When people first look at a puzzle, they often assume one thing:
Bigger board = harder puzzle.
It seems intuitive.
More space should mean more complexity.
But in Crowns & Towns, that assumption quickly breaks down.
THE ILLUSION OF SIZE
A large map does not automatically create a difficult puzzle.
In fact, it can often make things easier.
Why?
Because much of that space may not actually be usable.
Terrain—mountains, lakes, and other constraints—can limit where structures can be placed.
What looks like a large puzzle can behave like a much smaller one.
WHAT REALLY MATTERS
Difficulty is not determined by how much space exists.
It’s determined by how much space can be used.
Or more precisely:
How many meaningful decisions a player can make.
This is what defines the true complexity of a puzzle.
FROM SPACE TO DECISION SPACE
Once you shift perspective, the key variable becomes clear:
Available decision space.
Every valid placement creates options.
Every restriction removes them.
A wide-open map creates many possible configurations.
A constrained map narrows those possibilities.
And that difference directly impacts difficulty.
THE ROLE OF BUILD COUNT
In Crowns & Towns, this idea is captured in a simple metric:
Total build count.
This number reflects how many structures can realistically be placed and supported.
It is not theoretical space.
It is actual, playable complexity.
A puzzle with fewer builds offers fewer decisions.
A puzzle with more builds expands the decision space.
And with that expansion comes increased difficulty.
WHEN SIZE MISLEADS
This is why a small, open map can be harder than a large, restricted one.
A compact layout with many valid placements forces more choices.
More choices create more branching possibilities.
More branching increases the challenge of finding an optimal solution.
Meanwhile, a larger map with heavy terrain may guide the player more tightly, reducing complexity.
A BETTER WAY TO THINK ABOUT DIFFICULTY
Instead of asking:
“How big is the map?”
The better question is:
“How much of it can I actually use?”
Or even more directly:
“How many meaningful decisions does this puzzle create?”
THE PRACTICAL IMPACT
This insight has real consequences for both design and play.
Build count becomes the most reliable way to measure difficulty.
Sorting puzzles by total builds naturally organizes them by complexity.
And importantly, the behavior of the puzzle generator begins to align with player experience.
The system is no longer guessing difficulty.
It is reflecting it.
THE CORE IDEA
Difficulty does not come from space.
It comes from choices.
And in Crowns & Towns, those choices are defined by what you can actually build.