What's in a name?

[+FollowMeChaps]

I am setting a cahe where you have to solve a single clue to find the nearby cache. Is this a Traditional, Multi or Mystery?

[nobby.nobbs]

well not traditional which is you publish the co=ords so really the closest is a multi... depends on the type and complexity of the question...

[Red Squadron]

Because you have 1 or more questions, I believe it falls into the Multi category.

[+Haggis Hunter]

Going by the information you have gave it is difficult to say. I would say that solving a clue equates to a puzzle and answering a question is a multi. It really does go by how complex the clue is?

[Deceangi]

My take on things as I've been asked this before

 

Traditional Caches, the container is sat at the posted coordinates.

 

Multi Cache, involves the visiting of at least one other location to either obtain information or a container containing information. Even if you have to manipulate the information to obtain the coordinates of the final container.

 

Puzzle caches.

i: involve the solving of a puzzle before leaving your home location.

ii:The finding of or creation of specialised equipment to either retrieve the cache from its location or to open the container (there are puzzle caches which are are the posted coordinates, but which access to the log book requires specialist equipment), the collection of numbers to open a combination padlock is not a puzzle as specialist equipment is not needed.

iii: At the reviewers discretion were they believe that the Puzzle classification best fits the cache as opposed to a Multi or Traditional.

 

Letter Box Hybrid. These are a cache which has a permanent stamp in them. A gps must be used in the process of finding them and not just to locate the parking location. They may be a Traditional cache, Multi cache or even a Puzzle cache. The Letter Box Hybrid cache was created to teach geocachers not to take the stamp from genuine Letter Boxes if found by accident when searching for a cache.

 

These are not set in stone but act as a base line when I am reviewing caches, and are my personal take on things

 

Deceangi

[+Simply Paul]

The way you describe it, it sounds like a multi, but might be a puzzle if it's harder than 'take the date on the plate as ABCD and find the cache is at N52 AB.CDA W001 BC.DAB' or similar. If the published co-ords don't point you straight to the cache with the logbook in it, then it can't be a traditional.

[+Alibags]

I have set caches which are the same as this. They are classified as multis but I tend to make it clear in the cache description that they are what is usually referred to as an 'offset' cache. There is no seperate category for this, but the description (and D/T rating) of the cache should let your finders know they are not in for a 16 point, 5 mile epic type of multi.

[+Happy Humphrey]

Slightly off at a tangent (as the OP question seems to have been answered): there has been much heated debate on the forum about the classification of caches where;

 

1. The cache is at the posted coordinates.

2. You can go there and sign the log: but cannot claim this as a "find" at this stage.

3. There is another task to be completed afterwards: and without proving that this task has been completed, any "Found it" log submitted is regarded as bogus and will be deleted.

 

Usually, the task is fun and simple (such as a particular swap, or writing your online log in a special way). Sometimes it's more onerous (producing a photo of yourself in costume, or writing a poem or joke).

 

My question is: this isn't a traditional cache (you can't just go to the coordinates and sign the log) - but what is it?

[+Alibags]

I am the joint setter of such a cache. We wanted to make it a multi as the task you have to do is to visit several locations as well as find the cache and upload your tracklog, but after discussion with the reviewers, the cache ended up as an unknown. I guess this was possibly because there is not an 'other' or unclassified cache type and the ? type marked it out as requiring extra work

[+Family Hodge]

I have set caches which are the same as this. They are classified as multis but I tend to make it clear in the cache description that they are what is usually referred to as an 'offset' cache. There is no seperate category for this, but the description (and D/T rating) of the cache should let your finders know they are not in for a 16 point, 5 mile epic type of multi.

Im with Alibags on this one .I would call it an offset Cache which is a multi Cache.

[+FollowMeChaps]

Thanks everyone for your information and guidance. I will settle for a multi but put in the text that it's offset. I'm not going contrary to Deceangi's advice who was good enough to approve another of my cahes last night within half an hour - what great service!

 

FollowMeChaps

Edited August 29, 2006 by FollowMeChaps