Solving this puzzle will win you absolutely zero PCS points, but being the first solver will net you the loot (and bragging rights)!
Thanks for putting up with all my torment this year, PCSers. I have one final challenge for you. Follow our heroes in their travels and answer the final question when you get to the end.
Train/Destination:
Syntax: TRAIN NUMBER City, e.g. "EST 9043 Paris"
Syntax: TRAIN NUMBER City, e.g. "EST 9043 Paris"
The bears escaped to the nearest city across the Swedish border on the first train out of Trondheim on Thursday morning. Enter the train and destination above to continue.
Puzzle Rules: Solve the puzzle to answer the final question when you get to your destination! Comment freely in the thread, but if you have the solution, please don't give it away to everyone in the comments section. Instead, do the following:
- Send us an Email with "PCS" somewhere in the subject line, containing the first and last name of the players, along with your reasoning. Submitted answers without the reasoning, or those submitted with the incorrect reasoning, will count for participation only, even if the answer itself is correct. Please include your screen name somewhere in the email; and
- Post a comment simply saying you have emailed your solution attempt. We may not be able to reply to your original email promptly, so please be patient and check back on the comment thread for the latest news; we may confirm correct answers there.
Hint #1: For those having trouble with which train numbers to use, this site uses the international route numbers, and was the one used to develop the train schedule.
Hint #2: When you have the complete route and correct interpretation, your will need to rely on you knowledge of past PCS puzzles (and particularly Grand Slam puzzles) to answer the final question.
Hint #3: The first train number is R 13381.
Hint #4: Something about the image of the bears at the boarding platform will give you an idea of how to decode each travel leg.
Hint #5: Look at the faces of the clocks, there's several odd things about them...
30 comments:
Oh, and you only need to use the accepted English spellings of cities, too. Naples, rather than Napoli, for example. No special accents or diacritical marks.
question sent
Sent a question also
Ubragg, you've got your answer.
To clarify, each country has their own numbering system, but the number to use is the europe-wide number.
I used www.deutschbahn.com for construction, so in case you're running up against a wall, you can go there for clarification. They have international schedules included.
Golem, I didn't get your question. If you put PCS in the title, it will forward to my mobile device.
Is this puzzle not compatible with IE9 or am I just entering the wrong train number?
Wrong train number. Using firefox now anyways.
Quad,
IE should be OK. I test drove it on several browsers.
possible answer sent?
When you correctly interpret the secret message, you will need to rely on your knowledge of PCS (and particularly Grand Slam) puzzles to interpret.
OK, new answer sent, and pretty sure I've got it now.
Indeed he does!
Ubragg makes a season sweep! Since this is the last puzzle, I'm going to throw in a second prize that will be assigned randonmly to one of the successful also-ran solvers.
I'm making this shit up as I go along, so I'll let you guys know.
Awesome puzzle, Stubbs, and thanks for all the puzzles this season, I had a blast! I anxiously await the prize announcement. Suggestion: how about a sweep of the Giants this weekend?
For those working, that web address has a typo, this is the site I used for construction.
Ubragg, you've got quite a prize haul coming. If there is any way I could arrange for you wish to be granted, I'm all for it!
Is this our first JavaScript-enabled puzzle?
They're clearly headed for Funkytown.
Orel, the first-half GS had a java function, as well.
The first two hints from the comments are officially posted.
What stage is everyone stuck at? Another hint for getting the right trains, or interpreting the schedule?
Hint #3 is posted with a starter link.
I have all the trains. Working on the decoding.
Hint #4 up for the "Step 2" folks.
The Manzana II cannot compute.
Hint #5 is up.
Hint #5 updated to be a little more revealing.
I haven't given up on this one yet! Gonna have some pop tarts and start working on this some more.
Question sent...waiting on beer.
You have your response, Q7
I will be working on this again soon.
Answer sent! Damn it feels good!
Post a Comment