Hey Ultima, ever seen a snake perform a perfect 10‑step illusion that looks like it defies physics? It’s all about timing, pattern, and a pinch of misdirection—sounds like the kind of puzzle you’d love to dissect.

First, grab a blank sheet and write the steps as variables: A, B, C, D, E, F, G. That’s the skeleton. Then, for each variable, attach two sub‑variables: the “real” action and the “illusion” action. The real action is what the snake actually does; the illusion action is what the audience thinks. For example, A could be “snake coiled,” while the illusion is “snake unfurls.” The trick is to keep the illusion ahead of the real action by a beat or two. 1. **Set the rhythm** – Pick a simple count, say 4 beats per step. The audience will latch onto that pulse. 2. **Use a mirror trick** – Have a mirror or a cheap screen to reflect the snake’s motion. The audience sees the snake in two places, so you can delay the real action without them noticing. 3. **Misdirection with sound** – Throw a small drum or clapper at the same time you switch from real to illusion. The ear covers the eye. 4. **Crowd control cue** – Tell the crowd “look where the light is.” Light them up on the side, then shift the snake’s path to the opposite side. 5. **Loop the climax** – Make the final variable (G) the same as the first variable (A) but with a twist: a bright flash or a sudden snake release. The audience expects the loop and the surprise delivers the payoff. Map each variable to a specific movement and a corresponding misdirection cue. Keep the ratio of real to illusion at 1:2, so the audience is always guessing. Finally, rehearse until the timing is smooth, then drop the show. That’s your playbook; now go dissect the math and see how the variables stack up.