Sharing Your Hunt

Get players into your hunt using codes, QR codes, and links

Sharing Options

TreasureRat provides three ways to share your published hunt:

  • Hunt Code: A short, memorable code players can type
  • QR Code: Scannable code that opens the hunt directly
  • Direct Link: URL that can be shared via text, email, or social media

Hunt Code

Every published hunt gets a unique 6-character code (e.g., "ABC-DEF"). Codes use letters and numbers, excluding characters that look similar (0, O, I, 1, L) to avoid confusion.

How Players Use It

  1. Players go to treasurerat.com/join
  2. Enter the 6-character code
  3. Enter their name
  4. Start playing!

Best For

  • Verbal announcements ("The code is ABC-DEF!")
  • Written on invitations or signs
  • Easy to remember and type on mobile devices

Tip: Write the code large on a whiteboard or poster at your event venue, and include "treasurerat.com/join" so players know where to enter it.

QR Code

A scannable code that takes players directly to your hunt.

Getting Your QR Code

  1. Open your published hunt
  2. Click "Share"
  3. The QR code is displayed
  4. Download or print it

Best For

  • Printed materials (posters, flyers, invitations)
  • Display screens at venues
  • Physical starting points
  • Quick, no-typing joining

Printing Tips

  • Print at least 2 inches / 5 cm square for reliable scanning
  • Use high contrast (dark code on light background)
  • Test the printed code before your event
  • Laminate for outdoor use

Direct Link

A URL like treasurerat.com/join?code=ABCDEF that opens your hunt.

How to Share

  1. Open your published hunt
  2. Click "Share"
  3. Click "Copy Link"
  4. Paste into messages, emails, or posts

When players click the link, the hunt code is automatically filled in and they just need to enter their name.

Best For

  • Text messages and group chats
  • Email invitations
  • Social media posts
  • Website embeds

Sharing for Different Events

In-Person Event

  • Display QR code at the starting location
  • Announce the code verbally
  • Include code on printed materials

Remote/Virtual Event

  • Send the direct link via email or chat
  • Share the code in a video call
  • Post in your team's communication channel

Mixed Event

  • Use all three methods to maximize accessibility
  • Some players prefer typing codes, others prefer scanning

Sharing with Specific Tracks

If your hunt has multiple tracks, there are different ways to assign players depending on your hunt's track assignment mode:

Player Choice Mode

Players see all available tracks and select which one they want to join. Use the standard sharing methods above.

Host-Assigned Mode (Email Invitations)

When you want to pre-assign specific players to specific tracks, use the email invitation system:

  1. Go to your hunt's "Invite Players" section
  2. Select a track
  3. Enter player email addresses
  4. Send invitations

Each player receives:

  • A personal invitation email with the hunt details
  • A unique invitation link like treasurerat.com/join?code=123456&invite=abc-def-ghi
  • A track-specific QR code they can scan

When they use their invitation link or QR code, they're automatically assigned to their designated track.

Tip: Print each player's personalized QR code on colored paper matching their track and place them at different starting points!

Player Experience

Standard Join Flow

When players join via hunt code, QR code, or direct link:

  1. They see your hunt name and description
  2. They enter their name (or team name)
  3. If there are multiple tracks and player choice is enabled, they select a track
  4. They tap "Start" to begin

Personal Invitation Flow

When players join via a personal invitation link or QR code:

  1. The hunt code is pre-filled
  2. Their track is already assigned
  3. They only need to confirm their name
  4. They tap "Start" to begin

Managing Access

  • Anyone with code/link can join published hunts by default
  • Unpublish your hunt to prevent new players from joining
  • Active players can continue even after unpublishing

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