Please review the final version of the rules just before the game starts.

Terms and Conditions

• The minimum age for a participant is 18 years.
• Each team must have 3-5 members.
• For playing the game, a team has to complete on-line registration until October 18, 23:59. Moreover, every team has to pay 5 € participation fee before the game starts (please see the details in "Final Game Info" when you log in).
• Players are not allowed to switch teams once the game begins.
• Taking part in the game is completely and fully at your own risk. Participants agree not to break any laws and prevent injuries.
• If there are less than 4 registered teams after the registration deadline, the game might be canceled.

Course of the Game

• The language of the game is English, alphabet contains 26 letters.
• The game takes place in any weather.
• The game begins somewhere (near) UdS campus on Saturday, October 23 2010 at 10:00. The exact place will be specified later.
• The game ends somewhere near Saarbrücken in the evening around sun set. The exact time will be specified later. The deadline is fixed and doesn't depend on the number of finishing teams.
• The goal of the game is to follow a series of checkpoints in the correct order, ultimately reaching the final location within the deadline. On every checkpoint there is a message pointing to the next location. Messages are encrypted or obfuscated.
• Finishers might need to be able to prove they have managed to solve the puzzles. However, the team doesn't need to finish with all its members.
• The game is based on fair-play sense of every team. Cheating will spoil your own as well as other people's experience.

Restrictions

• It is strictly forbidden to use any means of transport except public transport. This includes bicycles.
• It is forbidden to use GPS for orientation.
• Teams aren't allowed to cooperate among each other (chatting allowed:)). Trailing on another team is forbidden. Cooperation with unregistered people for direct solving of puzzles is forbidden. Calling a friend for finding possible encyclopedic information is allowed, though.

Checkpoints

• Checkpoints are linearly ordered and the respective messages labeled by numbers. All game-related materials contain Puzzle Hunt logo. It is possible there might be a multi-checkpoint where all its subtasks needs to be solved first (in a fixed or free order, possibly depending on a team) in order to proceed further. In this case, a letter or a symbol is appended to the message number (e.g. 1a,1b or 2#,2&).
• Any "organizational" parts of the messages will be distinguished by "THIS IS NOT A PUZZLE" label.
• Skipping checkpoints is forbidden. Should a team by whatever chance find a message with higher number than the one they are looking for, they mustn't take it (yet).
• Messages are hidden near checkpoint locations within approx. 5 meters. This prevents interference with non-participants. Displacing the hide-out or tampering the messages in any way is forbidden.
• There is a pile of message copies present at every checkpoints. Each team is allowed to take max two copies. If there is only a single copy left, the team should call the game masters and hand-copy the message. After taking the message, team should move out of the checkpoint location unless they want to attract attention of the competitors:).
• There will be hints available for some puzzles, especially at the beginning. Taking a hint will always result in some kind of (time/physical) penalty. The particular form of the hints will be published later.
• If you have a very strong feeling there is an organizational problem with a checkpoint/message, please call the game masters. Their cell phone number will be provided later. Participants may receive broadcast SMS information from game masters (emergency - not containing puzzles:)). Therefore, please take the cell phone entered during the registration with you.
• There will be no need to access private properties. If you think you need to climb over a fence to get to a checkpoint, you're wrong.
  
  

Recommended Equipment

• One doesn't need any special equipment such as radio stations or laptops.
• (Warm) outdoor stuff.
• Knowledge of basic principles like the Morse code or that R=18 :).
• Other things will be specified later.

Pieces of Advice

• Having more team members is always an advantage.
• Don't give up after one or two hours of unfruitful decrypting. Have a beer instead:).
• Messages will be hidden but it should be relatively easy to find them, if you're at the correct place. The stress of the game is on decrypting, not on finding a needle in a haystack.
• Keep all the found information and messages with you - one never knows when it comes handy.
• Splitting of the team is allowed.

Update on 12.10.: Participation fee set to 5 €. Minimum number of teams was specified to 4.

Update on 21.10.: Subtasks can also be distinguished by special symbols. Final game details published in teams' private section.