chose your own adventure

[+lachupa]

I heard a story on NPR yesterday about a new app for the iphone based on those chose your own adventure books. I loved those books as a kid and it got me thinking that it would be a fun puzzle cache. Then I sat down and started planning how this would work and instantly clued in that it would have to be a very short adventure because even with only 2 choices per step it would require 15 caches in only 3 steps. It seems a bit ambitious considering that to date I have placed exactly 0 caches but you have to start somewhere.

 

I feel like people would lose interest if there were 7 dead ends so I could do a couple of dead ends that would be micros and then regular and small caches that would be ok endings and a big one that would be the grand prize for the “correct” ending.

 

The question is, what points along the way are separate caches for logging purposes? Would this be essentially 8 different puzzle caches all with a single starting point or 15 individual caches in a series?

 

Bonus question: Is this just crazy in an over my head sort of way and I should bail on it before it becomes a big mess?

[+briansnat]

I think you can simplify this a bit and it could still work. There is a multi in my area where you need to make a choice at the beginning. Choose wisely and it's a fairly easy route to the final. Choose wrong and you will find yourself negotiating difficult terrain.

 

Perhaps you can expand on this and provide 3 or 4 possible routes to the final cache, with each one providing its own adventure.

Edited August 17, 2010 by briansnat

[+The Chaos Crew]

I think you can simplify this a bit and it could still work. There is a multi in my area where you need to make a choice at the beginning. Choose wisely and it's a fairly easy route to the final. Choose wrong and you will find yourself negotiating difficult terrain.

 

Perhaps you can expand on this and provide 3 or 4 possible routes to the final cache, with each one providing its own adventure.

 

I LOVE this idea!

[+GeoGeeBee]

it would have to be a very short adventure because even with only 2 choices per step it would require 15 caches in only 3 steps.

 

Eight caches in 3 steps. 16 caches in 4 steps. 15 is right out.

 

However, you could combine some spots. Like your first choice is trail A or trail B. Then A2 could point to the same location as B1, just to cut down on the number of routes you have to set up.

 

You could set it up so that no matter which route you take, you end up at the same spot eventually. Then you only need one final. If it's set up as a multi-cache, some (or all) of the intermediate points could be virtual stages, using clues that are already there. That way separation wouldn't be an issue.

 

It sounds like it would be fun! I hope you place it, I'm not to far away to come find it!

[+edscott]

Or a geo-maze... I've been considering one where if you pick the right sequence and it's a three part multi, guess wrong and it could be 8.

[+wimseyguy]

This option sounds like more fun than hitting dead ends.

You could even ask finders to post how many stages they visited to see if anyone gets lucky enough to take the direct route.

Some will play along, others will simply post TFTC or logged from my 'coolphone with specialsoftware'

Edited August 17, 2010 by wimseyguy

[+The Jester]

Or a geo-maze... I've been considering one where if you pick the right sequence and it's a three part multi, guess wrong and it could be 8.

We had one like that around here for a while (this cache) - lots of fun, but lots of maintainance for the owner.

[+lachupa]

I like the idea of multiple ways to get to the same place. It sounds more fun than dead ends.

 

One of the stages I want to do is "sink or swim" where "swim" is a clue on this little island in the duck pond at the park near my house. There is a bridge out there so it wouldn't involve any actual swimming. That would so have to be a clue because there is a 100% chance that anything physically placed out there would be muggled.

 

This is going to be fun. I think I can get it to work.

 

Also "logged from my 'coolphone with specialsoftware'" made me laugh out loud in a way that will make my fellow cubefarmers think I'm nuts or at least not so much working.

[+sbell111]

Wherigo.

[+Isonzo Karst]

Luck or No Luck GCXHDN - multiple containers at each set of coords. You pick. Nicely done, and all routes are lucky, if you want to take a walk in the woods.

This one is close enough to me that I kept chasing it until I discovered all possible routes.

 

I emailed the cache owner at one point, and asked about the total number of containers, because I could not find a container that = the maximum mileage he mentions. He told where there were 3 containers, I'd only found 2. A very enjoyable design.

[+the family bu]

sounds a really great idea - shame I am too far away - I would have loved to see this one in the 'flesh' when it is placed. Good luck with your venture.

[+GeoGeeBee]

Wherigo.

 

Please, not.

 

I mean, this does seem like a natural application for the Wherigo. But if you make it a Wherigo, you are going to seriously reduce the number of people who are able to pursue it. I have no way of completing a Wherigo, and I don't see that changing any time soon.

[+rob3k]

I have thought about setting up a multi in the CYOA mold, might be a good fall project.

[+lachupa]

I just skimmed the Wherigo and it seems complicated. I don't think I have the kung fu for that even if I had the inclination.

 

but at least now I know what it is

 

I think I'm going with the different routes with a couple of cross over points.

 

sink or swim

ride or walk

high or low

zig or zag

 

brainstorming really

 

I just need to get rid of this guy who keeps giving me stuff to do like updated budget numbers and in general acting like I work for him.

[FunkMaster-T]

There was a thread here a month or so ago about a murder mystery puzzle cache where the searcher had to find multiple caches, each with a short "chapter" in a murder mystery. Then after (x) number of caches they were forced to make a decision on 6 suspects, each with coord's to a cache that would tell if you were right or wrong in your detective skills. I think it was in the UK somewhere...

 

I did some searching and found the thread I am talking about...they had a link to THE FINAL stage of the murder mystery...

 

http://coord.info/GC101CD

 

Not exactly what you are talking about but along the same lines...sounds really cool to me and I hae started thinking about one of these of my own (being a part time writer)...might give you some more inspiration/ideas...T.

[+geodarts]

I just skimmed the Wherigo and it seems complicated.

 

I agree that it would make a great Wherigo. I have a Wherigo cache that requires you to track bigfoot, making several choices all the way. With this cache, I went with simplicity and made it foolproof -- your guide won't let you go the wrong way and its actually more entertaining if you try -- but I have thought that it would be interesting to create one similar to the OPs description, that take you down several possible routes depending on your choices, some of which would be quite involved.

 

Unfortunately, I also agree that it might be complicated. And it would significantly reduce the number of players who can do the cache. Development of the platform and a builder that would be easier for those of us without programming skills seems dead. But that is a topic for the Wherigo forum.

[+TABjuggler]

This was one of my first ideas for a caching hide actually. I'm pretty sure that I will do it eventually, no matter how many bison tubes it will involve.

 

What I may consider doing is making each "THE END" a separate Mystery Cache for each dead end so that, those can at least be logged as a smiley for someone.

 

Then I am going to make a FINAL Mystery Challenge Cache, where you have to have found every THE END and the correct end.

 

Its going to be a big undertaking but it is one of my many ideas I have on the backburner when I start doing hides.

[+TABjuggler]

Luck or No Luck GCXHDN - multiple containers at each set of coords. You pick. Nicely done, and all routes are lucky, if you want to take a walk in the woods.

This one is close enough to me that I kept chasing it until I discovered all possible routes.

 

I emailed the cache owner at one point, and asked about the total number of containers, because I could not find a container that = the maximum mileage he mentions. He told where there were 3 containers, I'd only found 2. A very enjoyable design.

 

Oh man, I was just there this weekend and I'll definitely be back. I might check this out while I am there.