Series caches - likes and dislikes

[+L0ne.R]

Series caches - where you have to find a series of other caches first and collect the information to get the coordinates for the final cache.

 

What are the reasons you like these or dislike these? What percentage of finders actually find the final? Discuss.

[+cw1710]

I like them when they are in an interesting place and are of varying diff/terr levels. We have a nature preserve in North Alabama where there is an 8 cache series in the preserve. It was an awesome hike with caches at some of the more interesting places. I loved it.

Edited March 21, 2010 by cw1710

[+t4e]

as long as the series is kept to max 4 finds in order to get the final and they are not scattered over a very large area, they are fine...where it exceeds that i really don't bother

 

in addition, we hardly plan our trips, we load an area and go and don't really spend time in the field reading descriptions, and often times we find out about the series when we get home, thus too late

[+Taoiseach]

Series caches - where you have to find a series of other caches first and collect the information to get the coordinates for the final cache.

 

What are the reasons you like these or dislike these? What percentage of finders actually find the final? Discuss.

 

Is there a reason that it can't be a multi?

 

One of the nice things about a multi is that you can make some of the stages 'Question to Answer' waypoints, thereby bringing the visitor to the location you wanted them to see and using up fewer proximity circles.

 

As cw1710 said, if they're in interesting locations and of varying d/t levels, fine, but for the most part they're not like that.

 

As for why people like them... Uhh... a dozen smilies instead of one?

[+boda]

I don't often do series caches. What I will do, however, is find the individual caches. If, for some reason, I get all the intermediate caches; then I will do the final. If I don't get them all - no big deal. You can also get any of the caches at any time. A multi requires you to go step by step - in order. I just find the series more convenient. Not knocking multis.

 

We did one last Christmas. There were 34 intermediate caches. Using those, you solved two puzzle caches which then gave you coordinates for the final. I had no desire to do this series; yet, after getting a few of the stages on normal caching days, we decided to pick up the rest. All in all, it was a fun, challenging experience.

[+Panda Inc]

Series caches - where you have to find a series of other caches first and collect the information to get the coordinates for the final cache.

 

What are the reasons you like these or dislike these? What percentage of finders actually find the final? Discuss.

We quite enjoy multi's although we have infrequently come across pieces of a cache that have been muggled or are otherwise missing and require contacting the CO to get it fixed. We've never had a CO not fix it so we do eventually finish them. It can be dissapointing if you're away from your home area and have it happen. The multi's that have the least chance of being muggled are the ones where you have to pull information off of historical markers (or something similar) and piece the final coordinates together from what you find. All caches are good

Cheers

Panda Inc

[+Isonzo Karst]

I used to own one. Obviously I though it was a good idea at the time. I no longer remember why, however.

 

The bonus cache is just another hide. Just write it up as another traditional cache. People will find it, or not.

 

If one of the caches in the series goes down, the bonus isn't orphaned.

 

What I often see is bunch of micro caches, with a bonus trading cache. Why force people to find your micros in order to find your one trading cache? just place it as a traditional, and let folks find the cache that they're probably going to enjoy most. If all the caches are well placed and interesting, they'll all be found.

[+cerberus1]

I enjoy series caches that are started out as a series, especially those showing different waterfalls, caves or peaks.

 

Problem is, some decide to place a "final", making up a series using caches they already had in place much earlier.

You'd then have to go back to a cache you've already visited to grab the number, letter, etc for the final.

Those aren't fun.

[+uxorious]

What I like about the series caches is you can do one or more of the individual caches as a regular cache. The final is just a bonus.

 

What I don't like about the series caches is most of the ones I have done part of, one or more of the caches in the series has been missing. If the series is a ways from my home, it is hard to get back to find one or two in the area when they are repaired or replaced.

 

The other problem is I have limited mobility and like to have some idea whether I can even go for the final. Maybe after my knee surgeries this year that may not be as big a problem, but for now it is one of the biggest reasons I don't do multis. It is also why I will go after individual caches in a series but do not feel the need to do the entire series.

 

The difference between a multi and a series, for me, is if I find one way-point in a multi, it still feels like I have not finished the cache. If I find one cache in a series I feel that cache is found and finished. I don't have to do any others in the series unless I want to.

[+Fiver1]

I've done some, but don't care for them. If I'm going to find more than one cache, it should count as more than one cache. Most of the ones in my area require a pretty long hike to complete them also. To each his own. Also, as stated, it's very frustrating to work through several finds to discover that the next part has been muggled. Just my 2 cents.

[+sdrawkcab]

Series caches - where you have to find a series of other caches first and collect the information to get the coordinates for the final cache.

 

What are the reasons you like these or dislike these? What percentage of finders actually find the final? Discuss.

 

I presonaly like a good multi over a series. The reason I have seen is that some think they should get a find for ever stage of the multi. For example if there are 4 stages to a multi they think they sould get credit for 4 finds not just one.

 

If you want to do a multi that uses a large area a series might be in order. But if it just a smaller area I think a multi would do fine.

Edited March 21, 2010 by sdrawkcab

[+sdrawkcab]

What I like about the series caches is you can do one or more of the individual caches as a regular cache. The final is just a bonus.

 

The difference between a multi and a series, for me, is if I find one way-point in a multi, it still feels like I have not finished the cache. If I find one cache in a series I feel that cache is found and finished. I don't have to do any others in the series unless I want to.

 

Good point there and if the multi is done well the owner can tell a story with his cache. And even teach some new and usless facts about a certan place or area.

Edited March 21, 2010 by sdrawkcab

[+RobDJr]

A well-executed series can be a joy to do. The two best I ever did both had a full storyline and plot leading to the first cache, where more information was found and the storyline continued, leading to the next cache, and so on until the final, and each cache had a unique and creative container that fit the plot (between the two series, there was a total of ten unique custom containers). As far as I'm concerned, it really just doesn't get much better than that and I'll do everything I can to finish it.

 

An average or 'normal' series I treat as any other cache, just do what I have time or inclination to do, and eventually I'll get to the bonus (or not).

 

A poorly done series (i.e. something named 'guardrail magnetic 1, guardrail magnetic 2...guardrail magnetic bonus) gives me a headache and I rarely bother with those.

 

I suppose there isn't too much difference between a series and a multi overall. If I'm having fun, I don't care if I get one smiley or four. To me, the main difference comes when series is done with a mystery or detective type plot where there may be additional research or work to be done using information gained at each stage. It becomes much more palatable to make a find and call it a day because you need to go do research in order to find the next cache if I'm doing a series. In a multi, that sort of interruption would grate on the nerves.

[+L0ne.R]

I don't think I've ever finished a series i.e. got all the codes in order to find the final. I'm always forgetting to take down the code somewhere along the way, it would mean a drive and hike back to the box.

 

So now, I might do them individually (provided that the individuals are not micros), with no intention of collecting codes to go after the final. (As opposed to the intention of collecting the codes but forgetting to - way too frustrating for me).

Edited March 21, 2010 by Lone R

[+dfx]

we did finish a few of those series caches, but all of them have been in or close to our hometown, and all of them we only finished because i emailed the owners for the clues, because i could never be bothered to actually try and collect them

 

the biggest problem with finishing the series is that most of the time i simply forget to look for / take note of the clues after finding a cache

[+simpjkee]

I've done 3 or 4 serieses of this type with a final puzzle of all the clues. I have enjoyed all of them. The only thing I would say about them is that it would be a bummer if the owner disappeared and one or two in the series dissappeared. Then you'd never be able to figure out the final.

[+tzipora]

I'm in the midst of 2 different series right now. One is a series of 28 caches based on a book series I liked in middle/high school. The other is a series of 12 (so far) designed to encourage cachers to take on more physical challenges.

 

I have plans to complete a 3rd this summer, because they're really cool puzzle caches but they're several hours from me. It's a series of 8 based on the Harry Potter books. I've got 5 solved already.

[+Sioneva]

There is an incredibly well done series in Nebraska - the Solar System Challenge by a cacher in Norfolk, NE. There are nine or ten caches in total, plus the final, and each cache is about one of the planets, and the sun. Most of them are ammo cans along the Cowboy bike trail... the really neat part is that the distance between them is proportional to the distance between planets.

 

Which means that the Sun, and Mercury are pretty close to each other, then they start spreading out - the Pluto cache is well past Valentine, 239 miles away as the car drives. I still haven't gotten that one! Fascinating series though, fun to do and really educational.

[+Harry Dolphin]

I think I prefer series caches to multis. I get a smiley for each stage found! They're especially fun with a good theme. If a stage of a four stage multi is missing, you get nothing. If a stage of a four part series is missing, at least I get two smileys!

I had great fun with a 23 stage series cache. Must be a major pain to maintain, but it was fun and I did get 23 smiles. Likewise, I'm working an a 17 stage series cache at every baseball field on Manhattan Island. That will take a bit longer to complete.

I have a three stage series. People seem to enjoy it.

[+The Cache Checkers]

I ditto the above. I don't really like having to find a few hides and only get one smiley. I went to a dog park last summer 40 miles away and did a three part cache. I found the first two stages but could not find the second and it's doubtful that I'll return to that park.

[+Taoiseach]

I found the first two stages but could not find the second and it's doubtful that I'll return to that park.

 

I'm sorry you didn't get the almighty smilie... Did you at least have fun?

 

[+Harry Dolphin]

I found the first two stages but could not find the second and it's doubtful that I'll return to that park.

 

I'm sorry you didn't get the almighty smilie... Did you at least have fun?

 

 

That being said, I have also done a 32 stage virtual multi that only took me three days (spread over three months), a 9 stage multi that took six months, and I highly recommend both!

But, no. If a stage of a multi is missing, then I probably did not have fun. That is very frustrating. Missing cache on a series is also frustrating, but, at least I had some fun finding the first cache.

[+sbell111]

I like series caches just fine, but I almost never get around to finding the final cache.