Help with Ciphers

[____fdezarra]

My kids and I just started today with our very first hunt which we found. That sparked lots of enthusiasm which was subsequently tempered when we tried to get the second closest cache to our location. It required solving mamabearcrew's Cypher #1 At A Crosswords to get the true coordinates.

 

The question is: I know the fun is in the solving of the puzzles but if you cant get to the right place, its not fun at all. While plenty of people can solve these puzzles, we are literally brand spanking noobies to this. And I want to keep my kids hooked so I need a few new ones. When we are stuck, as we are now, are there any resources we can turn to to get some hints to help nudge us alone?

 

Thanks.

[+speakers-corner]

First of all, welcome to the game.

The Cache you have chosen is a rather hard one (3/1). Try looking for a few easier ones (1/1 or 1,5/1). If it has to be a puzzle-cache have a look at GC3HXFS or GC3VJTT. If you still want to try this Cache contact the owner and ask for help, or, there are many sites on the internet that help solve crosswords, not necessarily this one though.

[+niraD]

When we are stuck, as we are now, are there any resources we can turn to to get some hints to help nudge us alone?

Actually, when you're a just getting started, it is often best to start with traditional caches, which will be at the published coordinates. But if you're interested in puzzles, then go for it. Just don't get hung up on one puzzle and let it taint your overall geocaching experience.

 

I tend to look at several unsolved puzzles at a time. If I solve one, then I record the solution so I can search for it later. If I make progress, but don't get the final solution, then I take notes so I can pick up where I left off the next time I'm working on puzzles. And if I don't make any progress, then I just set it aside until next time. And after a bunch of years and a bunch of puzzle caches, there are puzzle caches near home that I still haven't solved. Some of them may even be archived before I come up with a solution. So it goes.

 

You can also contact the owner of the puzzle cache. It's helpful if you can explain what you've tried so far, so the owner has some idea where you're stuck, and what kind of help might be useful. Actually, more than once I've started to draft such a message, and in the process of writing out my thoughts about the puzzle, I came up with the solution. So that might be a good approach anyway.

 

And attend some local events. You might meet the owner, or you might meet others who have solved it (and can give you hints), or you might meet others who haven't solved it (and would like to work together on it). And you'll learn about other aspects of the local geocaching situation.

 

Also, here are some general puzzle tips (based in part on a puzzle-solving class event presented by The Rat a while ago) that I've posted before:

 

Identify the theme. Check the cache title, the hint, the HTML source, the graphics (including names/URLs), any links (including URLs), whatever is at the posted coordinates, etc. If you can figure out the theme, then you should look for numbering systems that are associated with that theme (zip codes, athletes’ jersey numbers, episode numbers, product codes, etc.).

 

Around here, coordinates will have 15 digits, and will look like "N 37° xx.xxx W 122° xx.xxx". So when I'm solving a nearby puzzle, I look for a group of 15 things, and then I look for ways to get the digits 37xxxxx122xxxxx from them. In general, I look for ways to get the number 37 (or the digits 3 and 7) from something near the beginning of the puzzle, and the number 122 (or the digits 1, 2, and 2) from something near the middle of the puzzle. (Of course, you'll need to adjust this for the coordinates near you.)

 

Other useful resources include:

Puzzle Solving 101 Series (bookmark list)

Calgary Puzzle Solving 101 (bookmark list)

Puzzle Shortcuts Series (bookmark list)

Solving Puzzle Caches (online article)

How Do I Solve All These $@! Puzzle Caches? (tutorial-style puzzle cache)

Puzzle FUNdamentals (archived event cache) and the Puzzle FUNdamentals resources on the GeocacheAlaska! education page

The GBA's Puzzle Cache FAQ (for puzzle designers, but useful for understanding how puzzle caches work)

LANAKI's Classical Cryptography Course

How to Puzzle Cache (book)

[+steben6]

Good resources listed above! Some puzzles are way harder than others. Don't get discouraged. If you ever need help, email the CO (cache owner) and see if they will give you hints. Many of them are very willing to help.

 

Here is a good link for different ciphers:

 

Cipher Tools

 

Happy Caching!

[____fdezarra]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I will get back to work!!