game title graphic – TIME DRIFTERS: ISABEL’S STORY

Isabel’s Story Hints


Spoiler Alert! Check out these hints only if you need a help solving a puzzle or want the answer. Warning: Looking at future puzzle hints will spoil the story for you and your group.

Only click on the puzzle name or number that you are trying to solve. Some have more than one hint which will start with clues to nudge you in the right direction and end with the solution. Don’t click on the solution if you don’t want the final answer.

First Diode Location
alt-img-First Diode Location
  • Hint 1

    Did Isabel’s note to Kira seem odd?  There seems to be some letters missing.  This can’t just be an accident.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 2

    Write out the missing letters to reveal a secret message from Isabel.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 3

    The message in the note says: USE RED BAG TO SEARCH NOTE BACK.  Turn the note over and place the red bag over it.   You may need to use an extra light, such as a phone flashlight.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 4

    The note says: “First Diode Location: Use pencil and paper.  Column: draw a semi-circle open to the left, then a horizontal line extending to the right from the bottom of the semi-circle.  Row: Draw a semi-circle open to the right then curl the bottom portion back in a loop to make a small circle.” Keep in mind, 1 or 2 is always the column. 

    Spoiler alert!

  • Solution

    When you follow the instructions properly, you should draw a 2 and a 6. The answer is: COLUMN 2, ROW 6. Insert a diode peg into the console in column 2, row 6.

Finding Your Current Location
alt-img-Finding Your Current Location
  • Hint 1

    Put a pencil in the 0 hole and another in the hole of the number listed on the location readings. Spin it around, while keeping the 0-pencil steady, on each given city to draw circles on the map.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 2

    Remember you need to look for a city that is at least 7k AWAY from Madrid and 8k AWAY from Calcutta.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 3

    Look for a city that is OUTSIDE both small circles but INSIDE both big circles. 

    Warning: spoiler alert!

  • alt-img-MAT_ERIAB_Time-Drifters_Answers_Isabel_Current-location_Solution.jpg
    Solution

    There is only one city that that is outside both small circles and inside both big circles. The answer is: Sao Paolo. 

Connecting Wires
alt-img-Connecting Wires
  • Hint 1

    Make sure all objects are always upright. The shadows can help you orient the tiles.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 2

    There are only four tiles with green wires. Try starting with those.

    Spoiler alert!

  • alt-img-MAT_ERIAB_Time-Drifters_Answers_Isabel_Connecting-wires_Solution.jpg
    Solution

    When all the wires are connected, it should look like this.  

    Transfer the tiles to the console.

Second Diode Location
alt-img-Second Diode Location
  • Hint 1

    You must know your current location and have the wires correctly arranged to solve this. 

    See Hint 1a to confirm city.

    See Hint 1b to confirm wires.

  • Hint 1a

    Sao Paolo

    Still stuck?

    See Hint 1b to confirm wires.

  • alt-img-MAT_ERIAB_Time-Drifters_Answers_Isabel_Connecting-wires_Solution.jpg
    Hint 1b

    ⇠ Hint 1b

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 2

    Try placing the console on the outline covering your current location.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 3

    Did you notice the red “Column Start” and purple “Row Start” marks at the edge of the console? What do they line up to?

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 4

    Follow the red and purple wires until you get to a number on the console.

    Spoiler alert!

  • Solution

    The red wire around Sao Paolo says “Column Start.”  When you follow the red wire through to the end, it stops at 1 on the console. The purple wire says “Row Start.”  When you follow that through the console it ends at 4.  The answer is: COLUMN 1, ROW 4. Insert a diode peg into the console in column 1, row 4.

Where is the Tempor-a-Meter?
alt-img-Where is the Tempor-a-Meter?
  • Hint 1

    Sometimes you need to think outside the box.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 2

    Did you look everywhere? Did you examine everything the game came with?

    Spoiler alert!

  • Solution

    The Tempor-a-Meter is located on the side of the game box bottom.  

Finding the Current Time
alt-img-Finding the Current Time
  • Hint 1

    Compare the information found on the Tempor-a-Meter Readings from different eras readout with the information displayed on the Tempor-a-Meter’s various dials and gauges.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 2

    Ignore the black and red digital displays for now.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 3

    The temperature reading shows 32. The concentration of suspended particulate matter is 140. The CO2 level is 280. The sea surface temperature is 22.5. Use this information to deduce the current time.

    Spoiler alert!

  • Solution

    All time periods are eliminated by one of the above readings EXCEPT one. The answer is: 800-700 BC.  

Plate / Statue / Bottle / Jewelry Order
alt-img-Plate / Statue / Bottle / Jewelry Order
  • alt-img-MAT_ERIAB_Time-Drifters_Answers_Isabel_Plate_Statue_Bottle_Jewerly_Order_Hint-1.jpg
    Hint 1

    To solve this puzzle, you need to start with all the object tiles arranged in the console with all the wires connected. Begin by removing all the tiles EXCEPT the tiles containing a red wire.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 2

    Start in the upper right-hand corner. That row already has a plate and jewelry, and the column already has a bottle, so there’s only one type of object that could go there.Remember, the type of tile is the only thing that matters for this puzzle. 

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 3

    Look at the space just under the tile you placed in upper right corner and use the same trick. Make sure all objects are upright.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 4

    You can use that trick to fill in the remaining squares.

    Spoiler alert!

  • alt-img-MAT_ERIAB_Time-Drifters_Answers_Isabel_Plate_Statue_Bottle_Jewerly_Order_Solution.jpg
    Solution

    ⇠ The answer is ⇠

Third Diode Location
alt-img-Third Diode Location
  • Hint 1

    You must have the correct current time and have the tiles arranged in a meaningful way to solve this. 

    See Hint 1a to confirm time.

    See Hint 1b to confirm tiles.

  • Hint 1a

    800-700 BC.

    See Hint 1b to confirm tiles.

  • alt-img-MAT_ERIAB_Time-Drifters_Answers_Isabel_Fourth-diode-location_Hint-3.jpg
    Hint 1b

    ⇠ Hint 1b

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 2

    Since we are trying to determine time, make sure to use the Time Map.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 3

    Place the console (green plastic piece) on the outline showing the current time.  The letters are important here. Make sure all the objects are oriented upright.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 4

    Some of the arrows on the tiles are pointing at letters. What do those letters spell?

    Spoiler alert!

  • Solution

    The arrows are pointing at letters that spell TWO and ZERO. Remember, a one or two always refers to the column. The answer is: COLUMN 2, ROW 0. Insert a diode peg into the console in column 2, row 0.

Fourth Diode Location
alt-img-Fourth Diode Location
  • Hint 1

    Arrange the object tiles according to the legend. Some objects can fit in multiple places, but a few can only go in one specific place.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 2

    If you’re having trouble identifying what a given object tile is exactly, set it aside and work on the ones you can easily identify.  

    Still stuck?

  • alt-img-MAT_ERIAB_Time-Drifters_Answers_Isabel_Fourth-diode-location_Hint-3.jpg
    Hint 3

    ⇠ The tiles should be arranged like this ⇠

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 4

    The word for tile 1 is a verb that ends in P. The word for tile 2 starts with a T.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 5

    The words are FLIP TILES.  It’s important to flip ALL 16 tiles facedown.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 6

    Take a step back and look at the red tiles. Remember, you’re looking for a number…

    Spoiler alert!

  • Solution

    The red tiles form the numbers 1 and 7.  The answer is: COLUMN 1, ROW 7. Insert a diode peg into the console in column 1, row 7.

Fixing the Console
alt-img-Fixing the Console
  • Hint 1

    You must have all four diodes correctly placed in the console to solve this. 

    See Hint 1a to confirm Diode 1.

    See Hint 1b to confirm Diode 2.

    See Hint 1c to confirm Diode 3.

    See Hint 1d to confirm Diode 4.

  • Hint 1a

    Diode 1: 2-6

    See Hint 1b to confirm Diode 2.

    See Hint 1c to confirm Diode 3.

    See Hint 1d to confirm Diode 4.

  • Hint 1b

    Diode 2: 1-4

    See Hint 1c to confirm Diode 3.

    See Hint 1d to confirm Diode 4.

  • Hint 1c

    Diode 3: 2-0

    See Hint 1d to confirm Diode 4.

  • Hint 1d

    Diode 4: 1-7

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 2

    With the console in position on the top of the time machine box, match the location of each diode to the arrow or dash in that same row AND column. DO NOT use both arrows that are in the row.

    Still stuck?

  • Hint 3

    Remember to do the switches in order of the diodes from top to bottom, NOT the order in which you plugged them into the console. 

    Spoiler alert!

  • alt-img-MAT_ERIAB_Time-Drifters_Answers_Isabel_Fixing-the-console_Solution.jpg
    Solution

    The answer is: DOWN, UP, CENTER, UP. The door should unlock automatically once you have all four dials in correct position. You may need to wiggle each tile to ensure it is properly set.