The Mechanics of MouseHunt

Hunting Sequence
(note: the following is adapted from the explanation provided on the MH Wiki)

Starting the Hunt:

There are two ways to start a hunt. The first is by sounding (clicking) the Hunter's Horn. This can only be done once every 15 minutes. The Hunter's Horn will also sound if a friend in the same area sounds their own Hunter's Horn while you are ready to hunt. The second way to begin a hunt is called a "trap check." Trap checks occur every hour, on the hour, so long as the hunter has signed into MouseHunt in the last 24 hours.

Encountering a Mouse:

Next, it is determined which mouse you encounter during this hunt. You can only encounter a mouse that is known to inhabit the specific location that you are hunting in.

Attracting the Mouse:

After a mouse is encountered, it is next determined whether or not the mouse is attracted to the bait currently in your trap. This is the job of the cheese. Various cheeses have varying abilities to attract mice depending on several factors. (For more detail, see Cheeses at a Glance *coming soon*.) The trap/base combination can also help in attracting the mouse using their Attraction Rating characteristic. Failure to attract a mouse may lead to your cheese going stale. The likelihood of this happening is based on another trap characteristic: the Stale Effect. When a cheese goes stale, you will lose it. However, not all is lost! Once you have reached the rank of Apprentice, you will collect these stale cheeses for later use.

Catching the Mouse:

We're almost there! If you attract the mouse, it is then determined whether or not you catch the mouse in your trap. This is determined by a comparison of the mouse's power to your trap/base combination's power. Obviously, the more powerful the trap/base combo, the greater the likelihood you have of landing the mouse. It is believed, by comparison with HitGrab's other Facebook game Mythmonger, that the power of the mouse and power of the trap are compared in a ratio that corresponds with a percentage chance of catching the mouse.

The chances are enhanced if your trap's power type is especially effective against the mouse. For more information on this, see the page on Type Effectiveness *coming soon*.

Your Hunter's Rank also plays a small part in your chances of catching a mouse. As you climb the ranks, a percentage point or two is added to your chances of landing a mouse.

If the power match up does not go in your favor, you have one last chance of landing the mouse. This chance is determined by the trap/base combination's Luck characteristic. Luck is not fully understood. For a discussion on theories of Luck, check out this article *coming soon*.