Thread Summary
The forum discussion focuses on the intricacies and challenges of solving puzzles in "The Secret" created by BP. Participants debate the reasons behind the limited success in finding the casques, with some attributing it to unclear clues and others suggesting intentional difficulty to maintain interest and sales. Various perspectives on puzzle-solving strategies and the complexities of deciphering clues in different cities like Cleveland, Houston, and Boston are explored. There is also a mention of the vast amount of content on the forum akin to a novel. Additionally, users share their experiences and difficulties in solving puzzles in different locations, with debates arising over the accuracy of solutions and the significance of factors like tree cover. Overall, the discussion delves into the challenges and competition involved in deciphering the puzzles in "The Secret."
Guardian
I’ve solved puzzles since I was a little kid, and I’ve even created a few. That being said, I’m convinced BP *did* know how to make a puzzle. But, he like all inexperienced puzzle makers, he didn’t realize his clues weren’t as obvious as he thought because they seem more obvious when you know the solution. This is why only two casques have been found after 34 years.
Erpobdelliforme
Unknown:
Thank you for this insightful and revolutionary post.
How's this for revolutionary? The problem isn't with the puzzle. The problem is with everybody, and I do mean everybody thinking they know more about the puzzle and the puzzle maker than they really do.
burnstyle
JoshCornell1 wrote::
i dont think gpr'ing that spot will even achieve anything.
I feel I can speak on behalf of the forum when I say this. Take pride in this, because it's the first time you will have heard it.
"We agree with you"
drunknerds
Guardian wrote::
I’ve solved puzzles since I was a little kid, and I’ve even created a few. That being said, I’m convinced BP *did* know how to make a puzzle. But, he like all inexperienced puzzle makers, he didn’t realize his clues weren’t as obvious as he thought because they seem more obvious when you know the solution. This is why only two casques have been found after 34 years.
I've made a bunch of puzzles for money, including most of the puzzles for Telltale Games' Puzzle Agent 2.
My take is that Preiss was a publisher, and so sales were his main goal.
So his path was:
Make really obvious general clues, like a long-lat or a major building. This gets people excited: Hey im near that major city and this puzzle seems easy, I should buy the book!
Then make 1-2 pretty easy solves, to make the news and build momentum.
But you don't want most of them solved quickly, that hurts sales. So make most of the final dig site really hard to do, physically and legally, and give maddeningly obscure clues so many people feel like they are "close"
maltedfalcon
JoshCornell1 wrote::
never looked at chicago...but cleveland and houston def seem the easiest. boston is hard as f**k.
Ok cool just for fun walk me through your solve for cleveland, Start with the basics, how did you solve the puzzle of which verse belonged to Image 4
meatypuffs
maltedfalcon wrote::
Ok cool just for fun walk me through your solve for cleveland, Start with the basics, how did you solve the puzzle of which verse belonged to Image 4
I'm expecting, "Because the Wiki said that, duh! It even had pictures of where to dig. Def the easiest."
BINGO
JoshCornell1 wrote::
never looked at chicago...but cleveland and houston def seem the easiest. boston is hard as f**k.
I’m starting to get worried about the Boston casque. Josh’s brand of puzzle solving just might be what it takes to find the one up heyah!
maltedfalcon
meatypuffs wrote::
I'm expecting, "Because the Wiki said that, duh! It even had pictures of where to dig. Def the easiest."
maltedfalcon
Hmmmm - there is 26893 posts on The Secret Forum on Q4t
Assume each post averages about 20 words, original words not quotes, or reposts some are shorter but some are much longer so 20 is a good guess.
Thats 537,000ish words
or at 250 word a page, (Double-spaced, -no pictures and ignoring all the quoting...
or just over 2150 pages...
If this were a novel and published in one volume, it would be the longest single volume novel ever.
I say Novel because of all the people saying "I solved it"
The original book was 226 pages long, or 9 and a half pages written for each page
but really since only 24 pages comprise the images and verses we've written almost 90 pages per page
I think that would have made Byron smile.
fox
JoshCornell1 wrote::
never looked at chicago...but cleveland and houston def seem the easiest. boston is hard as f**k.
Houston is the easiest yet you left (if you were actually there) empty handed.
fox
JoshCornell1 wrote::
the solve and finding the actual spot when shit is no longer there are 2 different things...
Not only was the shit no longer there.....neither were you. Your house of cards has crumbled miserably.
fox
You have said all along that you have them all solved to a 1x1 grid. Tree cover shouldnt matter had you solved them as you claimed.