Tutorial Chapter 4
From TCki
Contents |
TerraCaching Strategy 101
This is just a little insight into the strategy of the sport of TerraCaching. Since there are two games going that don't affect each other, we'll discuss them separately.
TerraCaching Point System (TPS)
The TerraCaching Point System is the world-wide successor to a Montana-based game that was known as Skydiver's Geocaching Point System (SGPS). The idea is to award points to caches on the basis of their relative difficulty, by way of a mathematical formula which compares the frequency at which a cache is found with the frequency with which other caches within 100 miles from it are found. For more details on how this works, see the previous chapter.
TPS Strategy Tip #1
The first and most important thing to remember is that time plays a major role in the TPS formula. As caches age, their points will gradually reflect their true difficulty (or lack thereof) more accurately. As new as this site is, it can't be stressed enough that the time frame we're talking about for a very challenging cache to age properly can sometimes be measured in years. So, tip #1 is: "Be patient!"
TPS Strategy Tip #2
The range of points that a cache is eligible to be worth is based on the number of other active caches with at least one finder within a range of 100 miles. In areas in which Terracaching is only getting started, some difficult caches could be undervalued simply because there aren't enough other caches in the area to compare them to. So, if the number of caches within 100 miles of you isn't at least 100, you may want to place more caches. They don't have to, and in fact shouldn't, all be hard caches, or all be ultra-high quality caches. City and State parks are often excellent places to hide easy & good caches to get your community up to that "100 in 100" cache density. Beyond that, an increased cache density will not affect the maximum number of TPS points caches can be worth.
TPS Strategy Tip #3
The points a particular cache is worth is dependent on the highest and lowest "raw scores" within 100 miles.
This means that, if you go find the cache with the highest area raw score, you'll drop it's raw score, which can often raise the points of almost every other cache with 100 miles (depending on what other caches are within 100 miles of them). Sometimes this can momentarily help those area cachers you're competing against more than it helps you. However, avoiding high point caches simply for this reason is usually a losing strategy in the long run.
Also, if you find the cache with the lowest raw score, you'll drop it's raw score even further, which can also often raise the points of other caches within 100 miles. So, just because one particular cache is only worth 1 point itself, doesn't mean finding it wouldn't be worth a lot more to you (and everyone else in your community).
Lastly, if your community hides nothing but very challenging caches, then even the lowest raw score in your area will be high, and a 5 point cache in your area could be much more difficult than a 50 point cache in a community that has a good variety of easy and difficult caches. This is one of several reasons why comparing your TPS points to those of people in distant communities is often meaningless.
User Contribution Rating (UCR)/Measure of Cache Excellence (MCE)
Since this is a much newer game, not much strategy has developed yet. I'm not sure there ever will be much actual strategy here, since the goal is to promote quality caches, and if successful, we're all winners. But, here's a few tips I can offer anyway towards that end.
UCR/MCE Strategy Tip #1
Even average caches (an MCE of 5) that you own will have a slight positive effect on your UCR. Caches with an MCE of 4 won't help, or hurt your UCR, but anything below 4 will. So, don't be afraid of posting caches that are simply average. They have their place here too.
UCR/MCE Strategy Tip #2
Although average caches will slightly help your UCR, one cache with an MCE of 9 will be worth much, much more to you than 20 average caches (assuming that, based on Tip #1, you own at least a couple high MCE caches). So, trying to get ahead just by placing a ton of average caches isn't necessarily time well spent. You'll usually be better off working on a couple phenomenal caches. However, there's nothing wrong with throwing out an average cache here and there in the mean time.
UCR/MCE Strategy Tip #3
The ratings given by finders of a cache have a greater affect on it's MCE than non-finders. The system knows the difference between finders and non-finders, so you're actually encouraged to rate caches you haven't found yet. If you think a cache is REALLY terrible, then finding it can help push it's MCE, and thus the owner's UCR down further. Although, it's probably wise not to broadcast which caches you're finding specifically for this reason.
UCR/MCE Strategy Tip #4
How your votes are applied to caches depends on how you typically vote. Giving out a lot of "Superb" and/or "Should be Archived" ratings will dilute the significance of those ratings coming from you. The system will place much greater significance on a "Superb" that comes from a user who very rarely gives this rating, than it will from someone who gives it to every other cache they find. Be Honest, Be Critical, Be Fair.
UCR/MCE Strategy Tip #5
It's OK to rate your own caches. The system knows you're biased and takes that into account. For your own caches, try to imagine someone else hid it and you found it, and then rate the cache accordingly. The PCA also uses these ratings to determine which caches to recommend to you, and others, so as with Tip #5, Be Honest, Be Critical, Be Fair.
UCR/MCE Strategy Tip #6
Although difficult (especially in areas that don't have many terracaches yet), try not to compare apples to oranges, or in this case, terracaches to othercaches. Those othercaches aren't getting rated here, so it's meaningless to consider them when rating terracaches. If you find it impossible not to think of other caches when rating terracaches... then at least be consistent and always consider them.
| Translations: | |
|---|---|
