|
Post by efanton on Jul 1, 2019 20:33:30 GMT -5
You suggestion that we find a web site and then start using keys is going to make it extremely hard if not impossible. If you can show me why you think its something else and state your logic or reasoning then I would be happy to contribute or help. Until then I think the Web address theory is the best one we have got, and so far we are more than half way there. I never said we find a web site first. I said that I think stanza 7 is what leads us to a website if interpreted correctly, not the 'key' stanzas.
And I did state my reasoning about why I think it's something else: because he said the keys unlock the chest, not find the chest, and that the location is also alluded to in the poem.
It's ok, efanton, we can disagree. That's why I put "personally I think" and "IMO." We can argue all day about which approach is correct, but we won't know which one of us is correct until someone finds the chest and the solution is published. Neither one of our approaches is right or wrong at this point; they're just different, and we both have cases for our points of view.
Sorry, I see your point now. I just misunderstood your thinking process. So the problem would be how we boil down stanza's 7 and possibly onward to a web address. I will have a serious think about it tomorrow afternoon.
|
|
|
Post by squirejames88 on Jul 2, 2019 10:03:28 GMT -5
Whoa, thecoywonder, you were the Breakfast Tea & Bourbon guy?? Very cool!!! nice to have this guy aboard, and Jenny helping out. Nice to have everyone's inputs, ideas, and research. This is what makes it fun and what will get it solved.
|
|
|
Post by mrpoirot on Jul 15, 2019 18:55:56 GMT -5
The reason I don't think the first part translates into a web address is something Lukas said in the video comments, "there are two "keys" which are pieces of information that are used to unlock the chest, whose location is also alluded to in the riddle." That just doesn't read to me as if the first or second key gets us a web address. Personally I think we're going down that road because we're trying to reverse engineer it; since the treasure chest is found online, it means the keys must be part of a web address. But that doesn't match what he said, IMO. I'm of the school of thought that they keys are needed when we get there to unlock it, but the location is alluded to (partly at least) in "Then with your newfound knowledge You must travel through black flame The place where alchemy’s best is found Will help you win this game." Personally I thinks the first key being a web address is both the obvious and most logical answer I know that most people agree with you here; first key being a web address. However, I am starting to doubt this theory now. My reasoning is like this - if indeed there is an address at which we are supposed to enter one or more keys, there might be a situation that someone finds the address and tries and tries but eventually gives up. It is then quite likely that person shares the address on a forum like this. This might then result in a situation where multiple persons accessing the page at the same time (imagine if this hunt goes viral). Not an ideal situation... My theory now is this. Key one = some key words that you get from stanzas 3-5. Key 2 = a method with perhaps some additional keywords that when combined with key 1 will give an url. Once entered into a browser, you win. First person to access that page is a winner. You might have to click "I am not a robot" to avoid an automated web-crawler wins.. and then provide your contact details. At least that is what I think now. But it might change soon as I change my mind often...
|
|
|
Post by efanton on Jul 15, 2019 20:47:56 GMT -5
Personally I thinks the first key being a web address is both the obvious and most logical answer I know that most people agree with you here; first key being a web address. However, I am starting to doubt this theory now. My reasoning is like this - if indeed there is an address at which we are supposed to enter one or more keys, there might be a situation that someone finds the address and tries and tries but eventually gives up. It is then quite likely that person shares the address on a forum like this. This might then result in a situation where multiple persons accessing the page at the same time (imagine if this hunt goes viral). Not an ideal situation... My theory now is this. Key one = some key words that you get from stanzas 3-5. Key 2 = a method with perhaps some additional keywords that when combined with key 1 will give an url. Once entered into a browser, you win. First person to access that page is a winner. You might have to click "I am not a robot" to avoid an automated web-crawler wins.. and then provide your contact details. At least that is what I think now. But it might change soon as I change my mind often... I think with any of these puzzles the temptation is to over think it or add additional complications where none are necessary. How many millions of websites are actually out there. Millions, probably hundreds of millions. In fact I would hazard to guess your chances of picking the correct web address out of the millions out there are longer odds than picking the winning numbers in the lottery. Im pretty certain that the first key (stanza's 3,4 and 5) will give a full URL to a website. What order they must be in is still unknown, it could simply be stanza3.stanza4.stanza5 or in reverse (ala Ready Player One, first key was won by going in reverse), or with stanza 4 looking like it will give a country and therefore a Top Level Domain (.IE .TR .TM etc) it could possibly be in the format stanza3.stanza5.stanza4 The point is you would have to solve all 3 stanza's before trying them in different orders to make a URL to even get to the website. Surely that is difficult enough already without unnecessarily making it even more difficult or confusing. I dont think we are even close to saying anyone on the forum has nailed the correct solution for even one of these stanza yet. It could be months before anyone is confident of saying they have answered all three. The second reason I think that stanza's 3, 4 and 5 give the web address is if the solution to getting the the website was done in any other way it could lead to potential issues such as spelling mistakes, hyphens etc, or someone guessing a partially correct URL. How could they check they had made a mistake? By dictating that stanza 3, 4,and 5 give the 3 parts of a web address Lukas would guarantee that these types of disputes could not happen. Dont forget getting to the website only gets you halfway there. You still have the second key to find and whatever puzzle(s) Lukas has in store for us once we find the website. I do believe that Lukas has used some networking and internet tricks to hide his website from bots and search engines so that his site will never show up in a search result. This is relatively easy to do once you know how, and dont forget he is currently studying for a degree in computing / IT so its very likely he already has these skills. Personally, I would stick to the KISS philosophy, its a website that the answers to the stanzas spell out clear and simple, and only look at more complicated theories only when everything else doesn't work but you are fairly certain you have the answers to the stanzas.
|
|
|
Post by squirejames88 on Jul 15, 2019 21:32:19 GMT -5
I would throw out the reverse theory only because I just read that part of the book and it is not in there at all. In fact, It is completely different. The reverse is in the movie only.
|
|
|
Post by susb8383 on Jul 16, 2019 13:05:20 GMT -5
I dont think we are even close to saying anyone on the forum has nailed the correct solution for even one of these stanza yet. At least none that have been shared...
|
|
|
Post by mrpoirot on Jul 16, 2019 16:27:10 GMT -5
... very true. In fact, I think I am 85% done on all three parts of the first key as of today! I am very excited!! All my three "solutions" had major a-ha moments so it makes me think I am on the right track. However, so far no luck so I might be way off still... This whole thing with trying to solve the riddle seems like a rabbit hole into what is called apophenia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophenia
|
|
|
Post by mrpoirot on Jul 16, 2019 16:52:53 GMT -5
... I should aslo say that if nobody has solved this thing within a week or so I will share my theories here. I just need some more time to try things out before I share it all... Stay tuned!
|
|
|
Post by efanton on Jul 16, 2019 20:17:32 GMT -5
... very true. In fact, I think I am 85% done on all three parts of the first key as of today! I am very excited!! All my three "solutions" had major a-ha moments so it makes me think I am on the right track. However, so far no luck so I might be way off still... This whole thing with trying to solve the riddle seems like a rabbit hole into what is called apophenia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ApopheniaI have been 85% and closer many many times LOL. The problem with this puzzle, and very much the reason I actually like it, is that you dont know if you actually have one part of the key correct until you plug all three parts into a browser. The way it's set up means there can be no lucky guesses, you have to have it all or you have nothing. Personally I am posting my ideas and theories pretty much as I get them, certainly no longer than a day or two later as you appear to be doing. I think this puzzle is going to be very hard indeed if someone chooses to go solo. I see no point in keeping anything to myself until the first key is found. Sharing some of my ideas and the reading other peoples thoughts and criticisms has saved me a whole lot of wasted time. If someone benefits from my work or ideas great I have no problem with that as long as they themselves are willing to give back when they can. You are perfectly entitled to hold on to your own ideas, I'm not criticising that if your solution is entirely your own work, so please do not take this post as an accusation. But I think those that might come here and do take benefit from others people ideas or partial solutions and dont give back destroy communities like this. Its easy to see who's lurking and not contributing, you simply click the members link, see who is online on a regular basis, and look at their post count. Lots of online time with very few or no posts that actually contribute shows you who's here watching only. Personally, for the size of the prize money, a simple calculation would tell me I would earn the $1000 working part time at Mc'Donalds a lot easier compared to the hours I have and will put into this. Sharing and bouncing ideas is part of the enjoyment for me, its an enjoyable way to spend some free time and exercise the brain cells without turning into a tv, netfilx or youtube zombie
|
|
|
Post by mrpoirot on Jul 16, 2019 20:43:51 GMT -5
I completely agree with you. That is why I am going to share my theories soon. The problem is that if you don't have the exact "spelling" or whatever other variations right you quickly get many combinations to check. I am going thru them to see if anything comes up. As for the 85% estimate, it is just that, an estimate, but compared to my a-ha feelings I would venture to say that the best I have seen on here so far is in the 60% range at best. I pretty much know I am onto these three parts now. As a result, I can with rather high confidence say that there is no cipher or any other difficult coding involved. And, you guessed it, no phone number either. It is all pretty basic actually. A few more hints: Forget about Michigan, Norwegian rock bands, and horses in Turkmenistan.
|
|
|
Post by mrpoirot on Jul 16, 2019 20:51:07 GMT -5
If anyone else has any questions, feel free to ask me. Giving hints is not that big of a deal. Besides, I don't know if my theories are correct but they seem solid to some extent...
|
|
|
Post by mrpoirot on Jul 16, 2019 20:54:56 GMT -5
OK, I changed my mind. I am going to post my theories over the next few days staring with the first theory right now. See another thread. Enjoy!
|
|