GCP76P Wirralian Snakes and Ladders (Unknown Cache) in United Kingdom created by PhilPamAndRob

This cache has been archived.

Sir PhilPamAndRob: This cache is 29 months old and has only ever had 9 finders, the last being exactly a year ago. Pity really as its a cache with a difference which takes you to some fantastic places.
Decided to archive so these areas get freed up for futuire caches. All I need to do now is go around all nione locations again collecting the containers!

GCP76P ▼

A cache by PhilPamAndRob Message this owner

Hidden : 6/7/2005

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

To get to the final cache (and complete the hunt), it is necessary to finish a game of Snakes and Ladders. This is played on a 6 by 6 grid, starting on square 1 (bottom left) and ending when you land on square 36 (top left). Each square you land on relates to a cache that you must find to continue the game.

Its now Feb 06 and as its now 6 months since anyone played the game, heres a bit more advice. This is really just a multi-cache (honest!). All three players visit the same caches but in different orders. If you want to know how many caches, look at the spoiler photo with arrows pointing to the caches! They occur in three groups and its probably best to drive between the groups. Hope that helps, and hopefully a few more cachers will have a game in 2006

Each square on the game board has a grid reference on it. These are just the ‘minutes’ part of each co-ordinate. Always add 53 degrees for the Northern co-ordinate, and 003 degrees for the Western co-ordinate. These form the basis for finding the next cache. This cache (when found) will determine your next move in the game. (You will actually visit multiple caches during the game).

The game starts with the throw of a pair of dice (stored in the initial cache), and then proceeds with dominos (in all but the final cache). Each domino contains a pair of numbers between 1 and 6 (no blanks are used). The domino numbers represent your next roll of the dice. You will be one of up to three players/teams in the game at any time.

The co-ordinates listed above, and those listed on the game board are not the locations of any caches. They all need adjusting (see later in the rules of play) to identify the real co-ordinates of each cache.

Note that some form of transport may be needed to travel between some of the caches in this hunt. Even with a car, you still need to do a reasonable amount of walking. As multiple caches are visited, in different areas, it will take a few hours to complete the game.

G A M E B O A R D

R U L E S - O F - P L A Y

LOCATING THE INITIAL CACHE

To identify the exact location of the initial cache…
* . Divide the total number of dots in a set of 28 standard dominos, by the total number of dots on a normal pair of 6-sided dice.
* . Subtract this number of ‘minutes’ from both the Northern & Western co-ordinates listed above (N 53º 25.860’ & Wº 003 13.931’).

(Remember, time is running out; therefore always subtract whole ‘minutes’ from listed co-ordinates.)

ONCE AT THE INITIAL CACHE

On locating the initial cache…
* . Please complete the logbook. If you wish to exchange treasure, feel free to do so.
* . Remove the pair of dice from the 35mm film canister.
* . To start the game, you need to throw a double with the pair of dice (i.e. both dice values the same). The film canister makes a good dice shaker! Repeat throwing the pair of dice until you get a double.
* . A double-6 or double-5 indicates you are an ADDER (keeping the snake theme going!), a double-4 or double-3 indicates a SUBTRACTOR, and a double-2 or double-1 means a MULTIPLIER.

. . . . DO NOT FORGET WHICH OF THESE YOU ARE, OR THE GAME WILL NOT WORK . . . .

YOUR NEXT MOVE

To determine the next move in the game…
* . Remove the domino from the film canister (if missing, it’s also on the cache’s information sheet).
* . Calculate how many squares you need to move forward on the game board (#) as follows:
. . . . - ADDER Players/Teams . . . . . . . – Add together the two sets of dots on the domino.
. . . . - SUBTRACTOR Players/Teams . – Subtract the lower set of dots from the higher set of dots.
. . . . - MULTIPLIER Players/Teams . . – Multiply the two sets of dots on the domino together.
. . . . . .e.g. If the domino had a 5 and a 3, an ADDER player would move forward 5+3 = 8 squares,
. . . . . . . . .a SUBTRACTOR player 5-3 = 2 squares, and a MULTIPLIER player 5*3 = 15 squares.
* . If, having moved this number of squares, you are at the bottom of a ladder, move to the top of it. Similarly, if you are at the top of a snake, move to the bottom. (i.e. Normal Snakes and Ladders rules)
* . Mark your new location on your game board – It’s very easy to forget where you are!
* . Note down the total number of dots on the domino (you will need this later to find the final cache).
* . Replace the cache, ensuring the domino (and dice when at the initial location) are put back in the film canister within the cache. Ensure the cache site is left as you found it, ready for the next player(s).
* . Subtract the number of squares you calculated/moved at “#” above (before going up ladders/down snakes) from the ‘minutes’ for both the Northern and Western Co-ordinates in the square on the game board where you are now located. These are the co-ordinates of the next cache in the game.

SUBSEQUENT CACHES

For subsequent caches, once found…
* . Please complete the logbook.
* . On the back of each domino are a letter and number (e.g. Z=9). Substitute the letter in the co-ordinates in square 36 of the game board for its corresponding number.
* . Repeat the steps detailed in the “Your Next Move” section (above). Continue until you land on the final square (number 36) of the game board. You will (eventually) land on it. At no point in the game do you need to move to a square numbered higher than 36.

FINAL CACHE

To find the final cache…
* . By now you should have substituted numbers for all 6 letters in the co-ordinates on square 36.
* . Add the total number of dots, on all the dominos you have found, in all the caches (from the initial cache, to the current cache), to the total number of dominos you have found.
* . Divide this number, by the total number of caches (including the final one yet to be found) in the hunt.
* . Subtract this number of ‘minutes’ from the Northern and Western co-ordinates you now have in the final square (number 36) on the game board.
* . This is the location of the final cache in the hunt.

When you find the final cache
* . Complete the logbook as normal, and feel free to swap treasure. On the web, record you have completed the game. Please don’t give too much away about the game to subsequent players.

If you encounter difficulties finding a cache (and as you won’t yet know its name), just list on the web the square number on the game board causing you the problem. This avoids giving too much away to other players who may not yet be that far on in the game. If multiple players have problems with a specific cache, it will be checked. I’ll also provide extra clues (as necessary) to anyone who is still stuck at any point in the game.

Good Luck, and enjoy the game.

C A C H E - D E T A I L S

All caches are Tupperware cartons in camouflaged bags, the First and Last being larger (10” X 6”) than those for the intermediate caches (6” X 4”). Each has an appropriate name. If the domino is missing, its value (and number/letter on the rear) is shown on the enclosed information sheet.

PLEASE ENSURE ALL CACHES ARE LEFT AS FOUND, AND NOBODY SEES YOU AT THE CACHE SITES. IT WILL ONLY TAKE INTERFERENCE WITH ONE CACHE TO RUIN THE WHOLE GAME.
(ONE CACHE IS ADJACENT TO A ROAD & ANOTHER IS POPULAR WITH DOG WALKERS)

CACHE CONTENTS WHEN PLACED :

* . Logbooks, pencils & sharpeners – DO NOT REMOVE THESE
* . Information Sheets (including domino values and number/letter combination) – DO NOT REMOVE
* . 35mm film canisters containing dominos (and dice in the first cache) – DO NOT REMOVE THESE
* . First Time Finders Certificates (with FTF Medallions in the first/last caches)
* . Assorted treasure (the usual stuff) – most of this treasure being in the first/last caches.
. . (the intermediate caches have limited treasure owing to the size of the containers)
* . All the TBs and the Geocoin taking part in the Snakes & Ladders Championships

P.S. I COULDN'T RESIST INCLUDING THE "SNAKES PRESENT" ATTRIBUTE AS IT IS A GAME OF SNAKES AND LADDERS!!!!!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[General cache locations] – frr fcbvyre cubgb [Detailed cache locations] – frr GO GOWSKG (ba ubzr tebhaq!)

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)