Codebusters is a three-person event where participants decode encrypted messages or encode them. Each year there are different codes that are tested. Participants usually divide up the codes so that each specializes in a few. There are always more Aristocrats than any other code, so each participant should study these.
Bull City Homeschoolers Facilitator: Nicole Graysmith
General Resources:
Toebes website - this has explanation of the codes, past tests as well as the ability to create new tests
Rules can be downloaded from this page (we aren't allowed to post them online)
Specific Resources for each code:
Atbash: simple substitution; easy to understand. Video
Caesar: simple substitution; easy to understand. Video
Aristocrat: all about guessing, substitution. There are 3 types:
Random: Video
K1: A keyword is hidden; Video
K2: Keyword is hidden in ciphertext; complicated! Video 1 and Video 2
This series of videos goes through them all, a must watch if you are working on these!
Aristocrat Misspelled: very challenging, same as Aristocrat with misspellings
Patristocrat: aristocrats without spaces; very challenging; Video
Xenocrypt: requires knowledge of Spanish: Video
Cryptarithm: math focused; can be extremely difficult. Video
Baconian: substitution with numbers. Video
Fractionated Morse: uses Morse code; complicated, takes a long time. Video
Porta: easy, uses a table. Video
Nihilist Substitution: uses a grid and math. Video
Complete Columnar: requires a little bit of guesswork; not too difficult. Video
Affine: uses math, very complicated Video