nanrich is the greatest of all time

[oddcouple]

I joined Christmas Day 2012, knowing that I'd never be at the top of the leaderboard. But I did set some goals-First was accuracy, to get as high a solving percentage as possible. Second, to get enough speed to get into the "very fast" category on some puzzles. Third was to be able to set new records on individual puzzles occasionally. And finally, I wanted to see if I could get on the top 100 leaderboard.

The first goal came pretty easily. I seldom give up on a puzzle and I'm over the 99% level for accuracy. Most months I now have a 100% Solve rate. The second took me a year to see real results, but gradually I got to the point where today I get into the "very fast" on about 40% of puzzles I solve. Getting a faster computer helped with that one. The third has always been hard. Except for the brief spate of new records a few years ago when a bunch of puzzles were added, I've probably been able to set a new time 25-30 times. It's a pleasure any time I can see the Baron. I'm sure most of my records have been broken by now, but that's okay. The faster computer also helped me with my last goal-top 100. Once I reached the top 100, I started adjusting that goal-top 90, top 80, etc until I'm at number 39 today. And yes, my next goal is top 30, I'm sure it'll take me at least a year.

But you know what I found out? Reaching these goals hasn't been the most enjoyable part of being on this site. The three best things on the site for me have been
1. Solving the puzzles themselves, and getting some new words of wisdom from different authors as well as humor from others. Plus the occasional Jack Handey/Homer Simpson quotes that always make my grimace.
2. The fellowship of crypto-solvers. For the most part (with the exception of a few jerks), this is about the friendliest, most supportive group a person could find. There have been countless users who give insightful comments, some of them to me. And with such a nice diverse group of users, you get a variety of comments on subjects I've never thought about. Sure, we may differ on politics, religion, etc, but for the most part we do it nicely.
3. The hilarity and byplay of comments on cryptos makes me smile several times a day and occasionally gets a LOL from me. Llapp started the Classic Comments quote and it's now over 1,000 additions. I've posted some of my favorites to that thread.

The nanrich records, the bansai records, the descrifador records are amazing to see on puzzle after puzzle. But the first time I broke a bansai record was an immense feeling of satisfaction. I've also broken nanrich's and descrifador's a few times. Overall I know I'll never be one of the speed demons. But I can't see myself ever leaving Cryptos. The rewards I've gained are immeasurable.

[puffybob]

Great to know about JCarlos!

[Fudi]

Oddcouple - I want to thank you for what you said above, which gives me hope and inspiration. I so wanna be one of you guys. I want IN! I've only been playing for 2 years or so and am definitely progressing. I'm now at #329, I think? I started out, of course, with some crazily demoralizing ranking ... like #gazillion_and_4 or something.

So ... well, someday making it to one of the top 100 doesn't seem like a totally unrealistic crazy goal. I'm hoping it will just take time and patience ... cuz those things, I think, I've got.

[LLapp]

Yes, I was about to say that -- JCarlosCuevas came back after a long time away, as Descifrador, which is Spanish for "decoder". Amazingly, he did not even have a warmup period, but started breaking records again right off the bat.

[Eureka]

I could be wrong, but I believe JCarlosCuevas came back as Descifrador. Is that right, Descifrador? I recall you saying that you used to play using a different name.

[munchlet]

JCarlosCuevas came back under a new user handle, I believe. Altoid701, perhaps? Not sure, but he's still great.

[puffybob]

Yes, oddcouple, you're definitely right about all that. Also, there are some greats who didn't stick around. I nominate JCarlosCuevas as the Bjorn Borg of cryptograms.org -- we'll never know how great he might have been because he retired too soon. Amazing that he still holds as many records as he did, since it's been almost nine years since he played.

[oddcouple]

I hate to assign a greatest of all time title to any one cryptographer. I respect those you mentioned and to all those who have stayed in long enough and played enough to reach the top 100. You are one of those puffybob, and I respect you. Of the untold thousands of just registered solvers, let alone those who played without registering, that by any definition is in the top 1%. That doesn't happen overnight, and it is a reflection on just how dedicated these solvers are. So without attempting to change your mind, I wish to expand your description.

[puffybob]

Everyone notices bansai's amazing records, and you've got to give gryhnd51 her due for her incredible point total, but when it comes to lifetime achievement -- solve rate, speed, and total points -- I contend that nanrich is the GOAT. Change my mind!