This is the second Miami Valley Caching Conundrum! The monthly Columbus version has been going strong for 2+ years and I have had a blast traveling to and participating with a great group of puzzlers there. Now I would like to share that experience also with those puzzlers who might not want to travel quite that far.
[So, we learned a few things from our MVCC #1 experience, and we're pretty sure the new venue will have much better lighting and food/drink service. Oh, and free Wi-Fi too!]
This puzzle-themed event is a combination of collaborations with your fellow cachers and -- as a bonus -- a good-natured competition for those interested. Come meet-n-greet, and talk with other local cachers to share ideas, experiences, and upcoming adventures. If you need help, bring your GPS and/or questions. We have a strong geocaching puzzle community here in Dayton who are always willing to help and/or give nudges.
In addition, we will hold a conundrum contest. Prizes will be awarded to at least three puzzlers and perhaps random prizes will be given away to other participants. It's sort of like voluntarily taking an SAT except the reward is a bison tube or something equally as exciting, and of course bragging rights. This part of the event is absolutely NOT REQUIRED. You do not need to partake in the contest in order to log the event as a find. After this event, If there is interest, then each month a different type of (non-geocaching) puzzle will be featured.
The event is 6:30pm to 9:00. We will commence the puzzle competition at 7:30pm . Make sure you're there by 7:30 if you want to participate!
In the future, we may use this event to give "lectures" on puzzle solving to help the community. Other puzzle-related activities may pop up from time to time. Be sure to send feedback and suggestions after the event either to me or in your logs.
This month's puzzle competition is Cryptography. This will be an introduction to basic solving techniques and will start with simple and moderately simple substitution ciphers.
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A few rules for the contest:
1. Only geocachers can enter the contest. No ringers can participate. Don't recruit your professional crossword puzzling uncle to win for you.
2. No electronic help or reference help. Phones and computers are welcome at the event, but when we move to the contest portion of the evening, you cannot use any electronic means to help you, nor any sort of reference material. Crossword puzzle dictionaries, for example.
3. One entry per caching name. Caching names that include more than one person are welcome to compete together. However, each caching name will only receive one copy of each month's puzzle. So you are still welcome to bring your whole team to compete, but each player will not receive a copy of the test. This is to keep competition level.
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Please join us!
Buffalo Wild Wings (back room)
262 East Stroop Road
Kettering, OH 45429
Congratulations to our top finishers!
1. Grey-n-Red
2. gallaghd
3. DRJDSmith
4. blandestk