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This topic has moved here: Subject: The Mail Sack is here to save the day!
  • Subject: The Mail Sack is here to save the day!
Subject: The Mail Sack is here to save the day!

I am so incredibly happy that I don't feel the NEED to take part in these things anymore. Nicely done to the winner(s). Until next week, can't wait to stalk all you hard workers again.

[Edited on 09.16.2012 12:06 PM PDT]

  • 09.16.2012 12:05 PM PDT

Posted by: Enormous Corgi
Posted by: Unanimate Objec
There's no way Nate Hawbaker's favorite hero is Alan Stuart


ALAN IS A BEAUTIFUL MAN!


Posted by: Izak609
Posted by: MURDUR 587
Posted by: Izak609
I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Could you please explain?
I mean if I googled cryptography and saw the cesear cipher it would have helped me figure out the puzzle faster than normal, so having it presented to me before hand isn't necessarily more advantageous than simply looking for ciphers.
Oh, so you're saying that if TheMisssingLink just made a lot of miniature puzzles, enough that we would have troubles discerning which one will actually be used for the challenge, it would make little difference? That makes sense. Although, it sounds like it might require some additional effort on his part; but it seems like he enjoys making these puzzles. :D

Although if you put the puzzles in a different context or simply post ciphers then the results will vary. Then again either way a group might be seen as a liability, MissingLink meant it in jest anyway.Yeah, but I still hope TheMisssingLink actually wants beta testers. It sounds like fun, and I don't really need another Mailsack shirt, especially when it could go to someone with no Bungie Swag, or at least, someone who hasn't won, yet.




I was so close to winning, so close. Never again. But like I said, Mr. Link could study us over a period of time and handpick a small number of volunteers to help him beta test, because in this mail sack there were so many variations of the answers (like general petraues being marty).


We could accept a ToC of sorts, or an NDA of sorts to insure we don't provide aid to the puzzle unless specified by him.

  • 09.16.2012 12:24 PM PDT

Covan was here, December 20th.

Come back later, after he's out of Parris Island.

Nevermind.

[Edited on 09.16.2012 12:32 PM PDT]

  • 09.16.2012 12:30 PM PDT

Benaiah went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

Wow, this was great. Although I mostly figured out that first step on my own (after getting the clues and someone's idea about the 7 steps to world domination), I doubt I would have ever come up with the maze traversal step. Great problem solving, folks!

  • 09.16.2012 2:27 PM PDT

What goes here??

Another good one.

  • 09.16.2012 2:33 PM PDT
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Posted by: Unanimate Objec
So now what? Are we waiting for DeeJ, or we just chilling?


DeeJ is in charge of all the swag. I just work here. And torture you guys. But primarily work here.

Also, Link , is there a degree in cryptography, and if so, did you major or minor in it?

Maybe? Though more likely, the best degree to pursue for cryptography is applied mathematics in all honesty (though computer science isn't half bad for it). Modern cryptography uses a lot of fancy algorithms and some complicated mathematical techniques (well, they're not necessarily complicated, but they're generally not your bread-and-butter high-school mathematics) involving abstract algebra, matrix algebra, and other interesting techniques. None of it is necessarily hard (says the mathematician), but most of it involves looking at numbers in ways that you're not necessarily used to.

  • 09.16.2012 3:13 PM PDT

Owning Noobs Since 05

"I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming in terror like his passengers."

Jim Harkins


Posted by: TheMisssingLink
A full walkthrough of the solution:

Step 1 (and instructions to Step 2)
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4

Yep as I suspected, I didn't stand a chance. Also thanks for posting a tutorial. I like you a little bit more now.

[Edited on 09.16.2012 3:38 PM PDT]

  • 09.16.2012 3:16 PM PDT
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Don't judge a book by its cover, unless it has bacon on the cover, then it is a good book.

-Me


Posted by: TheMisssingLink

Posted by: Unanimate Objec
So now what? Are we waiting for DeeJ, or we just chilling?


DeeJ is in charge of all the swag. I just work here. And torture you guys. But primarily work here.

Also, Link , is there a degree in cryptography, and if so, did you major or minor in it?

Maybe? Though more likely, the best degree to pursue for cryptography is applied mathematics in all honesty (though computer science isn't half bad for it). Modern cryptography uses a lot of fancy algorithms and some complicated mathematical techniques (well, they're not necessarily complicated, but they're generally not your bread-and-butter high-school mathematics) involving abstract algebra, matrix algebra, and other interesting techniques. None of it is necessarily hard (says the mathematician), but most of it involves looking at numbers in ways that you're not necessarily used to.


do you have any challenge's lined up that won't make those of us with weak math skills want to jump off a bridge? or will you be sticking with this decoding theme for awhile?

  • 09.16.2012 5:10 PM PDT

Posted by: Enormous Corgi
Posted by: Unanimate Objec
There's no way Nate Hawbaker's favorite hero is Alan Stuart


ALAN IS A BEAUTIFUL MAN!

We did have an art challenge mailsack, but that didn't ends very well.

  • 09.16.2012 5:18 PM PDT

im a huge bungie fan. im good with computers. my dream is to work at bungie, make liveing working there.

24! (inside joke) when challenged its always 24!

  • 09.16.2012 5:44 PM PDT

Posted by: Enormous Corgi
Posted by: Unanimate Objec
There's no way Nate Hawbaker's favorite hero is Alan Stuart


ALAN IS A BEAUTIFUL MAN!

What I'd love to know is why the previous mailsack is still being commented upon. Ah well.

Is this the 24th mailsack?

  • 09.16.2012 7:31 PM PDT

Posted by: AngryBrute1
Oh yeah, since somebody does not believe what YOU believe; that makes us vapid...
I cannot grasp that what you call "Something happened to nothing, and that nothing became something, and it was smaller than than a period."


Posted by: Unanimate Objec
What I'd love to know is why the previous mailsack is still being commented upon. Ah well.

Is this the 24th mailsack?
I think so.
If not, then it's Mail Sack Number Whatever.

  • 09.16.2012 7:32 PM PDT


Posted by: Unanimate Objec
We did have an art challenge mailsack, but that didn't ends very well.
Like half of all the mail sacks have had art challenges dawg. To be honest, I grew sick of them since relatively few people have the chance to win. I know I'm not alone in this.

Anyways, next week I'm going 3/3. I have guessed two in a row, so three will give me great justice. If I make it to 7 I think I win a free snack!

  • 09.16.2012 7:36 PM PDT

Key


Posted by: Unanimate Objec
We did have an art challenge mailsack, but that didn't ends very well.
Do people really have memories that bad? I have to ask myself this whenever people think or assert that that was the only poll thread or the only art contest. We others before that.

Represent your username. UNSC v.s. Empire. and others.

[Edited on 09.16.2012 7:39 PM PDT]

  • 09.16.2012 7:39 PM PDT


Posted by: kirish

Very nice work mate, congrats.

  • 09.16.2012 8:41 PM PDT
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Posted by: T1d3

do you have any challenge's lined up that won't make those of us with weak math skills want to jump off a bridge? or will you be sticking with this decoding theme for awhile?


I'd like to say that this one really didn't require any mathematics to figure out.

  • 09.16.2012 9:18 PM PDT

Dubito ergo cogito, cogito ergo sum ©
Halo 3 Longshore playable on Team Fortress 2 vids


Posted by: TheMisssingLink

Posted by: T1d3

do you have any challenge's lined up that won't make those of us with weak math skills want to jump off a bridge? or will you be sticking with this decoding theme for awhile?


I'd like to say that this one really didn't require any mathematics to figure out.
Speaking of that, why do people think this puzzle involves math? It's just basic puzzle. The only thing that was hard that made people confused was that they didn't know where to start.

  • 09.16.2012 9:33 PM PDT

Congrats to the winner. That was well done, and thanks for the well documented solution.

Likewise, good work Bungie. I've enjoyed the three most recent challenges. They have captured my interest when they appear, and I've tried to solve two of them. As enjoyable as that process can be, there is a lot of satisfaction in reading how a puzzle was finally solved even when I couldn't have done it myself.
Goose.

  • 09.17.2012 8:03 AM PDT

that was insane problem solving skillz!

  • 09.17.2012 8:37 AM PDT

The name's Ian, Game Designer at Whisper Game Studios, very off-and-on Bungie.net visitor and avid Bungie fan overall. Message me if you wish.


Posted by: TheMisssingLink

Posted by: T1d3

do you have any challenge's lined up that won't make those of us with weak math skills want to jump off a bridge? or will you be sticking with this decoding theme for awhile?


I'd like to say that this one really didn't require any mathematics to figure out.


Hence why I thought I could best other people at this puzzle, though it seems my decryption skills have drifted away since the days of olde.

  • 09.17.2012 9:24 AM PDT

La-hoo, Za-her.

Kinda bummed to see the Land Shark Gun show up in the list of favorite weapons. That was supposed to be my own private favorite weapon that nobody knew about.

  • 09.17.2012 9:45 AM PDT

Posted by: TheMisssingLink
DeeJ is in charge of all the swag.


Indeed! Kirish and SpecOps11, you need to send me a PM with the following:

1. Name
2. Address
3. Size

  • 09.17.2012 11:47 AM PDT

Posted by: Enormous Corgi
Posted by: Unanimate Objec
There's no way Nate Hawbaker's favorite hero is Alan Stuart


ALAN IS A BEAUTIFUL MAN!


Posted by: CrazzySnipe55

Posted by: Unanimate Objec
We did have an art challenge mailsack, but that didn't ends very well.
Do people really have memories that bad? I have to ask myself this whenever people think or assert that that was the only poll thread or the only art contest. We others before that.

Represent your username. UNSC v.s. Empire. and others.




I absolutely have a bad memory. I couldn't remember the last time I saw a mailsack challenge that was about art in it, but come to think of it, there have been many, it's just been a long time.


Posted by: DeeJ


Indeed! Kirish and SpecOps11, you need to send me a PM with the following:

1. Name
2. Address
3. Size



Also DeeJ (if you check back in this thread) or any other member who knows, how exactly do they choose the winner(s)? Is it based off of amount of work contributed, or the ability to present the answer before anyone else, or what?

I'm basing this question off of your OP, which said that a winner is just a guesser without documentation. Following that, couldn't that mean that I could spam (in appropriate volumes) different possible answers until I eventually hit jackpot?

I saw MissingLink redact his "We have a Winner" comment when he saw SpecOps was much too far ahead to have reasonably guessed that, so it would seem that if the Community is far enough ahead that the answer could be reasonably guessed without proof, would you accept that person as the winner?


Sorry for the long post, just some burning questions that popped into my mind that I felt needed answering regarding your decision for the winners of this mailsack.

[Edited on 09.17.2012 1:05 PM PDT]

  • 09.17.2012 12:04 PM PDT

nvm

[Edited on 09.17.2012 1:36 PM PDT]

  • 09.17.2012 1:29 PM PDT

I'M JIZZING MY PANTS RIGHT NOW; SPIDERS/RIVERS -blam!- I'M TOO HIGH.

  • 09.17.2012 9:58 PM PDT