Thread: CHAPTER 4 - discussion and clues

Originally Posted by guttom2

I think Chapter 4 is going to be solved very soon.

Yep.

I am still miffed at the clue stating "the answer is easier than you think."
Is that supposed to have us key in on a portion of the text?

Originally Posted by Rx Jeff

I am still miffed at the clue stating "the answer is easier than you think."
Is that supposed to have us key in on a portion of the text?

I think easier is a relative term. I hope they check submissions before the holiday!

the question you need to ask yourself is why Ron revealed key 18? Why not the 1st. or 2nd. or 3rd.

also why give three possibilities for key 18?

I think giving key 18 and not giving any of the first keys was done for good reason

The key to this solution is remembering the golden rule for solving any chapter in that "the first is equal to the last." If you have a pretty good idea what the last key is based on the clues, then you should be able to figure out what the first key should. chapter four started with the letter M and ends with the letter N. Can you think of any substitution cipher that would make those two letters equal?

There is so little discussion on the this puzzle that it makes me concerned about future chapters. And where is Doc?

Originally Posted by Rx Jeff

The key to this solution is remembering the golden rule for solving any chapter in that "the first is equal to the last." If you have a pretty good idea what the last key is based on the clues, then you should be able to figure out what the first key should. chapter four started with the letter M and ends with the letter N. Can you think of any substitution cipher that would make those two letters equal?

It could also be argued that the text begins with the letter M and ends with a letter L (not using the poem at the end of the chapter). That would be a shift +12. Good eye, I hadn't caught that.

I believe you must include everything leading up to the first question so I am still banking on M and N. Plus in earlier chapters he hinted at bacon cipher for two and caesar for three so atbash fits perfect as a substitution cipher to use in chapter four.

Originally Posted by Rx Jeff

I believe you must include everything leading up to the first question so I am still banking on M and N. Plus in earlier chapters he hinted at bacon cipher for two and caesar for three so atbash fits perfect as a substitution cipher to use in chapter four.

Are you able to reconcile this with the idea that Atbash uses only 20 letters (F through Z) and we have numerous FB clues that imply we need to use A through Z? Atbash uses "LZY OX", not "LAZY FOX" Over the months I have tried atbash among a few other ciphers in my solutions, but I have had a very hard time making the FB clues accurately describe anything.

Originally Posted by Lobster

Are you able to reconcile this with the idea that Atbash uses only 20 letters (F through Z) and we have numerous FB clues that imply we need to use A through Z? Atbash uses "LZY OX", not "LAZY FOX" Over the months I have tried atbash among a few other ciphers in my solutions, but I have had a very hard time making the FB clues accurately describe anything.

err sorry, G through Z. Not F through G. Atbash maps only 20 valid keys. A=1,B=2 maps only 20 valid keys. Neither of those ciphers therefore match clues mapping keys A,B,C...,X,Y,Z.