Scavenger Hunt Pre-Hunt

[Tierra]

Well, I thought Grifter would of got to this last night, but I didn't see it. So for all those that haven't heard yet, the Defcon Scavenger Hunt: Pre-Hunt list is online finally.

http://www.scavengerhunt.org/info.php

Sorry for the late posting, but that still gives you just under 2 weeks for up to 250 extra points before we even start the competition (25 points per pre-hunt item). I know Siviak has been waiting patiently for this :D .

[Voltage Spike]

Actually, you could get significantly more points due to this item:

• Badges from previous cons, more points for more badges (10 points per unique badge).

Or is there a limit?

[Tierra]

Oh yeah, forgot about that one, but yes, there is a limit. And if my math doesn't serve me wrong, previous cons = 1 - 11 making 11 possible = 110 points, though I shouldn't be seeing any badges prior to Defcon 6 I don't think.

[highwizard]

Oh yeah, forgot about that one, but yes, there is a limit. And if my math doesn't serve me wrong, previous cons = 1 - 11 making 11 possible = 110 points, though I shouldn't be seeing any badges prior to Defcon 6 I don't think.

But you said unique.. So does that mean you can get over 110 pts by having other badges. For instance, you have every regular badge, plus a goon badges from multiple cons, speaker and press badges, ect...

[nous]

Oh yeah, forgot about that one, but yes, there is a limit. And if my math doesn't serve me wrong, previous cons = 1 - 11 making 11 possible = 110 points, though I shouldn't be seeing any badges prior to Defcon 6 I don't think.

So goon, press, and speaker badges don't count as "unique" badges?

nous.

[Tierra]

O god... for those of you that have played in the hunt previous years, now you know why we've been using the scoring system we have now. The overall choice on what points you get really depends on the judge at the time of submission, hence why we have a full staff of about 10 judges every year.

So let's make a pretend situation out of this. The item says 'unique badges'. One team takes it like what I meant when I wrote the item up - 10 points for a badge from defcon 10, 10 points for one from 9, etc. Another team takes it like suggested above as a speaker, goon, black badge, and human badge from defcon 11, along with 8-9 other badges from 8, 9, and 10. And yet another team tries to take FULL advantage of the definition, and brings in 5 human badges from dc11, a couple speaker badges, 4 human badges from dc10, etc...

Now when these teams come to me on Friday to register their teams and turn in pre-hunt items, here's probably how I would judge them: The first team that took it for what I originally though, I would give them their full 10 points per badge. The second team didn't completely understand what I meant, but I can tell what I wrote could of easily meant that. There's that issue, and the other issue that this is a 'hacker' scavenger hunt, and the idea is to hack your way through the list to get the most points possible, meaning that I'm not going dock them points, I'm going to reward them for thinking it through a little better, probably add an extra 5 points per badge to the side of the 10 points per con unique badge. Now, as for the last team, the fact that I put the word 'unique' into the definition should be obvious that I didn't want to see EVERY badge you can get your hands on. They could of done like the second team and got some extra points not included in the definition, but now I'm just thinking "Do they think I'm an idiot?" Which leads me to just make them separate out all the badges and find one for each con and give them those points like the first team.

There is a lot of manipulation to this game. Which is why it's still a challenging and fun competition aside from bringing in rediculous items. Every year has it's pot of items that are not always clear, or could mean a couple different things. If one way is easier than another, then you may want to see if you can convince the judge to give you full points for it. The judges can dock for points also though too. For example, at Defcon 10, we had a cows head on the list. One of the teams took a little stuffed cow about 5 inches big, and ripped the head off and gave it to us. We gave about a a quarter of the points to them for being a little creative about it, but it wasn't worth the full 100 points (I think) it was worth.

Anyway, now that I've pointed that out on the forums here, don't expect me to toss in extra points for the badges.

P.S. Defcon 11's list with an item labeled 'A cows head (the real thing)' proved very funny, and even amazing when one actually was brought in, pictures here:
http://www.acid.org/images/defcon11/.../k0wacid-a.jpg
http://www.acid.org/images/defcon11/.../k0wacid-b.jpg

[astcell]

Just asking for a cow's head also got you a stuffed animal cow head. At least at DC11 someone also said you had to dispose of said head to get the points. This is also a test of the judges' elasticity. Getting exactly what the contest called for may brand you unoriginal and boring. (Someone could have escorted in the entire cow). I think the contest has flexible rules regarding the definitons of "unique" and other definitive terms. And of the course the judges like to be wowed. Just be sure to wow them enough to get attention in a good way, you can get extra points for that.

[Tierra]

Yeah, astcell has the idea. The items on the list are only defined by maybe 4-5 words each on average. The tasks are usually defined a little farther, but are already unique funny tasks that we really do want to see happen.

As suggested from prior years, we are aimed more at tasks this year than we were prior years because of the costs involved to be able to just "buy" first place, so hopefully this proves to be the best Defcon Scavenger Hunt competition so far. Get a good look over the list once it's released Friday. We've also aimed for more cheap, but rare items on the items list.

[astcell]

I remember how Pezz was freaking after eating the packets of sweet'n'low. Now that I think about it, the istructions never said the packets had to be OPENED and consumed. This would have made the downling a little easier, if the pink paper is itself edible.

[Tierra]

HAHAHA, that would of been great!

That's another thing we're going to stay away from this year as well... eat _____. I saw more throwing up than I needed to see last year. Strawberry yogurt being eaten out of a female condom (most likely lubricated) wasn't all the enjoying to watch. Don't get me wrong though, we do still have an item or two.

[highwizard]

HAHAHA, that would of been great!

That's another thing we're going to stay away from this year as well... eat _____. I saw more throwing up than I needed to see last year. Strawberry yogurt being eaten out of a female condom (most likely lubricated) wasn't all the enjoying to watch. Don't get me wrong though, we do still have an item or two.

As long as we still get to nakedly hug our favorite speaker.

[Tierra]

As long as we still get to nakedly hug our favorite speaker.

I took it out on the account that I'm speaking this year.

Hehe... actually, streaking might still be on there. If not, there is an item relating to an action with your favorite speaker, but I'm not going to say anything.

[highwizard]

I took it out on the account that I'm speaking this year.

Who did it for points though?

If you remember from last year, I didn't even try to get the points award for doing it ;)


ph34r the wizard

[Voltage Spike]

I have one more question, if you would be so kind.

• 3. Only one item will be counted per team, "Proof." in listing means videotape or photograph the action so that we know that you really did it, otherwise bring the actual item in question or talk to a Scavenger Hunt Staff member about where to do it? Where applicable, an audio recording may suffice.

So we need to be in possession of the item in order to score points? For example, a photograph of a team member standing next to a cow would not be sufficient to fulfill the cow-head requirement? Or is this another option for those wishing to obtain partial points?

(I'm sorry if it is obvious to the experienced, but I am not that familiar with the contest.)

[Tierra]

Yeah, the real item was streaking through the talk... that didn't include actually going up to Grifter, and hugging him. It was Sunday about 30 minutes from the competition ending, that or it had ended, but we were still going to count the points anyway for that item. All the teams were really riled up at that point, and having a blast with the last couple hours of the con (that was also the same two hours that the cows head came in). I was in charge of the table at the time, so I didn't get to see it (probably a good thing), but I heard about and started laughing my ass off.