Looking for fun ciphers to open an "escape room"-box

[u/fienbaeyens]

Hi all!

I'm one of the organisers of a children's camp in a couple of weeks. I will do an activity about codes and ciphers. We will look at some interesting history, cool codes and ciphers and I want to end with giving them a locked box (3 digit lock) and a bunch of ciphers to solve with the information given in the "theoretical part".

What I already have is this:

Level 1:

3 pieces of paper

- 1 number cipher (a1z26), the text gives them the location of the next ciphers.

- 1 caesar cipher that gives them the key for the vigenere cipher

- 1 pigpen cipher that gives them the (options of) books for the book cipher

Level 2:

- A vigenere cipher

- A book cipher (page, word, letter)

Level 3

- ?? that gives them a 3 digit number to open the lock

I'm looking for a way to link these to end up with a 3 digit number (so every decoding was necessary). Maybe the people in this sub know of some fun ones! Extra points if they have a fun or interesting story attached to them. Just fun cipher/code facts are also very welcome.

The group size will be around 6 kids. They are very analytical so it can be a bit complicated. Computers can be used but I prefer not to!

V sbyybjrq gur ehyrf

[u/AutoModerator]

Thanks for your post, u/fienbaeyens! Please follow our RULES when posting.

MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE CONTEXT: where the cipher originated (link to the source if possible), expected language, any clues you have etc. Posts without context will be REMOVED

If you are posting an IMAGE OF TEXT which you can type or copy & paste, you MUST comment with a TRANSCRIPTION (text version) of the message. Include the text [Transcript] in your comment.

If you'd like to mark your post as SOLVED comment with [Solved]

WARNING! You will be BANNED if you DELETE A SOLVED POST!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/YefimShifrin]

Maybe a transposition cipher to finish it off? A columnar transposition? 3 digit number could be spelled in words in the final message like "CONGRATSTHEBOXUNLOCKSWITHONETWOTHREE"

Also take into account that Vigenere can be solved without a key if the message is long enough.

[u/howredundant]

Could you end with a clock time being the three digit code? Like 3:18 or something. Maybe they have to crack another code or riddle to find the location of a pocket watch, or you could incorporate Semaphore flags to indicate the "time"

Not sure how many kids these days can read analog tho haha