BAPHL 19 | FAQ

BAPHL 19 FAQ

How do I sign up?: Registration is full with 60 teams signed up! You can contact us to be put on a waiting list in case of cancellation by another team, or if you’d like to join a team willing to take on unattached hunters.
So how much does this thing cost?: There’s a registration fee of $25/team that goes to the cost of printing the puzzles and making sure we have all the supplies, props, and other items to make this event super-awesome. Any surplus would go towards defraying the costs of hosting the BAPHL website.
When will I actually be charged the registration fee?: Someone from Phlogazither will reach out after you've registered with payment details.
Just what is BAPHL?: BAPHL stands for the Boston Area Puzzle Hunt League. As the name implies, it is a recurring series of puzzle hunts taking place somewhere in the Boston Area.
What is a puzzle hunt?: A puzzle hunt is an event where teams of puzzle solvers are given difficult puzzles that require various logical, lateral-thinking, and creative skills to solve. BAPHL, like some other puzzle hunts, adds an element of exploration by tying the puzzles to specific physical locations that teams have to get to.
That sounds pretty cool! When's the next one?: Saturday, October 6, 2018, rain or shine!
Will the hunt be indoors or outdoors?: Outdoors. All teams are highly encouraged to dress appropriately for outdoor activities.
What if it’s raining?: We’ll get wetter than usual. There is no rain date or alternate course; it would take a severe weather emergency to make us reschedule BAPHL.
Will the hunt involve running from place to place?: Sometimes, but not always.
Where and when will the hunt start?: BAPHL 19 will start at 10AM on Saturday, October 6, 2018 in North Point Park, near the Museum of Science (on the Cambridge side). Wrap-up will take place right back at North Point Park. Your handy-dandy mobile device should find the park easily. If not, try entering "6 Museum Way, Cambridge MA". Team captains should arrive at least 20 minutes early to check their team in.
Do we need vehicles?: No! BAPHL 19 will take place on foot in and around Cambridge near the same area of the starting location, with no more than 2 miles of total walking.
Will we be entering private buildings, or places that require admission?: No. There will be no need to pay a fee to enter a building, or to enter any area that is not publicly accessible for free. If your team discovers something to the contrary, you are on the wrong course.
What’s the difference between the Acute and Right divisions?: If you’ve done events like The Game, MIT Mystery Hunt, or past BAPHLs and are more experienced with the types of puzzles events like these contain, you’ll want to choose the Acute (Competitive) division. If you’re less experienced with puzzles like these, choose the Right (Casual) division — the puzzles are clued in a little more detail, and we’ll be providing more hints so you can enjoy the hunt without getting too stuck along the way.
What size should our team be?: The hunt is designed to be solved by a team of four to six people. Smaller teams are allowed, and if you’re a lone hunter looking for a team, email baphl19@baphl.org and we’ll try to hook you up with a team that’s open to taking on more hunters.
What supplies should we bring?: All teams should have plenty of normal puzzle solving supplies (paper, pencils, clipboards, highlighters) and should definitely have at least 1 set of scissors and tape.; You will be given some reference materials for use in the hunt, but you may also use smartphones to look stuff up during the event.; Outside of solving, it may be handy to have sunscreen, a water bottle, snacks, comfortable shoes for walking, and inclement weather gear if the weather’s not looking so great.
What time should the hunt end by?: The wrap-up will be at 6pm at the same location where the hunt began in North Point Park.
Are teams allowed to use the internet?: Yes.Googling is definitely OK for this hunt, and may make some puzzles easier, depending on your areas of expertise, so access to the Internet is a good idea.
Can we ask random strangers on the street for help? Or call a friend?: The “phone-a-friend” approach is discouraged, since that kind of planning effectively makes your team bigger. Don’t call people you know and ask for help — you can ask HQ for hints if you’re totally stuck.; However, if you think polling a random stranger on the street can help you answer a question, that’s fine — especially if you are just asking for directions, or about some local factoid. As long as they don’t sit down and solve puzzles with you, that’s not against the spirit of the rules.
You said we could ask HQ for help?: Yes! We’ll even answer specific questions for you if we think they’re reasonable. But if you’re doing well, you might find our answers less helpful.
What if it’s getting late and my team is totally stuck?: Ask us for hints. We won’t think less of you for it.
Is this one of those corporate-sponsored “scavenger hunts” that’s actually advertising things to us?: Heck no. BAPHL is written for the love of puzzling, and is funded entirely by your registration fees.
Who are you guys?: The writing team for BAPHL 19 is Phlogazither, a mix of hunters from the BAPHL teams Phlogiston, Azote, and Ether.
Contact: Specific HQ contact information will be given in writing to each team Captain on the day of the hunt, along with other essential information.; Email baphl19@baphl.org for questions about the BAPHL 19 event.; Email baphl@baphl.org for general questions about past or future BAPHL events.

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