LCG Change Request

[CodeJunkie]

My change request is:

Switch the number of caches available in the Lonely Cache Game to 1000 / cycle instead of 500 / cycle

I wasn’t around when this started, but know that Pocket Queries used to be limited to only 500 caches which would seem to be a good reason to only allow 500 caches on the LCG list which is obviously important for anyone trying to download the list. Now that PQ’s allow 1000 caches this could be increased to match the PQ limit.

I also know there are many more participants in the LCG game and this change would provide more caches across the entire state for the game for everyone playing.

I know the bookmark list is built manually, so I know this is a concern to the admins of the game and would certainly welcome their input on the effects of this change. As a programmer, I know that many times what appears to be a simple request is not exactly easy to implement. This is my “simple” request and I’m looking for input from both the administration side and the players side.

[labrat_wr]

I am not sure this is from the player or the admin side but increasing the available caches to 1000 may start to defeat the intentions of the game. The caches on the list are usually ones that have not been found in the past 6-8 months (roughly). Increasing the cache number may reduce that “Lonely” time to 3-4 months which, depending on the cache may not be “lonely” at all but just the normal cycle of the seasons.
I will allow the “loaders” to chime in on my supposition.
Also, isn’t there a limit to the number of caches on a bookmark list?

Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.

[Walkingadventure]

Watching this with interest.

Following the signals from space.

[CodeJunkie]

@labrat_wr wrote:

The caches on the list are usually ones that have not been found in the past 6-8 months (roughly). Increasing the cache number may reduce that “Lonely” time to 3-4 months which, depending on the cache may not be “lonely” at all but just the normal cycle of the seasons.

According to the LCG Scoring / Rules page

4. The cache must be on the Wisconsin Lonely Cache Bookmark List. This list will usually be comprised of either all caches in the state of Wisconsin which have not been found in the past 4 months or the 500 caches which gone the longest without being found, whichever is smaller. If you notice a cache that was left off the list accidentally, let me know and I will add it. Every two months, we will refresh the list, removing caches found and adding caches which have become “lonely”.

I’ve noticed the “length” of loneliness getting longer the last few cycles meaning there are more caches unvisited out there. Increasing the size of the list would put more on the list bringing it back closer to the 4 month mark hopefully which in turn should (in theory) increase the quality of the caches in WI.

@labrat_wr wrote:

I will allow the “loaders” to chime in.

I agree 100% which is why I included their input in the original post. I’m not sure where the bulk of the work lies in generating this list and I certainly don’t won’t to put undo burden on the volunteers.

@labrat_wr wrote:

Also, isn’t there a limit to the number of caches on a bookmark list?

I’m not 100% certain about the length of a bookmark list, because a quick search didn’t yield anything. I did notice on the list page the dropdown for how many to display per page goes up to 1000 so I would assume 1000.

PQ’s were changed to 1000 a while ago and perhaps bookmarks are the same size.

[kungfuhippie]

@Walkingadventure wrote:

Watching this with interest.

Me too, more lonelies = more fun for us since most of my favorite caches/adventures have been on LCG runs. Of course, maybe I just like multis. 😯

[labrat_wr]

okay, thanks for clarifying via the rule book CJ. I was going strictly by memory which apparently has been failing 🙂

Still wondering if bringing it down to the 4 month since last find level will result in more action on more lonely caches or more action on the most recently found lonely caches.
I was heavy in the LCG in its early days but lonely caches in my range have been very limited and tend to be revisit opps only.

I do hope that the LCG will evolve. It will depend on the ease of making the changes though.

Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.

[JimandLinda]

Would it be possible to have 2 groups of Lonely Caches?
You could sort them by stars for D/T or by how long it has been since a cache was found.

A Novice Group for new LCG players? And an Expert Group for those with more than 1 year experience?
It would give 2 different award groups for the LCG Event, too, which might increase attendance.

Just some “salt” to stimulate more thought to keeping quality caches in Wisconsin!

[Muggle B]

I guess im curious to why there wasn’t 500 on this last list, I actually have never seen a list with 500 caches on it (granted ive only seen 6 lists total) the number is usually around 485. Seems we are being shorted.

Quote
“have not been found in the past 4 months or the 500 caches which gone the longest without being found, whichever is smaller”

the cut off for this last list seemed to be around July 10th of 2010, much longer than the 4 months, so according to the rule there should have been at least 500 on the list. minus the one they took off due to problems with the name.

Id like to see 1000 on the list, but if thats not possible, id like to see at least the full 500.

JMO’s

[sandlanders]

There are always lots of lonely caches that go unchecked in each cycle. It’s just a matter of how far you want to go to see if those caches are still in play or MIA or trashed.

[labrat_wr]

When there are less than 500, it would be due to the “if one more day were added to the search, more thatn 500 caches would be returned”. So if greater than 500, which caches would make the list and which would be left off.

Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.

[Author]

Posts