[Steve]

Hack Forums Scavenger Hunt

Hello HF members. Today Xerotic and I are launching our first scavenger hunt for members. We will give you a series of clues that you must solve in order to complete the hunt and win the prize. These may require you to use problem solving, mathematics, programming, HF knowledge, and a little bit of luck.

Solving each clue will yield a key. Whichever member sends either Xerotic or I all of the keys will receive up to $50 HF awards/upgrades of their choice (no option for a cash prize instead). You can mix and match any awards/upgrades for yourself or your team as long as the total is $50 or less. The clues are given sequentially, so to win you must send them to us in the correct order. There is no need to send us the keys as you gather them; simply wait until you have obtained them all.

You may feel compelled to work with other members. This is totally fine and even encouraged, but there will be only ONE winner, which is the user that sends either Xerotic or Steve all of the keys in the correct order first, so be aware of this if you decide to work together!

Also note that this is a Hack Forums Scavenger Hunt, so elements of HF will be used often throughout the hunt.

This contest will continue until somebody completes the hunt and Xerotic and I will make subsequent scavenger hunts as they are completed.

So with all of that out of the way, here is the first clue. Have fun!

Code

A Sad Child Is Ill
PID: 057 054 048 054 050 050 057

NOTE: Despite there being only one prize, we highly encourage users to work together and post their progress in the thread. The puzzle will get more challenging and you will need help.

Remember that in order to win, a user must send us ALL the keys IN ORDER. This means that if you are a few clues in and you get help from someone who isn't as far as you, it doesn't necessarily make them catch up to you because they might be missing keys in between. Also you can choose not to post the encrypted message that goes along with the key you're looking for so that even if you do find the solution, those who helped cannot proceed because they won't have the encrypted message until they get to that point on their own. (Encryption is explained when you get the first key)

This makes it beneficial for someone to help because they could get a key out of it, but beneficial for you because you also got the key without those helping you being fast tracked to where you are in the puzzle. So post a hint in the thread if you're stuck!

[Xerotic]

Hack Forums Scavenger Hunt

Thank you for participating in this hunt created by Steve and Xerotic! We spent a lot of time coming up with these questions and making this as fun as possible. If members enjoy this we will continue to make these challenges. We plan on making about four (4) of these per year and hopefully turning it into an officially HF sanctioned event. Some of these challenges are easy while others are (in our opinion) quite difficult. We hope to see a lot of activity surrounding this competition but remember to enjoy yourselves all the same.

Happy hunting!

PS.... You will be receiving further instructions once you solve the first hint.

[❤️BowmanBot❤️]

You stole my idea!

All seriousness good on you guys for doing this!

Best of luck to anyone who wants to participate.

[Copywriter]

I don't even know how to get past the first damn clue.. feels bad man.

[Vyxn]

Interesting contest. Let me try my luck.
Good luck with everyone who attempt to join this event.

[ColeIsABoy]

Oh my god this sounds amazing. Keep up the good work.

[000]

Seems very interesting. Posting here to participate. Good luck to everyone else! :)

[Malicious`]

I think I found this. PM'ing you now.

[000]

I think I found this. PM'ing you now.

I think we need to wait before all the keys are posted.

There is no need to send us the keys as you gather them; simply wait until you have obtained them all.

[Malicious`]

I think we need to wait before all the keys are posted.

Dang, I missed that part  🤣

Saving it then.

[Xerotic]

I am waiting for Steve to wake up to discuss if he’s alright with posting a hint. The first clue is a clue that will lead you to the next part of the hunt WITHOUT any need of interaction from me or Steve. The way we designed the puzzle is that by posting this thread we shouldn’t need to provide any more info. Once Steve is online we will edit the hint so it’ll make a lot more sense.

---

PS... feel free to post here your progress. The challengers are going to be getting difficult and you might need to work together on some of them. Just remember... one winner :)

[Malicious`]

I am waiting for Steve to wake up to discuss if he’s alright with posting a hint. The first clue is a clue that will lead you to the next part of the hunt WITHOUT any need of interaction from me or Steve. The way we designed the puzzle is that by posting this thread we shouldn’t need to provide any more info. Once Steve is online we will edit the hint so it’ll make a lot more sense.

---

PS... feel free to post here your progress. The challengers are going to be getting difficult and you might need to work together on some of them. Just remember... one winner :)

One extra hint it is.  😁

Once you figure out what the first line stands for, you can easily find the solution in the second line.

[Xerotic]

One extra hint it is.  😁

Once you figure out what the first line stands for, you can easily find the solution in the second line.

The second line is not the key :)
It points you to the key.

[Vyxn]

The second line is not the key :)
It points you to the key.

Still waiting on what to do with the key. I guess I'm the first solver here? 😁

[Steve]

I may post a hint when Xerotic gets back to me. Despite there being only one prize, we highly encourage users to work together and post their progress in the thread. The puzzle will get more challenging and you will need help.

Remember that in order to win, a user must send us ALL the keys IN ORDER. This means that if you are a few clues in and you get help from someone who isn't as far as you, it doesn't necessarily make them catch up to you because they might be missing keys in between. Also you can choose not to post the encrypted message that goes along with the key you're looking for so that even if you do find the solution, those who helped cannot proceed because they won't have the encrypted message until they get to that point on their own.

This makes it beneficial for someone to help because they could get a key out of it, but beneficial for you because you also got the key without those helping you being fast tracked to where you are in the puzzle. So post a hint in the thread if you're stuck!

One extra hint it is.  😁

Once you figure out what the first line stands for, you can easily find the solution in the second line.

Posting hints in the thread and working together is definitely in the best interest of those who want to solve it! 😁

Still waiting on what to do with the key. I guess I'm the first solver here? 😁

The hunt is set up in such a way that you should get the next clue upon finding a key. If you found the key then you should be able to move on.