Q: What the heck is/are "intercoastal altercations"?
A: The original Intercoastal Altercations was an extravaganza (by Hudu and Trazom) held simultaneously in New York and Berkeley, sometime in the late 1980s. In 2002, at the urging of Hot, several puzzlers revived the concept. In 2003, several more puzzlers continued the tradition.
Q: When exactly does the game happen?
A: It will take place on Saturday, October 2nd, from 7-10 PM Eastern Daylight Time (4-7 PM Pacific).
Q: So how does the game work?
A: The game is similar in structure to a Saturday night extravaganza at a typical NPL convention. Teams of 3-6 players (no larger, please!) will get a series of puzzles to solve which will ultimately fit together in a satisfying (we hope!) conclusion. The puzzles will be primarily of the pencil-and-paper variety, but be prepared for some surprises.
Unlike past events, puzzles won't be distributed by set. Instead, solving a single puzzle will "open up" new puzzle(s) as well as additional information related to the meta-puzzle.
Q: Cool. How do I join in the fun?
A: If there's a gathering planned in your area, you may be able to just show up and join a team. It's better though to either contact a local host ahead of time, or host a gathering yourself; even if you can't get a team together in one place, you can join forces with others online.
Q: Is there a gathering currently planned in my area?
A: Refer to this list list of sites to find out. In some cases, the locations are not open to non-invites: please check with the person(s) listed first.
Q: I want to host a gathering. What do I need?
A: First of all, please register with Foggy (see below) if you wish to host a gathering of any size (even a "gathering of one"). Then read the notes for hosts so that you can have the necessary equipment on hand at game time.
Q: There's no gathering anywhere near me. Am I stuck?
A: Thanks to the miracle of technology, you can play too! In particular, if you install AOL Instant Messenger as directed above, you can communicate with other sites and so form a "virtual" team. In that case, each physical site should register (see below).
Q: How do I register?
A: Send email to Foggy (using foggy@puzzlers.org alias) with the following information:
how many people you expect to host
a description of
your computer and Internet setup
a team name, if you have a
preference
an
e-mail address, to allow us to contact you with last-minute information
Q: I'm busy on the 2nd. Will I be able to play later?
A: I'm a firm believer that these events should be playable well-after the day of the event. Solutions to the puzzles will likely be posted within the week after the event.
Q: Who are you, anyway?
A: At this point, just me, Foggy. If you are interested in test-solving or helping with logistics, e-mail me.
(This FAQ was shamelessly copied from Kray's excellent FAQ for 2002's Intercoastal Altercations, still on-line at www.altercations.net!)