Virtuals to be back in May

[Lostby7]

I’m a fan of virts but the ALR part of it will be interesting….considering ALRs are not allowed.

Also the potential for extra administrative load on our reviewers could be problematic. Seriously, what is the first thing that happens when a new cache type is created (not to mention one which does not have a container)? Folks want to get one of the new cache types published….and if this has tight rules governing publication, the reviewers are going to have a hell of a time with all the submissions (and potentially subsequent denials).

[seldom|seen]

@zuma wrote:

On the other side though, both of these were in places a physical could be located, with a little more effort, both by the placer and the finder.

I think virts appeal to the type of cacher who the main goal is to find great places. Some of us are not so interested in making caching a constant struggle. Understandably, virts tend to not appeal to those who prefer to make caching a struggle either by figuring out puzzles or looking for cleverly concealed micros.

zuma

If virts had never gone away, it is likely that more than 75% of my puzzles would have been virts to begin with. My desire has never been to make caching a struggle and by necessity of having no other cache classification, they become defacto puzzles. Despite the fact that most are about place, history or person and are not, in my opinion, a puzzle. By the same token, I have no desire to just place a container out there simply to get people to come to it and sign a slip of paper, that to me is folly (unless you have an ultra-rare occasion to bring cachers to a place that is new or unique).

Bringing them back certainly changes the game for me. It means I don’t have to trouble with the necessity of having a physical cache for cache ideas that never merited one to begin with. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an opportunity to reclassify and pull all those useless defacto caches out of the field!

[RSplash40]

@seldom|seen wrote:

My desire has never been to make caching a struggle

**brrrhhaaa …. x’cuse me… brrhaa..*coughcoughcough* something bblllaaaaahhhccckk… hufhuf… caught… *cough* hrmmmmmmmmghghh.. in my…. *GRRRAAAAAGGGH* throat *coughcoughcough*

😀

[CodeJunkie]

S|S – Don’t despair over the containers. The “seek” part of the game (i.e. puzzles included) is enjoyed by many even if it is a sign post, guardrail, etc. In fact many of the puzzles I’ve solved wouldn’t have been solved without the lure of the physical container. And I’ve also learned of so many online sources for lots of information, that the actual find is what gets me “there” many times to actually experience / see it.

[seldom|seen]

@RSplash40 wrote:

@seldom|seen wrote:

My desire has never been to make caching a struggle

**brrrhhaaa …. x’cuse me… brrhaa..*coughcoughcough* something bblllaaaaahhhccckk… hufhuf… caught… *cough* hrmmmmmmmmghghh.. in my…. *GRRRAAAAAGGGH* throat *coughcoughcough*

😀

Oh Rsplash, you know you’d ave rather run the ET Highway, when it existed, than work through a dozen of my easiest puzzles 😉

The keyword it “desire” translated “intent”. What actually transpires is another matter… It bares repeating that I am always open and willing to assist, though it sometimes takes a couple days to get to requests.

Not saying there aren’t some real challenges in the mix or that I haven’t created a few headbangers, just that it isn’t the motivating factor and I would much rather create a easy puzzle that gets people to experience something new that create a challenging puzzle that doesn’t.

[Decrepit]

I’m glad to see they are back. It’s getting harder and harder to find caches that “Old” can attempt. Most are not wheelchair frendly or only 10 feet from the car. It sucks getting old.

[Team Honeybunnies]

I have mixed feelings on the return of virtuals. I voted for it in the feedback forums, but boy I really want to see some quality control.

We make a point of seeking out virtuals when traveling, including 11 of them on our spring vacation. Quality is just as inconstant as with any other cache type and ranged anywhere from unmonitored, no-answer-needed piffle up through some really compelling stuff.

We have a disproportionate number of virtuals on our favorites list for good reason. Even if the requirements are at times lame they regularly take us to some amazing, amazing stuff. Last summer we went to Glacier NP, and did every virtual in the park. None of them had amazing requirements, but c’mon, we were in the Crown of the Continent! Geocaching for me, at its best is still about location, location, location.

While it appears the restrictions are slooowly loosening on the placement of physical caches in National Parks, they are still the best argument for the return of virtuals. We did a physical multi with all of the waypoints virtual in Teddy Roosevelt National Park, then had to take a 20 mile drive down the interstate for the final container. Yes you can have a phsical final outside the park just about anywhere, but is that really desirable?

By the same token, I don’t want them to all become 10 stop story problems. Sometimes an easy virtual lets you concentrate on what you’vce been brought to rather than what’s expected of you.

No matter what they end up being, we’ll be doing them.

[The Happy Hodag!]

@gotta run wrote:

@-cheeto- wrote:

@sweetlife wrote:

hopefully our reviewers will keep the standards high, even if groundspeak says they can highlight a guardrail, I would hope they don’t allow it

And yet an physical cache can highlight a guardrail. Sorry, I’ll stop now.

There are some really nice guard rails out there…some have the buttress end, others go right to the ground. You can even find a few of the old cut off ones that are great to tbone a car into. Lots of interesting stuff for the discerning cacher.

That’ll be my next cache, I’ll place it in a guard rail and call it T-Bone. Thanks for the idea and the chuckle!

-The Happy Hodag!

The buck stops here. . .and gets entered into Where's George.

Where's George? Stimulating the economy one EMS'ed dollar at a time.

[Lostby7]

Well May is in full swing….anyone know more bout this….(well anyone who can tell what they know)?

[huffinpuffin2]

Great Time-ing, Lostby7!

Hot off the wire:

“We continue to work on the project, but unfortunately will be unable to launch something until late June or early July. I’ll update this if anything changes. We’ll be incorporating the concept into our August 20 Block Party in Seattle, so early August is the absolute latest that we’ll have something live. (13675)
D8694a01-3296-482a-864d-963873e38ba9

Jeremy
Admin, Geocaching “

You can see this and all other comments, plus leave a few of your own, here: http://feedback.geocaching.com/forums/75775-geocaching-com/suggestions/1050805-bring-back-virtuals?tracking_code=63af2944a9b7b2c90d037bde65eb8b23

[huffinpuffin2]

TBC: Can this be moved to the “Hunting and Hiding” forum section, perhaps under its own heading, like “Virtual Cache Discussion”. With the pending relaunch of Virtuals, the topic load will likely sneak up to the Earthcache level. Thx

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