How to write a mystery cache

[+sthrnbt]

I am trying to set up a geoart cache. There are 16 caches to find and when completed, the 17th one can be found emailing me when all 16 are done and I will give them the coordinates. I tried setting it up, and the limit is 500 characters. A puzzle with various questions with the correct answer having the correct coordinates to this geoart kind of cache. Is there a stepby step training site? I have tried numerous times and still don't get it ::-( Thank you

[+NYPaddleCacher]

I am trying to set up a geoart cache. There are 16 caches to find and when completed, the 17th one can be found emailing me when all 16 are done and I will give them the coordinates. I tried setting it up, and the limit is 500 characters. A puzzle with various questions with the correct answer having the correct coordinates to this geoart kind of cache. Is there a stepby step training site? I have tried numerous times and still don't get it ::-( Thank you

 

You can't set up a cache that requires people to send you email for the coordinates.

 

"The information needed to solve this type cache must be available to the general community and the puzzle should be solvable from the information provided on the cache page."

Even if the guidelines allowed you to do this, it could be a maintenance nightmare. If any of the 16 caches goes missing, nobody would be able to gather all the information need to find the 17th cache. I've *tried* to do several caches which only had 6 caches which needed to be found to get the information for a 7th cache and in three difference instances one of those 6 caches had gone missing and I wasn't able to complete the series.

[Pup Patrol]

I am trying to set up a geoart cache. There are 16 caches to find and when completed, the 17th one can be found emailing me when all 16 are done and I will give them the coordinates. I tried setting it up, and the limit is 500 characters. A puzzle with various questions with the correct answer having the correct coordinates to this geoart kind of cache. Is there a stepby step training site? I have tried numerous times and still don't get it ::-( Thank you

 

Oh, dear. That's not allowed.

 

The Guidelines should be your first stop:

 

https://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx

 

Next stop should be the Help Center, specifically the section about hiding caches.

 

Help Center

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php

 

Help Center - Hiding a Geocache

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.book&id=19

 

Help Center → Hiding a Geocache → Review Process: Hiding a Geocache

1.18. Mystery/Puzzle

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=277

 

 

B.

Edited February 15, 2015 by Pup Patrol

[+kunarion]

I tried setting it up, and the limit is 500 characters.

There's a limit of 500 characters in the "Summary", which is called the "Short Description" once published. It's short . The next box is for the "Description", which is where to put the main part of the puzzle text.

 

As mentioned, you'll probably need to re-think the puzzle plan. Devise a way that cachers can find the Final without having to contact you.

Edited February 15, 2015 by kunarion

[+Beach_hut]

Also from the guidelines:

 

Other than documenting a Challenge Cache, physical caches cannot require geocachers to contact anyone.

 

Edit: can you try putting one digit in each cache?

Edited February 15, 2015 by Beach_hut

[+Bear and Ragged]

Also from the guidelines:

 

Other than documenting a Challenge Cache, physical caches cannot require geocachers to contact anyone.

 

Edit: can you try putting one digit in each cache?

 

Has been done locally to me with:

 

To find this cache you will need to visit at least 5 of the 6 "Insert Cache Name" caches encircling the town.

 

Each of those will give you the value of two of the six letter values needed to fill in the missing co-ordinates. I have arranged the numbers so if any one of the caches go missing then the bonus can still be found.

 

Does help if one goes missing, that each cache you DO find has two numbers from the equation.

 

Have also seen it that not all of the caches in a larger series have numbers in. But, care has to be taken that finders don't start to work out which caches have the required numbers...

(Easier to work on a trail, and you find each cache as you travel along it.)

[Pup Patrol]

Also from the guidelines:

 

Other than documenting a Challenge Cache, physical caches cannot require geocachers to contact anyone.

 

Edit: can you try putting one digit in each cache?

 

From the Help Center:

 

1.18. Mystery/Puzzle

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=277

 

Bonus Geocaches

Clues to the bonus geocache location (often coordinates, or partial coordinates in several geocaches) are hidden in one or more other geocaches. Generally, clues for a bonus geocache should not be placed in another bonus geocache, and the bonus geocache belongs to the owner of the geocaches where clues are found.

 

 

B.

[+sthrnbt]

Thanks all of you to the responses. The plan to have them email was just an idea. I looked and couldn't find that guideline but surely won't do that now. The caches have been put in place, and I somehow wanted to have the 16 found first as apposed to going straight to the larger cache at the end. When I go to submit the mystery cache, its asks the coordinates of the 1st one but doesn't ask the description like the rest of them do. I wish there was a step by step instructions ... LOL Thank again for all the help.

[Pup Patrol]

Thanks all of you to the responses. The plan to have them email was just an idea. I looked and couldn't find that guideline but surely won't do that now. The caches have been put in place, and I somehow wanted to have the 16 found first as apposed to going straight to the larger cache at the end. When I go to submit the mystery cache, its asks the coordinates of the 1st one but doesn't ask the description like the rest of them do. I wish there was a step by step instructions ... LOL Thank again for all the help.

 

I'm confused now.

 

I thought you were wanting to publish a series of "mystery" caches to create geoart.

 

Each cache submission page is the same. I don't understand how one would be different from the others.

 

 

B.

[+J Grouchy]

I tried setting it up, and the limit is 500 characters.

There's a limit of 500 characters in the "Summary", which is called the "Short Description" once published. It's short . The next box is for the "Description", which is where to put the main part of the puzzle text.

 

As mentioned, you'll probably need to re-think the puzzle plan. Devise a way that cachers can find the Final without having to contact you.

 

I never really understood the reasoning behind the two text input boxes. The first one is superfluous.

[+cerberus1]

Thanks all of you to the responses. The plan to have them email was just an idea. I looked and couldn't find that guideline but surely won't do that now. The caches have been put in place, and I somehow wanted to have the 16 found first as apposed to going straight to the larger cache at the end. When I go to submit the mystery cache, its asks the coordinates of the 1st one but doesn't ask the description like the rest of them do. I wish there was a step by step instructions ... LOL Thank again for all the help.

 

I'm confused now.

 

I thought you were wanting to publish a series of "mystery" caches to create geoart.

 

Each cache submission page is the same. I don't understand how one would be different from the others.

 

 

B.

I thought the same in the opening post.

Sounded (to me) like a series with a bonus cache at the end, but may end up a multi with that "500 character limit".

Edited February 16, 2015 by cerberus1

[+Viajero Perdido]

I never really understood the reasoning behind the two text input boxes. The first one is superfluous.

Some programs use it to good advantage. In Google Earth for example (load up your GPX files), when you click a cache icon, it shows the summary text. Click through to see the whole listing.

 

And there's plain old readability too. As a human reading a cache page, I *like* seeing a summary at the beginning. (Don't make me read your whole opus just to get the gist.) Having two text fields encourages this.

[+The A-Team]

I never really understood the reasoning behind the two text input boxes. The first one is superfluous.

Some programs use it to good advantage. In Google Earth for example (load up your GPX files), when you click a cache icon, it shows the summary text. Click through to see the whole listing.

 

And there's plain old readability too. As a human reading a cache page, I *like* seeing a summary at the beginning. (Don't make me read your whole opus just to get the gist.) Having two text fields encourages this.

Some GPSrs display the two fields separately, too. I remember my old Magellan Triton did this.

[+BulldogBlitz]

I am trying to set up a geoart cache. There are 16 caches to find and when completed, the 17th one can be found emailing me when all 16 are done and I will give them the coordinates. I tried setting it up, and the limit is 500 characters. A puzzle with various questions with the correct answer having the correct coordinates to this geoart kind of cache. Is there a stepby step training site? I have tried numerous times and still don't get it ::-( Thank you

 

others have pointed out about the no-no "email for coords". however, there is a way for you to do this that would not be an email type situation. one of the online checkers allows for a keyword (instead of the traditional coordinates) to be entered in, you could give a string of random number/letters in the 16 caches and users could then put those together to get the keyword and enter into the checker on #17.

 

#17 could also be set up as a Wherigo with the similar keyword usage within that line.

[+sthrnbt]

I am stuck. Again, I have 16 caches hidden and 16 questions (1 for each cache) The correct multiple choice question for each cache has the coordinates listed next to the right answer. Too, Each hidden cache has 1 of the digits to the final bonus cache coordinates. Trying to set it up in stages, I understand to list the art first, then the physical location of the caches. What puzzles me is why does step one only have you list the coordinates and not the description, or other options the rest of the stages do? :-( I have to list a description for each part stage of the geoart, so that the physical stages can be hidden. I appreciate any help

[+Touchstone]

I am stuck. Again, I have 16 caches hidden and 16 questions (1 for each cache) The correct multiple choice question for each cache has the coordinates listed next to the right answer. Too, Each hidden cache has 1 of the digits to the final bonus cache coordinates. Trying to set it up in stages, I understand to list the art first, then the physical location of the caches. What puzzles me is why does step one only have you list the coordinates and not the description, or other options the rest of the stages do? :-( I have to list a description for each part stage of the geoart, so that the physical stages can be hidden. I appreciate any help

If I'm understanding your question correctly, the coordinates are the first step in creating a Listing. The online maps will show you nearby caches that are visible to everyone. On that same page, you will have the option to add Additional Waypoints, and be given the option to mark them as a Physical or Virtual Stage.

 

The reason the coordinates come first is because if there is any obvious proximity issues to nearby caches, you can correct them before submitting the Listing for Review. If you submit a Listing with a known proximity issue, in all likelihood, it will get rejected by the Reviewer.

 

Hidden Waypoints, such as Puzzle and Multi Finals and Stages, will not be shown on that initial step. A Reviewer would have to tell you if you are too close to those types of things.

[+K13]

Have you asked your Reviewer for advice with what you are trying to accomplish? He will be your best help when you submit them all as a "package", and he will likely appreciate the heads up about them coming, so he can publish them as a group, instead of a few at a time, when he gets to them in his queue.

[+palmetto]

I speculate that you may trying to write up your 17 different cache pages on a single cache report form ?

 

You need 17 separate cache pages, one for each listing.

 

>>>>>>When filling the form, having selected Mystery as type, you'll be asked for the Final coords FIRST. Input those coords, then just above them, click the + STAGE (add stage). Add your listing coords (bogus coords) here. NOW you can indicate listing coords as Virtual and Visible, and Final coords as Physical and Hidden. You're finshed with the waypoints page.

 

Add additional waypoints (parking trailhead reference) if relevant, or skip through this page. You must supply these coords, the form will simply put your listing coords into those boxes.

 

Title, date, select state (careful here, people inadvertently select a state above or below their location,holds up review) Description: In the short description, you may briefly offer any info specific to the cache at the coords. I'd put info that's useful in the FIELD, not the puzzle info (short bushwhack, watch for thorns!) .

The long description takes the puzzle info (I'd say first) and if you want, some text about the entire series.

 

Add Attributes

 

Add a reviewer note - if it's not obvious, describe how the puzzle solves (Q&A on the cache page is obvious), plus info about container, how and where it's hidden - and "hold the group for publication of all 17 caches" assuming that's what you want

 

Repeat 17 times.

Edited March 7, 2015 by palmetto