+spirothebudgie Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Hi again I have this idea for a geocache where you need to bring a battery to open it, my question is should I list it as a puzzle cache or can I just list it as a traditional? I'd like to hide it as a traditional because it will get more visitors but the problem is I think a traditional cache is meant to be able to be completed without reading the listing maybe I'm wrong? Thanks! Quote Link to comment
+J Grouchy Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 If the only thing keeping folks out is the battery, I don't see why that wouldn't just be a traditional. I've seen traditionals with locks (for muggle deterrence) where the combination was given in the description. Folks should always at least scan the description, no matter what kind it is. Quote Link to comment
+Bear and Ragged Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Hi again I have this idea for a geocache where you need to bring a battery to open it, my question is should I list it as a puzzle cache or can I just list it as a traditional? I'd like to hide it as a traditional because it will get more visitors but the problem is I think a traditional cache is meant to be able to be completed without reading the listing maybe I'm wrong? Thanks! NO cache is meant to be "able to be completed without reading the listing" List it as a Traditional, don't be surprised if when it gets broken. Quote Link to comment
+spirothebudgie Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 Ok I've hidden electronic caches before, and if they don't read the listing then too bad Thanks! Quote Link to comment
+ADKer Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 I agree. I've found traditional that have locks on them. It's no problem at all. Now if you didn't specifically tell them to use a battery and instead gave them a riddle, then it might be a puzzle. Quote Link to comment
+Walts Hunting Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Hi again I have this idea for a geocache where you need to bring a battery to open it, my question is should I list it as a puzzle cache or can I just list it as a traditional? I'd like to hide it as a traditional because it will get more visitors but the problem is I think a traditional cache is meant to be able to be completed without reading the listing maybe I'm wrong? Thanks! NO cache is meant to be "able to be completed without reading the listing" List it as a Traditional, don't be surprised if when it gets broken. Actually in the current version of the game MOST caches are meant to be completed without reading the listing. I did about 25 yesterday on my bike and never read a description. Did read the occassiona hint or log but there was no reason to read the description. What the OP said is becoming a cultural norm for many. Quote Link to comment
+spirothebudgie Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 Well yeah that's what I was sort of thinking too, but if I make the name of the cache obvious (''bring a battery'') or something like that then people may read the listing if there is something in the name... maybe Thanks for all the help and advice Quote Link to comment
+Walts Hunting Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Putting it in the title would probably be best or people will come not prepared and some will get annoyed and probably try to break it open. You will also have to deal with logs like this We got there and didn't know a battery was needed but we (signed the container, left a new log with a signature, figure since we found the box it is a find) found logs. In case you think that is rare I ran into it a couple of days ago. I use GSAK to filter out caches where the last two logs are not finds but anything else. Did a multi stop one in San Luis Obispo and couldn't find the container. Read the logs and the last 5 of 6 were DNF but the second was a found log commenting that the end container was missing. I quick NA log and it is now disabled pending repair. Quote Link to comment
+TriciaG Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Be sure to add the "special tool needed" attribute. Quote Link to comment
+dprovan Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 I'd like to hide it as a traditional because it will get more visitors but the problem is I think a traditional cache is meant to be able to be completed without reading the listing maybe I'm wrong? You'll get more visitors, but you'll also get a higher ratio of frustrated and annoyed visitors. The comments to the effect that all listings should be read in advance are nice, but that fact remains that lots of people don't read the descriptions at all, let alone in preparation, so keep that in mind as you consider what kind of experience people are going to have with your cache. Personally, I'd list it as a puzzle, and I'd prefer it be listed as a puzzle, but I agree there's nothing wrong with listing it as a traditional if that's how you decide to play it. Quote Link to comment
+J Grouchy Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Well yeah that's what I was sort of thinking too, but if I make the name of the cache obvious (''bring a battery'') or something like that then people may read the listing if there is something in the name... maybe Thanks for all the help and advice You should call it *Batteries not included, then state in the first sentence something like "Opening this cache requires one AA battery" or something to that effect. As for a requirement for reading the description...of course not. Only challenge caches require doing anything aside from signing the log. Cachers just need to be aware that it's their own problem if they go looking for it without fore-knowledge. I've made it a habit of always at least skimming the description, checking for a hint and scanning the logs for any DNFs or NM logs. I don't have to, of course...but it sure has saved me a lot of trouble in many instances. Also...you should be willing to delete any log that states that they could not open it and couldn't sign the log. If you are going to set it up with that special condition, you need to be willing to keep up with it. Quote Link to comment
+Lil Devil Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 If the required battery is a AA, then 99% of the GPS crowd will have have the battery handy. Just borrow one out of the GPS. Those that use a smartphone, they will just log a Needs Maintenance or Needs Archived or use a nearby rock to gain access to the log. Quote Link to comment
+Harry Dolphin Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 It's a traditional, not a mystery. Would definitely be nice to forewarn the cachers. I seldom read cache pages until I'm at the site. (And, yes, I get annoyed to find I should have run the Youtube video first! But that doesn't make it a mystery/unknown. That makes it a bad cache page.) Quote Link to comment
+niraD Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 I have this idea for a geocache where you need to bring a battery to open it, my question is should I list it as a puzzle cache or can I just list it as a traditional?What happens when someone inserts the battery? If something automatically opens/raises/lowers/whatever and the cache is then readily available, then it's probably best to list it as a traditional cache with the special equipment attribute. But if the battery operates some sort of electronic puzzle, and solving the puzzle makes the cache available, then it's probably best to list it as a mystery/puzzle cache with the field puzzle attribute. I'd like to hide it as a traditional because it will get more visitors but the problem is I think a traditional cache is meant to be able to be completed without reading the listing maybe I'm wrong?I think that's putting the cart before the horse. You should describe the cache accurately (including its type, difficulty and terrain ratings, and size). Then those who are interested in that type of cache can look for it, and those who aren't can look for something more to their liking. Consider someone who is searching for traditional caches; what kinds of caches does this person expect? Consider someone who is searching for mystery/puzzle caches; what kinds of caches does this person expect? Then consider which category your cache best fits into, and which group of geocachers is going to be happy to find your cache. Quote Link to comment
+WarNinjas Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 niraD said what I was going to say. Add the Field puzzle attribute. It might be a hassle to maintain but if you are worried there will be cachers showing up without a battery you could hide some nearby in a lock n lock or something and then give a hint to where those are hidden. Might get people logging a find for finding the batteries but those who like to solve the cache and sign the log might find it helpful. Quote Link to comment
+Chrysalides Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Might get people logging a find for finding the batteries but those who like to solve the cache and sign the log might find it helpful. Or "I should get two smileys for finding the battery and the geocache" I seem to recall a geocaching video where one of the featured caches is a cache where you use the battery (from your GPSr) and it operates a worm drive that raises the cache container. Ah, found it. (at around the 2 minute mark) The cache : http://coord.info/GCP9G9 - listed as traditional with 500+ favorite points Quote Link to comment
+niraD Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Might get people logging a find for finding the batteries but those who like to solve the cache and sign the log might find it helpful.Or "I should get two smileys for finding the battery and the geocache" Maybe it should be a multi-cache... Quote Link to comment
+NYPaddleCacher Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Might get people logging a find for finding the batteries but those who like to solve the cache and sign the log might find it helpful. Or "I should get two smileys for finding the battery and the geocache" I seem to recall a geocaching video where one of the featured caches is a cache where you use the battery (from your GPSr) and it operates a worm drive that raises the cache container. Ah, found it. (at around the 2 minute mark) The cache : http://coord.info/GCP9G9 - listed as traditional with 500+ favorite points I stayed at a hotel in West Virginia that was very close to a cache which required a vehicle and jumper cables. The listing didn't specifically say that you needed jumper cables but it was pretty obvious from the description. Quote Link to comment
+spirothebudgie Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 Interesting... From what I see technically I can make this a traditional but I don't want frustrated cachers who haven't read the listing forcing/breaking it open so I think I'll make it a puzzle cache Thanks for all the advice! Quote Link to comment
+Lloyd & Harry Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I think there is no problem as long as you say in the cache page listing "you need to bring a battery" like in many of the other posts. It's nobody\s fault except for theirs if they don't read it. Quote Link to comment
+spirothebudgie Posted July 19, 2014 Author Share Posted July 19, 2014 Thanks for all the help, I ended up publishing it as an unknown http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC58ZMZ_bring-a-battery?guid=15890c64-730e-4e6e-badd-59a00cb0ffc5 Thanks! Quote Link to comment
+niraD Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 3 Finds and 3 Favorites... Congratulations on placing a great cache! Quote Link to comment
+spirothebudgie Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share Posted July 20, 2014 3 Finds and 3 Favorites... Congratulations on placing a great cache! Thanks! Took a while to make but I think it was worth it! Quote Link to comment
+Team Dredd Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Those that use a smartphone, they will just log a Needs Maintenance or Needs Archived or use a nearby rock to gain access to the log. Good Grief Quote Link to comment
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