Requesting community review

[The-Eaves]

Hi there guys...

 

I am a major fan of mystery caches and caches into which the cache owner has evidently put much time and effort. It is my hope that I can inspire more people to place caches that have WOW factor when you discover them - rather than caches that look like they where placed at whim. I have developed a series of caches (five of them; two of which have been published; three with puzzles under construction for publication soon) and I'm concerned that the puzzles are either too challenging or that they require knowledge that is too specific for the majority to attempt.

 

Below is a link to my cache: Fire ~ Testing your physiology... I would greatly appreciate it you guys, members of the forum (and probably cache obsessed), the people I aim these caches at, could look at the puzzle and let me know what you think... Those of you in Cape Town might even be able to sign the logbook!

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=ced78b89-2d25-4b10-9675-4690c25e0d57

 

Based on your review I will know whether to aim the puzzles for the three unpublished caches at a higher/lower level... And perhaps edit existing puzzles.

 

Thanking you all in anticipation

 

The-Eaves (Dylan Eave)

[+cincol]

Not my cup of tea but then guys like besem and others thrive on these types of puzzles. I have come across many cachers who will go out of there way to do difficult puzzle cachers so I am sure you will always have finders. Just remember that the find rate will be low.

 

Good luck with the idea of the series.

[besem]

Below is a link to my cache: Fire ~ Testing your physiology... I would greatly appreciate it you guys, members of the forum (and probably cache obsessed), the people I aim these caches at, could look at the puzzle and let me know what you think... Those of you in Cape Town might even be able to sign the logbook!

 

As cincol said, I thrive on puzzle caches, and I found this one to be a doddle once I've collected the information I need (disclosure: I am a mathematician by profession...). I'd rate the particular puzzle to be a difficulty 2.5 to 3. Saved the coords for my next visit to Cape Town!

[The-Eaves]

Thanks Besem... Look forward to reading your log!

[+Carbon Hunter]

Podcacher ran a good series a few months back on setting up and rating puzzles. There were also a lot of tools and tricks for both hiders and finders.

 

Check them out too - it may help. www.podcacher.com

[The-Eaves]

Below is a link to my cache: Fire ~ Testing your physiology... I would greatly appreciate it you guys, members of the forum (and probably cache obsessed), the people I aim these caches at, could look at the puzzle and let me know what you think... Those of you in Cape Town might even be able to sign the logbook!

As cincol said, I thrive on puzzle caches, and I found this one to be a doddle once I've collected the information I need (disclosure: I am a mathematician by profession...). I'd rate the particular puzzle to be a difficulty 2.5 to 3. Saved the coords for my next visit to Cape Town!

 

When more than 1 person finds the cache per quarter I will revise the difficulty rating --- The intermediate is prohibitively difficult! The online puzzle serves as a filter so as not to have too many reckless hands groping...

Edited May 8, 2011 by The-Eaves

[The-Eaves]

.

Edited May 8, 2011 by The-Eaves

[+tomtwogates]

I can inspire more people to place caches that have WOW factor when you discover them - rather than caches that look like they where placed at whim.

 

Do they have to be puzzle to have the WOW factor - have been to some plain old traditional caches that are WOW caches because I enjoy the hike or the view. I look at the puzzle, unlike some of those on puzzle ridge, and give up before I even start - but that is just me. Maybe I am not "cache obsessed" enough?

[The-Eaves]

I can inspire more people to place caches that have WOW factor when you discover them - rather than caches that look like they where placed at whim.

 

Do they have to be puzzle to have the WOW factor - have been to some plain old traditional caches that are WOW caches because I enjoy the hike or the view. I look at the puzzle, unlike some of those on puzzle ridge, and give up before I even start - but that is just me. Maybe I am not "cache obsessed" enough?

 

By all means no... You quoted me - I did not specify that the caches need be puzzles to have WOW factor...

 

And I have no malicious intent here - merely to inspire the placement of more caches into which cachers put just a bit more effort... A location is as important as a well selected container and well written cache listing.

 

Hahaha.... and Mr Twogates... you are obsessed as per my definition! (a most desirable quality in my opinion)

 

But please - do attempt my puzzle - you will find all the info you need to solve it in the listing. I have used the formulas myself many times in course of my practice...

Edited May 8, 2011 by The-Eaves

[+Hesamati]

Hi Eaves,

 

To add to what we've discussed when I did your 1st cache...

 

1) I enjoy your puzzles but has also discussed them with other people who do not have the same background and the general opinion was that they are too specialised ("too specialised" is obviously subjective, because if you intentionally want to focus them on a very small group you're successful). My opinion is that people in general don't want to be taught a helova lot of theory before they are able to do a puzzle. You must be able to read if fairly quickly and if you're not tickled by the content most will just ignore it - even puzzles are primarily about fun and not knowledge.

 

2) My personal biggest issue with your caches is that they can only be attempted at night. A very small percentage of cachers who do not live in the immediate area will travel to do a cache at night. Of course you can also bargain on bad weather days, etc. but the bottom line is that this will also reduce your number of possible clients, i.e. more people who will miss out on what is a brilliant hide for "water" at least...

 

3) The difficult rating is VERY subjective - what might be a 3 star for Besem is definitely a 5 star for most, not because the maths are so difficult but because they must first grasp the principles before starting with the calculations.

 

4) Finally, there's nothing wrong with difficult puzzles per se but then you must expect and accept fewer finds. WOW is one thing but you actually have to get there to experience it (and as Tom already pointed out WOW is also subjective - you also see the whole cache and rightly think they are WOW but everyone else only sees a brain numbing puzzle on the computer screen).

 

Don't be discouraged! Do a 3rd short, easy one (also interesting with a good hide of course!), see what offers you the most satisfaction (status quo vs more logs with comments) and base you future hides on that.

 

All the best!

H

[+CapeDoc]

 

Don't be discouraged! Do a 3rd short, easy one (also interesting with a good hide of course!), see what offers you the most satisfaction (status quo vs more logs with comments) and base you future hides on that.

 

I think that is very sage advice. Well put Hesamati. Some part of placing caches is doing something for a community and trying to WOW them, some part of placing caches is "selfish" inthat we want to read nice logs. Very hard caches tend to have very few, but long, appreciative logs, easier caches have more, perhaps less detailed logs. As a cache owner you need to figure out what blows your hair back.

[+Max and 99]

In my opinion, any cache that needs a two-paragraph hint is too difficult for most cachers. I'll take a guess that 99% of cachers who enjoy puzzle caches would skip over that one.

NOT that it isn't good, but very drawn-out and difficult! But to each his own, and you obviously put a lot of thought and effort into this puzzle. It's different and challenging, and that's a good thing!

[+Henzz]

One of the problems with these seriously difficult puzzles is that only one or two people really ever crack it the hard way... Thereafter it becomes a buddy-buddy situation... Horse trading becomes the order of the day... "I'll help you with a clue on this cache, and you can help me on that one..."

 

As cache owner you won't always know for certain whether cacher X really cracked the puzzle, whether he got a nudge from a buddy, or whether his mate actually just gave him the whole solution, with final coordinates, the whole shebang...

[The-Eaves]

Many thanks to you all for your input. I agree with most of what has been said and will modify the two which are in the pipeline...

 

Will post a link as soon as they've been published so those who have contributed can see their influence...

 

Again many many thanks

[+Discombob]

I was in the area while on holiday recently, and saw this cache on my nuvi. I had a brief read through and it sounded like a well thought out, cunning cache, but such tricky puzzles are not for me. Normally a puzzle of more than 3 star dificulty I tend to ignore, knowing I propably don't have a chance of solving, or that if do, it would take up more time in front of the pc, which I would rather not be doing.

 

To me, my favourite puzzle caches are ones that are solved on site, so you can relax on a good hike in the sun (or shade), have a snack and work on the puzzle (not tooo hard for ones on site!)

Great examples of this type of puzzle on site caches are Gold, Da vinci code (to a degree a puzzle), El Georado, The Quest, Earth fire air water, (I haven't done it, but think its something like that,) and of course, my Harry potter and the philisophers cache

[The-Eaves]

Great examples of this type of puzzle on site caches are Gold, Da vinci code (to a degree a puzzle), El Georado, The Quest, Earth fire air water, (I haven't done it, but think its something like that,) and of course, my Harry potter and the philisophers cache!

 

And... Archaeology 101

[+Carbon Hunter]

My favorite is in Gauteng - Stoddard's demise

[The-Eaves]

Thanks again guys for your constructive criticism. I have just sent a new cache for review. Perhaps you will see evidence of your suggestions in the design of the puzzle.

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=27cc4f61-a4b2-4207-a31b-86f9adbb8127

(should be published in the next day or so - Blouberg area)

[The-Eaves]

Released much adrenaline while placing this cache... I'm going through a withdrawal now! Gonna have to think up another mad cache. Real pity you guys will be spared all the danger associated with the intermediate.

 

Been 3 days now... I'm surprised ROTSIP or Fish Eagle have not published it yet... mmm...

[+cincol]

 

Been 3 days now... I'm surprised ROTSIP or Fish Eagle have not published it yet... mmm...

 

Here we have reviewers who are USA based [erik88-LR and CrowTrobot(sp)] and our caches get published, on average, within a few hours [time zone differences allowed obviously]. If there is a query there is an e-mail within the same time period as well. My EarthCaches also get published within a couple of days - different reviewers. I noticed recently that the caches I placed in SA took a good few days to be published - not sure why? Perhaps it is the huge number of caches submitted these days in SA?

[+cownchicken]

FishEagle is not the Reviewer in SA anymore and only helps out if necessary.

Edited May 21, 2011 by cownchicken

[+Fish Eagle]

FishEagle is not the Reviewer in SA anymore and only helps out if necessary.

Thanks cownchicken.

Actually, I've completely retired from cache reviewing, relinquished my superpowers, and am now fully focused on trying to find the elusive things again!!

[+BruceTP]

Been 3 days now... I'm surprised ROTSIP or Fish Eagle have not published it yet... mmm...

The position of reviewer is a totally voluntary one which they try and fit in in between everything else.

Rod, you are doing a sterling job, especially with the volume of caches emanating from Gauteng. It was therefore good to see both you and Joan relaxing and enjoying the picnic event on Saturday. Thank for your commitment in supporting so many of the other events here. It is much appreciated.