Editing How to Host a BANG
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'''Hosting a BANG is simple''': Get a team, write some puzzles, test those puzzles (repeatedly), make lots of copies, and hand them out to teams who walk by at a specific location at a specific date and time. Tell teams if they get the answer right, or help them find their way. Determine who won, if anyone. Kick back with your favorite drink with the knowledge a job well done. | '''Hosting a BANG is simple''': Get a team, write some puzzles, test those puzzles (repeatedly), make lots of copies, and hand them out to teams who walk by at a specific location at a specific date and time. Tell teams if they get the answer right, or help them find their way. Determine who won, if anyone. Kick back with your favorite drink with the knowledge a job well done. | ||
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'''"Any team that regularly plays in BANG should plan to produce one at some point."''' | '''"Any team that regularly plays in BANG should plan to produce one at some point."''' | ||
− | The Bay Area Night Game is produced by volunteers only. If you don't put one on, who will? It is a tremendous responsibility, but don't be cowed by that. Your BANG can be as easy or hard as you want, as simple or complex as you want. If you decided to hand out six standard paper puzzles (word searches, crosswords, cryptograms, etc.), teams would still come and enjoy themselves. Set expectations ahead of time - "This BANG will consist mostly of standard puzzles of middling difficulty" for instance | + | The Bay Area Night Game is produced by volunteers only. If you don't put one on, who will? It is a tremendous responsibility, but don't be cowed by that. Your BANG can be as easy or hard as you want, as simple or complex as you want. If you decided to hand out six standard paper puzzles (word searches, crosswords, cryptograms, etc.), teams would still come and enjoy themselves. Set expectations ahead of time - "This BANG will consist mostly of standard puzzles of middling difficulty" for instance - but people will be grateful, happy, and have a good time. |
In addition, it will help inspire other teams to run their own BANGs. To paraphrase Frank Herbert, "The BANGs must flow!" Help be part of that. | In addition, it will help inspire other teams to run their own BANGs. To paraphrase Frank Herbert, "The BANGs must flow!" Help be part of that. | ||
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== Initial Planning == | == Initial Planning == | ||
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==== 2. Develop a theme! ==== | ==== 2. Develop a theme! ==== | ||
− | Figure out what, if anything, you want to link your puzzles together. Use your favorite TV show or movie for inspiration. Create a unique story or use an novel idea. Be inspired by a major (or minor!) holiday | + | Figure out what, if anything, you want to link your puzzles together. Use your favorite TV show or movie for inspiration. Create a unique story or use an novel idea. Be inspired by a major (or minor!) holiday. |
==== 3. Location, Location, Location ==== | ==== 3. Location, Location, Location ==== | ||
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==== 2. Puzzles ==== | ==== 2. Puzzles ==== | ||
− | '''You don't have to be a puzzle expert to write a puzzle'''. It will take a little practice to write good ones, though | + | '''You don't have to be a puzzle expert to write a puzzle'''. It will take a little practice to write good ones, though. A smooth-working fun puzzle is usually preferred to an elegant puzzle, though elegant puzzles are a pleasure in and of themselves. The number of puzzles usually is between 6 and 10. |
==== 3. Testing ==== | ==== 3. Testing ==== | ||
− | Want to know what makes a good puzzle? | + | Want to know what makes a good puzzle? Test each puzzle at each step of the way: Conception, proof-of-concept, first draft, each iteration, and then the dry-run. Dry-run is where the (hopefully) final copy is tested by a team in a practice run of the BANG. |
==== 4. Find Puzzle Installations ==== | ==== 4. Find Puzzle Installations ==== | ||
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Get your team together and do some location scouting. Figure out where to have puzzles handed out. Safe places with access to bathrooms and/or food, protected from the elements with good places to sit is always preferable, but work with what you have. Ask businesses if you can use their building (many are happy to help) or if they can hand out puzzles. Since BANGs are on foot, walking time between puzzle sites probably should average 5-10 minutes. Get your route nailed down and then walk it yourself from start to finish. | Get your team together and do some location scouting. Figure out where to have puzzles handed out. Safe places with access to bathrooms and/or food, protected from the elements with good places to sit is always preferable, but work with what you have. Ask businesses if you can use their building (many are happy to help) or if they can hand out puzzles. Since BANGs are on foot, walking time between puzzle sites probably should average 5-10 minutes. Get your route nailed down and then walk it yourself from start to finish. | ||
− | A helpful tip: '''Find an ending location first'''. Many restaurants have a back room that you can rent out, or will let you use for free if you promise a certain number of people will actually order food. Community centers, lodges (Odd Fellows for example), churches, dance halls, etc., also may have a room to rent. Ending in a park | + | A helpful tip: '''Find an ending location first'''. Many restaurants have a back room that you can rent out, or will let you use for free if you promise a certain number of people will actually order food. Community centers, lodges (Odd Fellows for example), churches, dance halls, etc., also may have a room to rent. Ending in a park is always an option, but many players like to sit down and talk about their experiences with food and drink. |
==== 5. Plan activities ==== | ==== 5. Plan activities ==== | ||
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==== 1. Announcing your event ==== | ==== 1. Announcing your event ==== | ||
− | When you feel confident enough that your will be prepared to host your BANG on your selected date, there are three main places to make the announcement: This website, the BANG [[Mailing List]], and the [http://puzzlehuntcalendar.com Puzzle Hunt Calendar]. You are certainly welcome to make an early announcement that simply mentions that your team is planning on hosting a BANG and further details are coming | + | When you feel confident enough that your will be prepared to host your BANG on your selected date, there are three main places to make the announcement: This website, the BANG [[Mailing List]], and the [http://puzzlehuntcalendar.com Puzzle Hunt Calendar]. You are certainly welcome to make an early announcement that simply mentions that your team is planning on hosting a BANG and further details are coming, but please read the [[Announcement Note]] first. |
==== 2. Website ==== | ==== 2. Website ==== | ||
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==== 3. Sign-ups ==== | ==== 3. Sign-ups ==== | ||
− | You'll want teams to sign-up in advance, so you know how many copies of everything to make. There are multiple ways to do this, the simplest being taking emails or using Google | + | You'll want teams to sign-up in advance, so you know how many copies of everything to make. There are multiple ways to do this, the simplest being taking emails or using Google Docs. Once accepted, teams could then send you the money for participation in whatever way works best for you. It's generally not a good idea to take payments at the time of the event. Many teams are now taking advantage of websites such as Eventbrite to handle sign-ups and payments together, though those websites often add a surcharge onto every ticket. |
==== 4. Scoring ==== | ==== 4. Scoring ==== | ||
− | Many BANGs are scored. Some are not. Some use a hand-calculated scoring method and some design custom software. Many teams are now making use of [http://www.cluekeeper.com/ ClueKeeper], an app for the iPhone and Android devices that takes a large amount of the burden of handling answers, hints, directions, story, event flow, scoring, etc. automatically. | + | Many BANGs are scored. Some are not. Some use a hand-calculated scoring method and some design custom software. Many teams are now making use of [http://www.cluekeeper.com/ ClueKeeper], an app for the iPhone and Android devices that takes a large amount of the burden of handling answers, hints, directions, story, event flow, scoring, etc. automatically. The drawback is that there is a charge ($10 per team as of this writing) that will need to be taking into account for your budget. |
==== 5. Hints ==== | ==== 5. Hints ==== | ||
− | Two main schools of thought on this: Custom vs. prepackaged hints. | + | Two main schools of thought on this: Custom vs. prepackaged hints. If you are using prepacked hints, some drafts should be written during puzzle design. Now that the puzzles are in near-production mode, the hints should be finalized before the dry-run. Adjustments can be made based on the results of the dry-run. |
− | + | All to often, pre-packaged hints are either minimally or never tested, which can be very frustrating for players if the hints are unclear, confusing, or leave out steps. Be sure to get feedback from previously playtesters or find new playtesters just to test the hints. | |
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==== 6. Volunteers ==== | ==== 6. Volunteers ==== | ||
− | In the past, puzzles have been hidden or left in the open for teams to find. There are obvious drawbacks to this. Having a volunteer or two at each puzzle installation | + | In the past, puzzles have been hidden or left in the open for teams to find. There are obvious drawbacks to this. Having a volunteer or two at each puzzle installation helps. In addition to your team members, you can ask friends and family to help, or have participants in the dry-run |
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− | + | ==== 7. The Dry-Run ==== | |
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With everything designed and tested, there's one final step to make sure your BANG runs smoothly: A full test of everything in as close a state to the actual event as possible. This is your dress rehearsal, a last chance to find flaws. This usually happens 2-4 weeks before the actual event, to give time for final changes and the full production of puzzles. | With everything designed and tested, there's one final step to make sure your BANG runs smoothly: A full test of everything in as close a state to the actual event as possible. This is your dress rehearsal, a last chance to find flaws. This usually happens 2-4 weeks before the actual event, to give time for final changes and the full production of puzzles. | ||
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One final note: '''Test any changes to puzzles made after the dry-run!''' | One final note: '''Test any changes to puzzles made after the dry-run!''' | ||
− | ==== | + | ==== 8. Puzzle Production ==== |
After the dry-run and any fixes that need to be made, lock down the puzzles. No further changes. Start ordering printouts of all the puzzle parts you need. Don't forget printouts of rules/instructions, waivers, answer/score sheets, or any other non-puzzley materials needed for each team. Make several extra copies of everything, in case teams lose their materials. If puzzles require custom assembly, consider having a production party. Have as many team members and volunteers who can make it get together in once place and put everything together. | After the dry-run and any fixes that need to be made, lock down the puzzles. No further changes. Start ordering printouts of all the puzzle parts you need. Don't forget printouts of rules/instructions, waivers, answer/score sheets, or any other non-puzzley materials needed for each team. Make several extra copies of everything, in case teams lose their materials. If puzzles require custom assembly, consider having a production party. Have as many team members and volunteers who can make it get together in once place and put everything together. | ||
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== BANG Day! == | == BANG Day! == | ||
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