Curse

Endrosz · Jul 27, 2009, 02:55 PM // 14:55

The next Hide and Seek Haiku session is scheduled for: <never, it has stopped>

Game 1 - Bringer of Carling
Game 2 - Angelof The Scythe
Game 3 - Countess Reapera
Game 4 - Crusader Astinos
Game 5 - Countess Reapera
Game 6 - Erica Bloodaxe
Game 7 - Phrodo P

Exploration-related games, usually called Hide-and-Seek, have been popular for a long time within Guild Wars communities around the globe. When Nicholas the Traveller was announced, I was expecting a similar minigame. I don't want to sound sour, but it turned out that Nicholas is more about farming than anything else, so I set out to find a new way to look at the existing places in the game world.

Enter Haiku Hide-and-Seek. Every other Saturday at 2 pm PST / 5 pm EST / 10 pm GMT, a haiku - short poem - will be posted in this topic. The poems are riddles which give clues about my "traveller" character, Vilag Jaro's whereabouts. The solution is a Guild Wars PvE outpost, and Vilag Jaro will appear in that outpost a few seconds after the haiku is posted, in the International district. I will stay there for 15 minutes or until someone finds me, whichever comes first. Your task is to solve the riddle as fast as possible, and come to that outpost and trade me. The first character to trade me will get a month's worth of Traveller's Gifts (20 pieces), a heartfelt congratulations, and a mention in this topic. The solution will then be posted, and everyone who didn't win is welcome to QQ about it.

About 15 minutes before starting the game, Vilag Jaro's online status becomes a status indicator for the game.

Do not disturb - The game has not started yet.

Online - The game is on!

Away - We have a winner, the game is finished.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++

* I will bump this topic a few hours before the event with a reminder. So, when the time comes, ready your wits and race for the prize!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++

NORTH AMERICA

Hawaii (HADT) - 12 am

Alaska (AKDT) - 1 pm

Pacific (PDT) - 2 pm

Mountain (MDT) - 3 pm

Central (CDT) - 4 pm

Eastern (PDT) - 5 pm

Atlantic (ADT) - 6 pm

+++++++++++++
GMT/UTC - 9 pm
+++++++++++++

EUROPE

Western (IST/BST/WEST) - 10 pm

Central (CEST) - 11 pm

Eastern (EEST, USZ1) - 12 midnight

Moscow (MSD, USZ2) - 1 am next day

ASIA

Samara, Izhevsk (USZ3) - 2 am next day

Ekaterinburg, Perm (USZ4) - 3 am next day

New Delhi, Calcutta (IST) - 2:30 am next day

Novosibirsk, Omsk, Tomsk (USZ5) - 4 am next day

Jakarta, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Phnom Penh, Bangkok (UTC+7) - 4 am next day

Krasnoyarsk, Kemerovo (USZ6) - 5 am next day

Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore, Taipei (UTC+8) - 5 am next day

Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude (USZ7) - 6 am next day

Tokyo, Seoul (UTC+9) - 6 am next day

Chita, Yakutsk (USZ8) - 7 am next day

AUSTRALIA

Perth (WST) - 5 am next day

Adelaide (CST) - 6:30 am next day

Sydney (EST) - 7 am next day

Tiny fangs, huge fangs
Vines creep on the dancing cubes
The stone comes alive

The first line refers to the tiny fangs of the asura and the huge fangs of the big dinos in asura lands. It also rules out Umbral Grotto, which doesn't have dinos around it. The second line depicts architecture and flora typical to that area. This rules out Gadd's Encampment and Tarnished Haven, as those don't have those "magic cubes" (Vlox Falls does have one, but it's behind a wall, not immediately apparent). The third line refers to the G.O.L.E.M. project, which takes place in Riven Earth, near Rata Sum. That's the place.

Example haiku - pic

Note that, like in this example, the haiku may refer to sceneries, events, mobs, NPCs, etc, near the outpost, not just in the outpost itself. Also note that this one was pretty easy, and future haikus may contain references to places only true explorers have seen.

Haikus are a short, usually rhymeless form of Japanese poetry, having a 5-7-5 format. Unlike Western poetry, they try to suppress the writer himself, and just depict places, natural phenomenons, people, etc. "as they are now" ("sono-mama" in Japanese). Haikus usually contain strong impressions without evaluations, and very little, if any, action. They are the perfect container for riddles about places. If you want to know more about haikus, I suggest Wikipedia's entry as your starting point.

This game is dedicated to the legacy and memory of Matsuo Basho, who is one of the originators of the haiku format. During his lifetime, he travelled all over Japan. He wrote several travelling diaries, containing beautiful poems in-between daily entries, to reflect upon his experiences. One of these diaries, Narrow Roads to the Interior , was translated into many languages (several times into English), and is one of the classic pieces of Japanese literature. Recommended reading for people who are either travellers-at-heart in real life, or just enjoy fine poetry. The fact that Vilag Jaro is Canthan-born and is a ritualist also pays tribute to him.

Operative 14 · Jul 27, 2009, 10:26 PM // 22:26

Now this sounds like a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to the 1st!

Burning Freebies · Jul 28, 2009, 10:40 AM // 10:40

Ooo. Im interested. Im starting to move away from farming Nicholas items, so this could be an easy way for me to get them. Good luck, and have fun everyone!

kylanf · Jul 28, 2009, 01:02 PM // 13:02

I'm quite excited about this! I'm keeping an eye on this topic

Copenhagen Master · Jul 29, 2009, 03:50 AM // 03:50

Sounds a bit hard (sometimes) but yea it is a good idea and keeps the GW community alive. Now you say first person finds you when figured out the puzzle. Will that be in American districts or European or maybe a different one?

Endrosz · Jul 29, 2009, 07:56 AM // 07:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Copenhagen Master

Now you say first person finds you when figured out the puzzle. Will that be in American districts or European or maybe a different one?

Quote from the OP>

"and Vilag Jaro will appear in that outpost a few seconds after the haiku is posted, in the International district. "

I thought of that one.

Fril Estelin · Jul 29, 2009, 08:01 AM // 08:01

Very cool idea! I'll try it if I can find the time.

Burning Freebies · Jul 29, 2009, 09:09 AM // 09:09

One small question. You say "...Vilag Jaro will appear in that outpost a few seconds after the haiku is posted,...". Does Vilag Jaro only stay for a few seconds, and then disappear or move?

BladeWind · Jul 29, 2009, 01:23 PM // 13:23

I have something slightly related to this in the works, from what I can see your Haiku Hide-And-Seek activity looks to be really fun!

Inde · Jul 29, 2009, 02:57 PM // 14:57

What a great idea Endrosz! Sounds fun. I'll make sure and do a news announcement on it.

Trollstyle · Jul 29, 2009, 02:57 PM // 14:57

Great idea. Looking forward to play Endrosz

Copenhagen Master · Jul 29, 2009, 11:30 PM // 23:30

LOL yea I just now saw that sorry

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endrosz

Quote from the OP>

"and Vilag Jaro will appear in that outpost a few seconds after the haiku is posted, in the International district. "

I thought of that one.

Endrosz · Jul 30, 2009, 08:20 AM // 08:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burning Freebies

One small question. You say "...Vilag Jaro will appear in that outpost a few seconds after the haiku is posted,...". Does Vilag Jaro only stay for a few seconds, and then disappear or move?

Whoa, the game is Hide and Seek, not Catch Me If You Can.

But you're right, I will specify a duration: Vilag Jaro will remain in that outpost for 15 minutes or until someone finds him, whichever comes first. In the first case, no one wins the game. Take note that 15 minutes is probably enough to hop around the entire world of GW, so if anyone plays the game, they should find me. Hopping around is not exactly solving the riddle, but I'm fine with rewarding stubbornness (or a combination of riddle-solving and stubbornness).

The 15 minutes limit will be added to the OP.

---

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inde

What a great idea Endrosz! Sounds fun. I'll make sure and do a news announcement on it.

Ohh... I was aware of the Guru news offer that was in the Stickies, but I didn't think this game was front page worthy on the almighty Guru. Thank you so much. (PS. Try not to win this first one, or else everyone will cry foul, rigging, etc.

)

Konig Des Todes · Jul 30, 2009, 12:34 PM // 12:34

When I finally get around to reading this. This looks great, that example actually had me stumped as I didn't get the first line. >_> *Was able to figure out "jungle/forest area" >_>*

So first go is the 8th of August I take it? Sounds like fun.

*makes post-it*

Moonstalker · Jul 30, 2009, 12:41 PM // 12:41

I am now prepared to copy and paste your name, and zone to every possible outpost EVER!

!
But, nah!
This does sound like a lot of fun, though. I'm a huge fan of the Haikus, and looking forward to this.
Good luck, everyone!

Burning Freebies · Jul 30, 2009, 02:56 PM // 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endrosz

Whoa, the game is Hide and Seek, not Catch Me If You Can.

But you're right, I will specify a duration: Vilag Jaro will remain in that outpost for 15 minutes or until someone finds him, whichever comes first. In the first case, no one wins the game. Take note that 15 minutes is probably enough to hop around the entire world of GW, so if anyone plays the game, they should find me. Hopping around is not exactly solving the riddle, but I'm fine with rewarding stubbornness (or a combination of riddle-solving and stubbornness).

The 15 minutes limit will be added to the OP.

Ahh, ok. Thanks for specifying.