BEGINNER'S GUIDE
Not sure where to start on most of these puzzles? Can't even figure out what you're supposed to do with the information? Well, here's the place for you!
Puzzles and Hunt Structure
Unlike traditional puzzles like crosswords or wordsearches, the puzzles featured in this event don't come along with a set of rules and a specific target. Users have to engage in creative and lateral thinking in order to manipulate the information presented into a form which they can use to find some hidden meaning within the puzzle. Regardless, whether you're an absolute beginner or a seasoned veteran, we hope you'll find puzzles which cater to your skill level!
The hunt comprises five puzzles, starting with one puzzle all teams must complete to enter Team Rory Rocket's castle and unlock the other four puzzles. Meanwhile, the last puzzle is a metapuzzle, meaning it will take input from the solutions of the other three puzzles, so be prepared!
Common Mechanics
Still unsure where to go about finding the answer? Some common answer extraction mechanics include:
Submitting Answers
The answer to each puzzle is always a single term or phrase. Once you think you've found the answer to a puzzle, log onto your registered PS! account and PM the answer to UGM Bot in the format .scavspuzzle [question], [answer] for answer verification.
Need a Hint?
If your team feels like you need a hint at any point in the hunt, feel free to approach Level 51, lovemathboy, c Marsh b Lillee or Cheese on Pokemon Showdown! (though you can also contact Level 51 and lovemathboy on Discord). Each team can ask a maximum of 5 yes/no questions, which we will answer (truthfully) as long as they don't regard the answer itself. For example:
Prizes
Each team will gain UGM points for each puzzle they complete, as follows:
Puzzles and Hunt Structure
Unlike traditional puzzles like crosswords or wordsearches, the puzzles featured in this event don't come along with a set of rules and a specific target. Users have to engage in creative and lateral thinking in order to manipulate the information presented into a form which they can use to find some hidden meaning within the puzzle. Regardless, whether you're an absolute beginner or a seasoned veteran, we hope you'll find puzzles which cater to your skill level!
The hunt comprises five puzzles, starting with one puzzle all teams must complete to enter Team Rory Rocket's castle and unlock the other four puzzles. Meanwhile, the last puzzle is a metapuzzle, meaning it will take input from the solutions of the other three puzzles, so be prepared!
Common Mechanics
Still unsure where to go about finding the answer? Some common answer extraction mechanics include:
- Acrostics. Sometimes, reading down the first letter, syllable, or word of each line in a puzzle can spell something. The answer could also be hidden in another recurring feature in the puzzle.
- Letter indexing. Try indexing when you have a list of words or phrases and a corresponding list of numbers. Count into the word or phrase by the given number and record the letter in that position. For example: 5 Heatmor, 2 Eevee, 1 Walrein gives you Heatmor, Eevee, Walrein, spelling MEW.
- Alpha-numeric codes. If you end up with a list of numbers you could try replacing the numbers with their corresponding letters in the alphabet, like this: 1 = A, 2 = B, 3 = C, ... 26 = Z.
Submitting Answers
The answer to each puzzle is always a single term or phrase. Once you think you've found the answer to a puzzle, log onto your registered PS! account and PM the answer to UGM Bot in the format .scavspuzzle [question], [answer] for answer verification.
Need a Hint?
If your team feels like you need a hint at any point in the hunt, feel free to approach Level 51, lovemathboy, c Marsh b Lillee or Cheese on Pokemon Showdown! (though you can also contact Level 51 and lovemathboy on Discord). Each team can ask a maximum of 5 yes/no questions, which we will answer (truthfully) as long as they don't regard the answer itself. For example:
- "Does the puzzle involve letter indexing?": Valid
- "How many steps are involved in the answer?": Invalid
- "Is the answer an odd number of characters?": Invalid
Prizes
Each team will gain UGM points for each puzzle they complete, as follows:
- The gate puzzle will earn each team member 20 UGM points;
- Each of the three main puzzles will earn each team member 75 UGM points;
- The metapuzzle will earn each team member 50 UGM points.
- Each member of the winning team will gain a bonus 75 UGM points, each member of the second-placed team will gain a bonus 50 UGM points, and each member of the third-placed team will gain a bonus 25 UGM points.