Proxy warned me of my impending giftage and sure enough...I've been gifted!!!
3 Packages...all of which need investigation...ASAP! (They thought they were getting a treat, hence forth the well behaved mannerism)
Seems like it all checks out. Let's get to the opening! Package 1!
A Collection of awesome Nom Nom's that might already be half gone. Coffee Crisp is always a winner!
Package 2. In Action!!!
Package 3. I don't know where the picture is of this right now but I decided to just pull one off-line till I can retake another! This thing is awesome, I typically just play Limited Magic the Gathering and i'm always looking for places to store my dice etc. etc. Well done Santa!!!
This is just a placeholder image but you get the idea!
@SwashbucklerXX thank you very much for the thoughtful gifts. You pleased my belly, my nerd addictions, but most importantly you pleased my Huskies. Your generosity will not be forgotten and I wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday.
I have started stalking, and now I think I have a good idea but I'm deathly afraid of giving my target something they already own.
Ahhh this happens every year, and I love it. I sincerely wish that gift-giving to and from my family was like it is here on PA.
Related, if you happen to be a target who is theoretically a huge board game fan, and you haven't updated (or even logged into) your board game geek account for a while, uh. Maybe do that!
It's possible you have incredible self restraint and haven't bought any board games for eons. But is it likely?
The board game thread is almost, but not quite, as bad as the Steam thread.
So, no.
Limited only by the fact most board games are physical products and can't be immediately thrust upon each other's e-mail accounts.
Someday the 2 will combine and then everybody will own Small World 2 and Smash-Up on Steam.
Have you heard of Tabletop Simulator because yeah ... someone probably made those for Tabletop Simulator.
Edit: Don't drink and post kids, you get game names wrong.
Both of those already exist on Steam (and I own them, Small World 2 is better than Smash-Up, but Smash-Up is early access so I continue to have high hopes for it). That's why they were the two I mentioned.
jclast on
0
Custom SpecialI know I am, I'm sure I am,I'm Sounders 'til I die!Registered Userregular
Proxy warned me of my impending giftage and sure enough...I've been gifted!!!
3 Packages...all of which need investigation...ASAP! (They thought they were getting a treat, hence forth the well behaved mannerism)
Seems like it all checks out. Let's get to the opening! Package 1!
A Collection of awesome Nom Nom's that might already be half gone. Coffee Crisp is always a winner!
Package 2. In Action!!!
Package 3. I don't know where the picture is of this right now but I decided to just pull one off-line till I can retake another! This thing is awesome, I typically just play Limited Magic the Gathering and i'm always looking for places to store my dice etc. etc. Well done Santa!!!
This is just a placeholder image but you get the idea!
Santa thank you very much for the thoughtful gifts. You pleased my belly, my nerd addictions, but most importantly you pleased my Huskies. Your generosity will not be forgotten and I wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday.
I hope you didn't eat the 1 billion chocolate. That was actually Canadian currency. We don't call it "fun money" for nothing, guys.
Proxy warned me of my impending giftage and sure enough...I've been gifted!!!
3 Packages...all of which need investigation...ASAP! (They thought they were getting a treat, hence forth the well behaved mannerism)
Seems like it all checks out. Let's get to the opening! Package 1!
A Collection of awesome Nom Nom's that might already be half gone. Coffee Crisp is always a winner!
Package 2. In Action!!!
Package 3. I don't know where the picture is of this right now but I decided to just pull one off-line till I can retake another! This thing is awesome, I typically just play Limited Magic the Gathering and i'm always looking for places to store my dice etc. etc. Well done Santa!!!
This is just a placeholder image but you get the idea!
@SwashbucklerXX thank you very much for the thoughtful gifts. You pleased my belly, my nerd addictions, but most importantly you pleased my Huskies. Your generosity will not be forgotten and I wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday.
You're quite welcome, and I'm glad you liked it all!
Corby the lab says, "I am glad friends liked duck! I like duck lots! Duck is love! Duck is life! Won't somebody play duck with me?"
My zergling (Named Zergie in case you wanted to know) was super excited to go get the package from the office of my complex and it took everything in my power to keep him from tearing the box open.
As you can see Zergie is will trained in the art of siting on top secret information.
The tag reads "Part 1 is here. the second will arrive when you have posted Christmas cheer buckle up."
"This is part 1. Part 2 is yet to come"
Since zergie was behaving I let him hang out with his new friends and gorge him self on leftover halloween candy
I recently received my own office at work and I have had no clue what I was going to decorate it with... these certainly beat the heck out of a plant. Thank you.
Though am not sure who my secret santa is. From what I can tell there are not hints in the notes. Maybe I missed something.
I'm not sure I understand "Leftover Halloween Candy" that's Butterfinger, peanut butter cups and kitkats.
I mean, I get the Mounds. Ugh, coconut. Pass until I'm really desperate.
But Butterfingers? Reese's? Kitkats? Those never made it to "leftover" for me.
Though, maybe I'd have tried a little harder if I had a stuffed zergling to appease.
+4
anoffdayTo be changed whenever Anoffday gets around to it.Registered Userregular
Right. My son has some left over halloween candy, and it's like some mystery flavored dum dums, lemon tootsie roolls (who eats these?), and an almond joy. The reeses were eaten in the first couple days. By me. Because dad tax.
Those pop figures are pretty cool. I'm not even remotely into those, but the vault boy and clap trap are awesome.
Right. My son has some left over halloween candy, and it's like some mystery flavored dum dums, lemon tootsie roolls (who eats these?), and an almond joy. The reeses were eaten in the first couple days. By me. Because dad tax.
Those pop figures are pretty cool. I'm not even remotely into those, but the vault boy and clap trap are awesome.
Can't speak for others, but those fruit flavored tootsie rolls are high up on my list of delicious candy.
Behind peanut butter and chocolate anything of course, but still well ahead of coconut anything or that nasty peanut butter taffy that seems to be a seasonal favorite to hand out.
Right. My son has some left over halloween candy, and it's like some mystery flavored dum dums, lemon tootsie roolls (who eats these?), and an almond joy. The reeses were eaten in the first couple days. By me. Because dad tax.
Those pop figures are pretty cool. I'm not even remotely into those, but the vault boy and clap trap are awesome.
I will eat your lemon tootsie rolls, those things are delicious. Or would if I wasn't on a diet >.<
So, to my Riddler/Santa hybrid, sorry for not posting.
Been a busy week and haven't had time for ramming my head against tiny grey squares,
But, my weekend starts now, so I'll take some time to investigate.
To the threadites who are puzzling along with me, here's the information I've received thus far.
Puzzle 1. This is a training puzzle. If you are comfortable with this, please either post the puzzle with your answer, or the puzzle asking for help in the thread. You will get more difficult puzzles, but I wanted to give you a chance to solve them.
Well I have scene no info in thread, and you haven't replied as figuring things out yet. So I will give you your first real puzzle. This is the one you need to solve, and the other two should help. Don't worry, you will keep getting info until it is all solved.
So without further ado:
I give you
Drop 1
(See's note: original file name: Drop1.png)
Again, direct copy and paste of email. Not sure if the typo is intentional or not. Scene/seen?
I've put together collage of the puzzles and information provided so far in the hopes that diddling around in photoshop may make some connections. As well as the RGB values for the shades of grey in both decimal values and hex.
Sadly, photoshop diddling did little for looking at this in a different way or inspiring any kind of break through.
I wonder if this is how translators felt before the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.
Knowing that there's a pattern there, a language trying to get information across. But having no idea how that pattern can be applied to their day to day thinking or the other way around.
Well, I've looked up anything I can think of, and I'm out of ideas. No idea what it's going for or how to interpret it. I've never seen a puzzle like it before to even know where to begin.
So really I think part two might have arrived before part one... I can tell you I am not complaining by any means
The note read...
Also to keep with tradition.
A shot with Zergie waiting for the download.
I am so excited to play this! I am honestly thinking of calling out of work to morrow as I feel a little...."cough"... bit the black lung coming on. It is currently in the hopper for downloading.
As a side note I really only had two games I wanted off steam as those were the two games I was really looking forward to playing .
I'm just really glad I've never gotten puzzle Santa. I still love you puzzle Santa.
I have to assume my failure at puzzling this out are just as frustrating for Riddler Santa as they are for me.
They've obviously put in some effort into constructing the riddle, and I'm just standing here pushing on the door clearly labeled "pull".
But because "pull" is written in Greek, I don't know what I'm doing wrong.
I play in eyefinity across the bottom 3 so the rez is 5760x1080. I have my coms,music, afterburner,friends list... and what not on the upper ones. Plus the field of view in shooters is just ridiculous.
It is also really great for making power points when you need 5 or 6 references open at any given time.
Santee tracking is telling me that your first package will arrive tomorrow (I wish Canada Post delivered on a Saturday :P) and that your second package is due Tuesday!
So, to my Riddler/Santa hybrid, sorry for not posting.
Been a busy week and haven't had time for ramming my head against tiny grey squares,
But, my weekend starts now, so I'll take some time to investigate.
To the threadites who are puzzling along with me, here's the information I've received thus far.
Puzzle 1. This is a training puzzle. If you are comfortable with this, please either post the puzzle with your answer, or the puzzle asking for help in the thread. You will get more difficult puzzles, but I wanted to give you a chance to solve them.
Well I have scene no info in thread, and you haven't replied as figuring things out yet. So I will give you your first real puzzle. This is the one you need to solve, and the other two should help. Don't worry, you will keep getting info until it is all solved.
So without further ado:
I give you
Drop 1
(See's note: original file name: Drop1.png)
Again, direct copy and paste of email. Not sure if the typo is intentional or not. Scene/seen?
I've put together collage of the puzzles and information provided so far in the hopes that diddling around in photoshop may make some connections. As well as the RGB values for the shades of grey in both decimal values and hex.
Sadly, photoshop diddling did little for looking at this in a different way or inspiring any kind of break through.
I wonder if this is how translators felt before the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.
Knowing that there's a pattern there, a language trying to get information across. But having no idea how that pattern can be applied to their day to day thinking or the other way around.
Yeah, I've been poking at this and really don't have much besides what you have. The biggest problem I have is a lack of direction - I don't know what the output should be, and this really isn't helped by the practice puzzle(s) feeling disconnected from the given puzzle. Do the signs actually mean anything if they don't come up again? Are they meant to be inferred? Why only use + and - in examples if / and * also had signs (This one makes me think the signs don't really matter for actually solving the puzzles, but that reroutes me to my original problem of what the output should look like)?
I can say that I think I understand the process of notes from the original puzzle. It was mentioned the colours weren't exact, which is why I think rounding came up. The brightness values for the original greys were not whole 10s, while the provided scale you've been given, as well as every block afterwards is. I think this is important somehow, that there are only 11 shades and they are exactly [0-10-20-30-...-90-100]% brightness, but I haven't figured out anything better to do with them, especially since I remain confused as to what the signs are trying to suggest.
I don't exactly mind the vague nature of this puzzle, and I do enjoy poking at these things (I would have no problem getting a puzzle Santa one of these years ;P ), but I would enjoy the slightest nudge here. Like, not even necessarily a new hint on the puzzle and how to solve it, but just if what I noted above is actually correct, or a whole bunch of coincidence.
"I'm happy the book has seen use already, and the beanballs look good. It's home cooking - taste is important, presentation is a nicety :P
However, it does remind me that I've been remiss in forgetting a vital component of applying heat to components, and eating the results.
Not to worry, you should be receiving some additional packages to rectify my failure."
Bloody hell Santa! Haven't you done enough? Additional packages? This is too much good will to handle.
NNID: Quical
STEAM: Quical
Check out my youtube channel, maybe subscribe?: NerdAndOrGeek
@initiatefailure I am enjoying the puzzle from my aspect, but if my Santee asks, I will give out the solution. I would wait a little closer to December, but rest assured, I would not let my Santee go without something. If I ever got a puzzle I couldn't solve, I would be sure to bring it to this thread. I have seen some solved that I scratched my head at.
see317 No worry, I'm not frustrated. Also, don't worry, you will keep getting updated clues until it is solved. I would never let a Santee go without something in there sack.
I so want to respond in thread, but I have to respond here. I don't want to give myself away yet.
Not sure if that was PM'd to initiatefailure or not, but figured it won't hurt to post it again.
In news related to Secret Santaing, but not related to puzzles.
ArcticLancerBest served chilled.Registered Userregular
Shit. I just had a thought regarding the puzzle, and as I started poking at it our ride came for tonight's outing, so ... Whatever, I'm probably wrong, but I'll let you know later. For now, SUSPENSE! ...?
Shit. I just had a thought regarding the puzzle, and as I started poking at it our ride came for tonight's outing, so ... Whatever, I'm probably wrong, but I'll let you know later. For now, SUSPENSE! ...?
Awesomed because there is no "you're a monster" button.
A package arrived from ThinkGeek this evening. I was about 95% sure that I hasn't already started Christmas shopping. Does Christmas in November continue?
It does! The box contained a... whoa!
Santa has clearly been reading my posts!
Hmm. None of the forumers who agreed with the post are participating in in Secret Santa this year. *eliminates suspects*
I don't have many places such a fine statue could be displayed. I finally settled on my gaming cubby, next to these copies of Mass Effect 3.
Here's a closeup. The detail is kinda crazy. You can even seen the faint shape of her face behind the mask, just like in the games.
Moar photos!
It's extremely rad! Thank you, Secret Santa!
Shit. I just had a thought regarding the puzzle, and as I started poking at it our ride came for tonight's outing, so ... Whatever, I'm probably wrong, but I'll let you know later. For now, SUSPENSE! ...?
Awesomed because there is no "you're a monster" button.
Don't worry, I was right that I was wrong. I had largely suspected this was the case because an 8x5 grid wasn't right for what I was considering. It may still be a relevant avenue, but I'm employing it at the wrong step if it is.
Basically, I just took the hex codes and converted them to binary, and then used the binary string to generate an image where 0 and 1 were black and white. The idea here was to look for something resembling a QR code, but again, I didn't have enough numbers for a good result. The output was jank, looking like so:
I'm still convinced the signs have to infer something important to making the 8X5 meaningful, but I have zero idea what that is at the moment. The very first warm-up puzzle throws me slightly because the best theory I have is off by a single digit, but also the summary of the RGB values is 254 rather than 255 (which the first and second sets sum up to, so I think this is simply a rounding error somewhere in the 10s system).
If you take (255-(229-26))+(255-(204-51)) then it does equal 153 (which is 255-(178-76), or always subtracting the darker colour from the lighter of the pair). But this logic doesn't hold for the subtraction example, so again, I'm not sure if it's coincidence in the first problem, or that I'm just failing to take anything away from this. Personally, I'm currently leaning towards the former because I still don't see where any of this goes. :P
Sorry, man. But I am totally still in this with you, and just as stumped.
My brain just hurts after staring at it for a while. Not having the tools to dig into the images isn't helping either. (on mobile)
I like to consider myself a fairly smart human being, but each year one of you guys always pulls out these ridiculous puzzles that makes me feel like an idiot.
Posts
No mod star on mobile that I can see.
Proxy warned me of my impending giftage and sure enough...I've been gifted!!!
3 Packages...all of which need investigation...ASAP! (They thought they were getting a treat, hence forth the well behaved mannerism)
Seems like it all checks out. Let's get to the opening! Package 1!
Package 2. In Action!!!
Package 3. I don't know where the picture is of this right now but I decided to just pull one off-line till I can retake another! This thing is awesome, I typically just play Limited Magic the Gathering and i'm always looking for places to store my dice etc. etc. Well done Santa!!!
@SwashbucklerXX thank you very much for the thoughtful gifts. You pleased my belly, my nerd addictions, but most importantly you pleased my Huskies. Your generosity will not be forgotten and I wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday.
Both of those already exist on Steam (and I own them, Small World 2 is better than Smash-Up, but Smash-Up is early access so I continue to have high hopes for it). That's why they were the two I mentioned.
*grumble grumble* thanks....
3DS Friend Code: 2165-6448-8348 www.Twitch.TV/cooljammer00
Battle.Net: JohnDarc#1203 Origin/UPlay: CoolJammer00
Oh man I wish I could remember who that was.
I hope you didn't eat the 1 billion chocolate. That was actually Canadian currency. We don't call it "fun money" for nothing, guys.
Perhaps I can interest you in my meager selection of pins?
The only thing better than Bobkins making that avatar image is that you actually are using it. :biggrin:
You're quite welcome, and I'm glad you liked it all!
Corby the lab says, "I am glad friends liked duck! I like duck lots! Duck is love! Duck is life! Won't somebody play duck with me?"
My zergling (Named Zergie in case you wanted to know) was super excited to go get the package from the office of my complex and it took everything in my power to keep him from tearing the box open.
As you can see Zergie is will trained in the art of siting on top secret information.
The tag reads "Part 1 is here. the second will arrive when you have posted Christmas cheer buckle up."
"This is part 1. Part 2 is yet to come"
Since zergie was behaving I let him hang out with his new friends and gorge him self on leftover halloween candy
I recently received my own office at work and I have had no clue what I was going to decorate it with... these certainly beat the heck out of a plant. Thank you.
Though am not sure who my secret santa is. From what I can tell there are not hints in the notes. Maybe I missed something.
I mean, I get the Mounds. Ugh, coconut. Pass until I'm really desperate.
But Butterfingers? Reese's? Kitkats? Those never made it to "leftover" for me.
Though, maybe I'd have tried a little harder if I had a stuffed zergling to appease.
Those pop figures are pretty cool. I'm not even remotely into those, but the vault boy and clap trap are awesome.
Can't speak for others, but those fruit flavored tootsie rolls are high up on my list of delicious candy.
Behind peanut butter and chocolate anything of course, but still well ahead of coconut anything or that nasty peanut butter taffy that seems to be a seasonal favorite to hand out.
3DS Friend Code: 2165-6448-8348 www.Twitch.TV/cooljammer00
Battle.Net: JohnDarc#1203 Origin/UPlay: CoolJammer00
I will eat your lemon tootsie rolls, those things are delicious. Or would if I wasn't on a diet >.<
Been a busy week and haven't had time for ramming my head against tiny grey squares,
But, my weekend starts now, so I'll take some time to investigate.
To the threadites who are puzzling along with me, here's the information I've received thus far. Not sure if the typo there was intentional or not. Goo ideas/good ideas?
Again, direct copy and paste of email. Not sure if the typo is intentional or not. Scene/seen?
I've put together collage of the puzzles and information provided so far in the hopes that diddling around in photoshop may make some connections. As well as the RGB values for the shades of grey in both decimal values and hex.
Sadly, photoshop diddling did little for looking at this in a different way or inspiring any kind of break through.
I wonder if this is how translators felt before the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.
Knowing that there's a pattern there, a language trying to get information across. But having no idea how that pattern can be applied to their day to day thinking or the other way around.
I mean, everything looks like a pattern when you're using 1s and 0s.
Edited to add:
Converted to ASCII
That's probably nothing though.
So really I think part two might have arrived before part one... I can tell you I am not complaining by any means
The note read...
Also to keep with tradition.
I am so excited to play this! I am honestly thinking of calling out of work to morrow as I feel a little...."cough"... bit the black lung coming on. It is currently in the hopper for downloading.
As a side note I really only had two games I wanted off steam as those were the two games I was really looking forward to playing .
Thank you still secret santa with great taste!
I have to assume my failure at puzzling this out are just as frustrating for Riddler Santa as they are for me.
They've obviously put in some effort into constructing the riddle, and I'm just standing here pushing on the door clearly labeled "pull".
But because "pull" is written in Greek, I don't know what I'm doing wrong.
STEAM: Quical
Check out my youtube channel, maybe subscribe?: NerdAndOrGeek
Take pictures of it to show off on the internet as often as possible.
It is also really great for making power points when you need 5 or 6 references open at any given time.
Origin: theRealElMucho
Yeah, I've been poking at this and really don't have much besides what you have. The biggest problem I have is a lack of direction - I don't know what the output should be, and this really isn't helped by the practice puzzle(s) feeling disconnected from the given puzzle. Do the signs actually mean anything if they don't come up again? Are they meant to be inferred? Why only use + and - in examples if / and * also had signs (This one makes me think the signs don't really matter for actually solving the puzzles, but that reroutes me to my original problem of what the output should look like)?
I can say that I think I understand the process of notes from the original puzzle. It was mentioned the colours weren't exact, which is why I think rounding came up. The brightness values for the original greys were not whole 10s, while the provided scale you've been given, as well as every block afterwards is. I think this is important somehow, that there are only 11 shades and they are exactly [0-10-20-30-...-90-100]% brightness, but I haven't figured out anything better to do with them, especially since I remain confused as to what the signs are trying to suggest.
I don't exactly mind the vague nature of this puzzle, and I do enjoy poking at these things (I would have no problem getting a puzzle Santa one of these years ;P ), but I would enjoy the slightest nudge here. Like, not even necessarily a new hint on the puzzle and how to solve it, but just if what I noted above is actually correct, or a whole bunch of coincidence.
Perhaps I can interest you in my meager selection of pins?
"I'm happy the book has seen use already, and the beanballs look good. It's home cooking - taste is important, presentation is a nicety :P
However, it does remind me that I've been remiss in forgetting a vital component of applying heat to components, and eating the results.
Not to worry, you should be receiving some additional packages to rectify my failure."
Bloody hell Santa! Haven't you done enough? Additional packages? This is too much good will to handle.
STEAM: Quical
Check out my youtube channel, maybe subscribe?: NerdAndOrGeek
In news related to Secret Santaing, but not related to puzzles.
It just got a whole lot Santier in here.
Perhaps I can interest you in my meager selection of pins?
Awesomed because there is no "you're a monster" button.
Santee holiday enrichment program has begin.
Target acquired.
Payload has been procured.
DELIVERABLE 1:
Fast-acting air-to-Santee strike force, codename "Storm"
Prepared for deployment
Awaiting go from NorthPole Central
DELIVERABLE 2:
Mammoth-class amphibian assault, codename "Chillsmith"
Deployment has begun
Estimated time of arrival: within 30 days
DO NOT DESPAIR SANTEE
JOY IS COMING
--MESSAGE ENDS--
One if by land! Two if by sea! Lanterns prepared!
A package arrived from ThinkGeek this evening. I was about 95% sure that I hasn't already started Christmas shopping. Does Christmas in November continue?
It does! The box contained a... whoa!
Santa has clearly been reading my posts! Hmm. None of the forumers who agreed with the post are participating in in Secret Santa this year. *eliminates suspects*
I don't have many places such a fine statue could be displayed. I finally settled on my gaming cubby, next to these copies of Mass Effect 3.
Here's a closeup. The detail is kinda crazy. You can even seen the faint shape of her face behind the mask, just like in the games.
Moar photos!
It's extremely rad! Thank you, Secret Santa!
Don't worry, I was right that I was wrong. I had largely suspected this was the case because an 8x5 grid wasn't right for what I was considering. It may still be a relevant avenue, but I'm employing it at the wrong step if it is.
Basically, I just took the hex codes and converted them to binary, and then used the binary string to generate an image where 0 and 1 were black and white. The idea here was to look for something resembling a QR code, but again, I didn't have enough numbers for a good result. The output was jank, looking like so:
I'm still convinced the signs have to infer something important to making the 8X5 meaningful, but I have zero idea what that is at the moment. The very first warm-up puzzle throws me slightly because the best theory I have is off by a single digit, but also the summary of the RGB values is 254 rather than 255 (which the first and second sets sum up to, so I think this is simply a rounding error somewhere in the 10s system).
If you take (255-(229-26))+(255-(204-51)) then it does equal 153 (which is 255-(178-76), or always subtracting the darker colour from the lighter of the pair). But this logic doesn't hold for the subtraction example, so again, I'm not sure if it's coincidence in the first problem, or that I'm just failing to take anything away from this. Personally, I'm currently leaning towards the former because I still don't see where any of this goes. :P
Sorry, man. But I am totally still in this with you, and just as stumped.
Perhaps I can interest you in my meager selection of pins?
I like to consider myself a fairly smart human being, but each year one of you guys always pulls out these ridiculous puzzles that makes me feel like an idiot.