diff --git a/bigstuff.cpp b/bigstuff.cpp
index ef0c031e..e39e9128 100644
--- a/bigstuff.cpp
+++ b/bigstuff.cpp
@@ -1259,7 +1259,7 @@ EX int wallchance(cell *c, bool deepOcean) {
 
 EX bool horo_ok() {
   // do the horocycles work in the current geometry?
-  return hyperbolic && !binarytiling && !archimedean && !penrose;
+  return hyperbolic && !binarytiling && !archimedean && !penrose && !experimental;
   }
 
 EX bool gp_wall_test() {
@@ -1309,7 +1309,7 @@ EX bool good_for_wall(cell *c) {
   }
   
 EX void buildBigStuff(cell *c, cell *from) {
-  if(sphere || quotient || nonisotropic || (penrose && !binarytiling)) return;
+  if(sphere || quotient || nonisotropic || (penrose && !binarytiling) || experimental) return;
   if(chaosmode > 1) return;
   bool deepOcean = deep_ocean_at(c, from);
   
diff --git a/cell.cpp b/cell.cpp
index 1a0b92aa..9530ba19 100644
--- a/cell.cpp
+++ b/cell.cpp
@@ -448,6 +448,7 @@ EX int compdist(int dx[]) {
   }
 
 EX int celldist(cell *c) {
+  if(experimental) return 0;
   if(fulltorus && WDIM == 2) 
     return torusmap()->dists[decodeId(c->master)];
   if(nil) return DISTANCE_UNKNOWN;
@@ -477,6 +478,7 @@ static const int ALTDIST_ERROR = 90000;
 #endif
 
 EX int celldistAlt(cell *c) {
+  if(experimental) return 0;
   if(masterless) {
     if(fulltorus) return celldist(c);
     if(euwrap) return cylinder_alt(c);
@@ -1014,7 +1016,7 @@ EX int celldistance(cell *c1, cell *c2) {
   if(geometry == gCrystal) return crystal::precise_distance(c1, c2);
   #endif
   
-  if(masterless || archimedean || quotient || sol || (penrose && euclid)) {
+  if(masterless || archimedean || quotient || sol || (penrose && euclid) || experimental) {
     
     if(saved_distances.count(make_pair(c1,c2)))
       return saved_distances[make_pair(c1,c2)];
diff --git a/classes.h b/classes.h
index df5dba9d..89168bab 100644
--- a/classes.h
+++ b/classes.h
@@ -249,6 +249,8 @@ static const flagtype qELLIPTIC        = 128;
 static const flagtype qBINARY          = 256;
 static const flagtype qPENROSE         = 512;
 
+static const flagtype qEXPERIMENTAL    = 32768;
+
 // note: dnext assumes that x&7 equals 7
 static const int SEE_ALL = 50;
 static const int FORBIDDEN = -1;
diff --git a/hyper.h b/hyper.h
index af45237c..dc3db0c8 100644
--- a/hyper.h
+++ b/hyper.h
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ void addMessage(string s, char spamtype = 0);
 #define archimedean (geometry == gArchimedean)
 #define penrose (ginf[geometry].flags & qPENROSE)
 
+/** convenience flag for geometries with major aspects missing */
+#define experimental (ginf[geometry].flags & qEXPERIMENTAL)
+
 // these geometries do not feature alternate structures for horocycles
 #define eubinary (euclid || binarytiling || geometry == gCrystal || nil)
 
diff --git a/pattern2.cpp b/pattern2.cpp
index 71aa5660..b97d4b07 100644
--- a/pattern2.cpp
+++ b/pattern2.cpp
@@ -371,7 +371,8 @@ EX pair<int, bool> fieldval(cell *c) {
   }
 
 EX int fieldval_uniq(cell *c) {
-  if(sphere) {
+  if(experimental) return 0;
+  else if(sphere) {
     if(archimedean) return c->master->fiftyval;
     #if CAP_IRR
     else if(IRREGULAR) return irr::cellindex[c];