Troll

A troll is a pattern that looks like it works, even though it doesn't. There are three main types of trolls: cell placement trolls, hidden cell trolls, and loop trolls. One of each type is shown below. Trolls usually use LifeViewer commands.

While the examples below are all oscillators or guns, spaceship trolls and glider synthesis trolls also exist.

x = 11, y = 10, rule = B3/S23 8b3o$7bo2bo$6bo3bo$7bobo$8bo$2bo$bobo$o3bo$o2bo$3o! #C [[ THUMBSIZE 2 THEME 6 GRID GRIDMAJOR 0 SUPPRESS THUMBLAUNCH ]] #C [[ ZOOM 12 THUMBSIZE 2 PASTET EVERY 193 110 PASTE o! -3 10 PASTE o! 13 -1 ]] This is a troll period-193 glider gun that would be a bakery hassler if it was legitimate. The LifeViewer commands are "ZOOM 12 THUMBSIZE 2 PASTET EVERY 193 110 PASTE o! -3 10 PASTE o! 13 -1". This means that in generation 110 and every 193 after that, the cells (-3,10) and (13,-1) are turned on. This is unnoticeable unless you know it's there. However, if this was real, apgsearch would have found it many times by now. (click above to open LifeViewer)

x = 35, y = 21, rule = LifeHistory 17.B$12.2B.B3AB.2B$12.11B$6.B4.13B4.B$5.4B.2B3A5B3A2B.4B$4.7BA3BAB.BA 3BA7B$2.8BA5BA.A5BA8B$F9BA5BA.A5BA9BF$2.8B3AB3A.3AB3A8B$2.15B.15B2$2. 15B.15B$2.8B3AB3A.3AB3A8B$F9BA5BA.A5BA9BF$2.8BA5BA.A5BA8B$4.7BA3BAB.B A3BA7B$5.4B.2B3A5B3A2B.4B$6.B4.13B4.B$12.11B$12.2B.B3AB.2B$17.B! #C [[ THUMBSIZE 2 THEME 6 GRID GRIDMAJOR 0 SUPPRESS THUMBLAUNCH ]] #C [[ COLOR 6 255 255 255 ]] This is vex with four hidden LifeHistory state-6 (killer) cells, as there are no known completions of vex in plain Life that don't rely on other p41 oscillators. The LifeViewer commands are "COLOR 6 255 255 255", which makes the killer cells look the same color as the background. Pressing "c" will change the LifeViewer theme and reveal where the killer cells are. (click above to open LifeViewer)

x = 48, y = 48, rule = B3/S23 26bo$25b3o3$25b3o2$25bobo$25bobo2$25b3o3$25b3o$26bo2$2b2o6b2o$bo2bo4bo 2bo5bobo$bo2bo4bo2bo5bo2bo$bo2bo4bo2bo4bo3bo$2b2o6b2o6bo2bo$18b3o$40bo 4bo$38b2ob4ob2o$40bo4bo$2bo4bo$2ob4ob2o$2bo4bo$27b3o$26bo2bo6b2o6b2o$ 26bo3bo4bo2bo4bo2bo$26bo2bo5bo2bo4bo2bo$27bobo5bo2bo4bo2bo$36b2o6b2o2$ 21bo$20b3o3$20b3o2$20bobo$20bobo2$20b3o3$20b3o$21bo! #C [[ THUMBSIZE 2 THEME 6 GRID GRIDMAJOR 0 SUPPRESS THUMBLAUNCH ]] #C [[ ZOOM 6 GPS 20 THUMBSIZE 2 LOOP 105 ]] This is a troll p105 R-pentomino hassler. The reason it doesn't work is because the R-pentominoes regenerate after 104 generations rather than 105, making them incompatible with the pentadecathlons. If you look carefully, you can see that generation 104 and generation 0, which are consecutive with LOOP 105, have the R-pentominoes in the same position. (click above to open LifeViewer)

Despite generally being novelties, discussion of such patterns have occasionally resulted in actual discoveries, David Hilbert being a very notable example.

External links

• Thread for your Trolls (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums