Puzzle Solving Exercise Thread

acidfingers · Post by **acidfingers** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 3:11 am

Rules are simple. Solve the latest puzzle, explain how you solved it (be thorough) and give another puzzle. Be sure to give any necessary pieces. So if there is a key involved. Please list it. Keep in mind though that usually the key isn't explicitly given like this, and must be figured out using clues.

Remember to post thought process and any techniques or tools that you used to solve it.

The purpose of this thread is to help the unfamiliar-to-puzzles people understand common codes used in ARGs, and also ensure that the more experienced know the right methods in solving these codes.

I will start it off.

4920686F70652074686973207468726561642068656C70732065766572796F6E65206576656E7475616C6C792E204E657720616E6420657870657269656E6365642100

FallingIntoSin · Post by **FallingIntoSin** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 3:14 am

I did it!!!!!!!!!!!

It says "I hope this thread helps everyone eventually. New and experienced!"

I solved it by Acid teaching me base 10 and then base 16 (it only took him like a 2-3 hours, LOL). I could tell it was a hex from the letters, and the letters went up to F, making it a base 16. Once I realized that, I knew that I could tranfer into ASCii letters and find out the sentence. I used the tools on this page to help: http://nickciske.com/tools/hex.php

Here's my puzzle for you to solve:

5468616E6B7320746F204163696420666F7220
7465616368696E67206D6520686F7720746F20646F20
6261736520313620616E6420626173652031302120
28497420746F6F6B2068696D20484F555253292E20
49206E657665722074686F75676874204920636F756C64
206C6561726E2E2020416E64207468616E6B7320746F
204D617820666F722073746179696E6720757020616E64
206C6561726E696E672077697468206D652E2049206E6576657
22074686F75676874204920636F756C6420646F206D617468
206C696B6520746869732C2069742773206C696B652061
206E65772C20616D617A696E67206C616E67756167652E
20485547532E0D0A00

Ziola · Post by **Ziola** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:49 am

I was able to solve the problem, but only because I am a huge cheater!!!

I go here http://www.paulschou.com/tools/xlate/ and pop in the code and POOF! I get an answer

Since I am a total math idiot, its like magic to me

Here's Fallings answer:

Thanks to Acid for teaching me how to do base 16 and base 10! (It took him HOURS). I never thought I could learn. And thanks to Max for staying up and learning with me. I never thought I could do math like this, it's like a new, amazing language. HUGS.

And my own for your to solve...
49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 73 6d 61 72 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 2c 20 65 76 65 72 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 20 6f 6e 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6c 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 64 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 75 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6c 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 64 65 61 64 20 65 6e 64 73 2e

Killthesmiley · Post by **Killthesmiley** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:01 am

Solved it....because i'm a cheater

If you are smart, you will never, ever depend on me to solve any of the codes that are given to us. It could only lead to many dead ends.

popped it in here:

http://www.paulschou.com/tools/xlate/

Here is a couple ... to move away from the Hex...

01001000 01101111 01110111 00100000 01101101 01100001 01101110 01111001 00100000 01110111 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100 00100000 01100001 00100000 01110111 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101000 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01100011 01101000 01100011 01110101 01101011 00100000 01101001 01100110 00100000 01100001 00100000 01110111 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101000 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01100011 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101000 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01110111 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100

SWYgeW91IHRoaW5rIHRoaXMgaXMgYSB3YXN0ZSBvZiB0aW1lLCB5b3Ugc3RhbmRpbmcgdGhlcmUsIHRhbGtpbmcgdG8gbWUgaXMgd2FzdGluZyBteSB0aW1l

73 39 109 32 116 104 101 32 109 97 112 32 73 39 109 32 116 104 101 32 109 97 112 32 73 39 109 32 116 104 101 32 109 97 112 32 73 39 109 32 116 104 101 32 109 97 112 32 73 39 77 32 84 72 69 32 77 65 80 33 33 33 33

edited cuz I used the wrong tags

nobackspacebutton · Post by **nobackspacebutton** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:08 am

Killthesmiley wrote:

01001000 01101111 01110111 00100000 01101101 01100001 01101110 01111001 00100000 01110111 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100 00100000 01100001 00100000 01110111 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101000 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01100011 01101000 01100011 01110101 01101011 00100000 01101001 01100110 00100000 01100001 00100000 01110111 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101000 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01100011 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101000 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01110111 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100

lol

Solution:

How many wood could a wood chuck chcuk if a wood chuck could chuck would

How I Did It:

Translated simple Binary Code =)

Try this one:

87 104 111 32 105 115 32 119 97 116 99 104 105 110 103 32 99 97 115 115 105 101 32 119 104 105 108 101 32 119 101 32 97 114 101 32 119 97 116 99 104 105 110 103 32 104 101 114 63 32 73 115 32 115 104 101 32 114 101 115 116 105 110 103 32 111 114 32 109 101 114 101 108 121 32 104 105 100 100 101 110 63

Killthesmiley · Post by **Killthesmiley** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:14 am

nobackspacebutton wrote:
Killthesmiley wrote:

01001000 01101111 01110111 00100000 01101101 01100001 01101110 01111001 00100000 01110111 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100 00100000 01100001 00100000 01110111 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101000 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01100011 01101000 01100011 01110101 01101011 00100000 01101001 01100110 00100000 01100001 00100000 01110111 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101000 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01100011 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101000 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01110111 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100

lol

Solution:

How many wood could a wood chuck chcuk if a wood chuck could chuck would

How I Did It:

Translated simple Binary Code =)

CORRECT...and look at that
you even caught the spelling error

nobackspacebutton · Post by **nobackspacebutton** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:14 am

Killthesmiley wrote:
CORRECT...and look at that
you even caught the spelling error

I feel so proud.

nobackspacebutton · Post by **nobackspacebutton** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:16 am

Killthesmiley wrote:
SWYgeW91IHRoaW5rIHRoaXMgaXMgYSB3YXN0ZSBvZiB0aW1lLCB5b3Ugc3RhbmRpbmcgdGhlcmUsIHRhbGtpbmcgdG8gbWUgaXMgd2FzdGluZyBteSB0aW1l

Translates to:

If you think this is a waste of time, you standing there, talking to me is wasting my time

=( Meanie.

lol.

Cheated with the link posted above.

deagol · Post by **deagol** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 1:38 pm

nobackspacebutton wrote:87 104 111 32 105 115 32 119 97 116 99 104 105 110 103 32 99 97 115 115 105 101 32 119 104 105 108 101 32 119 101 32 97 114 101 32 119 97 116 99 104 105 110 103 32 104 101 114 63 32 73 115 32 115 104 101 32 114 101 115 116 105 110 103 32 111 114 32 109 101 114 101 108 121 32 104 105 100 100 101 110 63

Decimal to ascii:
"Who is watching cassie while we are watching her? Is she resting or merely hidden?"

Ok here's my challenge, more in Tachyon/brother style:

This is all I want to say: 
<img src="UOAZGBZRCJPRQUTT" alt="You know, I've never lost in mortal combat."> 

For the key, just retrace my steps: 
I just cast an evil spell 
then coltrans with the old area code 'i' used. 
no spaces allowed! 
Now, just look at it... remember ND p114 
read it out loud, write it down 

Got it? Great, now rip her out! (Traveler J would get it LOL)

The html is supposed to work in a craigslist post. Enjoy!

ladron121 · Post by **ladron121** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:17 pm

deagol wrote:
nobackspacebutton wrote:87 104 111 32 105 115 32 119 97 116 99 104 105 110 103 32 99 97 115 115 105 101 32 119 104 105 108 101 32 119 101 32 97 114 101 32 119 97 116 99 104 105 110 103 32 104 101 114 63 32 73 115 32 115 104 101 32 114 101 115 116 105 110 103 32 111 114 32 109 101 114 101 108 121 32 104 105 100 100 101 110 63
Decimal to ascii:
"Who is watching cassie while we are watching her? Is she resting or merely hidden?"

Ok here's my challenge, more in Tachyon/brother style:

This is all I want to say: 
<img src="UOAZGBZRCJPRQUTT" alt="You know, I've never lost in mortal combat."> 

For the key, just retrace my steps: 
I just cast an evil spell 
then coltrans with the old area code 'i' used. 
no spaces allowed! 
Now, just look at it... remember ND p114 
read it out loud, write it down 

Got it? Great, now rip her out! (Traveler J would get it LOL) 
The html is supposed to work in a craigslist post. Enjoy!

First off, retrace my steps means go backwards. So run the hex code in the font colors thru the Columnar Transpostion with 213 as the key.

2bc703c7247d6f7c382c205c = 2b34287c2d7c602f307c5c7c

evil spell = hex

2b34287c2d7c602f307c5c7c = +4(|-|`/0|\|

the symbols spell out TACHYON, which is our key

run UOAZGBZRCJPRQUTT through a Vigenere Cipher with TACHYON as the key and you get:

boysinmychitchat = boys in my chit chat

EDIT: Puzzle wasn't finished, so here is the rest;

CUT HER OUT = remove the letters Tachyon (the ever present HER) and you get bysimchit. WHICH IS A @#%$%@# ANAGRAM.

The ANAGRAM is IS MY BITCH, and put Tachyon at the beginning and you get deagols favorite fantasy

TACHYON IS MY BITCH!!!

Shifty can take my turn posting a puzzle, I don't wanna after all that

shifty · Post by **shifty** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:21 pm

I'll give it a shot :]

Your first step:

1.) Decide how to apply the following characters:

ub465

*Observation: The text is tiny.

Have fun!

cup o' noodles · Post by **cup o' noodles** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:46 pm

shifty wrote:I'll give it a shot :]

Your first step:

1.) Decide how to apply the following characters:

ub465

*Observation: The text is tiny.

Have fun!

Tiny url? ub465, right?

This is the site I was directed to.
http://freefileupload.net/file.php?file ... et_txt.xef
I got this from some download thingy. I can't open it on my computer though. Here's the name. I suck at this puzzle stuff, so I'm probably wrong.

MeIntoLeet_txt.xef

shifty · Post by **shifty** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:54 pm

cup o' noodles wrote:
shifty wrote:I'll give it a shot :]

Your first step:

1.) Decide how to apply the following characters:

ub465

*Observation: The text is tiny.

Have fun!
Tiny url? ub465, right?

I got this from some download thingy. I can't open it on my computer though. Here's the name. I suck at this puzzle stuff, so I'm probably wrong.
MeIntoLeet_txt.xef

WinAce opens it, was an error on my part.

cup o' noodles · Post by **cup o' noodles** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:56 pm

shifty wrote:WinAce opens it, was an error on my part.

Oh, ok. So, wait, I didn't mess up on a puzzle for once? Wow.....YAY!!!!

I is smart.

deagol · Post by **deagol** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 5:35 pm

ladron121 wrote:
deagol wrote:
nobackspacebutton wrote:87 104 111 32 105 115 32 119 97 116 99 104 105 110 103 32 99 97 115 115 105 101 32 119 104 105 108 101 32 119 101 32 97 114 101 32 119 97 116 99 104 105 110 103 32 104 101 114 63 32 73 115 32 115 104 101 32 114 101 115 116 105 110 103 32 111 114 32 109 101 114 101 108 121 32 104 105 100 100 101 110 63
Decimal to ascii:
"Who is watching cassie while we are watching her? Is she resting or merely hidden?"

Ok here's my challenge, more in Tachyon/brother style:

This is all I want to say: 
<img src="UOAZGBZRCJPRQUTT" alt="You know, I've never lost in mortal combat."> 

For the key, just retrace my steps: 
I just cast an evil spell 
then coltrans with the old area code 'i' used. 
no spaces allowed! 
Now, just look at it... remember ND p114 
read it out loud, write it down 

Got it? Great, now rip her out! (Traveler J would get it LOL) 
The html is supposed to work in a craigslist post. Enjoy!
First off, retrace my steps means go backwards. So run the hex code in the font colors thru the Columnar Transpostion with 213 as the key.

2bc703c7247d6f7c382c205c = 2b34287c2d7c602f307c5c7c

evil spell = hex

2b34287c2d7c602f307c5c7c = +4(|-|`/0|\|

the symbols spell out TACHYON, which is our key

run UOAZGBZRCJPRQUTT through a Vigenere Cipher with TACHYON as the key and you get:

boysinmychitchat = boys in my chit chat

Shifty can take my turn posting a puzzle, I don't wanna after all that

Good job Lad! But you missed the last step...

Got it? Great, now rip her out! (Traveler J would get it LOL)

'cause, "boys in my chit chat"??
(err, guy here) that's obviously not what I want to say!

Oh, and did you get the mortal combat reference?