dragonZone: Summer Scavenger Series

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Game Period: 01-Dec-2016 00:00:00 to 31-Jan-2017 23:59:59 AEST

Welcome to the Summer Scavenger Series


What is the Summer Scavenger Series?
The Summer Scavenger Series is a real and virtual geocaching scavenger hunt. Over the course of the game from the start of December 2016 to the end of January 2017 there will be hundreds of scavenges that you can get your teeth into to earn points for your clan. Some will be easy. Some will be tough. Some may be impossible. Don't despair. You are not competing just for yourself; you are competing as a clan.

Clans
If you are already a dragonZone game member then you already have your clan. Otherwise, there are 4 clans to choose from. Griffin (gold), Phoenix (green), Cerberus (blue) and Minotaur (orange). These 4 clans colours represent the colours of Geocaching Australia. Once you choose your clan you are locked in. There are no automated chances to change clans and the chief Dragon doesn't like to move clans so choose wisely.

If you're thinking of choosing the clan with the highest number of members in the hopes of coasting to victory we're sorry to say that you will need to work to achieve glory for you and your clan. Working together as a clan is a strategic component of this game and you will need to achieve a minimum number of scavenges in order to be in the running for a prize should your clan win. The game will automatically balance the clans so that points are calculated based on an assumption that all clans have the same number of members. This could mean a small clan with high scavenging members may win ahead of a large clan where everyone only does the minimum required. It's part of your job to get your clan members out to scavenge. Go out as a team. Create and attend an event, but be aware of other clans who might crash your party! Hide geocaches to build your scavenge numbers. Find scavenges to get your points. Do lots of small points scavenges. Do fewer higher points scavenges. They all help your clan to try and climb the ladder towards victory.

Scavenges
There will be a number of scavenges released on a weekly basis, starting on Thursday 1st December 2016 and each scavenge will last for 2 weeks or until the game ends if there are less than two weeks to go. There might also be some scavenges that last the entire game. Scavenges will require you to find a geocache, hide a geocache, attend an event or do something else completely different. The game focuses on all aspects of geocaching and so all cache types, sizes, terrain and difficulty will be up for scavenging. TrigPoints, Events, History, Virtual, Webcam, Podcache and Locationless geocaches are all scavengable, so you're not just looking for a box under a bush. Each week there will be a mix of physical, non-physical and locationless geocaches so even if you are not in a geocache rich area, use the locationless component of scavenger series to get out, find something to log and gain points for your clan. If you watch the scavenges as they are released you might also spot the 'not so hidden' patterns and plan for future weeks of the series.

Hiding geocaches will also be a large part of the scavenger series, but please remember this is a game of geocaching and geocaches that you hide should be long lasting, be of good quality and you should be proud of what you hide. Please avoid hiding a geocache just for the day so your clan can find it before you archive it. Geocaches that exist for a short period of time may result in any claims on that geocache being disqualified. Play creatively, but also play fairly. More geocachers hiding more geocaches makes for more geocaching fun.

Validating Your Claims
The game software will validate that the claim you are making fits the scavenge criteria. The software is dumb and exact matching is the manner by which a claim is validated. If a scavenge requires you to find a geocache with a size of nano, then a geocache with a nano container that is marked as micro will not meet the criteria. If the scavenge requires to you to find a geocache with the word "summer" in the name, then "summers" is not a perfect match and will not meet the criteria, but letter case is not considered and 'SUMMER' will also perfectly match. Some scavenges will require you to claim specific geocache codes and they will need to be matched perfectly. Your claim will also be validated against your log along with the date of your claim. If they do not match you claim will be rejected.

Registration
You do not need to register specifically for the game but you will need to have joined a clan. When the game commences you will be able to lodge your claims. Your first claim will register you for the game and place you on the ladder. You will need an account at Geocaching Australia in order to play this game. Please do not try and cheat the system by creating fake accounts to boost your clan points. Fake accounts will be deleted and the owner banned.

Winning
The clan who has the most points will be declared the winners. Winners receive prizes provided they make the minimum contribution to the clan points.
Congratulations to Clan Phoenix who have taken out the winner position with a massive 15,596.25 points. All of those clan members who contributed more than the minimum number of geocache finds will be rewarded with a physical prize of a newly minted pathtag. Geocaching Australia will also be offering the same physical reward to the top 3 points finders from each of clans Cerberus, Griffin and Minotaur. Everyone who played the game will receive a virtual reward on their geocacher page to memorialise their contribution to the game.

Rules