What A FABULOUS Debut Sudoku!

*** OUR NOVEMBER COMPETITION & SIMON'S BONUS SOLVES ***
100 4x4 Snackdoku pack from the Skunkworks OUT TODAY at 4pm UK time as our monthly reward.

Simon's solve of Broken Secrets by TotallyNormalCat will also appear soon. You can try that puzzle here: https://sudokupad.app/jMg44R2tpb

Join us on Patreon (for as little as $2):

https://www.patreon.com/crackingthecryptic

*** TODAY'S PUZZLE ***
We received a recommendation from the great Qodec to try this puzzle, Sphere Of Influence - a debut for sdholmes. And, as we could have predicted, this is a sublime sudoku with a simple but original ruleset. Definitely worth having a crack at on a cold wintery night!!

Play the puzzle at the following link:

https://sudokupad.app/rLBq9Fnt8L

Rules:
Normal sudoku rules apply. A CIRCLE clue indicates how many LOW digits (1-4) immediately surround the clue, including itself ie how many low digits appear in the (up to) 9 cells in the 3x3 area centred on the clue. A SQUARE indicates how many HIGH digits (5-9) immediately surround the clue, including itself. *Squared and circled digits themselves are NOT necessarily high or low respectively.

*** KICKSTARTER LAUNCHED - FOG OF WAR ***
Check out our new Kickstarter where we tasked ourselves with creating the best Xmas present for a puzzle fan. Phistomefel is making a puzzle for it!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/peterchayward/cracking-the-cryptic-presents-fog-of-war

*** ORDER OUR NEW BOOK AT THIS LINK ***

If you would like to get hold of a physical copy of our new book, Cracking The Cryptic's Greatest Hits - Volume 2, there is still a chance. Visit the link below:

https://bean-games.pledgemanager.com/projects/cracking-the-cryptics-greatest-hits-v2/participate/

*** NEW GAS PACK: VOLUME 2 IS OUT ***
The new GAS (Genuinely Approachable Sudoku) pack is out on all platforms here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.StudioGoya.CrackingTheCryptic
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2363130/Cracking_the_Crypt..