Good evening my dear adventurers, some of you might remember me, some of you might remember my puzzles, some of you might not remember...
ehrm sorry this was the script of the last thread...where the hell is it, oh darn, here you are!
As I was saying, come here my dear adventurers, and tell me: do ye dare to undertake the overwhelming and full of perils journey that I, the evil puzzler, have set just for you? Are you ready to crack your brain like an egg and cry like a baby among tricks and riddles? Just let me tell ye something before ye answer: do you know what awaits the ones that will prove their sharp mind and their brave hearts, passing all my tests? Oh my, my, you really didn't know of the 101 giveaways that lie there, at the end of my trials?
Well, now you know, go and prove yourself to me!
Just choose one of the five paths, and remember, the higher the number the harder the trial! huehuehuehuehuehuehuehuehuehuehuehuehue! >:3

  1. PUZZLE

  2. PUZZLE

  3. PUZZLE

  4. PUZZLE

  5. PUZZLE

Now just a little serious footnote:
Two years ago circa I've discovered this community and one of its characteristics that particularly astonished me is the activity in the puzzle section...when I first landed there I was totally disoriented and I understood nothing, but then I’ve gradually learnt to solve puzzles and even create them! I remember the braincrackers created by Nordhbane, Fnord, Mykalie, Ercalote, Keohookalani, JonothanKalo (that became an owly), Sexy(or evil)budgie, Dingbat, alamarjan, silentguy, ozo2003, Adelion, m3rc, Lugum, SuicidalSnowflake, Fnord, fiftykyu, Gracee, jbondguy007, jeffhowe, kerros, mecorx, mushclone, nellyneko, iflirtwithanyone, Oppenh4imer, Ronix, Student123, Tewam (YES), Revilheart, malabagaa, mecorx, treeB, wc terror, chronicdiscord, yukulele, zelghadis (whose guide also helped me and many other puzzlers), theZooZ, Server51(that also created gameofswords) and many, many, many others that I can't recall atm. What I mean to do is not simply putting down a list of puzzlers, but expressing my gratitude for this awesome community that gave me a lot and that (I hope) I'm contributing to a little. This has been an awesome journey up to now and I hope it will always go on like this. It doesn't matter if you are a puzzler, a solver, a lurker, a leecher, a charitable loser, a greedy winner, an admin, a newbie, CG, a super user, a touhouer, a bundler, a flamer, a troll, or a simple, average, normal user...Steamgifts will always give you a lot and feel a little like home <3 THANK YOU EVERYBODEEEY :’-)

And for the practical footnotes:
Of course, don't discuss the solution or share hints, in order not to waste my time spent on the puzzle and the fun of solvers (especially don’t share ANYTHING from what you find at the end of the puzzles)
There's no level restriction and no SGtools
There are 101 different GAs, some with multiple copies, some crappy, some good, some very good, some awesome (each of the puzzles has a different reward, and the toughest the puzzle the better the prize)
You'll have 14 days, meaning that the clock stops on January, 25 at midnight CET


Clues and hints

Hint#1
Many of you are concerned about how many people solved every puzzle. I can keep no track of who's solved each puzzle but thanks to this you, like me, will be able to know who has solved all of the 5 puzzles (and I assure you that I've kept the best for the final reward, or as the latins said, dulcis in fundo).
Also I cannot keep track of precise data, but according to entries and comments inside the trains I can tell you that, the order from the most to the least solved is:
1 - 2 - 4 - 3 - 5
Hint#2
Puzzles 1 and 2 are quite easy, for number 3 I often suggested the ones of you who asked me hints to look at it from any perspective, but I forgot to mention that by perspective I meant contrast, for puzzle 4 I've already dropped a huge hint in the comment section and about puzzle 5 someone of you asked me if it is about frequency, well it is not about frequency, but frequency is really a huge indicator of what you should be looking for.
Hint#3
Puzzle 3 and puzzle 5 have the same encryption method, which is a really simple one (namely if you've solved the easier questions of puzzle 4 you surely know it). Remember also that I use to drop tiny sneaky hints in comments.
Hint#4
The words in puzzle 5 are separated by commas and space for the sake of readability but I could write it like this: sophisticatedinstallationalthougheconomicsownershipactionaircraftcooperativeministerallowanceheroicincludeconfigurationunquestionableinflammationmathematicaldevelopedcomponentbreakthroughobliged
The only thing that must not be modified in order not to corrupt the solution is their order.
Hint#5
Puzzle 4: (just a piece of advice) when I first encountered the language of Q7, I've looked for and found a browser that could search symbols.
Puzzle 3: if you followed my previous hint you've probably found 5 "elements", each to be decoded into a single character. Each one of these elements has 8 "vertices"...does it ring the bell?
Puzzle 5: if you followed my previous hint about frequency you surely noticed the prevalence of two characters. Now, we're talking about decryption, ain't it? So, what do these two characters look like? What's the most obvious graphical association to them?


After-ending clues and hints

Hint#1
I think that for most of you the last one great obstacle it's puzzle 3, well so read my previous hints again but instead of vertices read angles.
Hint#2
For puzzle 4, question 7, this is the comment where I dropped the huge hint. Of course it's huge but it's not obvious, otherwise it would have meant to spoil the solution.

6 years ago*

Comment has been collapsed.

thx

1 and 4 are done ;-)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Then 3 to go ;)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

i cant put in my answer? what am i doing wrong here

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Maybe the answer is all you need ^^

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I was thinking about this - might be nice to accept the answer even if nothing further is given (intentionally somewhat vague here) as that would at least update the ITH stats - otherwise it's hard (for us) to tell how many people have solved it... but it's your deal - maybe you want to keep it more mysterious...

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Mystery *draws a rainbow in the air with hands*...is my second name.
Btw there is an ITH where you have to put your answers, right at the end of the puzzle ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Yeah, yeah, but 1/2/3/5 have '0 guesses/0 players/0 solvers' - I'm just sayin if you could put 'a thing' (again, intentionally vague) as the 'answer', we'd know how well we fared.
Like, for instance, we'd know if anyone's solved #5 yet (or, more likely, how many people have solved it - certainly not I yet) >__<

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

But I was not referring to the one at the end of puzzle #4
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) intensifies

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Sure, but I still have to get through #5 to get there... at least I think I do

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I think you're correct.

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

wow, nice ! Thanks for Puzzles, cake and GAs

Bump 2/5

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

You're welcome :3

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

damn, i want to solve 3, badly, it already just makes me feel ill, i've looked at that image from any perspective, still i cannot find something i don't know what to find
p.s. Happy Cakeday!

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

You probably haven't looked at that image from any any perspective, otherwise you'd have found at least something ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

1, 2, 3, 4 solved. One more to go, but the only idea that comes to my mind doesn't help

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Congratz man ;)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Bump for 1~4 solved.
Happy cake day!

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Congratz man ;)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Bump for finally getting #3. Just #5 remaining.

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Just the last trial.
mweheheheh :3

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

goddamn #5 and #7
its making me sick :@

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

pls tell me what to do :(((( or im gonna kill myself

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I don't think it's worth it. But I understand you, #7 really fucks with people's brain.

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Lol I see what you did there ;P
Got #1, 2 and 4, I might be overthinking #3 (considering it shouldn't be harder than #4, right?), not the slightest idea what to do with #5.

Bumpato! ;)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Happy cakeday!
nice puzzles:)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you annythecat :3

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Congratubump!

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Bump for solved!
Thank you!

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you ;D

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Leggendo gli altri commenti ho notato che sei italiano :) Non riesco a fare il terzo puzzle, sto provando ad aggiungere vari filtri e a specchiare l'immagine e simili ma le linee evidenziate ancora non mi dicono nulla :/ sto andando nella strada giusta?

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Anche io non riesco a capire il terzo. Ho provato a fare un po' di tutto, ma niente di quel che salta fuori ha la minima parvenza di una qualsiasi soluzione.
Ma tanto mi mancano ancora il quarto e il quinto quindi posso tranquillamente infischiarmene e lasciar perdere. Non posso perderci le giornate :c

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Trovarle è il primo passo, poi devi capire come decrittarle ^^

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Trovarle è il primo passo, poi devi capire come decrittarle ^^

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

[Gazes at puzzles and goes "hmmmmm...looks like a lot of work and I already have a job...."] 😆😜😁

Happy cake day, anyway! Congrats!

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

If you like challenges you've plenty of time, one puzzle a day keeps the doctor away ;)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Кто-нибудь разобрался с этими задачками?

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

If you had read my post you'd have found this where you can keep track of who solved each of the five puzzles, so going back to your question the answer is yes. Also, I suggest you to read the whole post.

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I swear, Puzzle 4 Q7, I'm going to smash my monitor.

Felt really stupid when i finally got Q5

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

may feel the same when you'll find q7 solution :D

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

As I said in the hint section...I've already dropped a huge hint in the comments for puzzle 4, specifically for question 7 ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

lol, another puzzle. I have read every comment you posted and I'm not sure where the hint is. I have a possibility, but I have been searching for things related to that comment and I cannot find anything that helps with the puzzle so I am not sure if I have found the hint :)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Yep Same. Read this thread 6 times, had a hazy idea where the hint was but.. nope. Gave up a few hours ago.

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Read below ↓

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I cannot say which one is the right comment but trust me, when you'll find it some googling will be enough to crack Q7.

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I finally took a good look at all your comments and was able to figure out Q7 (it had been haunting me for a week)! I finished puzzles 1, 2 and 4 and think that's probably as far as I'll get - not bad for a rookie. Thanks for these puzzle, very fun!

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Glad to hear you've enjoyed it ;D

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

At first I thought this thread was a troll, im an idiot, great puzzle mate. Pretty fun :)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Edit: Really fun ^^

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you very much. Glad to hear such good feedbacks :3

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Bump.

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

bump!
3, 5 are left

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I love it when hints tell you something you noticed in the first few seconds of looking at the puzzle, but you still don't know how to solve it ಠ_ಠ

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

What puzzle are you talking about? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

3 :P

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Man so all you need is the final decode! Numbers should lead your way ;)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Well, it is weekend so I have some more time again. Maybe I get an interesting idea for puzzle number five. I have five characters now but the dont have anything to do with the hint O.o And I'm not sure how to order them and where the information for possible capitalization is. And I am pretty sure they are wrong and I just got some by chance :P

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I can assure you the encryption method gives both the five characters and if they are capitalized or not.

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

For now I've only completed the first one, no idea for the second, stuck on the third, 2 missing on the 4th and again no idea on the 5th. Hope to have enough time to think about the other ones but I have an exam on the 25th so it will be diffucult. Anyway, thanks for the puzzles and for the giveaways! Have a Bump! ;)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

For the second I recommend reading this. Also or number 3 the guide could help but a bit of intuition will be required. Anyway good luck mate! This is a really big coincidence because you know who else has an exam on the 25th? Me! ;D

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Well, thanks and good luck to you! Do you have an exam on "methods in biochemical investigation" maybe? this would be an even greater coincidence :'D

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Happy cakeday.
I solved three of them but they don't lead to a giveaway.

Edit: It is necessary to have the final "/" in the link. (Thanks OP)

6 years ago*
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/code/
Just replace code with your solution and you'll find the GAs.

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

That's what I'm doing.
Maybe i'm solving it wrong, but the level 4 gives a code when solved, and not even that one works for me.

PS: OP, if you see this, I added you to ask without spoiling anything here.

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

You're welcome ;)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

i'm only missing Q5 in the ITH of 4 (don't know why all had problems with 7?)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Because many people haven't heard about that thing in 7 and it's not easy to google it out (took me more than 1 hour of searching the web).

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

It‘s not an encryption, so it’s different to the rest

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

The first time I had encountered it, that really fucked with my brain too ç_ç

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

q5 or q7?

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Q7, of course ;)
And if Q5 is the last one you're missing trust me, you really can do it, it's much simpler than all the other ones.

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I thought so
I tried all the simple ones already ;( edit: got it
I thought I had already tried it, but somehow I missed it
edit2: man I own many games on that train

6 years ago*
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Try to look for the silver lining, "many" is not "all" and also, that is one of six different trains. I mean, it's quite unlikely that you own most of the games of all the trains ^^

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Try to look for the silver lining

I had to google that phrase, never heard of it before
At least I learned a new thing today

6 years ago*
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Lel'd
Maybe you want to learn also how to interrupt quotations? XD (just press enter twice)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thanks, you are a good guy

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Bump!
Thanks for Puzzles!
1, 2 and 4 solved.

Edit: #5 solved

6 years ago*
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Bump for solved #1, #2 and (finally) #4 ^^
I've found something in #3 but don't know how to use it... :/

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

That's the puzzling part ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Whoa! Got the #3 :D
Still have not idea what to do with #5 ;)

6 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Sign in through Steam to add a comment.