I was saddened, but not surprised, when Left Out announced that MIT was enforcing stricter rules about hunting overnight and use of the MIT rooms. It very much feels like somebody new came in, did a risk assessment on the MIT Mystery Hunt, and went, "OH HOLY SHIT," and then laid down the law. There was a lot of speculation on the Codex mailing list of how this was going to affect the runaround (many of which are initiated in the hours of 1-7am), but I guess, in the end, they managed to get MIT to walk back some of the new rules.
I can't imagine how freaked out Left Out was, because it seemed like there were so many more physical puzzle components and items this year than years previous (I am usually remote, but it felt like more). They must have panicked. ...any sane Hunt runners would have.
I liked the automatic answer checking, which I guess frees up the on-site team to do more with interactions and giving out physical puzzle components. My guess is that this will be the death of the old telephone answer confirmation system, which is sad, because it was one of few things I could do for Codex when I was remote and they were running the 2012 Hunt.
The emoji thing really messed with us the first time we got it to, we kept on trying to answer WISHBONE for Screen Debuts. It'll be interesting to extract puzzles now that pictures are more of an option than they ever were before.
We never solved the Creative Pictures Meta, even though by the end of the Hunt we did have Cactus Canyon and the first two levels of Cascade Bay open. I felt the Creative Pictures meta was a little too unconstrained as a first step, and that was really annoying. We had figured out the concept, but even with two-thirds of Creative Pictures Studios solved, it's just not possible to do that meta.
I felt that one of the weaknesses about this Hunt, everything else that was amazing about it aside, was that for many puzzles I felt there was just one layer too much to solve for, or the complexity came just too late into the game. Safari Adventure was difficult with multiple answers, as was Cascade Bay with multiple metas.
Maybe I'm grumbling, because Codex used to be a Top 5 team and we've since slipped down to a Top 10 team, but I admit I was surprised not to see Metaphysical Plant up top anymore. Were you also one of the ones to foolishly believe the previous years' runners when they set down an "optimum" team size? Anyways, if you or any of your friends would like to join Codex for next year's Hunt, we would welcome you. I think we are itching to win again. We have forgotten the pain and suffering that is running a Hunt, and might be willing to give it another go.
ETA: I am really annoyed by the solution to Hall of Mystery, because I did have them cut out (on photoshop) and was rotating them around, but the first orientation that most people try, L+AKE, O+F, DE+ED is so underwhelming, and the INITIAL+LY likewise. *headdesks*
Agree also on the too-high cost/benefit ratio of Chairiot Races. I really thought that was too much for a round that is impossible to backsolve with a meta that is too unconstrained at the first step.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2020-01-22 07:48 pm (UTC)I can't imagine how freaked out Left Out was, because it seemed like there were so many more physical puzzle components and items this year than years previous (I am usually remote, but it felt like more). They must have panicked. ...any sane Hunt runners would have.
I liked the automatic answer checking, which I guess frees up the on-site team to do more with interactions and giving out physical puzzle components. My guess is that this will be the death of the old telephone answer confirmation system, which is sad, because it was one of few things I could do for Codex when I was remote and they were running the 2012 Hunt.
The emoji thing really messed with us the first time we got it to, we kept on trying to answer WISHBONE for Screen Debuts. It'll be interesting to extract puzzles now that pictures are more of an option than they ever were before.
We never solved the Creative Pictures Meta, even though by the end of the Hunt we did have Cactus Canyon and the first two levels of Cascade Bay open. I felt the Creative Pictures meta was a little too unconstrained as a first step, and that was really annoying. We had figured out the concept, but even with two-thirds of Creative Pictures Studios solved, it's just not possible to do that meta.
I felt that one of the weaknesses about this Hunt, everything else that was amazing about it aside, was that for many puzzles I felt there was just one layer too much to solve for, or the complexity came just too late into the game. Safari Adventure was difficult with multiple answers, as was Cascade Bay with multiple metas.
Maybe I'm grumbling, because Codex used to be a Top 5 team and we've since slipped down to a Top 10 team, but I admit I was surprised not to see Metaphysical Plant up top anymore. Were you also one of the ones to foolishly believe the previous years' runners when they set down an "optimum" team size? Anyways, if you or any of your friends would like to join Codex for next year's Hunt, we would welcome you. I think we are itching to win again. We have forgotten the pain and suffering that is running a Hunt, and might be willing to give it another go.
ETA:
I am really annoyed by the solution to Hall of Mystery, because I did have them cut out (on photoshop) and was rotating them around, but the first orientation that most people try, L+AKE, O+F, DE+ED is so underwhelming, and the INITIAL+LY likewise. *headdesks*
Agree also on the too-high cost/benefit ratio of Chairiot Races. I really thought that was too much for a round that is impossible to backsolve with a meta that is too unconstrained at the first step.