Correcting a Dependency Order Before Printing

This is an invented planning exercise, not a customer event or testimonial.

Background and constraints

A fictional host’s draft listed a finale as a prerequisite of the opening. The corrected input shown here must have a reachable starting node.

Exact tool inputs

The reordered archive

8

600

90

18:00

indoor

elegant

A permitted accessible room

entry | Multiply 3 by 3 | | 9 | Three groups of three | 10
map | Add the entry answer to 4 | entry | 13 | Nine plus four | 10
finish | Reverse YEK | map | KEY | Read backward | 10

Ink
Paper

Host supplies any misprinted clue and records the correction for all

A corrected archive seal

Actual generated result

theme

The reordered archive

venue

A permitted accessible room

guests

8

teams

2

schedule

rows

• activity

  Show all exits

  start

  18:00

  end

  18:18

  minutes

  18

• activity

  Explain hint policy

  start

  18:18

  end

  18:36

  minutes

  18

• activity

  Run ordered puzzle chain

  start

  18:36

  end

  18:54

  minutes

  18

• activity

  Verify final word

  start

  18:54

  end

  19:12

  minutes

  18

• activity

  Debrief

  start

  19:12

  end

  19:30

  minutes

  18

total

90

remaining

0

conflict

false

stations

• name

  entry | Multiply 3 by 3 | | 9 | Three groups of three | 10

  order

  1

  prerequisite

  Briefing

  points

  10

  host

  Facilitator 1

• name

  map | Add the entry answer to 4 | entry | 13 | Nine plus four | 10

  order

  2

  prerequisite

  entry | Multiply 3 by 3 | | 9 | Three groups of three | 10

  points

  10

  host

  Facilitator 2

• name

  finish | Reverse YEK | map | KEY | Read backward | 10

  order

  3

  prerequisite

  map | Add the entry answer to 4 | entry | 13 | Nine plus four | 10

  points

  10

  host

  Facilitator 3

props

• Paper lock cards
• Hint envelopes
• Visible timer

budget

venue

150

food

240

materials

120

reserve

90

tasks

• Confirm permission and accessibility
• Check dietary needs
• Brief facilitators
• Prepare a weather or room backup

execution

Never lock an emergency exit or use dangerous mechanisms.

nodes

• id

  entry

  name

  Multiply 3 by 3

  deps

  answer

  9

  hint

  Three groups of three

  points

  10

  complete

  false

• id

  map

  name

  Add the entry answer to 4

  deps

  • entry

  answer

  13

  hint

  Nine plus four

  points

  10

  complete

  false

• id

  finish

  name

  Reverse YEK

  deps

  • map

  answer

  KEY

  hint

  Read backward

  points

  10

  complete

  false

teamNames

• Ink
• Paper

winCondition

Every node has a verified correct answer.

failureCondition

Host supplies any misprinted clue and records the correction for all

reward

A corrected archive seal

limitMinutes

90

Planning process

The organizer uses the validator to catch missing or circular prerequisites, then enters the repaired entry–map–finish chain. A fresh tester solves the actual cards and checks that labels match the node IDs in the saved plan.

Result explanation

Node order in a story paragraph is not enough; the dependency IDs control what can be verified. The corrected graph has one opening and no cycle. The final word cannot be marked complete until the map stage is done.

Alternative

Use independent stations if the host does not need a sequential story. Remove the prerequisites explicitly rather than bypassing them informally.

Execution notes

Remove obsolete printed cards from the kit. Give every group the same correction if an error is found during play.

Continue planning

Open EscapeWeave

How to Design an Engaging Clue Hunt

Using Separate Saved Copies for Two Competitive Teams

FAQ