Challenges from competitors

[The-letter-wriggler]

TS GRIDS a few answers by me.
=============================
SPOILER LOOK AWAY IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW.
or post any that you have if different or new.

NOTE:
A Level may have more than one answer.

EXAMPLE: One grid 3 different solves using

a+b-2=c, (a-b)^2=c, or abs(a^2-10b)=c
(abs not strictly needed here as b is less than a)

[7][4][9] 7+4-2=9, (7-4)^2=9, abs(7^2-10*4)=9
[4][2][4] 4+2-2=4, (4-2)^2=4, abs(4^2-10*2)=4
[9][4][_] 9+4-2=11, (9-4)^2=25, abs(9^2-10*4)=41

So possible valid answers are 11, 25 or 41 for this grid.

———————————————
Here are the few that I have had time to do.
========================================================
ANSWERS TO TRAFALGAR GRIDS (1st 5 only)
==========================
L1:15 L2:18 L3:2 L4:35 L5:20 L6:? L7:? L8:? L9:?

L1]a+b=c L2]a*b=c L3]a-b=c L4]a+b+(c-(a+b)) L5](a*b)/4=c
L6] L7] L8] L9]

========================================================
ANSWERS EASIER EXTRAS (all done)
=====================
L1:20 L2:60 L3:0 L4:29 L5:1 L6:108 L7:16 L8:12 L9:16

L1]a+b=c L2]a*b=c L3]a-b=c L4] a+b+(c-(a+b)) L5]a+b-5
L6]a*b+3=c L7]a+b-(a-b)=c L8]a-b+12 L9]a+b-4=c or a-4+b=c

========================================================
ANSWERS TO EXCLUSIVES (1st 3 only)
=====================

L1:1 L2:33 L3:25 L4:? L5:? L6:? L7:? L8:? L9:?

L1]a/b=c L2]a+b+2=c L3]abs(a-b)^2=c L4] L5
L6] L7] L8] L9]

========================================================

[Jbrintcrypt]

@The-letter-wriggler
Annoyingly, although I sent my last message around 2 weeks after you recommended posting answers, it only turned up at, at the time of writing, yesterday. (I wouldn’t be surprised if this also comes late, but for me it is the 25th).
I was prepared to understand there could have been an error in my puzzle despite the fact I doubled checked it, but your answer is unexpectedly garbled, so I’m going to check it once more now.
So, the morse should have come out as (..-. .-. . -. -.-. …. / .– — .-. -.. / ..-. — .-. / .– .- .-.. .-. ..- …), FRENCH WORD FOR WALRUS. Removing all letters without the case changed, the text shows the following:
iITI L ITI L I L TI L TITI L III. (Note1: I should have made the ‘I’ at the end lower case, as this is FRENCS)
iTT L TTT L ITI L TII.
iITI L TTT L ITI.
ITT L IT L ITiI L iTI L IIT L III L. (Note2: This last L is unnecessary but doesn’t cause an error)

I assume the mistake I made in creating the puzzle was mainly that lowercase ‘I’s were considered valid, but that was misleading, so the beginning of your words came out as wrong.

[The-letter-wriggler]

@jbrintcrypt

Ho, I see, you were using SELECTIVE lowercase i’s (that is, not all the i’s)!
As you say, how was one to know to use them and not just the uppercase letters?

So:
iITI/ITI/I/TI/TITI/III// < last should be IIII for H as you say.
iTT/TTT/ITI/TII//
iITI/TTT/ITI//
ITT/IT/ITiI/iTI/IIT/III

That does indeed give

frencs
word
for
walrus

Had the I’s been correctly given it would have worked.
I feel your disappointment.
You put a lot into making it and I like the idea very much.

Best
TLW

[Madness]

Since we’re all about keyword ciphers lately, here is one with a twist. *Both* alphabets have been mixed with a keyword.
Usually, only the ciphertext alphabet is mixed, like this:

pt: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
ct: KEYWORDABCFGHIJLMNPQSTUVXZ

where a → K, b → E, etc.

But now, both; for example,

pt: firstkeyzabcdghjlmnopquvwx
ct: SECONDKYABFGHIJLMPQRTUVWXZ

so that f → S, i → E, etc.

Here is a ciphertext. The task is not to find the plaintext, but to find the TWO keywords. Have fun.

NZASOTZAAKORTFDIKNZASDQSWIDDXSMIHYRFYRPQIYMDQSFNTSIARYPDTEABIYMDQSDQEYMSTRYPMTEAITSNIXXRYPDQSSDZMRSO
RPQDIFDQKOIDQSTOZEPQDOIXXIFDQKOIDQSTOSXXDQKDIFVRFDIEPQDDQKFQTZEMRFHTZEPQDFZOZTHITMIYMOITSHSXXDZXXKSA
KFSNZYMDZXXOXRYPQRPQDQSOXIAWSIEFXRPQDIYMFRYPDQSQKAYOZTIBITDSMFZEXWSYSIDQDQSFRXSYDYRPQDDQSQSXAEBZYQRF
QSIMDQSNTZFFEBZYQRFWTSIFDXSDDQSBTIKSTWSFIRMIYMDQSDSITWSFQSMYZHDIVSQRADZQRFTSFDNIXXKSAKHQZXSPZNIXXDQS
XZTMZOXEDSIYMXIKIYMXSDQRAPTSSDDQSFIWXSBIXXHRDQIYZWXSFZYPDZMIKIKNIXXQRAWKQRFYIASYZORDDSTQIYMAIKNTIGSD
ZXRPQDDQSOXIASZOIFZXMRSTFOIASZYDQSDETOZOIFZXMRSTFPTIGS

p.s. The keywords have nothing to do with the text.

[The-letter-wriggler]

@jbrintcrypt
This new text will work. I have altered the endings of two of the lines
and made sure all the needed capitals are there. It does not matter that
some of the i’s, t’s and l’s are not used.

I am InTerested In LearnIng To fInd, LogIcaLly, if ThIs conceaLed texT Is Truly invIsibLe If I hIde It Like so
IT TruLy Took aT leasT tweLve mInuTes In Lining up The IndivIduaL words.
I wIsh, Therefore, to see If a LoT of atTempTs couLd be Issued To Improve a soLve.
thIs lasT senTence shouLd InsTantLy indIcaTe I am wrIting the Longest word, I ThInk its Length Is ITs cLear indIcation thIs word Is Longer.

Deleting everything except the capital letters gives (the secret Morse):

IITILITILILTILTITILIIIIL
ITTLTTTLITILTIIL
IITILTTTLITIL
ITTLITLITIILITILIITLIIIL

[Madness]

If anyone is enjoying (cough!) challenge 6B, then you might also like Simon Singh’s 7th challenge.
Please DO NOT POST SOLUTIONS OR PLAINTEXTS. The answer exists on the web, and I don’t want to know
what it is. If you crack it, just say so; we will believe (some of) you.

MCCMMCTRUOUUUREPUCCTCTPCCC
CUUPCMMPRTCCRUPECCMUUPCMPE
PPUPURUPPMEUPUCEUUCUCCCMEM
TUPETPCMRCMCCUCCMPECRTMRUP
MPMRCPMMCRUMCUUEURPPCMOUUE
UCCMUMTUCUCUTMUUUPMUUCTCUP
MMCCRPPPPMMMMEEUMRCCCPUUEU
PMUMMCCPECUCUPCTCUEPMPCUUE
EUUUTPMMUCCTCCPPPCTPUCUCCC
UREUTUCMEPCCEMUUUPRMMTMUCM
MMCCCCCCMEPUECUMRERUUUUMUR
CCPMUURUUPMUPRPPUUUUMRCCPC
PEURMMMPUTCRUUEOUUUMCMUURU
PURUCMUCRUMMCUPUUMUCREUUUP
CCURRCPRMCTRCUUURCTPPMUUCC
UUUUMUUEPCRMEPMPUUCCCUMMUU
MCUCMCCCRTCCMEEUPTMUUMMMCC
PPTMCPTEOUUUMUUCRMCCCMCPRC
RCEPMCMCPUUCMCCOMTPRCMCPCP
MCPCERRECCRRECRUPUEEPMUMTC
UCEUUTPCEUMRCUUURRUCRUUCRP
PTTCPCPCUCUMUMPECEERPMRMMU
RUMEPMRMMCPRUCRCPEERPUUUUR
EPCCMMEPPPRCCUMPCCCMMEEUUP
PERUECPUEMUCCUUCPUEPUCMCMC
UUCMMMCUPCCMMUUUCUOPUCUPMP
UECCEUPMCEPRCTRMCCUUTECECC
RMUCURUCMUCRCMPCCUORUCTUCC
MCUCMUMMTRUMCMMCPUUMUPCCMP
CUUEPCTECTUUTCEEMTUCTEPPRU
UMUUECMUMRUEPCUMPPOURUCCUP
UCUCUEPCMMECCUCECPPCCCCOCR
CRCRTUCPPTPUOCUORUCCCEUCPP
MRRCEUUURURCCMTPPURPPCTRRT
RUUPMTMUUETRPROEMPTPTEPRER
PTRUUUMTRUMTPPPRUUPEOUTPTR
OMUUERMMEPUTTOTOOMTPRMPPTM
REURRUPMTRPPREMUPRTRMMEOUM
MUPUUOUMEMOMECPEUUUUCRUTTT
RTUPTTPEREMUUREEPETRMPTRUU
UOTRUUOOTTTOTTETETOUPOMTUU
OUTOEETPTEMUUTURCUOPTRPOTE
EMCOUUEPRMPTTTUPPRETTROEMU
ETPOPMTERTEUUUPUPUUEMMOTOU
MORRCMUUUETUOTTEMTTCTMETER
EUMUEETUMETPUTPUETTMPEERTC
PTOUUTRERETUTRETRTRUTCMTCU
UTPOMTTPTPTOUMEOTTRPEPUTTT
RTTOUMUUTPEECTMPPMUECTRPUC
TEUUETPTOTPMTMCPUEPPUPRMTP
CRURPREMERTUEEROROTOMMRCUU
EUTPTEPPEUUTPOTPPMEPEMTREE
UTUUTOTPREEROPORRMUUTMPRTT
MEEETERUTMTOOCPEPPMPMTPRRM
EPREUMMPRTREEPUTTPECTURURC
OPEEEOOUEMOMPTUECERMMMPPEP
MUEMURTEUMRTTPUTCEROETMUUR
OTUTTRMUETETTRPROUTUUPREUT
TRTPMTUPEEMETEPTOETUUTEPTM
UUEEPPTPMUPTEPRMUTTPMUMMEC
RETEPTRTURPMTOOUEEOTOURUUR
TUEUTPOMTPPUREOTCMCPRPROOE
ERUUEERUMUUUCPPCPUETERURPO
RPTPCTPERERMUTTREUPRTMECUR
EPPOUTMOTCTMPTPOEUUTOTPTOR
EUETURMETREPEEPRUCPEMMPTMU
UTTEOERMURUURUTPTTECETORTM
TMETTUEMUUCTOPEMUUEPUMCMUC
MTPOUCECMTREMCPCMCTPMMPPCM
UUUUCMCCCPTMMUCREUUCTRREUC
URECPMRCECUCEUCCPMCTTPCREU
RMUTUPMPPMMCUTMCMCCEUUCTUP
UUUUURCUMEPOTUUUCTEPCCPMCC
TPCPUMERUCUMEMMRMUPCMUUCUC
RUUUUCPCUPCECMCUUPOPCUUUUC
UTTCPCMCUUCCEPUUPCMPUCMMMP
UUUEPMPPECRCMPRECRRUMCUECP
UPUCEMPMUCRTUTUCRCCUPUUCUM
MPUUUUECUUCCECPPPRRMCMMECC
RMMRCCECTURMCECCCPMMMRPECU
UUCPPMMECCMMRRCMUCMRCPCUCM
UCCCPCTRCUUEUCCMTEMCRCPECC
UUCUUCPETPCCPPTUMPCMPCMCEU
CCCPCUCTCCCMTUMPTUMEUCPPMU
MPMMREMCUMMMERUCUCCMPUUEUC
PCEPPRUUCCUCTPUETERCMMMURU
UPURPUEEMUMUMRCUUCRMRCPTEM
ECMMUCUCUUPPETTTMPCPMMUEMP
PCUTPMCMUUPUCCPMPRCMCRPUPM
EMUUURCOCPCUEPMRCPTMMMMCCE
CUMCUUCECPPUCPMRMEPCUURUCU
CPRTUERMCCRPMUURUUPMEUPCEC
PTRUTUMCECEPCUTCUCPEPCCUUE
TPPCPUUMCMMROUCCPUCPPEPMEC
RPCMCUMPUCUUUEMMCUTMCUMCUE
UCMUCCTPUREUPPCOPMPMUUMMMU
UETPUUUUUPPPPMUECERURPURTP
MPPPMEMCTUPCMECPPCCEMURMPT
UURCUEPCUECPUTCURUCPRUMTCO
CCMPUCMEPEMPRUPPECCPCUUCCC
EUMRUUEUUEUCPCPMPUCUMPUCUM
PPREUUUPEUPEUUCTPOTUPETUOE
COTTEMOTEUTEUMUPMUTPOUPETE
RPUTPRUUUPOTTEPTRRMTCETORO
PMTRETRCOETPROEEPTEPMMEUPE
PEPUPUUREEPERTPEECEPORTUEM
ETTEPTERMMTTETTTPORUMPTTER
PPUURMTTOMTMUMMUUTUOEPEUUO
TCPEPTMRERURPETPPTTPCORPTT
TMUTRUPPTERREURPRTRETTRCPR
CUUMUPRUUUMTPRTRETTUUUOCUM
UUUUMOTTPEMETTERPCTOETUURM
EPEEORCPETMPPRUTTRUUETMOTM
UUMTERUTOTCRPMURMUMRMPMOOM
OUOTPOREMEMUPTORTRRPOOUTPP
PEPMTPEOCTRRMETORTPEMMPEEE
TRUURURPPUPURTROUMTMRCUOTE
TRCRPEECPTEEUUEMTTPURUPEUO
EUUMPEMUUTTEREUMERTTETTTME
UTMRTORMECUCUEUEPRUMTUUERM
UTREUUPEEMEERCUUUTRMRTRMUU
MMEPPTPRTEMTEMPEUETPOOOUUM
OTOUTOOPEPRUURTTTMURTUTETP
COTEMTUOETRMTETEMMTUMOEEOO
UMOPTPRUTMRMTRTPTUUEPUUPUR
ROEUERUUOUPRTMETPEPPOTRMCM
RUTTPUUEURTTEETETUUEUEETUR
RMEEMREURCTPEMUUREPRUEORUR
UUPTUMPEMTTPTUEMUPMORTOOOU
TPPMUUPUPERERUUOUEETUPETET
PTTTEMRUURTTTUTTMUPRPRRURU
UTMTURTCUEEOMRRTETTMUTPPRP
EPTREEOOTTETRETRUTPRUTMUUU
TMUUCTUUPUERUEEMMUEETTPETM
UMETTETTPMREMRTPTETOURTPPO
ETTOMTPTETEUTPUCUMUCUOETUC
PECUCMUPMUCUTTUCTUUMUCURPU
CPMCUUMUCCEPCMMUCPTPUMUPUC
MECMPUMPPMUEMPPEPUTEUMEPEP
UPUURMTPEMRPMMPTPOPRCRUEPC
MPPMRCCCPUCUPTUMUUPCPEMPTU
UMCCCUPCCUTUUURCEMPEUCMRPP
EPCCMMMUMPECMTRERPUMPCCPTU
CMCOPCURUECMTECMMCCRPPEPUU
CUTMUUUCCTMCMECPCUUUPUCUUU
TCUCCPTUUCCMMPPREMCUURUUMU
EUUPPUCRPMRUPCMUUECUUCCUUR
CERRCUCPMPUUMTUURCMPEMUUUU
CTUMTTTCUMPUMCMRTUUUCPPMEP
UCTOUPCMMCECUMCPECUPMTEPRU
URURMPUPERCRUUCCCMPCUCMRMP
MPEEPTPEMCURCPCPURUTEUUEUU
UPTCUCCCEMMTUTREREMPRRMUCC
RCUMUEPUPUEUEPMUTRUCCMUUCM
MUUPMECMMEMUUUCMRPCMCUUCCE
TPCPRRMURRCTECMCMUUUUUUECU
UCUUTEPMUURCCCUURCUCECPPUC
MURCUUCRUCMCRCCCUCUMEMUUCP
PPPRCRURUCMCPPCRMPUEPUMPOM
UMMCUUUPCCCECTMRPUPMPOCCTP
CMUUMCMCCTUCECUUMCCMCUERTT
RCMMUMTCPERUUMMTRUEUMCMCCM
CUUPMUCCTPUMCUTPUMCUUUUCPP
UCETUPERTRUUUUMMCUMEEMCTCC
PURRUURCPCUPCCUPMPMMURUUCC
CEPRPUMMUTCMCMCCCUCPPCMEPC
REMUURCTPEMCMCCPRUCCUUUCCU
UPCUUPUTRUEEUUUEUCRPMRUUUO
CPOCRPCMECRCPCECUUECPPUMPP
EPCPRMPEUCPTUEMTUTTEOPRUEP
EPMTPUPTTRRERPUEMMOPMUPRUU
UMEMPPPUTOUROPROPPMETPRMTU
URPTPUUTOUUMTEPCOEMCUUTPUU
PTOTUUTTUUURTPTRTTMOCTRUTR
OTTROPTUMPPMURTEUMTPEUMCMP
REPMREEEEUTTTEUUTMTPURUEUU
MTUPPUTTREMTPTRRUTURTRUUTO
TEROTMUUUTMUPTPUURTERUMMTM
TTUPRPPPEMEPCMUMTRREMUCEUP
PTTTTTPRUUURTEEPUPUTMMTUPM
RUOPEUEETMMPEMTPECRETMEOUT
MEEPREUMEMRTOTEMTOTPTECEPT
UTREEEMPPTPEECPPTMUUTMUMPR
MEREUUPTOEOPUEPTRTTEPMOUMP
EUTMTTMUUUTTPTERMTRRUURUUE
URTEEMUTTEPOUUEMEEPCRURMET
METOREUUOTRTPRTTEUMMTPMMRP
EUURERTEOTUTRROTOTETTEOTUE
UUETUETPMUOORTOUMCOTUECEUU
REUUMTTERUOTTMTETTEOTUTEPT
RCTUUPPERUTOUUEORMUEMPREMU
UPOPMOUOOTECUOETUCMTTPTTUU
RTTMMOPTPUCMTUUOMUMTTTORTU
PETETROMTRETTUEUUTPPTMEUMU
RUUUURETUTRURRTTPPTTPOETEM
UOTCOUEMTTMTUEUUPTUPUPTROT
UEEROEROUEMCPTERCPPTMUUMTO
MCEMUTPTTTOUTOEMTTPPCREPOT
EPPERPOPPOTEUUUURPUUCPRPRM
TREUUERMUCTOPTTUUTPMCTRMET
EMMUOPTUUETPPMMRMTUPRMUPRM
OUPRTEUUURMMCORTUMTOETMUPM
UTTPUTTERMUUPCETMTUPTPPETR
UTTPOTMECURCPUOPMTPMCMPEPC
MMUORRMPCMMORCCUTCCOMCUUPR
CPPPUCUUEUPRUPMCECTMCCUURP
PMUUEUUUUCETUURCPUUREUCECU
CCUECUUURCPPMCCCUPRMUCMUCP
RUPPUOMPUUUCMUUCPMUCRCPMMT
CMMUOMCMCCMUUPCCTURUEUUUCU
MTUCCMMUCTCRRURUMRPRUCUCEM
UCCUUUETUMCPCURPURCUUMUPPC
EMPPPUUMPPCCPRRCECCRMCPPRC
CRPPMUUURCMEPCPUCCCCUPRRUU
PMCEMCUTMUCCMEPMMPPMUUCCEM
PREUUTCPCUCMCCUCMRTPMPCUCP
PMRCMPCPEMPPPMRUUCCUUPRCER
TUUPCUMUPUMPCRCCEPCUCCPMTR
PCPCUUCRPPRURCCMEUURUUMURP
EMRUCCMMUCRMCTMRPRCUCMCUUC
UMMUUUEMCTMCCMUCTCMUCMPMUT
RURREOCUCRCUPUCMPCEUCCEUUE
PUMPTCCEURCUUCPURCTPEUUMMU
UUCCMMTUCRCRMRPOUCUCUPCMPC
UCTPMMUPUCUMUMCUTPPMEUUUPU
PCUUUUCMPUEMCUPCCRPPRUUMCC
UCUPCPCPCCUUUCURCCPURCUTUR
ECRUUCMTCCCMUCCPPPCMUCCUUU
UUMMPUCRCUECCTPCPMEECMUUCC
CUUMCPCCCUUCUPCUPUTCMMCUMM
MUMMPUMMPTRMMPPPMRUUUCUURE
TUCPECRPURURCCCTPPMTPUPMPP
MRMURPUPUUUUUEPUCMPRPPCCRO
UUECTUPCUPCCUUCPCPCMUECMUT
UUPCUUTPPPCMMUPCCRUCERTUCT
ECMCUUECRPUMCUTCUECCUPCUCC
PURPMMTUTPPOCURCPCPPMCMCCC
PUPPMRUTERMOTUMUUEMRCUUTPU
PPTTTMUOTTERPRETTRMTEMTEUU
TTRPTTCUTMTUPMREUPMUEUUUUU
PTETCPUCEECTERMMTMOTMPMETR
PEROPEMEMMPRPTRUPTUOEUMPPU
RMUUEMMMPUCPUMUTMPEUUOPPUO
MPTOTRRMTPCPPPREPEERMREMUT
POUEMPPEERRMTRTOMEPTEMUEPR
TUROOTOMUPPEROTTPTTMPPTPCU
UUMTTUREOPMTRETTMEEUUOPMER
MPETEERMUTTMMPEPOETMETERUU
OORMEMMTRUURUOPRUPRPPUUUEE
ETTTTPEURERRPUETRUUEOOOUET
EUUMUTURUTRUUTOPOTUPMURUUE
RUUUPUOOTTTPMEUERTMOUMTPPP
EOMTTUUUOEUUETUUETURPUMTMM
ERRUUETOTPTTTRPTMPEEMTMEUU
POETTPPPRUTEECOUMEUUTTRTTT
RTTRTTMEPPTRTPOUTRTTOPECRT
PUTTCEMPTOMRETTTREUCOTOTRP
RURPTUTEUUEPMEOTMMUUURRETM
OUMMPCPETPTPRMTUPUETETEEMC
CTERUROEEPRRRRTPTUUMTPEEMC
UOUURECTUPPRTPPMTMUMCTTTPR
REOUTPERUTMPURRUTUMOTTEETM
TRMRTOMTRRRTOPTTERUOOMUTPR
MMPRPUETMEUTTMPPRTPTPTTUUM
RTETTRROTURUTRUUCMRCMTOCRU
TPOTTPTMTEORRMRUEURRTTOURU
PTUECTEOTMTPRTPUMMREEEPORP
URPRUMEMOTTROPRUETTUETROMT
OUEOPUTMTURPTPRRTMORETCTMT
MUETTMRTTEORPCPPMMUMTTOUMT
EUURTRTRMEMUUTMTUTRETPMTPP
MM

[Kford-academy]

KA2020-1

[NOTE 1: THIS PUZZLE IS ONLY TO BE SOLVED IF YOU HAVE CRACKED CHALLENGE 7B]
[NOTE 2: HARRY, THE ANSWERS TO THIS PUZZLE WILL BE PUT IN A SEPARATE POST. PLEASE DO NOT POST THE ANSWERS ON THIS FORUM UNTIL THE ANSWER TO CHALLENGE 7B HAS BEEN PUT UP AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD A GO AT THIS CHALLENGE!]

This puzzle involves you decrypting a message to reveal another message, which reveals another message, and so on until you receive a final message. You must then follow those instructions to prove that you have solved the puzzle. To start, reverse the text below:

CEEBREADCBARABEDECEEBADBECABCACCEABCRCCBB33Z4W7WSXZ4SS8YVT3RR0HNBRRACBHKJQJEU24ZY5Z41224Z4512122411ZZZ4Z1YZ111144Z22Z4UNIN3M3ANFKAHIRSCCKBRR3OCCUAETTLJPNG97656556578885985559596586857555599586858Z3YORR1VCL1PFICVPGJPNRUCTSRJRRJOIAKRUOOQOSPOSPOSPPPQOSSPQQSQSOPOSPSPOSUSPPOOUZ58D5D57984C8DTOPRR3HJLRJBOGLBCPTGK2XZ1YZX1YXYYYY1XZZ1ZX21YXX211111XZZ21XX1YSKOMTTANMINTGRITKJOR3IOTLACIKNCK3BOGHH93HT9TTT39399939HT9T3T9T9T990T3HH03T0T9IRGFGWU4KJFF2PUVQCNGJRRPNB3UPNC3GCRBEACEACDEEAECBDEAAERBBCCBBCCEEARRACEDAACE4JNJJ51NYNNNNZMVNT30QTBNRPOKPRPNKSJSQSSQQSQOUOUQSOPQNPNPSPPSOSOPUQQQQQPPOOSOFCD0BF7YIDB4DB0JOLNFRKCBRPRGWLONRKHVVVVOJKCPTQNPOJCG3CTRLOKJNRBLCTJKCPCOKLOJ3NPN3JIQGKTRBPBPCURA3OORIAJCUKGGKERBPPLWNTRHRICPPONCERBPNKERA3OORIOCBPAJCPLWNTRHJKOJKCP3GQP3NAJKT XXXX .snoitcurtsni laiceps on era erehT .rehpic tebahpla dexim eht htiw egassem gniwollof eht tpyrced tsum uoY .yaw ruoy no llew won era uoY !enod lleW

Here is how to decrypt it (once you have reversed it):
1. You should receive a plaintext and a (separate) ciphertext, separated by ‘XXXX’. You must decrypt the ciphertext using the cipher given in the plaintext and the key given in the first hint (see below).
2. You should now receive another plaintext and another ciphertext. You must now repeat step 1 (using the relevant cipher and key) to the new ciphertext. Repeat this as many times as necessary, until all that you are left with is a plaintext (so no ‘XXXX’ or ciphertext in your message).
3. In your final message will be some instructions. Follow these instructions to get your (unique) answer and post that to prove that you have solved it! (Note: this will vary depending on who is following the instructions. If I was following these instructions, I would get ‘UFGH50MFRVPYEOQK3YV8YGAI773’. You can test to see if you are following the instructions correctly by following these instructions as if you were me – that is, ‘kford-academy’ (for clarification).)

Here are a few notes about the challenge:

1. You should always use ‘abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789’ as your alphabet.
2. All of the ciphers are available at crypto.interactive-maths.com, which is what I used to encrypt the message for you.
3. Specific instructions relevant to a certain cipher will be found in the relevant plaintext.
4. When you follow the instructions at the end, please remove all spaces and hyphens, as well as any characters that do not fall in the alphabet given above. Any accents can be removed. If all of your characters do not fall in the alphabet above (which is a rare instance!), use the English name of the first character (e.g. αβγ – or the first three letters of the Greek alphabet – would result in you using ‘alpha’).
5. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to make a post in the forum! (As long as it passes Harry’s moderation…)

And here are the hints for the keys. [NOTE 3: YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE THESE HINTS TO SOLVE THE CHALLENGE – BUT IT WILL HELP!]

[Here is how to use these hints:
1. First, find the number hinted at by the clue. For instance, ‘Sum of 1 and 2’ would result in 3.
2. Then, add onto the end of the number hinted at in Step 1 (in digit) the following: the first digit of your number in words. For instance, if your number was 391, you would get ‘391three’ after following this step (as three is the first digit of 391). This gets you your key.]

1st key: Product of the first three prime numbers
2nd key: Sum of the 25th prime number and the 25th square number
3rd key: 4-digit number that is 9 times its reverse
4th key: Number of digits in 2^10 * 25^5

Good luck! [NOTE 4: IF THERE ARE ANY MISTAKES IN THE CHALLENGE, PLEASE TELL ME! IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO PUT THIS TOGETHER…]

[Jbrintcrypt]

Hello everyone,
I’ve devised another of my unconventional puzzles because I couldn’t be bothered to go back to the cipher clock I felt like it. This combined two of my favourite things: knowing useless information that nobody cares about and making useless puzzles that nobody cares about. The following puzzles are all substitution ciphers with a twist: the keywords in each case refers to an event from the year listed. For example, if the event was Coronavirus, the alphabet would be ‘cornaviusbdefghjklmpqtwxyz’ and the text would begin ‘2019/2020: Rhlhgctslqm.’. I have an unusual taste in interesting events, so don’t expect anything that you can find by looking up the year, as these are weird or atypical events. Hopefully this time I won’t have made any stupid coding mistakes and it will come out formatted correctly…

{This looks fun, if you post it with solutions so I can take a look before posting then we can go from there. Harry]

[Madness]

@KA:
WA5D6I4CR0K9SV8YGAI773

Typo in one of the instructions: “across the down” should be “across then down”

Other than that, thanks, it kept me occupied for an hour.

[Kford-academy]

@Madness, thank you (for the typo) and well done!

[Kford-academy]

I have now completed KA2020-2, so here it is! [NOTE 1: ANSWERS ARE BELOW. PLEASE DO NOT POST THE ANSWERS, HARRY!]

—

Enter the numbers 1-8 into the grid below (with one number repeated) so that each row and column reads a correct sum.

?-?=?
– – X
?+?=?
= = =
?+?=?

—

[Person314]

@KA ZEJIGDI5LU209I4V8YGAI773 – Thanks that was fun. How would you go about solving it without the clues?

[Person314]

Already posted this cipher for the special edition forum (different plain text and account) I don’t think anyone solved it so feel free to have a go. It should be fairly easy (it isn’t a very secure cipher), but should still be fun to solve.

JKKFJICJJLFFKKKIKCIALIBJKEHBLIJDDLGCLADGLHDHKBFKLIBLEHFFHKCKLIDABHAIFHLFAIFKFDKBGKJEAFGAGEDHGIEKEABG
AEAHECEFKEALHFIAHFBAKIAIEEIKEAEIHHADBBIDIJECLIFCEJGBLJKAJLBLADJBFKHKEKGKJJLALEHALBKCGGEELCDHLIFFAHEE
BEEEFDCLDHIFCJJAEAHABIFLHGGKIDEDHELBLDEJIGDDEHHBKEFDKEDGFCKIEGBDJIEJCACEHDEIJEELIIJHBJCLABKKCCFGEIJJ
EECKDGECLCJJLJBKKDJGGDEADIFFEBLLFIFEGJAEJKJFHFDAJJBLDIFCAFDKABHJGHGIHLKKDIGBDCAHELLCHLCDEGBLJILJHIDJ
GLLCIJAIGLFEGBKKJIGHCCKKILKAHGCJDBJCADAICBDLEKBHLHJFFJDLJCAKAHKHBKCHGHDLLKHALCGIKJHGLBCCHGAIICCDLBAH
FLBDHAIKKAILAJIEKAFEHBBJEFIACFIFCEDFBLFFBKLLHCHAIGIJKCCELIDBFALALEELCJGIHKBHHKBJAGDLKFEJGGFAKBIGLIGK
DGBBLLKLJBJFIDKEGEAELKIADHHICIBEHJFGJEFEHDBFGHFAAHJAHABGCBLLGFAKAJGLACJHBJCKDEEKIJGJABLDKJFJDFADLDBK
IFLLDKKBAHFFLJHIJEKDDKCCJEKBAHJHCIFGJAIHBGLCHBJFCIDIFJCGCFHBLGIIAHKDCAGLIDKHDJKBIIADHDLGEFAKLHHJDFBI
JKHKKEKDGDGLCCHIALGKIBFECIADJBBIFLHCFDHKKDJAAIKFGABJAHKIAAIBHHLLDDKKADGFBJCCFJIKHHDEJKHJIDCKBALKALJH
BKIECAHHKBCJDCLAKDJKIACBDEJDHIGKJGBACLLGJGLBLEIJEIKDGKEFABEJJLGDBHHEIGHCIALGGIGBJKCEHBKEGGEJCAEKJAIC
AJAHCEICDKBKHLGKFEDJJLJACBHFIDGJEJEGGJJIGHGLIIBIKCJFHAHJHGCJHDIEJJLLLBLGEKAKCHDDJDHHBHKHFLEFKGCKEFLG
DKDAABAKJAJCDEFAABJAFBDHAJLEJGDFIKIBFACJEDLDGFCKHKIIFIEBCJFGJEBCKLCBJLAKIEDIJDKLCIHJFHCBGFDLACEADEKD
KHECFCLBJJAAJDLBFDHJGCAJBJLEEFLJAHLEELKIJIIBAJAHLBDKLIAFKJDHFIHHAGLBEGJJCAHAGLLHAIBKLJLKGGLKJEDBBJCL
FHFJEDALHFBEKFHJLHLFLKIHAJLLFHHCGLABCFLDKGHFFHJKAABGDFKLHJFIJKFHHKHEKGBEDGHLJHBKHHJBCLGEIAGHGIHAHGKA
CBJKLDEIBKDIEFAJKECLCFIJILFHDBKJAHKEKACFALFGCFGFKDFJEG

Have fun.

[The-letter-wriggler]

@Person314 [AKA Snakecharmer314 in S.E.]

Pleased you came back with this one.

No one managed to solve your S.E. cipher including I believe Madness and if #52764 uses the same method it too is likely not to get solved.

I hope you and all the other cipher posters will give their solutions before the forum shuts down in 2nd week of January, solved or not by competitors, so that all may know how they were formed rather than leaving them in limbo.

[Jbrintcrypt]

Forum moderators,
I prefer to avoid being rude, but I submitted a puzzle 5 days ago and, when requested, the plaintext in order to prove the content was appropriate for solving 4 days ago. Since then there have been other posts and a puzzle in this sub-forum, which surely means you have seen my plaintext and that-as far as I am aware- my content has no inappropriate language. Please could you explain why nobody has been allowed to see my puzzle and, if there is no reason why not, release the ciphertext.
[Apologies, as you can imagine, Christmas is a VERY busy time for Elves and they find it hard to keep up with all. their duties. When they get a chance to check it and post, they will. Harry]

[Author]

Posts