Need puzzle help

[+Cajun Maverick]

There is a cache that's been published for 8 months now with no finds. It's a puzzle cache with many false coordinates. The CO has posted a few hints, to no avail. His final one before disappearing was a puzzle I cannot get my hands around.

 

There is a field of numbers, 5 columns and 20 rows, along with a set of ratios. The numbers range from 1-99. Another possible hint was "the key to beating this one is GOLDEN"

 

The actual .txt file is here:

http://bit.ly/e8yK9H

 

If anyone can lead me in the right direction I would appreciate it. I'm heading toward the cache this weekend, and I'd love to get the FTF on this one.

[+Ike 13]

Getting help to a puzzle cache (especially an unfound 5 star) on forums is bad form. You don't have to solve them all.

[+Cajun Maverick]

I'm not asking for other people to solve... I'm asking for help to figure out what kind of puzzle it is so that I can solve it myself.

[+Team Noodles]

what's the cache?

[+Touchstone]

Maybe this will be helpful:

 

The Rat's Puzzle Solving and Cryptography Lesson

 

Best of luck!

[Clan Riffster]

Another possible hint was "the key to beating this one is GOLDEN"

I agree that asking for forum help on a puzzle cache is in bad form, especially on one that hasn't been found yet.

In general, when facing something like this, my first pitstop is Google.

[Dj Storm]

Getting help to a puzzle cache (especially an unfound 5 star) on forums is bad form. You don't have to solve them all.

Agreed. A better approach in this situation would be to ask "Any puzzle enthusiasts want to join forces in order to solve this one?"

[+StarBrand]

I'm not asking for other people to solve... I'm asking for help to figure out what kind of puzzle it is so that I can solve it myself.

Sometimes figuring what type of puzzle it is ---- IS the puzzle in and of itself.

[+Max and 99]

Just out of curiosity, what makes you think the CO has "disappeared"? Is he/she no longer involved in geocaching?

[+kunarion]

Sometimes figuring what type of puzzle it is ---- IS the puzzle

^

+1

 

Some people don't like a puzzle that they understand (such as a "boring old crossword puzzle"), preferring a completely new type of puzzle.

 

If it's a diabolical, once-in-a-lifetime challenge, I think if the CO "disappeared" while waiting for it to be solved, that would make it all the more intriguing.

 

If the CO is inactive, the Geocache could eventually be archived, at least on this site -- it may be that it's been listed and active on some alternate caching site. Maybe the CO has shuffled off this mortal coil. But the challenge may remain.

[+PaneledZero]

Did I miss the GC on this cache? I am curious just to see that page..

[+Team GPSaxophone]

Without telling you too much, you may want to start with a 5 book trilogy by a famous author.

 

That should give you enough to get started.

[+niraD]

A while back, The Rat offered a puzzle-solving class as an event cache. His slides are available here:

http://thegba.net/resources/general_information.php

 

Among the tips he offered:

 

Identify the theme. Check the cache title, the hint, the HTML source, the graphics (including names/URLs), any links (including URLs), whatever is at the posted coordinates, etc. If you can figure out the theme, then you should look for numbering systems that are associated with that theme (zip codes, area codes, telephone keypads, episode numbers, etc.).

 

Around here, coordinates will have 15 digits, and will look like "N 37° xx.xxx W 122° xx.xxx". So when I'm solving a nearby puzzle, I look for a group of 15 things, and then I look for ways to get the digits 37xxxxx122xxxxx from them. In general, I look for ways to get the number 37 (or the digits 3 and 7) from something near the beginning of the puzzle, and the number 122 (or the digits 1, 2, and 2) from something near the middle of the puzzle. (Of course, you'll need to adjust this for the coordinates near you.)

 

Other useful resources include:

Puzzle Solving 101 Series (bookmark list)

Solving Puzzle Caches (online article)

How Do I Solve All These $@! Puzzle Caches? (tutorial-style puzzle cache)

Puzzle FUNdamentals (archived event cache) and the Puzzle FUNdamentals resources on the GeocacheAlaska! education page

The GBA's Puzzle Cache FAQ (for puzzle designers, but useful for understanding how puzzle caches work)

[+DeepButi]

what's the cache?

 

Fire Coming out of the Monkey's Head

[Pup Patrol]

what's the cache?

 

Fire Coming out of the Monkey's Head

 

Are you sure? That doesn't sound like the puzzle the OP posted:

 

There is a field of numbers, 5 columns and 20 rows, along with a set of ratios. The numbers range from 1-99. Another possible hint was "the key to beating this one is GOLDEN"

 

And that cache owner has recently logged into his account (31 December), so hasn't "disappeared".

[+Harry Dolphin]

I'm not asking for other people to solve... I'm asking for help to figure out what kind of puzzle it is so that I can solve it myself.

Sometimes figuring what type of puzzle it is ---- IS the puzzle in and of itself.

 

Hee hee hee. Yes. Isn't it? Some I've been working on for a year or so. To some, it IS the challenge, and they/we enjoy them!

I've hidden a few that have taken three months to be found. So I had to work harder! My latest evil attempt is at three and a half months with no solve, and even it it is solved, the snow will probably bring it to six months for a find. Hee hee hee. But, no. I'm not giving out any hints until it is found, if then.

Yes. I am curious as to how the OP 'knows' that the CO is missing?

[+DeepButi]

what's the cache?

 

Fire Coming out of the Monkey's Head

 

Are you sure? That doesn't sound like the puzzle the OP posted:

 

There is a field of numbers, 5 columns and 20 rows, along with a set of ratios. The numbers range from 1-99. Another possible hint was "the key to beating this one is GOLDEN"

 

And that cache owner has recently logged into his account (31 December), so hasn't "disappeared".

 

I'm 99% sure ... it matches all info. Time placed, not found. Near the coordinates on the file provided. CO sends hints only to watching people ... and the file posted must be one of this himts. OP assumes CO is missing because no more hints sent since a while ...

 

Yes, I'm pretty sure.