Deego Posted October 13, 2003 Share Posted October 13, 2003 Have placed my first 2 caches this week. But am unsure how much Additional Hints I should give. Is it best to spell it out? i.e "its on the 3rd post from the left", or hint a little "try looking in the posts" I enjoy using Caching to go to places I would not normally go to. But I know some people Enjoy the hunt. I know I cant please everybody, But just wondered Thanks Deego ------------------------------------------------------------ I am not lost, I am geographically embarrassed www.briandeegan.co.uk Quote Link to comment
+Rocky Balboa Posted October 13, 2003 Share Posted October 13, 2003 Its totally up to you how much info you want to give, just make sure to adjust the difficulty rating appropriately. If there is no clue whatsoever then I would like to think that a cache be rated more highly in that department, It drives me mad when i'm in the middle of a wood with no clue and its a 1 star! Some people like big hints and some don't but in the end its the variety that makes caching what it is so follow your heart! Its just a hunt for a lunch box, why be so serious!?! © Dan Wilson - www.Buckscaching.co.uk - Stash Notes, forums & Much more... Quote Link to comment
+stu_and_sarah Posted October 14, 2003 Share Posted October 14, 2003 Yeah... what Dan said! I think concise, precise instructions to find the cache are good. Those who like the hunt can do it without decrypting. Those who like the walk can do it with the clue. It needs to be concise so that decrypting in the field is easier. Whatever you do, don't give a clue about parking (duh), or say "under a rock" when it's hidden in a boulder field. Otherwise you'll end up on the "useless hints" section of the Hunt/Unusual forum! As Dan said, it depends on the difficulty of your cache, but think about someone who's in the right sort of area, but just can't twig exactly where the box is. Cheers, Stu Quote Link to comment
+Pooter Posted October 14, 2003 Share Posted October 14, 2003 My view is that the harder and more time-consuming the trek to the cache site is, the more spelt out the hints should be. When time comes, we'll all be drownded, lad Quote Link to comment
+Flyfishermanbob Posted October 25, 2003 Share Posted October 25, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Pooter:My view is that the harder and more time-consuming the trek to the cache site is, the more spelt out the hints should be. When time comes, we'll all be drownded, lad Quite true , but even a 1/1 cache can be a 2 hour drive away !.. The intention must surely be to share the location ....give the player the option of opting out if the search is fruitless! ["Work is for those who dont have a GPS"] Quote Link to comment
+The Wombles Posted October 26, 2003 Share Posted October 26, 2003 I've taken to rating the cache without hints and including a note on the cache page that if the hint is decoded then the difficulty reduces to x. Generally the hint should be pretty specific since people have probably driven many miles to get to your cache and don't want to go away disappointed. I'd give a hint to a low-rated cache which is exact, ie "under the second bush from the West" (real example), or for a cache rated as difficult then I'd give a hint like "close to the fence" (another real example). Dave Founder member of GAGB Quote Link to comment
+makerofthingsup Posted October 26, 2003 Share Posted October 26, 2003 I usually put a hint that will enable you to find the cache easily if you are within fifteen feet or so. I have been frustrated in the past by hints not being clear enough especialy in areas where there is heavy tree cover and weaker signal strength. Manufacturer of the finest sense for over half an hour Quote Link to comment
The Cuthberts Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 quote:Whatever you do, don't give a clue about parking (duh), or say "under a rock" when it's hidden in a boulder field. Otherwise you'll end up on the "useless hints" section of the Hunt/Unusual forum! I had to grin when I read the bit about rocks. However, when we started out with no maps and just a bit of software that gave N and W coords, the parking information was invaluable in strange areas.(Thanks Wombles). We have further used it (as with offsets) to guide a cacher through, what is hopefully, a nice route to the cache. These days, we tend to use maps so we don't start 'garden-hopping'. We can thank Huga for this as we had to backtrack quite a distance with his 'Playground' cache Andy Quote Link to comment
+Team S-J Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 It's a pity there can't be two levels of hints. The first being helpful but nothing too specific. Then another level when all hope is lost. Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Team S-J:It's a pity there can't be two levels of hints. The first being helpful but nothing too specific. Then another level when all hope is lost. There's nothing to stop you putting two (or more) hints on the cache page. Just put [First Hint] at the beginning of the hint and [second Hint] at the start of the second hint. You can decode the first hint and if you still can't find the cache then you can decode the second part. The text inside the [] won't be encrypted. John And should you ask, am I at ease there? I'd answer "Yes. Oh yes indeed". For my heart it dwells in lonely places, where springs leap down, where ravens feed. Quote Link to comment
+Slytherin Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 And of course aviod at all costs providing a "smartarse" type of clue like "you shouldn't need a clue" If anyone gets to the stage where they take the time to decode the hint, then of course they need a clue!!! I'd certainly support the idea of having the double hint as Pharisee suggests. Not that I ever have to decode the clues anyway, but I know that other people might Alex. ------------------------------------------------ Knights of the Green Shield stamp and shout..... Quote Link to comment
dodgydaved Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Slytherin: Not that I ever have to decode the clues anyway, but I know that other people might Alex. ------------------------------------------------ Knights of the Green Shield stamp and shout..... ........no, but I bet the odd phone call in the middle of one of my year 10i IT lessons has helped....... dodgydaved I'm NOT lost, I know exactly where I am, I'm here! Quote Link to comment
+Slytherin Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Dodgydaved:........no, but I bet the odd phone call in the middle of one of my year 10i IT lessons has helped....... dodgydaved Is it my fault that I don't know what a rhododendron bush looks like?? I'm a geocacher not a bloody botanist !! Anyway, you got me pissed the night before and my head was still fuzzy, so it doesn't count. Alex. ------------------------------------------------ Knights of the Green Shield stamp and shout..... Quote Link to comment
+makerofthingsup Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 I think the two level of clue thing is a great idea, it should be on the log page though for folk who don't understand HTML stuff. Manufacturer of the finest sense for over half an hour Quote Link to comment
dodgydaved Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Slytherin: Anyway, you got me pissed the night before and my head was still fuzzy, so it doesn't count. Alex. ------------------------------------------------ Knights of the Green Shield stamp and shout..... ...............fair comment! dodgydaved I'm NOT lost, I know exactly where I am, I'm here! Quote Link to comment
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