Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to participate?

  1. The book

  2. A Minecraft Bedrock account and access to the game (from any compatible pc or device, no internet connection is required)

  3. A basic understanding of Minecraft - its blocks, items, mobs, etc…

  4. A sharp eye and your own wits

  5. A valid email address (to claim a real life treasure)

No. The map will NOT work with the Java version of Minecraft.  Unfortunately, world generation has subtle differences.

Will the map work with Minecraft Java Edition?

Is the hunt over / has anyone claimed the treasure?

The hunt is still on, as of December 2024! No treasures have been claimed. Will you be the first?

The hunt has been verified to work with Minecraft Bedrock versions 1.21.x.

Wait… how does this work again?

  1. Discover world seeds by solving the puzzles in Candle’s journal

  2. Create Minecraft worlds using specific seeds (use only lower case letters or numbers)

  3. In each world, follow directions by interpreting The Dragon’s Verse, to find a specific treasure block (consider the block as if you used silk touch or creative mode to obtain it in your inventory)

  4. Congratulations! You are a true treasure hunter.  Now can you solve one final puzzle, using all of the treasure blocks?!

  5. See: Claiming the Treasure, in the back of this book

Do I need to research things in order to solve this?

No. Other than Minecraft, everything you need is in the book.  There should be no need to research history, geography, cryptography, or any other subjects.  However, if you feel inspired to do so during this hunt, then I highly encourage it - the journey is often the best prize of all!  When researching about Minecraft, my favorite site has always been https://minecraft.wiki.

When reading this book, you should not take everything literally.  Armchair Treasure Hunts are full of references, allusions and other wordplay.  For example, if you read “Ascend the 92 steps,” the word “ascend” might mean “go up,” or “go north,” or “continue on this street until the building addresses increase by 92”.  If you think the words are indicating a direction, go straight in that direction (keeping your same x or z coordinate).  If you think the words are indicating that you should head to a landmark, go straight to it.  If you think the words are indicating you should “follow” something, do that in whatever shape the course takes.

While following the directions in The Dragon’s Verse you should not need to travel more than 300 blocks before finding the next reference.  Keeping note of your coordinates may help.  If you feel lost, backtrack and try again.  In all worlds, the treasure blocks are within 2,000 blocks of spawn (in any one direction). 

Can I have a clue?

Maybe. All updates will be posted on the official web site only.  No clues will be given through any other media.  Videos, interviews, or  social media posts which specifically reference Candle’s Quest will be in effort to promote the experience.  These may contain general armchair treasure hunting guidance but are not intended to be clues to Candle’s Quest - any reference will be purely coincidence.  Similarly, there are no clues in past Youtube or social media posts.  Candle’s Quest does contain references to past experiences, which you are encouraged to seek out and enjoy, but they will not provide direct clues to the treasure hunt.

If the hunt remains unsolved by the summer of 2025, the author may choose to publish clues on the official website.

NO ONE but the author knows the answers to the puzzles in this book.  Please be respectful and do not bother the author’s family, friends, nor anyone else in the community for clues.

Are there any differences between editions/formats of the book?

There should be no differences between the Amazon Kindle, Hardcover, or Paperback formats of the book, that are material to solving the puzzles. While not anticipated, if a future edition is published (e.g., to correct typos or image coloring), any changes will be posted on the official website.

How do I play Minecraft?!

I created a short video for any treasure hunters who are used to books, but don’t know anything about Minecraft. I hope it helps!