Patterns exist everywhere. They exist in nature, mathematics and in the habits, rhythms and structures we create for ourselves. Many puzzle cachers will use these already existing patterns as the basis for their puzzles. Since you're generally looking for a number you'll need to find a way to apply a numerical sequence to the data you're provided with.
The pattern could be based on something which already has numbers applied such as the periodic table, streets and houses or mathematical sequences such as prime numbers. However it is also common to find cachers using patterns which don't necessarily have specific numbers, but which can have numbers applied to them in some logical way, such as daily routines, games, craft patterns for knitting or similar. Sometimes what you're looking for is not the pattern itself, but instead the parts where the pattern is broken.
When you're solving this type of cache, keep in mind that you're looking for the numbers, here in the north of Taiwan that general means you're looking for something with the format N** **.*** E*** **.***. In Taiwan, the degrees for north range from 22 up to 25 whilst the degrees for east range from 120 to 121. When you factor in that a puzzle cache will be hidden no more than 2 miles (3km) away from where it appears on the map, then you can already make a good guess at how to decode the first parts of the sequence. When I’m try to crack puzzles, I use this knowledge to test my solving strategies and come up with likely solutions. Sometimes however, you won't be given the degrees and only need to find out the ten digits which make up the minutes. In cases like these, you can start with the assumption that the degrees are the same as the listed coordinates, (but remember you may need to change them by one degree - use google maps to confirm the likely location).
PUZZLE GYM SERIES
PATTERN PROBLEMS
A STROKE OF LUCK
“你為什麼在這裡？” “因為我想找點東西“
