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Post by susb8383 on Dec 6, 2020 16:17:29 GMT -5
So....I suspect that there is no Theco DeMaster (even under a different name) and that Dave really did write the chapters. Anyone else think Theco is Dave's alter ego and is just a way for him to claim that he doesn't know the coding methods? There are a couple reasons why I suspect this.
1. I know of at least one other person, not related at all to ATHs, who would publish under a totally different name and call him his alter ego when he wanted to write something that wasn't in line with his normal style. He always talked about this other person as if he were real.
2. Dave claims that he doesn't know how each location is coded, but then he says things like the Play Fair Cipher is definitely not used, any cipher method would be explained in the chapter, if you can't explain your method in one sentence, you don't have the correct method, there aren't multiple ciphers used at once (implied in the Hitler video), typos and mistakes will not affect getting the solution.
This last claim is the most suspicious to me. If the method involves counting letters or something, then throwing the count off because a typo leaves a letter out of a word would have an effect.
How could Dave possibly know that unless he knows the coding methods?
He also said that Theco is a local man (which would be true about himself) and when someone on the chat asked if Theco by his real name would be known to the treasure-hunting community, Dave answered, "I don't think so."
Suspicious. If he really did hire some local writer to ghost write the book, the answer would be a quick "No." Besides, why would you hire someone else to write it?
But claiming that someone else wrote it would be a good way to dodge questions about the methods.
What do you think?
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Post by fishmini on Dec 6, 2020 17:24:22 GMT -5
I've been racking my brain over his "typos and mistakes will not affect getting the solution" comment. After watching the youtube video they posted about this, I'm more in the camp of "Decoding works correctly with the exact text written as it is in the book." Which is information he could've gotten from the author. I don't know if Dave is actually the author or not, but he seems to know a lot. I enjoy how loose lipped he's been. I just wish we could make sure he actually knows what he's talking about lol.
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Post by susb8383 on Dec 6, 2020 18:00:37 GMT -5
Oh, that's interesting. Yup, I agree, that's probably what he meant. Which hopefully means that someone tested the solution with the final text.
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bobh
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Post by bobh on Dec 6, 2020 20:27:14 GMT -5
The interviews I have seen indicate that Dave was instrumental in the character development and story theme but the main writing was done by Theco. Now the question is is Theco the alter ego of Dave. I personally don’t believe so, I think it is a collaboration.
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stones
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Arm Chair Treasure Hunter
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Post by stones on Dec 6, 2020 22:23:42 GMT -5
I agree with 100%! Possible he and Jeff wrote the actual book but I believe David came up with the puzzles or codes or whatever... [quote author=" susb8383" source="/post/56340/thread" timestamp="1607289449"]So....I suspect that there is no Theco DeMaster (even under a different name) and that Dave really did write the chapters. Anyone else think Theco is Dave's alter ego and is just a way for him to claim that he doesn't know the coding methods? There are a couple reasons why I suspect this.
1. I know of at least one other person, not related at all to ATHs, who would publish under a totally different name and call him his alter ego when he wanted to write something that wasn't in line with his normal style. He always talked about this other person as if he were real.
2. Dave claims that he doesn't know how each location is coded, but then he says things like the Play Fair Cipher is definitely not used, any cipher method would be explained in the chapter, if you can't explain your method in one sentence, you don't have the correct method, there aren't multiple ciphers used at once (implied in the Hitler video), typos and mistakes will not affect getting the solution.
This last claim is the most suspicious to me. If the method involves counting letters or something, then throwing the count off because a typo leaves a letter out of a word would have an effect.
How could Dave possibly know that unless he knows the coding methods?
He also said that Theco is a local man (which would be true about himself) and when someone on the chat asked if Theco by his real name would be known to the treasure-hunting community, Dave answered, "I don't think so."
Suspicious. If he really did hire some local writer to ghost write the book, the answer would be a quick "No." Besides, why would you hire someone else to write it?
But claiming that someone else wrote it would be a good way to dodge questions about the methods.
What do you think?
[/quote]
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stones
New Member
Arm Chair Treasure Hunter
Posts: 44
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Post by stones on Dec 6, 2020 22:25:54 GMT -5
Yes! I kind of take what he says with a grain of salt. I've been racking my brain over his "typos and mistakes will not affect getting the solution" comment. After watching the youtube video they posted about this, I'm more in the camp of "Decoding works correctly with the exact text written as it is in the book." Which is information he could've gotten from the author. I don't know if Dave is actually the author or not, but he seems to know a lot. I enjoy how loose lipped he's been. I just wish we could make sure he actually knows what he's talking about lol.
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Post by OutkastSearcher on Dec 8, 2020 18:44:40 GMT -5
I believe they are one and the same as well.
I found some old articles about Dave's escape room, sounded like it was a one man show. The article even said that Dave created all the rooms and puzzles himself.
I don't blame him, it's a great way to shield himself from bombardment. But with the information he gives out, it is clear he knows the puzzles and solutions.
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Post by susb8383 on Dec 9, 2020 7:12:07 GMT -5
I don't blame him, it's a great way to shield himself from bombardment. But with the information he gives out, it is clear he knows the puzzles and solutions. Agreed. So now the question in my mind is, do I assume the answer to a question is really Yes when he dodges it with the Theco excuse? Such as “Does every chapter contain a hint to the method of solving it?”
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Post by whispa on Dec 9, 2020 9:18:08 GMT -5
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm fairly certain he did say the method to solving each chapter is described in the chapter. It was in the Amy Seeks Thanksgiving interview. I'll edit this as I go with the quotes if I can find it. Let me check forum rules and make sure I can post a link to a YT video here. On each chapter being standalone:"Treat every chapter as a standalone chapter." Further talk at 1 hour 47 minute mark. "Don't look in chapter 1 as a hint for chapter 3" 2 hour 23 minute mark On hints/methods within each chapter:2 hours 51 mins 33 seconds - lasts ab out a minute Here it is in regards to methodology/NO outside knowledge/research required including knowing how to solve ciphers... "if something is described in the book in the chapter it can be used - if it something that is mentioned don't go do research on it". So basically, you don't have to look up how to do ciphers. The way to solve will be located in the chapter. www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9FOfWqZ80A&t=9212s&ab_channel=AmySeeks
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Post by susb8383 on Dec 9, 2020 12:01:23 GMT -5
In fact when that exact question was asked in the interview, he didn't answer.
But I'm in agreement that it's probably the case.
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Post by whispa on Dec 9, 2020 12:18:36 GMT -5
"If something is described in the chapter it can be used - if it's something that is just mentioned don't go do research on it" <- Not specific to a cipher. 2 hours 52 minutes of that video I linked above.
This makes me believe it (method of solving) must be described within the chapter in order to use it along with the fact he's telling us each chapter is standalone. All IMO and how I'm approaching it.
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Post by susb8383 on Dec 9, 2020 12:37:04 GMT -5
True, but that's the sentence he used after he specifically talked about ciphers. So he could have just said "something" instead of repeating "a cipher."
"Every chapter stands on its own. If someone mentions the name of a cipher and doesn’t explain to you how that cipher works, I would not use that cipher... If someone mentions the Green Briar Cipher and then they don’t describe at all what it is, don’t go look up the Green Briar Cipher because it’s not going to be used. If something is described in the book or in the chapter, it can be used. If it’s something that is just mentioned, don’t go do research on it."
All speculation. Time will tell. But I agree with you, the method probably is described in the chapter which is why he kept avoiding answering that exact question.
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Post by whispa on Dec 9, 2020 12:47:38 GMT -5
I'm surely hoping the method is described somehow in each chapter! Also in club Theco is David by the way. Really entertaining guy to watch on these interviews lol!
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Post by susb8383 on Dec 9, 2020 13:19:29 GMT -5
True. If it isn't describe anywhere, it would be almost impossible to solve, I would think. I mean, you could probably take all the letters in chapter 1 and rearrange them to get the first chapter from A Tale of Two Cities.
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mazlo
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Post by mazlo on Dec 10, 2020 13:32:46 GMT -5
True. If it isn't describe anywhere, it would be almost impossible to solve, I would think. I mean, you could probably take all the letters in chapter 1 and rearrange them to get the first chapter from A Tale of Two Cities. I’ve been thinking about this too. There’s a million ways to decode messages in plaintext
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