Proximity Guidelines

When creating a Wherigo cartridge, and especially when a geocache listing is involved, there are some issues regarding zone and physical item placement. This article covers all known issues.

Wherigo Geocache Listing

The most important issue regarding the proximity is when the Wherigo cartridge is used to locate a geocache. When this happens, all physical placements for the cartridge fall under the geocaching guidelines and must be listed as physical waypoints on geocaching.com. Not only does this include the final geocache, but it includes any other physical object placed to supplement the cartridge's experience. A generic example would be a container placed with a password written inside or upon it that the player must enter to continue with the cartridge. However, if the cartridge makes use of existing objects, such as signs or another geocache (with permission), these are treated as virtual waypoints and do not fall under the geocaching proximity guideline. All virtual waypoints and zone locations need not be listed on geocaching.com; only physical placements are subject to the geocaching guidelines.

Physical placement of stages of the same Wherigo geocache listing can be as close together to each other as the author desires. It it unknown how reviewers might react to one cartridge that uses the same physical placement to find multiple Wherigo geocaches. It is recommended you ask your local reviewer for his or her opinion as this can differ between reviewers.

Due to geocaching.com guidelines, the final geocache for a cartridge should exist within two miles (around three kilometers) of the Wherigo geocache's posted starting coordinates. Ask your area's geocaching reviewer if a special exemption can be given for your cartridge. Within the request, please explain why you must locate your geocache far away from the posted coordinates. Note a cartridge's virtual stages can be much farther away from the posted coordinates, though the final might need to be nearby. It is considered good form on your geocache and Wherigo cartridge listings if you warn players of any usual travel distances.

Proximity Between The Same Cartridge's Zones

To prevent accidental entry into the wrong zone, it is recommended authors place an appreciable distance between active zones. If zones will not be active at the same time, they can be placed as close together as the author desires, and even overlap. The recommended distance is twenty-five meters, more if the author feels a player's GPS signal might not be optimal in that area. This recommended distance is between the closest edges of two zones, not the center points between two zones.

Proximity Between Other Cartridges' Zones

While there are no enforceable guidelines that cover using one cartridge's zone locations in another, there are some recommendations for fair use. Do not create a zone close to another cartridge's or geocache's physical placement without the author or owner's permission. If one cartridge asks a player a question about what he or she read on a sign, try to avoid asking for the same information in your cartridge. Try not to copy the story of a nearby cartridge. It's fine to take players to one or two of the same spots as another cartridge, but try to do so for different reasons.