Metapro-puzzles
Here's a taste of what we encountered on our puzzling day. Try them yourself!
Puzzle 1: In words, drown I!
Location: Found by Élodie in a (supposed) treasure box during our tour of Maddy & Richard's new house. It took some effort to convince Nick that it was meant for him, and even more to interest him in the puzzle. “There are a lot of words,” he said, handing it over to Nancy. “Um—maybe you should read them!” came her borderline-impatient reply.
- front of handwritten on-site version
- Note: There may be one letter with a mistake, if we are not mistaken.
Puzzle 2: Octohedron
Location: Taped under the table at Caffe Strada, a Berkeley institution and the first place we met for coffee outside work.
Puzzle 3: Bear World
Location: Delivered by accomplice Jessica (and Samosa) on Berkeley campus. Be forewarned: Puzzle clues are based on arcane lore of Chang sister youth. Prepare to venture into our childhood!
- the note it led us to (taped under another table in another Berkeley institution)
- Note: There are missing boxes on the sixth clue, and NC believes the third clue has an incorrect order of professions, though that probably won’t help.
Puzzle 4: Old-fashioned Linguistics
Location: On lunch table at the first sushi place N&N ate together at; solved over lunch with Sand and Rae.
Puzzle 5: Color Code
Location: Delivered by Chen Chen and Harriet to Cafe du Soleil.
Puzzle 6: Alvidrez Family Challenge
Location: Delivered by the family Alvidrez during an ice cream break. Arcane lore of Casa Alvidrez!
- part 1: quiz (answer to quiz used as Vigenère code in part 2)
- part 2: code
- Vigenère keyword idea from Dave
- Puzzle 1: idea from Dave, puzzle/clues by Mira
- Puzzles 2, 4, 5: modified by Mira from puzzles used at Mathcamp
- Puzzle 3: Sand
- Puzzle 6: Alvidrez familiy
- “Boss” challenge (not shown): Paul & Ambika
- Final puzzle (N&N MP book): NC
