Schnitzeljagd / Treasure hunt

1st Step:
realise hint 1. -> there are 20 numbers = search for the 20 parts of the key. Yes the Whole key is the solution :)

2nd Step:
find out there are 2 different methods to recieve the parts -> number=number / number="string" and number

3rd Step:
hint 3 means that I have posted somewhere "How I come to PoE"
My "recent forum posts" @ Profile offers one thread "How did you first hear about Path of Exile ?"
At the end of my post stands a bold 7.
Hints 4+5 refers to the same "method" -> look at my Forum history :)

this 7 could be used in 2 ways. 7=?, oh wait, there is no number 7 ---> look@ "important" :)
now only way 2 could be true: x=7, oops, there is no 7, damn...

4th Step:
while searching for the thread "How I come to PoE" maybe you noticed that there are more threads like this: with a number or character in bold at the end.
Now you have to count from behind...

you need 5 steps to reach the Post with the 7...
again 2 ways... 5=15 and 13=5 matchs

while counting my 3rd post from behind offers a bold 3. wait, let me try:
3=34 and 17=3 matchs..

now remember, you search for parts of the key -> the Rules say "-each number can be a digit OR a character" -> way 2 must be correct.

5th step:
just count the posts position with additional bold characters or digits.
grats, method 1 is revealed and your key is more than 50% complete.

at tis time you have:
1=S
3=C
5=H-
8=D
10=R-
11=F
13=7
14=Y
15=K-
17=3
18=B
19=B

most of you decrypted it early ;)


6th step:
Now decrypt method 2 --> number = string + number
hint 6 could help :)
maybe if you read in the forum, you saw some of these strings? :)
"he makes skills" refers to Mark_GGG's signature "I make skills"
"Codewarrior" --> Rhys' signature
The Boss? --> its just Chris, Producer and lead designer ;)
"chief of customer satisfaction Germany" --> a little bit hard. Maybe you saw in "General Discussion" a thread named "German Corner", in front you see . With click on this you can view the Staff posts in this thread. I know, its hard for non Germans, MaxS introduced itself as "Community-Manager" for us germans :)

7th step:
find out what the numbers behind stands for...
correct, just count the characters in the Name of the Dev/Staff.

you get:
2=H
12=R
16=X
20=R



8th step:
"4, 6, 9 = They bring fun to your life 8 1 1"
searate viewed you get:
"4 = They bring fun to your life 8"
"6 = They bring fun to your life 1"
"9 = They bring fun to your life 1"

now same Method as 7th step.
The last hint makes it clearer. Cogwheels? funny? :D
just look in the left corner at the bottom --> the Logo of Grinding Gear Games.
counting again. 1st word, 8th character = G --> 4=G
2nd word, 1st Character = G --> 6=G
3rd word, 1st Character = G --> 9=G

9th step:
Put all together in the right order and get the key without number 7. ---> PM
Solved :D