On the Subject of Polybius Square

Warning: This module may cause severe psychological damage to anyone who solves it.

  • This module will display 5 two-digit numbers, and has 12 buttons with random letters on them.
  • Convert the numbers to letters using the Polybius square corresponding to the solution number.
  • The letters must be entered in order.
  • Be careful. There is no backspace.

Figuring out the solution number:

  • Take the sum of all five numbers.
  • Add the sum of all characters in the serial number. Letters are equal to their numeric position in the alphabet.
  • Multiply by the total number of batteries.
  • Take the sum of all digits in this total.
  • Take the least significant digit of the total. This is the solution number.
  • This number corresponds to the Polybius square on the next page labeled with that number in the top-left corner in the square.

Solving a Polybius Square:

  • The letters on the table are converted to letters based on their location on a 5×5 grid.
  • The first number represents the row, and the second number represents the column.
  • The letters I and J are interchangeable, but only one of the two letters can show up on the keypad at one time (as in, I or J can appear, but not both at once).
  • For example, in a basic Polybius Square (a.k.a. Polybius Square 0), the letter ‘M’ would be represented by the number 32, because it is in row 3, column 2.
  • However, on Polybius Square 1, the letter ‘M’ would be represented by the number 54 because it is on row 5 and column 4.

Polybius Squares