Another cache for the puzzle lovers!
This cache revolves around a puzzle called Star Battle, also known as Two Not Touch, which are currently being published in the New York Times newspaper.
Steps to find the final coordinates:
1. Complete the Star Battle puzzle (choose either print off or do it on your device)
2. Send an email to the deciphered email address
3. Get the coordinates to the cache
4. Find the cache!
Step 1:
The puzzle is the same whether you choose to print off the image below and use paper and pencil, or click the link below and use your device. (If you want a slightly harder one, go for printing. If you want slightly easier, go for online - there is a checker built into the webpage)
Here is how to complete a Star Battle puzzle:
In these puzzles, each row, column and bolded region must contain exactly two stars. The stars can't touch each other, not even diagonally. So when you place a star, you can eliminate all the squares that immediately surround it, and when you place the second star in a row, column, or bolded region you can eliminate all the remaining cells in that grouping as well. For more detailed instructions, visit
https://krazydad.com/twonottouch/intro_tutorial/
Here is an example of a solved puzzle (ignore the fact some stars are purple - it doesn't mean anything, it was just from a tutorial example)
Step 2:
Once you think you have completed the puzzle, you need to figure out the email address to send a blank email to. This will verify you are correct and give you the coordinates.
2a: the part before the @
If each square were numbered 1-100, you need to write down all the numbers where your 20 stars are positioned in the grid. This string of numbers concatenated together (no spaces) forms the beginning of the email address.
Checksum: if you sum all 20 individual numbers together they should add to 1010.
2b: the part after the @
Using the standard A=1, B=2, C=3 convention, work out the rest of the email address based on this below:
@ 19 9 7 14 1 12 . 3 15 12 15 19 19 5 12 21 19 . 3 15 13
If you get it wrong, you will get an automatic reply telling you no such email address exists (in which case you will need to check your puzzle answers, re-decipher the email address, and try again!).
If you get it right, move onto step 3!
Step 3:
Once you have got the email address correct, you will get an automatic reply with the final coordinates.
Step 4:
Go out and find the cache! Cache is a small camo'd container with just a logbook. BYOP. No room for swaps, swag, etc. Good luck!
Things to note:
-The Star Battle puzzle is copyright KrazyDad, and has been used as per permissions on his website. Check out more of his puzzles at
www.krazydad.com
-The final coordinates are 'in the vicinity' of the posted coordinates (i.e. within walking distance).
-Regarding the email address - this is an unmonitored inbox of a domain name I own. All emails received to it will be deleted and not shared/distributed. If you get the email address wrong, don’t worry, you won’t be accidentally emailing someone random.