How to set up a puzzle cache?

[Ratz and company]

😆
There are some outstanding and demented puzzle masters in this group so I figure this is a great place to start my education. I agreed to hide a cache for a federal wildlife celebration and am asking if there are books or sites about making code or ciphers. I am not looking for anything that would make people pull their hair out but I would like something differnt. I looked at Marc’s caches and was so lost I decided I would need to learn something about basic encryption! Anyway, not looking for things as difficult as his but would like to get some tips on where to look. Thanks Pam

[marc_54140]

So …. that means you do not like my puzzles?! 🙁

Would not want any advice from me? 😥

[Ratz and company]

😳
I think your caches are wonderful. I am amazed at what you come up with I would love to learn from you but I think it would be like asking Einstien to tutor Home Simpson 😆

If you would like to give me some help that would be great. I keep looking at your caches trying to figure out how to even start them 😳

Thanks Pam 😀

[Lostby7]

@marc_54140 wrote:

So …. that means you do not like my puzzles?! 🙁

Would not want any advice from me? 😥

Ummmm your puzzles are a bit on the hard side…..

Pam feel free to take a look at my collection of puzzles and see if there is a puzzle you’d be interested in and if so drop me a PM. Puzzles don’t NEED to be hard.

[marc_54140]

Gary is right. Puzzles can run the gauntlet, from very easy to very hard.

A Suduko is easy. So is a cache where you are directed to go to a location, find something easy, and then perform another set of instructions.

For example: set up a cache involving historical site or building. Direct cachers to the first stage. (Might be several steps to collect info). Use date on site, or number of windows, etc to compute the final coords.

[Team Deejay]

Marc is right, plus since this is for an event, you probably want to make the puzzle as accessible as possible. For me, this means that you want to do a field puzzle, where you have your finders visit some points of interest in the area to “build” a coordinate from information to be found at the sites. This type of cache is essentially an easy multi, as your finders get to visit multiple locations without the intimidation of a true multi.

Also, don’t think that you have to find the exact numbers at your locations. Just use simple math to get your coordinate. Example:

The North coordinates are 44 55.ABC where ABC is the year Joe Schmoe was born minus 1444.

Should you later determine you need to change the coordinate slightly, just change 1444 to the correct number.

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

… or you could put your puzzle right in the cache itself.

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