DASH Volunteer Roles
If you have questions or would like to help, please email the
board
.
Thanks for considering volunteering!
Role Details
The sections below provide detailed descriptions of some of the key roles required to create and run a DASH event.
DASH Director
The DASH Director oversees the event, maintaining timelines and budgets.
Major tasks:
- Create a timeline for the process, including puzzle development, event planning, and material production and distribution. Help ensure that other volunteers are aware of important deadlines.
- Create a budget, including for puzzle prototypes, material production and shipping, and event expenses.
- Support other volunteers.
Puzzle Manager
The Puzzle Manager leads the Puzzle Creation Team and oversees the creation of all puzzles, working with volunteer puzzle authors to hone and shape the event.
Major tasks:
- Work with DASH Director on timeline requirements for puzzle development (theme/story determined, initial puzzle drafts, playtesting, production deadlines, etc).
- Work with DASH Director and Production Lead on budget for puzzles.
- Recruit Puzzle Creation Team members – Playtest Coordinator, ClueKeeper Lead, Page Designer, Production Lead.
- Recruit Puzzle Authors and Story Lead.
- Set target par times for puzzles, revise as puzzles evolve.
- Provide initial playtesting and feedback for each puzzle.
- Work with Puzzle Authors to refine and edit puzzles based on playtest feedback.
- Work with Puzzle Authors and ClueKeeper Lead to create and revise hints for ClueKeeper.
- Work with Story Lead and ClueKeeper Lead on story content for ClueKeeper.
- Work with Graphic Designer on event logos and puzzle artwork.
- Work with Page Designer and Graphic Designer to create a page design / layout to use for all puzzles.
- Convey story information and relevant puzzle details to Events Manager and City Leads to help them plan routes.
Playtest Coordinator
A member of the Puzzle Creation Team, the Playtest Coordinator coordinates playtesting and feedback for all DASH puzzles.
Major tasks:
- Coordinate initial playtesting of individual puzzles.
- Communicate with Puzzle Authors to know when new versions are ready. Help Puzzle Manager keep Puzzle Authors on schedule.
- Check with Puzzle Authors and City Leads to see who is available to playtest.
- Track what has been tested by whom and assign playtesters.
- Coordinate full-set playtesting of puzzles.
- Set a schedule and recruit City Leads to provide groups for playtesting.
- Work with Page Designer to get puzzle PDFs for playtesting.
- Work with ClueKeeper Lead to ensure ClueKeeper content is ready for playtesting.
- Provide instructions to playtesters: where to get puzzles, how to print, where to give feedback, etc.
- Create a Player's Guide for teams participating in DASH.
ClueKeeper Lead
A member of the Puzzle Creation Team, the ClueKeeper Lead uploads and manages ClueKeeper content.
Major tasks:
- Work with Puzzle Manager, Puzzle Authors, and Story Lead on narrative text in ClueKeeper.
- Work with Puzzle Manager and Puzzle Authors to create hints and determine appropriate timing.
- Work with Puzzle Manager and Puzzle Authors to determine whether any partial solutions should be recognized, and how many points they are worth.
- Enter story content and puzzle data (solution, hints, partials) into ClueKeeper.
- Coordinate with Playtest Coordinator to ensure content is ready for playtesting.
Page Designer
A member of the Puzzle Creation Team, the Page Designer maintains the "master" version of the puzzle pages once they are put into a standard format, typically after individual puzzle testing and before full-set playtesting.
Major tasks:
- Work with Puzzle Manager and Graphic Designer to create a page design / layout to use for all puzzles.
- Communicate with Puzzle Authors to get source files for puzzle content.
- Create a PDF for each puzzle using the standard design and the individual puzzle content.
- Create a PDF for each puzzle showing its solution.
- Make revisions to PDFs as puzzles are updated.
- Solicit reviews of the PDFs from Puzzle Authors and Puzzle Manager.
- Work with Playtest Coordinator to provide PDFs for playtesting.
Production Lead
A member of the Puzzle Creation Team, the Production Lead arranges for physical material production and shipping to all cities participating in DASH.
Major tasks:
- Communicate with Page Designer and Puzzle Manager to determine what materials will need to be printed.
- Work with the printer to determine a schedule for getting materials to cities before the event. (This may include selecting a company to use for printing.)
- Work with Puzzle Manager and Puzzle Authors to determine other physical materials needed for the event.
- Coordinate with appropriate suppliers, determining schedules for ordering.
- In the event that materials won't ship to individual cities (likely, especially for international locations), arrange to receive materials and redistribute to all cities.
- In all cases, strive to have materials to City Leads so they have at least two weekends to verify and process the materials. Add a little padding to schedule to allow for delays in production and shipping.
- Provide instructions for City Leads detailing what they will receive and explaining how to prepare the materials (collating pages, sorting physical items, etc).
- Communicate schedule requirements to DASH Director, Puzzle Manager, Puzzle Authors, and Events Manager.
Events Manager
The Events Manager is the central point of contact for all City Leads. The Events Manager is the first to field questions from City Leads, and ensures all necessary information is communicated to and from City Leads.
Major tasks:
- Work with DASH Director on timeline requirements for events.
- Working with DASH Director, create budgets for all events.
- Communicate this with City Leads.
- Facilitate requests from City Leads that need additional budget.
- Recruit City Leads from both past DASH events and new potentially-interested cities.
- Work with DASH Director and Graphic Designer on T-shirt design.
- Be the point of contact for all City Leads, directing questions to the proper individuals as needed.
- Regularly check in with City Leads on timelines and to-do lists.
- Facilitate communication between City Leads and Production Lead to ensure the proper number of each puzzle
is sent to each city and help deal with any discrepancies.
- Ensure City Leads input walking directions. Upload walking directions to ClueKeeper.
- Ensure all City Leads report their expenses after the event.
Social Media Coordinator
The Social Media Coordinator operates DASH's social media accounts and creates posts and content.
Major tasks:
- Work with DASH Director, Graphic Designer, Story Lead, and Webmaster on promotional content.
- Post to social media to promote DASH and make announcements (e.g. for registration).
- Monitor Facebook, Bluesky, X, etc, and respond to comments and questions, consulting with DASH leadership as necessary.
- Help City Leads advertise the event and recruit players (provide sample social media posts, posters, flyers, etc).
Graphic Designer
The Graphic Designer develops the logos and needed visual aspects of DASH.
Major tasks:
- Collaborate with DASH Director, Puzzle Manager, and Story Lead to create DASH event logo and icons to identify Standard and Expert puzzle versions.
- Work with DASH Director, Social Media Coordinator, and Webmaster to design graphics for social media and web site.
- Work with Events Manager and Social Media Coordinator to design promotional materials.
- Help with puzzle content as requested by Puzzle Authors.
- Work with DASH Director and Events Manager to create T-shirt design.