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Post by Namtabeht on Mar 31, 2022 14:11:17 GMT -5
I didn't count on that excellent point. Maybe I misinterpreted the clues meaning or might brute force have been involved... Yeah, you're right. Pretty hard to solve it without that. I need to find some new tools. Am I right in thinking you solved it then?
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Post by susb8383 on Mar 31, 2022 14:19:36 GMT -5
Yup. I actually went in that direction a few days ago but gave it up because it didn't really work. I'll elaborate more when the final solution is revealed (or you can check your messages).
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Post by mike6888 on Mar 31, 2022 16:43:56 GMT -5
Feels like enough has been said that I can confirm that I did "brute force" it. And given what I learned in brute forcing it I felt pretty confident what the cipher was going to reveal.
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Post by susb8383 on Mar 31, 2022 18:08:35 GMT -5
Feels like enough has been said that I can confirm that I did "brute force" it. And given what I learned in brute forcing it I felt pretty confident what the cipher was going to reveal. When this is all over, maybe you can share how you'd brute force something like this. Very impressive.
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Post by David C. on Mar 31, 2022 21:42:04 GMT -5
Some messages I've received have pointed out a few unintentionally ambiguous puzzle elements, a couple of which I can clarify here:
1. The letters "GVM GL GVM ZMW VRTSG GL VRTSG" (which appear in a box in the left lower part of the page) refer to a single step in this contest, not two steps.
2. The light blue letter M that's above the 1st and 2nd columns of the Polybius square and to the left of the perimeter word CONVEY is not positioned on the page in a precise way (nor did it need to be). Its location could potentially cause confusion by being placed in a way that's similar to other letters which are placed precisely.
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Post by susb8383 on Mar 31, 2022 22:25:42 GMT -5
Some messages I've received have pointed out a few unintentionally ambiguous puzzle elements, a couple of which I can clarify here: 1. The letters "GVM GL GVM ZMW VRTSG GL VRTSG" (which appear in a box in the left lower part of the page) refer to a single step in this contest, not two steps. 2. The light blue letter M that's above the 1st and 2nd columns of the Polybius square and to the left of the perimeter word CONVEY is not positioned on the page in a precise way (nor did it need to be). Its location could potentially cause confusion by being placed in a way that's similar to other letters which are placed precisely. So I'm farther away from finding a solution than I thought! :-)
Thanks for the clarification.
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Post by David C. on Apr 3, 2022 19:56:15 GMT -5
Hi all, The progress reports I've gotten from you guys are impressive and uplifting. Kudos to all. In response to these, a clue is coming tomorrow at the time of Jenny's choosing. (I've had less than 100% success with posting pics here, so I'll leave it to the pro...she's got the clue already). Hope it's helpful, David P.S. I will follow through on my promise to reply to any of you who have submitted your progress and will point out any steps that are incorrect. My schedule is a bit hectic so I'm not sure when that will be (hopefully tomorrow), and when I do I'll send replies to everyone at the same time.
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Post by Jenny on Apr 4, 2022 9:40:22 GMT -5
(posted for David)
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Post by David C. on Apr 6, 2022 14:19:36 GMT -5
Hi gang,
Just a quick note to say that between tomorrow and 4/13 I will have almost no time to post, respond to questions, or explain solutions. All is well, but our daughter's bat mitzvah is this weekend (after being twice postponed due to the pandemic), followed by lots of work responsibilities on Monday and Tuesday.
While some players are clearly very close, as of now we still don't have any correct submissions after the original winners (making their achievement all the more impressive!). On 4/11 I will announce whether or not anyone has submitted a correct entry, and if so I will announce the second winner. If there are no new correct submissions by 4/11, I can either extend the contest one more week (perhaps with a final clue), or maybe give $50 to the charity of choice of whichever player is closest on 4/11. We can consider those options later...but for now let's see if have a new winner before Monday.
Good luck, David
P.S. I will still have some free time for the rest of the day today, so if anyone wants to post questions here or in a PM, I'll answer them here in this thread if I can.
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Post by David C. on Apr 6, 2022 21:42:14 GMT -5
In response to a PM question:
This contest requires a certain number of puzzle-solving steps before a final decoding step. There is a three-word coded message in this contest (hidden somewhere in the top half of the page) that describes a general concept which applies to all of the numbered steps before the final decoding step. Decoding that three-word message is not one of the numbered steps.
There is also a five-word coded message and a seven-word coded message on the page that are guides for solving numbered steps, but decoding either of these messages (i.e. converting them to plain English) does not count as one of the numbered steps.
Hope that helps! I've got about 3 more hours until I'll be unavailable for nearly a week.
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Post by David C. on Apr 10, 2022 14:42:13 GMT -5
A new correct submission has been received! Will there be a random draw or will this player be the uncontested winner for the $50 bonus prize?
I'll accept any submissions before midnight PCT tomorrow (so 3am on the east coast for me). Others are close...good luck!
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Post by susb8383 on Apr 10, 2022 16:30:52 GMT -5
A new correct submission has been received! Will there be a random draw or will this player be the uncontested winner for the $50 bonus prize? I'll accept any submissions before midnight PCT tomorrow (so 3am on the east coast for me). Others are close...good luck! Hats off to whoever submitted the correct answer. I feel like I'm close (I know I have six steps and *think* I have seven) but am totally out of ideas on how to get to the final nine.
I'm glad someone else got it though. Congrats in advance!
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Post by David C. on Apr 11, 2022 11:31:25 GMT -5
Another correct submission received! So...will it be a coin toss or will we need to draw names out of a hat? Once again, submissions accepted until midnight PCT tonight.
Congrats to the successful solvers.
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Post by susb8383 on Apr 11, 2022 17:20:42 GMT -5
Eight steps!! So close!!!!
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Post by stercox on Apr 11, 2022 18:09:18 GMT -5
Eight steps!! So close!!!! Get it girl!!
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