Hello Geocachers! There are many of us out there who are addicted to the thrill of geocaching, and there are many types of geocaches. I don't know about you, but whenever I find a great geocache I get excited that I was able to figure out where it was hidden. However, with puzzle caches I get to experience that thrill twice, once when I solve the puzzle and then again after I find it.
After setting up many puzzle caches in Korea I have noticed that there are quite a few geocachers who actively avoid finding puzzle caches. Perhaps it is because the puzzle seems difficult, is a tedious extra step to excitement, or just don't know where to start. I want everyone to experience the joy of finding puzzle caches so I have set out to create a new series of easy puzzle caches designed to teach you how to become a puzzle master.
I was asked to assist in the making of this series and this puzzle was the first attempt for me and it has turned out to be trickier than I first thought. That being said, hopefully this will not be too difficult, as picture puzzles are probably some of the easier puzzles out there (sometimes) and at the very least, this will be a crash course in the easier style. Don't worry, I am still a novice at making puzzles, so this picture themed puzzle was right up my alley! I will try to show you a couple forms that I have encountered along my own journey and hope to share a bit of knowledge that I picked up along the way...with help from my friends!
Thanks!!
~ The first, and I would say, the EASIEST picture puzzle is the simple hover. The description just about says it all. All that is needed is for you to hover your mouse icon over the picture and the answer is revealed! yup! just THAT easy!
One puzzle here had me stumped and I was trying all sorts of ways to solve the puzzle. My friend then informed me about hovering. Within seconds I finally found it! I was astonished at how easy it was and had hoped more of his puzzles had the same solving technique. I was wrong! He made me work much harder at his other puzzles!
Here is an example of a hover:
So, that was pretty easy, right? Well, there are other types of picture puzzles too. Some involve counting. It is as easy as counting object within the picture. But, beware of modifiers! If you have tried it already, there is another Puzzle Caching Korea 101 puzzle that talks about modifiers. You'll have to highlight the page and the hidden text will appear, usually next to the picture. Simply add the objects and it will give you the numbers! Again, it's just that easy!
Here are a few pictures to practice your counting on...and answers will be right behind them, so don't worry. Plus, since this style is pretty straight forward too, it shouldn't be too difficult to come up with the solution. *as I am not going to put tons of pictures on here, you'll have to just use the few I do use to practice on. Rest assured, other puzzles will have plenty! Oh! I almost forgot! Sometimes you will have 10 pictures to use (that you can assume the degrees). Sometimes 16 pictures (so ALL the coordinates are given). Sometimes less pictures, but the numbers are larger, so putting the numbers in order will give you the correct answer. And sometimes...it will be ONE picture, with MANY object to choose from and YOU have to sort out the arrangement of the numbers! It should be noted that the single picture obviously is used in more difficult puzzles and you will need to use the hint given (somewhere on the page) to solve them. THIS example will not be THAT tricky! So, here goes!
Hopefully, you counted 3 people. Sometimes, the answer could be 1 or 2, but there would probably be a hint letting you know what to count, like how many females or how many males. Since I gave no hint, the simple answer is 3 people.
Here's another...
innertubes
Did you answer 1?
Hopefully, you remembered what I said about watching out for modifiers! This modifier happens to be written in white text, so it's hidden! Try again, in case you missed it.
And one more...
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What did you come up with? Did you count the number of coins and think 5? Well, for this one, you actually had to count the value of the coins and add them together. At first glance, you would think 670, right? But did you catch the modifier?
You should have come up with 520 this time.
What about that one? This picture has a person, wearing a space helmet, wearing sunglases...a few things to choose from! Sometimes you have to use what I call "geosenses". Does something kind of jump out at you? Say...the number 222??? Yup. That style is a way to be fairly obvious, without using a modifier or having to worry about counting a particular hinted item.
Ok. One last example before the real test! Sometimes, there will be multiple numbers given that you must choose from! Multiple numbers? You HAVE to be kidding!?!?! Nope. And since this is still a 101 level, I am going to pretty much give you your hint right now!
In many puzzles, whether there are pictures or not, as long as there are multiple numbers to choose from, how would you know WHICH number to use? The answer is easier than you might think. Or not.... Use the LAST number! Be careful though, sometime the puzzle maker will use the first number. So, depending on how many pictures are used (see above), you might need ALL the numbers, a combination/sequence of numbers, or just the LAST one. If you cross reference the virtual coordinates you can narrow down what numbers might be needed; if you didn't already know, actual coordinates MUST be within 2 miles of the virtual coordinates, so there might be some differences between the two, they should be fairly close. If your first picture starts with or gives you a 37, which is common in Korea, especially Seoul, then you might need ALL the numbers you find. But, if it's not anything that gives you 37, then it might be the LAST number only...you'll have to figure out which style works best for the particular puzzle! And puzzle makers can be known for throwing lots of distractions (things that have absolutely nothing to do with the puzzle) at you, or will switch up the pattern. Usually, patterns for North or South will be consistent, then maybe a slight twist to the pattern for East/West (depending on the amount of trickery from the puzzle maker and where in the world you are...Korea is North and East).
So, now that you have seen a few examples of picture puzzles, it's your turn to give it a try! For real, this time!
Good luck!
fire hydrants +1
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wooden posts
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ducklings
first
You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.