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Version: Upcoming (v1.1.8)

Custom Hints

Create personalized location hints that perfectly match your environment and make your treasure hunts truly unique. The Custom Hints feature allows you to add, edit, and manage your own location descriptions for an enhanced hunting experience.

What are Custom Hints?​

Custom hints are personalized location descriptions that you create to guide players to specific places in your treasure hunts. Unlike the pre-made global locations, custom hints are tailored to your specific environment—whether it's your backyard, home, neighborhood, or any other familiar area.

Creating Custom Hints​

Getting Started​

  1. Navigate to Settings: Open the app and go to the Settings tab
  2. Select Locations/Hints: Choose the "Locations/Hints" tab from the settings menu
  3. Add New Location: Tap the floating "+" button or the add icon in the section header

Adding Location Details​

When creating a new custom hint, you'll need to provide:

  • Location Name: A clear, descriptive name for your location (e.g., "Garden Shed", "Oak Tree by the Fence")
  • Location Description: A detailed hint that guides players to the location

Using the Rich Text Editor​

The location description field features a powerful rich text editor that allows you to:

  • Format Text: Add bold, italic, and underlined text for emphasis
  • Create Lists: Use bullet points or numbered lists to break down complex hints
  • Add Structure: Organize your hints with clear formatting for better readability

Managing Your Custom Hints​

Viewing All Locations​

In the Locations/Hints settings, you'll see a unified list that includes:

  • Global Locations: Pre-made locations provided by Backyard Hunt
  • Custom Locations: Your personally created locations, marked with a "Custom" label

Editing Custom Hints​

  1. Find Your Location: Look for locations marked with the "Custom" label
  2. Tap Edit: Use the edit icon next to any of your custom locations
  3. Make Changes: Modify the name or description as needed
  4. Save: Your changes are immediately saved and available for use

Selecting Locations for Hunts​

  • Check/Uncheck: Select which locations (both global and custom) you want available for your hunts
  • Mix and Match: Combine global locations with your custom ones for varied hunt experiences
  • Priority System: Custom locations with the same name as global ones will take priority

Best Practices for Custom Hints​

Writing Effective Hints​

  • Be Descriptive: Provide enough detail to guide players without making it too obvious
  • Use Familiar References: Include landmarks or features that your players will recognize
  • Consider Difficulty: Adjust the complexity based on your players' ages and experience

Examples of Good Custom Hints​

For "Garden Toolshed":

"Look for the small wooden building where Dad keeps his lawn mower and gardening tools. It has a red door and sits behind Mom's rose bushes."

For "Kitchen Window":

"Find the window where morning sunlight streams in while we eat breakfast. Look for the spot where herbs grow in small pots on the sill."

Organization Tips​

  • Use Clear Names: Choose location names that are easy to remember and identify
  • Group Similar Areas: Consider creating hints for different areas of the same space
  • Update Regularly: Modify hints if your environment changes or if players find them too easy/difficult

Benefits of Custom Hints​

Personalized Experience​

  • Environment-Specific: Perfect match for your unique space and layout
  • Family References: Include inside jokes, family traditions, or personal landmarks
  • Difficulty Control: Create hints with exactly the right level of challenge

Enhanced Engagement​

  • Local Knowledge: Players use their familiarity with the area to solve clues
  • Creative Freedom: Express your personality through hint writing style
  • Evolving Hunts: Update and improve hints based on player feedback

Educational Value​

  • Observation Skills: Encourage players to notice details about their environment
  • Reading Comprehension: Practice understanding and following written directions
  • Problem Solving: Develop critical thinking through hint interpretation

Integration with Hunts​

Using Custom Hints in Treasure Hunts​

Custom hints work seamlessly with treasure hunts, providing location guidance that leads players from one clue to the next. Your personalized descriptions help create a narrative that's specific to your environment.

Combining with Global Locations​

You can mix your custom hints with global locations to create diverse hunting experiences that include both familiar personal spaces and more general location types.

QR Code Compatibility​

Custom hints work with the same QR code system as global locations. You can print and reuse QR codes for your custom locations just like any other hunt location.

For more information on setting up and managing your account preferences, see the Account Settings documentation. To learn more about creating hunts with your custom locations, visit the Hunts and Clues guides.