# Need help with a puzzle

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-puzzle/929031>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [December 27, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-puzzle/929031 "2020-12-27T18:48:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-puzzle/929031/1 "2020-12-27T18:48:01Z")

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I’m trying to set up a geo-location puzzle. I need to compose some directions that say, basically, start here, go somewhere else and end up where you started. But… I want it to seem like the directions are leading somewhere else.

Something like - start here, go ten paces, turn left five paces, go ten paces in another direction.  
But more clear while being more deceptive.

Sorry if that’s not clear, I couldn’t think of a better way to explain it.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

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**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-puzzle/929031/2 "2020-12-27T18:51:02Z")

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Mix your units: miles for directions North and West, kilometers for directions South and East.

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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-puzzle/929031/3 "2020-12-27T18:51:56Z")

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From the starting point pick a landmark. Make the description as cryptic as you want then have the person go there. Lather, rinse, repeat.

OR simply have the person go 50 feet in that direction, then find the next landmark and go 72.695 feet in that direction. Lather, rinse, repeat.

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**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-puzzle/929031/4 "2020-12-27T18:56:08Z")

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Maybe relative directions? Go two miles in the direction of the nearest Goodwill Thrift Shop – go four miles in the direction of Atlanta, GA. Some’at like that?

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**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-puzzle/929031/5 "2020-12-27T19:17:48Z")

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Hmm, I like that… it has potential!

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**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-puzzle/929031/6 "2020-12-28T07:06:52Z")

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> [@Pardel-Lux](#):
>
> Mix your units: miles for directions North and West, kilometers for directions South and East.

This is a great idea. You could also mix directions. Instead of North and East etc, it could be towards or away from the setting sun, or use degrees around a circle, or left vs right.

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-puzzle/929031/7 "2020-12-28T17:54:05Z")

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> [@Saint\_Cad](#):
>
> From the starting point pick a landmark. Make the description as cryptic as you want then have the person go there. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Like this?

> **[The Secret (a treasure hunt) / Verse 03](http://thesecret.pbworks.com/w/page/86287246/Verse%2003)**