Riddle
The default challenge type — players solve a clue and type the answer. Covers the shared text-answer flow used by all classic types.
Riddle is the default challenge type. Players read a clue and submit an answer. Because Riddle is the canonical text-style type, this page also documents the shared answer flow that Counting, Exploration, Search, Observation, and Finale inherit — those types differ only in label and map icon, not mechanics.
What players experience
Opening the challenge shows the shared detail screen: a dark header with the challenge name and "Riddle Challenge", the Clue as rich text, a difficulty badge, a {points} pts chip, an audio player if you attached narration, and — when configured — a speed-bonus line like Speed bonus: 1st +N · 2nd +N.
The input depends on the Answer Type:
- Text — a multiline "Your Answer" box with a "Submit Answer" button.
- Fill in the Blank — a single-line "Fill in the blank" box.
- True / False — two buttons, True and False.
- Multiple Choice — a tappable list ("Select your answer") built from your Answer Choices.
If a hint exists, players see Need a hint? (-{cost} pts) (or "Free hint available!" at cost 0); confirming reveals the hint in an amber box. If you set an Access Code or a non-default Activation mode, that gate replaces the clue and form until cleared.
Feedback is immediate: a correct answer triggers a confetti "Challenge Complete!" modal with the animated point award (including a speed-bonus breakdown like "{base} + {bonus} speed bonus — {rank} team to finish!"); a wrong answer opens the "Not Quite!" modal with a "Try Again" button. There is no attempt limit — teams can retry until they get it right. Submissions are only accepted while the event is active; paused or ended events show an explanatory message instead.
Scoring & answers
- Valid answer types: Text (default), True / False, Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blank. Photo/Video and Puzzle answer types belong to their own challenge types.
- Correctness (Text / Fill in the Blank): the submission is compared case-insensitively against the Answer plus every entry in Alternate Answers. Matching is exact string comparison — "the courthouse" does not match "courthouse" unless you add it as an alternate.
- Hint deduction: if the team revealed the hint, the Hint Cost is subtracted from the challenge's Points at solve time. The base award never goes below 0.
- Speed bonuses: the Nth non-staff team to answer correctly earns the Nth Speed Bonus tier, added on top of base points. Staff teams are never ranked and never consume a tier.
- Max Completing Teams: once that many distinct non-staff teams have completed the challenge, it stops accepting completions.
- A live Double Down artifact effect doubles the entire award (base + bonus) at submit time.
- Retries: unlimited until the team has a correct submission; after that, further submits are rejected as already completed.
Configuring in the admin
| Section | Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge Details | Name, Type (Riddle), Difficulty (Easy / Medium / Hard), Points | Points default to 100 |
| Challenge Details | Answer Type | "What participants must submit"; pick Text, True / False, Multiple Choice, or Fill in the Blank |
| Challenge Details | Visibility | Library challenges only: Private / Unlisted / Public |
| Content | Clue | Rich text; for Fill in the Blank, "Use ___ (three underscores) to mark blank positions" |
| Content | Answer, Alternate Answers | "Separate multiple answers with commas"; comparison is case-insensitive |
| Content | Correct Answer / Answer Choices | True / False uses two buttons; Multiple Choice uses radio-select with + Add choice ("Add at least 2 choices. Select the correct one.") |
| Content | Hint, Hint Cost | "Points deducted when a participant uses the hint (0 for free hints)" |
| Location | Zone, Latitude / Longitude, map picker | Library adds Greater Area; event context adds Map Icon Color and Custom Map Icon |
| Media | Challenge Image (4:3), Challenge Video | Optional |
| Access Code | Code (with Generate), Prompt message, Access Code QR | Case-insensitive; prompt is shown above the code input on mobile |
| Gameplay (event only) | Activation, Requires Facilitator, Facilitator Instructions, Max Completing Teams, Speed Bonus | See Activation & Beacons |
| Rewards (event, after saving) | Collectible awards/requirements, artifact rewards | Granted on first correct completion |
Tips
- Load up Alternate Answers. Matching is exact (though case-insensitive), so cover articles, abbreviations, and spellings: "St. Paul's, Saint Pauls, St Pauls".
- Prefer Multiple Choice or True / False when the wording is ambiguous — choice-based answers eliminate the "right idea, wrong phrasing" frustration entirely.
- Free hints are a pacing tool. A Hint Cost of 0 shows "Free hint available!" and deducts nothing — useful for family events where you want everyone moving.
- Advertise speed bonuses. The mobile app shows the bonus tiers on the challenge screen, so descending tiers (for example 50 / 30 / 10) create a visible race.
Challenge Types Overview
All 15 challenge types, the 7 answer types they pair with, the fields every challenge shares, and the event-only gameplay settings.
Counting
Players count something at the location — steps, statues, windows — and enter the total. A text-style type; answers are compared as text.