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Puzzle Caches


RobCharles1981

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Just a gentle reminder that it's against the terms of use for the site to post solutions to puzzles here.

 

Have you asked the owner? Usually people want their caches to be found, so I would bet that the cache owner will help if you ask.

 

For everyone else:

Remember - do NOT post the solution to this cache puzzle here, no matter how quickly you solved it.

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Just a gentle reminder that it's against the terms of use for the site to post solutions to puzzles here.

Did he ask for the solution? I read that he just wants something to "go on with" which I believe is British speak for a nudge in the right direction.

 

The problem with the website rules is that even sharing hints is not allowed. <_<

Edited by tozainamboku
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Just a gentle reminder that it's against the terms of use for the site to post solutions to puzzles here.

 

Did he ask for the solution? I read that he just wants something to "go on with" which I believe is British speak for a nudge in the right direction.

Did I say I was reminding the original poster? Nope - it was for all of the people that typically jump in and say "the way you solve this problem is..."

 

The problem with the website rules is that even sharing hints is not allowed.

Nope - just posting the solutions here.

 

The "rules" only apply to publishing solutions or hints on a Groundspeak server. If it means that much to you, feel free to email the OP.

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This.

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As Markwell reminded us, according to section 4 of the geocaching.com terms of use, "You agree not to: [...] (m) Publish, on any Groundspeak owned web property, the solutions, hints, spoilers, or any hidden coordinates for any geocache without consent from the cache owner." However, here are some general puzzle tips (based in part on a puzzle-solving class event presented by The Rat a while ago):

 

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, athletes’ jersey numbers, episode numbers, product codes, 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)

Puzzle Shortcuts 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)

 

If you’re interested in extremely challenging puzzles, then consider the online discussions of Venona’s ACTIVITIES in the GBA forums. The puzzles for this annual event are very challenging, intended to be solved by multiple people working together online. (You'll need to register on the GBA site to view these forum threads.)

Overview: Venona's 2011 ACTIVITIES

Overview: Venona's 2012 ACTIVITIES

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Had to take a look. Found what is needed quickly but I can see where this would not be a simple puzzle for maybe 95% of the cachers out there.

 

As others said, it's often just knowing where or how to approach the thing that is the real trick to the puzzle. I've run across some that just make me shake my head. Sometimes I've gone back and taken another look at them later and had that "D'Oh!" moment where I realized that my brain had just been turned off or something the first time I saw the puzzle. Others have eluded me totally...

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