Logophobic

I don't think you can pin down the number strictly with logic. Once you know that the digits are 1 2 3 6 7 8 and 9, you simply check all multiples of 18144 between 1236789 and 9876321. Those are 18144*69 thru 18144*544, and you can skip the multiples of 5.

SHEEN SCARE If SHEEN = 1 then SH--- = 1 (EATEN, BEETS) and SCARE - 1 proves H, or 2 proves S (not A from SHADE - 2 or R from SHORE - 2 with SH--E - 2) If SHEEN = 0 then --ADE = --ORE = 2 so either ARE = 3 or ODE = 3: SCARE - 1 proves --ODE, 2 proves -CODE, 3 proves --ARE, or 4 proves -CARE

FORCE

BATHS -- If 0 then E from BATHE, if 1 then H (EATEN, BEETS = 0)

ASKEW

EXCEL

A different solution? Perhaps you should clarify: Was it intended that each person completes one task and each task is complete by one person, with the goal of finding the lowest-cost solution? If so, then for the given costs the solution I posted is the only solution with a cost of less than 19.

D4 = 8, your total would be 19

LOVES -- If 0 then R from LOVER-1 and I from LIVES, if 2 then -O--S (not L or V, and ---ES = 1), if 1 then E (but that's already covered)

Logophobic - 125 + 8 = 133 maurice - 71 + 5 = 76 plainglazed - 65 phaze - 18 + 25 = 43 nana - 10

G Y P S Y SHARE - 0 BLAME - 0 ANGRY - 1 DWARF - 0 ANGER - 0 maurice +5 REPLY - 2 JELLY - 1 GYPSY - 5 phaze +25

_ _ _ _ Y SHARE - 0 BLAME - 0 ANGRY - 1 DWARF - 0 ANGER - 0 maurice +5 REPLY - 2 JELLY - 1

_ _ _ _ Y SHARE - 0 BLAME - 0 ANGRY - 1 DWARF - 0 ANGER - 0 maurice +5 REPLY - 2

_ _ _ _ Y SHARE - 0 BLAME - 0 ANGRY - 1 DWARF - 0 ANGER - 0 maurice +5

_ _ _ _ _ SHARE - 0 BLAME - 0 ANGRY - 1 DWARF - 0