most sparkers fade into oblivion. I have seldom seen sparks of such size.

[TheoSwartz]

Yeah that spark certainly is massive. I wonder if it can serve any practical purpose (if people still care about experimenting with grey cells like this).

Found a few more oscillators from soups, first another p2:

Code: Select all

# "Loafbiter"
x = 5, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
2.2C$.C2.C$.AC.C$F.BC$.F!

A p6:

Code: Select all

# "Leapfrog"
x = 6, y = 6, rule = LifeHistory
2.B.F$.CAB$BA.2B$.BACBF$F.AB$3.F!

And a p8 which is similar but not the same as mvr's:

Code: Select all

x = 4, y = 7, rule = LifeHistory
F2.F$4B$AB2A$.BA$ABAB$ABAB$.AB!

[muzik]

A reaction which is useless, but very, very interesting.

Code: Select all

x = 75, y = 75, rule = LifeHistory
72.3A$71.4A$70.5A$69.2A.2A$71.2A$69.A.A6$54.F7.2A$62.2A5$56.2A$56.2A
2$53.2A8.F$53.2A$51.2A$51.2A5$37.F7.2A$45.2A5$39.2A$39.2A2$36.2A8.F$
37.A$34.A$34.2A5$20.F7.2A$28.2A5$22.2A$22.2A2$19.2A8.F$19.2A$17.2A$
17.2A5$3.F7.2A$11.2A5$5.2A$5.2A2$2.2A8.F$3.A$A$2A!

[Extrementhusiast]

One of the gray cells in the P68 is unnecessary, as the oscillator is diagonally symmetric with respect to time:

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 9, rule = LifeHistory
3.B.F$2.4B$F6B$.3B2A2BF$.2BA2BAB$2.2BABA2B$.F.B3AB$2.F.3B$6.F!

[muzik]

A sexy B heptomino shuttle, which I shall name "The Cloverleaf Shuttle":

Code: Select all

x = 49, y = 49, rule = LifeHistory
29.F10.F$12.F30.F$9.F2$5.F$.F22.F19.F3$F$46.F3$47.F7$F5$5.F37.F5$48.F
7$.F$28.A$27.2A$2.F23.2A$27.2A19.F3$4.F19.F22.F$43.F2$39.F$5.F30.F$8.
F10.F!

can someone make a gif of this? I want to use it as my profile picture

[drc]

sexy

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[muzik]

sexy

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

( ͡O ͜ʖ ͡O)

Another one, not quite as impressive:

Code: Select all

x = 36, y = 36, rule = LifeHistory
5.F21.F3$21.F2$35.F2$7.2A$F6.2A6$3.F7$32.F5$24.A$7.2A14.2A10.F$7.2A
14.3A$25.A2.A.A$F24.2A.A.A$28.3A$14.F3$8.F21.F!

[muzik]

Building these is kind of fun actually

Code: Select all

x = 57, y = 57, rule = LifeHistory
25.F2$40.2F$10.F7$16.F36.F3$21.F19.F$14.F21.F5.F$2.F10.F$2.F43.F4$14.
F$43.F2$11.A$8.A$8.A2.A44.F$7.3A$7.3A$7.A2.A$8.A.A$8.3A$F4$13.F$42.F
4$10.F43.F$43.F10.F$14.F5.F21.F$15.F19.F3$3.F36.F7$46.F$15.2F2$31.F!

[TheoSwartz]

Those are quite cool to look at. I like how a glider destroys a block in a rhythm with the pattern moving around. I noticed there's an extra grey cell in each quadrant of the last one you shared; you can tell all 4 of the cells are unnecessary because no cell history ever touches them.

[drc]

Discovered this while trying to build a pi shuttle:

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 10, rule = LifeHistory
5.2A$4.A2.A$5.2A$4.D$CDA2.2D$DCA.2D$.A2$2.2A$2.2A!

[Kiran]

"The Cloverleaf Shuttle" also has 4 unnecessary cells.

[JP21]

Introducing, the cp micro-reflector:

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 10, rule = LifeHistory
6.F2$2.2A$2.2A$F$7.F$F$2.3A$4.A$3.A!
8x7 repeat time: 53

Discovered just an hour ago before posting it. It was found by hand.

Reposting older discoveries:

Code: Select all

x = 32, y = 29, rule = LifeHistory
8.F8$9.F2$F10.F$30.F5$30.F2$20.F$22.F$24.F2$12.F2$7.2A3.2A11.2A3.2A$.
F4.A.A3.2A10.A.A3.2A$8.A17.A$28.F$12.F!

[Entity Valkyrie 2]

Just digging up an old post.

As far as I know, the gray cells do not change, they do not influence birth, and they kill all of the eight cells surrounding them, unless the cell in question is also gray. This stuff is fun! Here is a H->G that only uses one gray cell:

Code: Select all

x = 5, y = 6, rule = LifeHistory
F3$.3C$2.C$2.3C!

You can also call them grey cells, it doesn't matter what the spelling is, as long as it's one of the two spellings mentioned.

I call them red cells, because:

A gray cell in LifeHistory:

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 10, rule = LifeHistory
6.F2$2.2A$2.2A$F$7.F$F$2.3A$4.A$3.A!

equals a red cell in StateInvestigator.

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 10, rule = StateInvestigator
6.C2$2.2A$2.2A$C$7.C$C$2.3A$4.A$3.A!

You're not meant to use the grey cells! They're designed for demonstrational purposes, so that you can divide a pattern into non-interacting sections.

Ah, but the red cells in StateInvestigator are actually designed for this eight-directional killer purpose, unlike the LifeHistory gray cell, which is used for separating subpatterns. So, if you want to use LifeHistory gray cells for anything like this thread does, you might as well use StateInvestigator red cells.

[bubblegum]

So, a pointless bump?

[Entity Valkyrie 2]

So, a pointless bump?

Yep. Just being an archeologist and digging up old threads

[May13]

Small p54 and p108 guns, based on TheoSwartz's p54:

Code: Select all

x = 116, y = 50, rule = LifeHistory
18.5B30.3A58.2A$13.3B2.5B4.3B22.3BA57.ABA$7.F3B2.10BF2.5B2.F2B15.3BA
57.3BA$2.F.34B2.F.2B6.4B57.4B$2.10B3AB2A4B2A16B.3B5.4B57.4B$3BA15B2A
2BA21B3.4B57.4B$2B3A11B3A4BA15B2A5B.4B57.4B$B5A13BA2BA16B2A4B.4B57.4B
$5B2A4B2.8BF.2B.2B.5B.8B2.4B57.4B$BA3B3AB6.10BF4.F4.B3A4B.4B57.4B$2B
2ABA2B11.2B14.5A7B57.4B$2B2A4B27.2A2B2A5B57.4B$.6B26.7B2A3B57.4B$2.4B
26.5B4A3B57.4B$2.2B27.6B3A3B57.4B$32.6BA4B56.4B$33.11B54.4B$33.12B52.
4B$36.9B51.4B$37.7B51.4B$37.6B51.4B$38.3B52.4B$37.F54.4B$91.4B$90.4B$
89.4B$88.4B$87.2A2B$86.ABAB$85.3BA$84.4B$83.4B$82.4B$81.4B$80.4B$79.
4B10.5B$78.12B3.5B2.3B$77.14B.F10B2.3BF$76.36B.F$74.F30B2A3B2A2B$75.
29B2A5B2A3B$75.30B2A3B2A4B$76.30BA3BA5B$79.B.6B.2B.2B.F8B2.3BA7B$82.F
.3B3.F10B6.BA7B$85.B9.2B11.8B$84.F23.8B$109.6B$110.4B$112.2B!

Fairly high clearance p54 phi sparker:

Code: Select all

x = 48, y = 15, rule = LifeHistory
18.5B$13.3B2.5B4.3B$7.F3B2.10BF2.5B2.F2B$2.F.22BA10B.F.2B$2.25BA10B.
4BAB$27B2A14B2A2B$24B4A15B3A2B$4BABA17B3A16B2A2B$2B2A3B2A2B2.8BF.BA.
2B.5B.8BAB$7BAB6.10BF10.7B$6B2A11.2B16.6B$3B4AB29.F$.2B3AB$2.4B$2.2B!

[MathAndCode]

Here's a gun that I found a while back:

Code: Select all

x = 32, y = 12, rule = LifeHistory
22.F$17.A$2A15.2A5.F$2A16.2A$13.2A2.2A4$13.2A2.2A9.2A$2A16.2A8.2A$2A15.2A$17.A!

[ihatecorderships]

Yer OWSS dream came true!

Code: Select all

x = 55, y = 7, rule = LifeHistory
2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2$47.7A$47.A6.A$
47.A$48.A5.A$2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F2.2F!

These things are really useful. I was thinking if someone could make an extended life history except with a state 7 grey cell that can die and can give birth to other grey cells? This could be useful to make weird spaceships like 2-gliders stabilizing a R.
Edit: P9 Nonathlon, Octathlon, or Hexathlon (however you call it)

Code: Select all

 x = 1, y = 8, rule = LifeHistory
F$A$A$A$A$A$A$F!

[mniemiec]

These things are really useful. ...

It depends on what you're trying to do. If you're trying to find patterns that do interesting things and work, yes, these cells can be useful - i.e. if the pattern doesn't work in the standard rules, just fudge the rules!

However, their usability is very limited, because the patterns stand alone, and can't be generalized. E.g. you couldn't use this OWSS to build an OWSS gun, because you'd need to create puffers to generate the grey cells ahead of it - and unfortunately, there's no way to generate new grey cells.

It might be possible to do something useful like that, if such a mechanism existed. Bob Wainwright once created a rule with four states: normal 0+1 like Life, and also nullcells and permcells that behaved just like Life cells, but never changed. I once toyed with a variation of this, where they could be created and destroyed with great difficulty. i.e.: if a cell has 8 neighbors, its permanency status is flipped. Such a rule would at least permit use in complex constructions.

[Entity Valkyrie 2]

Just asking, could use instead use the red cells in StateInvestigator?

[ihatecorderships]

A rule I made which is basically LifeHistory except with only state 0,1, and 6.
Just simplifying it but keeping the gray cells.

Code: Select all

@RULE killerlife

@TABLE
n_states:3
neighborhood:Moore
symmetries:permute
0,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,1
1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0
1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0
1,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
1,2,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
1,2,2,2,0,0,0,0,0,0
1,2,2,2,2,0,0,0,0,0
1,2,2,2,2,2,0,0,0,0
1,2,2,2,2,2,2,0,0,0
1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,0,0
1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,0
1,2,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
1,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0
1,2,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0
1,2,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0
1,2,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0
1,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0
1,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0
1,2,2,1,0,0,0,0,0,0
1,2,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0
1,2,2,1,1,1,0,0,0,0
1,2,2,1,1,1,1,0,0,0
1,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,0,0
1,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,0
1,2,2,2,1,0,0,0,0,0
1,2,2,2,1,1,0,0,0,0
1,2,2,2,1,1,1,0,0,0
1,2,2,2,1,1,1,1,0,0
1,2,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,0
1,2,2,2,2,1,0,0,0,0
1,2,2,2,2,1,1,0,0,0
1,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,0,0
1,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,1,0
1,2,2,2,2,2,1,0,0,0
1,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,0,0
1,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,0
1,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,0,0
1,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,0
1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,0

@COLORS
0 0 0 0
1 0 255 0
2 90 90 90

It's the first rule I ever made but I think it's good.
Also. the t-tetromino is a replicator in a grey cell tube

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 559, rule = killerlife
B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.
B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$
B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.
B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$
B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.
B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$
B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.
B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$
B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.
B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$
B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.
B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$
B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.
B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$
B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.
B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$
B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.
B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$
B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.
B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$
B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.
B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$
B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.
B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$B7.B2$
B7.B2$B7.B$3.3A$B3.A3.B2$B7.B!

[hotdogPi]

Your rule doesn't match LifeHistory. The LifeHistory gray cells don't prevent birth; they just force death if they're on.