Something that I've been thinking about a lot lately as a result of a discussion I've had with a forum member on Discord, and that is some level designers have been kind enough to tell me that I've helped inspired some future levels of theirs due to a solution I found to a level. Off the top of my head, Armani and Flopsy are two such members who each have told me that I've inspired a level for their future level packs. The former was due to a trick I used in my solution to one of Nessy's past contest levels, and he has already released his pack, so I look forward to playing it and seeing if I can identify the level I gave Armani inspiration for. For the latter, it was due to a solution I found to a
SEB Lems Migration level.
Truthfully, I feel very honored whenever a level designer approaches me and says that I've been inspirational with future levels for the author, because it means that I've been helping out the person with level ideas based on my solutions I've found to some levels. So really, I honestly had no idea I've been very instrumental in helping level designers with future level ideas of their own because of my solutions that I've found to either one of his or her own levels or due to watching my solution to a level that isn't his or hers.
As further examples, I've recently been going through and uploading my video solutions to some packs for really old versions of NL. I will use Gigalem's packs as the example here. While going through and seeing the levels again after so long to his zombie pack, I've noticed that plenty of the levels resemble some of Icho's Lemmings Reunion ones. A few borrowed the structure(s) in a few parts of the level, others were complete remakes so that if you already played the level in Reunion you will likely recognize it in Gigalem's pack and hence where he got the inspiration from.
Also, I completely recognized a level from the zombie pack where Gigalem took 4 levels from namida's Doomsday pack and made it a complete disjoint union level, very similar to Synchronised Lemming in that it was 4 mini-levels in one. I recognized it only due to how I had played Doomsday Lemmings shortly before I played Gigalem's zombie pack.
As another example, this time involving one of my own, I got inspiration for one of my levels from a part of the intended solution to one of Icho's Lemmings Reunion levels, and the level happens to be one of my absolute favorites of the pack! This is why when I need level ideas, I been rewatching my level solving commentary video series and/or level solutions. However, I've only made a total of 6 levels so far, but I'm certain that I will no doubt have more levels inspired from solutions that I see too!
If I didn't mention you, feel free to post to let me know if I've been inspirational to you for a future level of yours due to a solution I've found to one of your levels or just from seeing my solution to someone else's level you happened upon by chance! This should be a fun one