Let the discussion commence! Comments and suggestions welcome. This room could also be used when arranging the next link in the chain when solvers do not wish to take that opportunity themselves.

First off, some thought on the title format: I think that some people (not all people!) enjoy being able to pick amusing titles, that may also serve as hints. Perhaps there could be a way to allow setters to include an optional extra title, which would have been the title if the puzzle wasn't part of a chain?

You know what, that thought crossed my mind earlier too. Even just a dash after the main title would permit that.

Next thought: it's very unclear (to me, at least) how a puzzle later in a chain should/could "somehow make use of the answer to the previous puzzle in its construction". Please include an example of how this would work with an example thematic word.

Final small note: You give a bunch of required text (all of which I think is good and important), and if this is supposed to be in every Chain Puzzle it would help to give an easily-copiable format. I've seen code blocks used for this sort of thing, as you can also include copiable formatting marks.

I have no substantive thoughts to offer...I'm just cheerleading. TOGA! TOGA! TOGA!

Cool. Let's say the theme is 'Movies'. Puzzle #1 in the chain has the answer SCIENCE FICTION. The person who takes on Puzzle #2 can then frame it in a sci-fi context, maybe base the puzzle's background story in the genre, use components of certain sci-fi movies...

...or do something with just a loose connection like create a Star Battle puzzle, produce a grid puzzle in the shape of a rocketship, spell everything with 3 i's (three eyes) - just some little quirky thing that buys into the spirit of the series...

...It doesn't have to be super niche or require expertise or specialist knowledge, just a little something that says "This is part of the chain."

So "Movies" wouldn't require a movie as an answer, just something that is related to the movie industry as a whole?

Oh I forgot: pedantic side-note! Maybe have the numbers be #1, #2... #10 instead of #01, #02... #10. Personal preference. Feel free to ignore.

Indeed. Although what I think would be really cool is if we got to a point where people discussed a series here in this chatroom before they set it up and gauged what people would be interested in. If people wanted to say "the answer must be a movie" and the consensus is up for that, why not - but to my mind if we keep it general it keeps options open.

@bobble Haha. You know what, I have a solid preference for leading zeros because the series would then end up 'alphabetised' correctly. Depending on the context, leaving out the '0' makes '10' appear between 1 and 2, which bugs me no end... but happy to go with whatever consensus says!

How much interest would you want before setting sail? For the first chain you have Jeremy and yourself, and maybe me (if I can solve one of the puzzles, that is) or others.

Also, I see that there is no requirement for puzzle-creation time for the subsequent chain puzzles. Do you want to set a limit, say 2 weeks, that is the maximum amount of time for creation?

The downside I see is that later puzzles, with more constraints, will take longer to make well.

But if there is no limit, then a chain could go without another puzzle for months, which would be Very Bad.

I'd give it 24-48 hours minimum before putting the first one out so people have time to view it whatever timezone they're in.

I think a rough time limit would be useful, but if this chatroom can be active while a chain is out there it should be enough of a driving force.

Also, the chain answers aren't cumulative - only the immediately previous answer needs to be used for the next puzzle in the chain!

Oh, did not notice that. And I read the post twice! Silly me

Ultimately I see it as (i) a fun new toy for the regulars, but also (ii) a good way for newcomers to be introduced to Puzzling and maybe even guided through their puzzle creation process if they want advice.

Would you see it as bad if one link in the chain went unsolved for a great length of time?

Am I making too many comments?

Only if the OP was inactive. I think if a link went unsolved long enough there'd be enough interested people who would get together in this room and try and crack it between them.

And this discussion is INCREDIBLY useful to have because these are thoughts a LOT of people will think!

I never cease to be amazed by the Puzzling community and how it can crack even the hardest and most obscure puzzles

If multiple people could all legitimately claim credit for a solve, how would the next setter be decided? I think a discussion in this room would be best, but I'm interested in your thoughts.

@Stiv Ok, so the "inactive OP" is a serious concern. If the latest setter in a chain is inactive for a long period of time, would that chain just end?

I see, as in "What if its a Community Wiki endeavour?" Civilised democracy. People are good at agreeing here.

@Stiv I'm not sure if what I think is what "a LOT of people" think. I'm a sample size of N=1, were the single participant is a teenaged girl who joined just this summer. I imagine that more experienced people will have different thoughts.

@bobble Again, I think this will be whatever the community makes it be. I would hope that the person who started off the chain would retain an interest in how it all pans out and make efforts to keep in touch with puzzlers who join in with the chain. It would be in their best interest to see it completed.

Hopefully!

@bobble And regardless of your demographic I more refer to the fact that you are a Puzzler - and as Puzzlers we ask questions like this because we want to understand. We want to know what it's really all about. There are plenty of like minds here. You are not alone!

This is all really a big experiment right now. But it's one I'm really interested in starting going and seeing what the community makes of it. Maybe after a few goes people get bored and it goes the way of other enterprises, but just maybe it offers up another element of the community - I'd love for people to start collaborating on puzzle series together more.

I'm a Puzzler who currently has a bunch of homework :( I've put my thoughts here, but I have to leave to do aforementioned bucketload of homework. I'll check back here tomorrow.

No worries - I also need to sleep!

@JeremyDover And I extend the experimental puzzling notion to the idea of Puzzle Tennis mooted in the comments on the post - if you wanted to do a kind of back-and-forth series between us I'd be very happy to collaborate! That's for another chat room though, and another day... Night!

Man, bobble is a much better person than I, particularly at that age. The words "I have to leave to do a bucketload of homework" would never have been uttered by me.

I'm up for whatever, Stiv. There will come a day when I get bored of all this and move on to another hobby...but it is not this day.

Have a good night, friend.

"Puzzle Tennis"?

sounds interesting