Rules
  1. Have fun. The point of the puzzlehunt is to have fun. If you're not having fun, please let us know why.
  2. Teams of eight to twelve people are recommended, however there is no enforced limit on a team's size.
  3. Each team is required to have access to a computer connected to the Internet. The puzzles will be distributed by posting them on the puzzlehunt website. Teams will also submit their answers to puzzles using the website. Other supplies, such as paper, pens, pencils, and a printer will be helpful.
  4. It is recommended that each team have a home base somewhere on campus. Ideally a home base should have a computer connected to the Internet or be near a computer lab. Please don't wait until the last minute to make arrangements for a home base.
  5. Each team must be reachable via e-mail during the hunt. Corrections to the puzzles and clarifications to the rules will be sent out via e-mail and posted on our website. You may contact the puzzle hunt coordinators by any of the means found here.
  6. None of the puzzles will require you to do anything illegal, immoral, or unsafe. You will not have to enter anyone's office, any locked room, or any area closed to students. You will not be required to go outside of walking distance of the UT campus.
  7. Cheating or being deceptive is not in the spirit of the hunt and is strictly prohibited. This includes: colluding with other teams; attempting to get information on the puzzles before the hunt starts; hacking or cracking any computer system to find the answer; modifying something needed by other teams to solve the puzzle (e.g., moving an object referenced in a puzzle); giving false information to another team; trying to purloin answers from another team. Using a computer or the Internet to solve a puzzle is allowed and in some cases is encouraged.
  8. In the event that no team finds the treasure, the team with the most points will be the winner.
    Scoring:
    1. Each team will have ten chances to guess the answer to each puzzle.
    2. There are no point deductions or time limitations for the first three guesses.
    3. After three guesses, teams must wait 15 minutes between guess submissions.
    4. Teams earn 100 points for solving the puzzle in the first 3 guesses, 80 for solving on the fourth, 75 for the fifth, and so on, earning only 50 points for solving the puzzle on their tenth guess.
  9. The winning team wins the right to organize next year's hunt.
  10. If you have any questions or are unsure about any of the rules, please contact the puzzlehunt organizers.