"You guys are no longer n00bz."

That was Yar's official assessment after we found ourselves in 3rd place at the end of the Iron Puzzler BANG. And he's probably right. The Smoking GNU - in Total Perspective Vortex Survivors form - showed up in our first puzzle event, BANG 16, two years ago. That's enough time to acclimate ourselves to the community and to show that this is not just some casual hobby we go out and do every now and then. Placing on the podium is probably a pretty accurate indication that it's time to cast off the beginners' cloak.

To be honest, we were a little surprised to place where we did. While walking around in circles as our navigator tried to figure out which part of the Presidio was indicated by the giant "27" on the map, Jonathan estimated at we'd end up fifth; I figured 9th. Coincidentally, we were the ninth team to reach the end location, but none of us would have guessed third. (And after seeing all the results I'm insanely curious to know which clue 5 Blind Boys took a hint on.)

So what does it mean, losing our "newbie" status? Well, we're going to want to give back more to the community than the few things we have done. In another coincidence, we actually have some things planned, including playtesting, staffing, constructing, and maybe even hosting. Right now, though, only one of those things is for sure, but I'm looking forward to them all.

Iron Puzzler BANG - Darned Good Stuff!

I have to say we really had a blast playing in the Iron Puzzler BANG last Saturday! I can't think of any clue in the hunt that I could nitpick or that we didn't enjoy. Of course, we solved them all and usually a solved puzzle is an enjoyed puzzle, so there's that as a qualifier.

Many thanks to coed astronomy, Burninators, BootyVicious, Evil Geniuses, Platonic Solids, and Wrong Ideas for all their work, and to Greg DeBeer, whose Iron Puzzler event led to this (hopefully) renewal of the Bay Area Night Game. It was a good, solid event, and I recommend that it happen again with the next Iron Puzzler.

Since the IP BANG may be run again and/or at a different site (a wonderful new tradition I think), I guess I won't write much about our specific experience... except to say that Erik practically jumped ship after hearing from Rich about how Blood and Bones played in their own division (i.e. a drink after every solve, similar to a methodology Erik employed in the SF Mini-hunt) and that I have never seen a man so pleased to win a rock garden.

Iron Puzzler BANG Photos

There didn't seem to be many picture opportunities apart from our team gathered around a puzzle, but what few I took are up at ipbang.puzzalot.com.

All YAKs left behind

Despite all my Smoldering YAK teammates eagerly anticipating a new puzzle hunt, when the Iron Puzzler BANG comes along, suddenly they're all busy. Okay, sure, one's got a wedding reception, two others have anniversary plans, and another already had made camping plans, but still! All the "When is there going to be another puzzle hunt?" fell by the wayside pretty quickly. Ah well.

Since I'll be on the Smoking GNU instead, Jonathan and I were hoping to reunite our core team of three for a short event (i.e. non-overnight) for the first time since April 2007, but Given's place of employment has given him all but unlimited overtime. Thus, his plan for September 6th is to sleep all day.